NARUTO

Cover of the first Japanese Naruto manga volume by Masashi Kishimoto

Naruto (NARUTO —ナルト—) is a popular action comedy shounen manga series that is written and illustrated by Kishimoto Masashi. Since its start in 1999 (although it originally appeared as a one-shot comic in 1997), the manga has become one of the most popular and well known in Japan as well as worldwide despite mixed reviews from critics and fans. Due to the popularity of the manga, an anime series produced by Studio Pierrot and Aniplex was adapted, with the first episode airing in October 3, 2002. The first series lasted until February 8, 2007 and included 220 episodes.

A sequel to the first series, Naruto: Shippuden, began airing only a week after the end of the first and forwarded the plot two years into the future. The manga series has also been adapted into five OVAs, several light novels, videos games and trading cards.

Manga Staff

• Story & Art: Kishimoto Masashi

Anime Staff

• Director: Date Hayato
• Script: Yamatoya Akatsuki, Takegami Junki, Sumisawa Katsuyuki, Mushi Kou Hei , Yokote Michiko, Nishizono Satoru, Yoshida Shin, Suzuki Yasuyuki, Miyata Yuka
• Music: Masuda Toshio
• Character Design: Suzuki Hirofumi, Nishio Tetsuya
• Art Director: Takada Shigenori
• Series Story Editor: Sumisawa Katsuyuki

Cast

Main Characters

• Uzumaki Naruto (うずまきナルト): Takeuchi Junko
• Uchiha Sasuke (うちはサスケ): Sugiyama Noriaki
• Haruno Sakura (春野サクラ): Nakamura Chie

Supporting Characters

• Gaara (我愛羅): Ishida Akira
• Hatake Kakashi (はたけカカシ): Inoue Kazuhiko
• Akimichi Chouji (秋道チョウジ): Itou Kentarou
• Hyuuga Neji (日向ネジ): Toochika Kouichi
• Rock Lee (ロック・リー): Masukawa Yoichi
• Tenten (テンテン): Tamura Yukari
• Yamanaka Ino (山中いの): Yuzuki Ryoka
• Nara Shikamaru (奈良シカマル): Morikubo Showtaro
• Inuzuka Kiba (犬塚キバ): Toriumi Kousuke
• Aburame Shino (油女シノ): Kawada Shinji
• Hyuuga Hinata (日向ヒナタ): Mizuki Nana
• Temari (テマリ): Park Romi
• Kankuro (カンクロウ): Kase Yasuyuki
• Umino Iruka (うみのイルカ): Seki Toshihiko
• Orochimaru (大蛇丸): Kujira
• Yakushi Kabuto (薬師カブト): Canna Nobutoshi
• Sarutobi Hiruzen (猿飛ヒルゼン): Shibata Hidekatsu
• Uchiha Itachi (うちはイタチ): Ishikawa Hideo
• Jiraiya (自来也): Otsuka Houchu

Music

The opening and ending themes of Naruto have featured various Sony Music Entertainment artists. Many of them were relatively new artists at the time and have been able to use their participation in the popular anime as a stepping stone for further success.

Opening Theme Songs

• HOUND DOG - "R★O★C★K★S" (episodes 1-25)
• ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION - "Haruka Kanata" (episodes 26-53)
• little by little - "Kanashimi wo Yasashisa ni (episodes 54-77)
• FLOW - "GO!!!" (episodes 78-103)
• Sambomaster - "Seishun Kyousoukyoku" (episodes 104-128)
• STANCE PUNKS - "NO BOY, NO CRY" (episodes 129-153)
• SNOWKEL - "Namikaze Satellite (episodes 154-178)
• FLOW - "Re:member" (episodes 179-202)
• Hearts Grow - "Yura Yura" (episodes 203-220)

