Since its 1999 inception,Narutohas been the blueprint for other legendary battle shonen anime of its kind. Its legacy has not wavered in over two decades, with numerous spin-offs andsequels inspired by the original story likeBorutobeing created. In many people’s minds,Narutois perfect and the pinnacle of anime history.
No one is disputing thatNarutois epic, but one respected animator who worked on the series, Henry Thurlow, has spoken out about one aspect of the anime that he wishes was handled differently. Thurlow’s piece of advice regardingNaruto’sbattle sequences, expressed ina post on his X account, is simple but genius: “ELEVATE EVERYTHING.”
One Naruto Animator Wishes the Series' Battles Were Ramped Up to the Next Level
Talented One Piece and Naruto Animator, Henry Thurlow, Wanted More Out of Some of the Anime’s Fights
Henry Thurlow is an experienced American animator who has worked on some of the biggest names in the industry, includingNaruto, One Piece,andAttack on Titan.If anyone is qualified to offer an animation-related critique, it is Thurlow. Although he had positive feedback towardsNaruto’s"big fight-animations," Thurlow felt that some of the smaller-scale clashes were less awe-inspiring.
In the X post, Thurlow referenced a fight between Naruto, Sasuke, and some opponents that, in his opinion, was not of the same high-quality as some ofNaruto’sother battles. Not every scene in an anime can be groundbreaking, but, as Thurlow explained, many moments inNarutocould have been more captivating had more animation risks been taken.
As many other studios have experienced in recent years, theNarutoteam also suffered various issues related to production, which could certainly have affected the overall animation.Naruto: Shippudenaired consistently from February 2007 to March 2017, which was ten consecutive years. Episodes were released weekly, creating a tight schedule for animators.
The Tight Release Schedule Likely Contributed to the Issues Naruto Faced Over the Years
Naruto: Shippuden Was Airing New Episodes Weekly For a Decade, Giving Animators a Notable Time Crunch
The pressure of releasing new episodes so frequently, while also keeping up with the pace of the manga, which was ongoing at that time, likely created significant strain on theanime’s team at Studio Pierrot. Often, when a series' animation appears less impressive than fans are expecting, there are deeper underlying reasons.
As these problems are more openly discussed by animators at various studios, like MAPPA and Studio 8bit, conditions seem to be gradually changing for the better. More animation studios are acknowledging these challenges and intentionally bettering the work environment for their staff members, which will lead to much better animation overall.
Despite the fight sequences inNarutothat were lacking, like the ones Thurlow mentions,Narutois still one of the most iconic battle shonens ever for a reason.Many ofNaruto’sbattles, including Naruto vs. Sasuke and Rock Lee vs Gaara are beautifully animated, action-packed, and perfectly encompass all the tension and drama the series is known for.