Ending Theme Songs

• Akeboshi - "Wind" (episodes 1-25)
• RYTHEM - "Harmonia" (episodes 26-51)
• ORANGE RANGE - "Viva★Rock" (episodes 52-64)
• Raiko - "ALIVE" (episodes 65-77)
• The Massmissile - "Ima Made Nandomo" (episodes 78-89)
• TiA - "Ryuusei" (episodes 90-103)
• Captain Straydum - "Mountain A Go Go Two" (episodes 104-115)
• GAGAGA SP - "Hajimete Kimi to Shabetta" (episodes 116-128)
• No Regret Life - "Nakushita Kotoba" (episodes 129-141)
• Analog Fish - "Speed" (episodes 142-153)
• AMADORI - "Soba ni Iru Kara" (episodes 154-165)
• CHABA - "Parade" (episodes 166-178)
• Akeboshi - "Yellow Moon" (episodes 179-191)
• ORESKABAND - "PINOCCHIO" (episodes 192-202)
• SABOTEN - "Scenario" (episodes 203-220)

Movie Theme Songs

• YUKI - "Home Sweet Home"
• Tube - "Ding! Dong! Dang!"
• MARIA - "Tsubomi"

Albums

• [2003.03.19] NARUTO The Original Soundtrack (NARUTO -ナルト-　オリジナルサウンドトラック)
• [2004.03.10] NARUTO The Original Soundtrack II (NARUTO -ナルト-　オリジナルサウンドトラックII)
• [2004.08.04] NARUTO Best Hit Collection
• [2004.08.18] Theatrical Feature NARUTO Daikatsugeki! Yukihime Ninpocho Dattebayo!! Original Soundtrack (劇場版NARUTO-ナルト-大活劇！ 雪姫忍法帖だってばよ！！ オリジナルサウンドトラック)
• [2005.04.27] NARUTO The Original Soundtrack III (NARUTO -ナルト-　オリジナルサウンドトラックⅢ)
• [2005.08.24] Theatrical Feature NARUTO Daigekitotsu! Maboroshi no Chitei Iseki Dattebayo Original Soundtrack (劇場版NARUTO　大激突!幻の地底遺跡だってばよ　オリジナルサウンドトラック)
• [2006.08.02] NARUTO Best Hit Collection 2
• [2006.08.23] Movie NARUTO Daikofun! Mikazukito no Animal Sodo Dattebayo Original Soundtrack (劇場版NARUTO-ナルト-　大興奮!みかづき島のアニマル騒動だってばよ　オリジナルサウンドトラック)
• [2006.11.08] NARUTO Konoha Spirit Original Game Soundtrack (「NARUTO -ナルト-木ノ葉スピリッツ」オリジナル・ゲームサウンドトラック)
• [2007.12.19] NARUTO IN ROCK -The Very Best Hit Collection Instrumental Version-
• [2008.02.20] NARUTO Narutimate Hero Best Sound (NARUTO-ナルト-ナルティメットヒーロー・ベストサウンド)
• [2008.07.23] NARUTO SUPER HITS 2006-2008 (NARUTO-ナルト- SUPER HITS 2006-2008)
• [2008.07.23] NARUTO ALL STARS

Drama CDs

• [2004.04.21] NARUTO Drama CD Series Vol.1 (NARUTO　-ナルト-　ドラマCDシリーズ　巻ノ壱　忍者は大変だってばよ!)
• [2004.06.23] NARUTO Drama CD Series Vol.2 (NARUTO　-ナルト-　ドラマCDシリーズ　巻の弐　日々コレ精進だってばよ!)
• [2004.10.20] NARUTO Drama CD Series Vol.3 (NARUTO ドラマCDシリーズ巻ノ三　これが忍の道だってばよ!?)

Radio DJ CDs

• [2004.01.21] Radio DJ CD Oh! Naruto Nippon Vol.1 (ラジオDJCD オー!NARUTOニッポン 其の一)
• [2004.03.24] Radio DJ CD Oh! Naruto Nippon Vol.2 (ラジオDJCD オー!NARUTOニッポン 其の二)
• [2004.05.19] Radio DJ CD Oh! Naruto Nippon Vol.3 (ラジオDJCD オー!NARUTOニッポン　其の三)
• [2004.08.04] Radio DJ CD Oh! Naruto Nippon Vol.4 (ラジオDJCD オー!NARUTOニッポン 其の四)
• [2004.09.23] Radio DJ CD Oh! Naruto Nippon Vol.5 (ラジオDJCD オー!NARUTOニッポン 其の五)
• [2004.11.17] Radio DJ CD Oh! Naruto Nippon Vol.6 (ラジオDJCD　オー!NARUTOニッポン　其ノ六)
• [2005.01.19] Radio DJ CD Oh! Naruto Nippon Vol.7 (ラジオDJCD　オー!NARUTOニッポン　其の七)
• [2005.03.24] Radio DJ CD Oh! Naruto Nippon Vol.8 (ラジオDJCD　オー!NARUTOニッポン　其の八)
• [2005.05.18] Radio DJ CD Oh! Naruto Nippon Vol.9 (ラジオDJCD　オー!NARUTOニッポン　其の九)
• [2005.08.03] Radio DJ CD Oh! Naruto Nippon Vol.10 (ラジオDJCD　オー!NARUTOニッポン　其の十)
• [2005.09.21] Radio DJ CD Oh! Naruto Nippon Vol.11 (ラジオDJCD　オー!NARUTOニッポン　其の十一)
• [2005.11.23] Radio DJ CD Oh! Naruto Nippon Vol.12 (ラジオDJCD　オー!NARUTOニッポン　其の十二)
• [2006.01.18] Radio DJ CD Oh! Naruto Nippon Vol.13 (ラジオDJCD　オー!NARUTOニッポン　其の十三)
• [2006.04.19] Radio DJ CD Oh! Naruto Nippon Vol.14 (ラジオDJCD　オー!NARUTOニッポン　其の十四)
• [2006.06.21] Radio DJ CD Oh! Naruto Nippon Vol.15 (ラジオDJCD　オー!NARUTOニッポン　其の十五)
• [2006.08.23] Radio DJ CD Oh! Naruto Nippon Vol.16 (ラジオDJCD　オー!NARUTOニッポン　其の十六)
• [2006.10.18] Radio DJ CD Oh! Naruto Nippon Vol.17 (ラジオDJCD　オー!NARUTOニッポン　其の十七)
• [2006.12.20] Radio DJ CD Oh! Naruto Nippon Vol.18 (ラジオDJCD　オー!NARUTOニッポン　其の十八)
• [2007.02.21] Radio DJ CD Oh! Naruto Nippon Vol.19 (ラジオDJCD　オー!NARUTOニッポン　其の十九)
• [2007.04.18] Radio DJ CD Oh! Naruto Nippon Vol.20 (ラジオDJCD　オー!NARUTOニッポン　其の二十)
• [2007.06.20] Radio DJ CD Oh! Naruto Nippon Vol.21 (ラジオDJCD　オー!NARUTOニッポン　其の二十一)

Naruto Adaptations, Sequels and Spinoffs

Naruto has been adapted into several different forms ranging from anime series to OVAs to movies.

• Naruto (anime series)
• Naruto: Shippuden (anime series)
• Naruto: Innocent Heart, Demonic Blood (novel)
• Naruto: Mission: Protect the Waterfall Village! (novel)
• Naruto: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow (novel)
• Naruto: Mission: Protect the Waterfall Village! (original video animation)
• Find the Crimson Four-Leaf Clover! (original video animation)
• Finally a clash! Jonin VS Genin!! Indiscriminate grand melee tournament meeting!! (original video animation)
• Naruto: Hidden Leaf Village Grand Sports Festival (original video animation)
• Naruto: The Cross Roads CGI OVA (original video animation)
• Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow (film)
• Naruto the Movie 2: Legend of the Stone of Gelel (film)
• Naruto the Movie 3: Guardiands of the Crescent Moon Kingdom (film)
• Naruto: Shippūden the Movie (film)
• Naruto Shippūden 2: Bonds (film)
• Naruto Shippūden 3: Inheritors of the Will of Fire (film)
• Naruto Shippūden 4: The Lost Tower (film)