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Borutohasn’t had the best run ever since it began. Whether it was with the manga or the anime, things have been rough for Masashi Kishimoto’s sequel when it was instead meant to enhanceNaruto’slegacy. It was flawed in many ways but fans were even more enraged by how much it disassociated with the original personalities of the various characters they had grown to love.
There were many characters who got upgrades while there were some who were pushed to the side. As the manga and anime transitioned from Naruto’s journey to his son’s; the art style also saw its changes whether Kishimoto was involved or Mikio Ikemoto. While that alone wasn’t appreciated, the character designs took the biggest hit.
Boruto’s Softer Designs
Each and every character inNarutowas drawn with immense care. They had expressions that made them more human and their ability to emote made them relatable characters. It wasn’t just that, but the art felt sharper and more to the point. When it comes toBoruto,however, things are different. BothMasashi Kishimotoand Mikio Ikemoto’s art incorporated softer tones. No matter their expression, the look on their face created a softer environment to work with.
Naruto’s charm and boyish personality died down into what was supposed to express maturity but what instead looked like the life was sucked out of him. Naruto wasn’t just Boruto’s father, he was the one who started it all. He was the protagonist who made it possible for a sequel to work in the first place. What his design was turned into could not be regarded as an upgrade.
Even Naruto’s Talk-no-Jutsu was Rendered Useless When Boruto Ruined His Character Because of a Promise He Never Fulfilled
One of the many characters who got a change in their design was Sakura. The character had always been controversial to begin with. When at first it was about her potential, it then turned into her position in the series altogether. In the sequel, even her design felt lackluster.
The Case of Sakura Haruno
Sakura’s design inBorutowasn’t something many found out of the ordinary as compared to the other characters. However, it brought about the picture that she was also embracing the softer side of things. There existed an alternate design, one that was only featured for a single time inNaruto: Book of Thunder.While the book itself wasn’t written by Masashi Kishimoto, he had lent his hand in providing some exclusive illustrations. Among them was one of Sasuke, Sakura, and Sarada.
In it, Sakura’s outfit wasn’t so different from what she wore later on, but it gave her a much edgier look. The joy on her face gave off the idea that she was to achieve much more in her life. It was filled with hope, mischief, and life. At the same time, it did not lack any maturity either. While the design featured only once, were they to stick to it, it would have helped give her character a more evident personality.
Boruto Wasted and Destroyed the Only Thing that Could Have Made Sasuke and Naruto a Consistent Part of Masashi Kishimoto’s Sequel Manga
She wouldn’t have just been a side character aiding the protagonists but someone with a purpose. Her character was treated poorly throughout the manga and anime, what she needed the most was something to help lift her up. That design could have been a stepping stone towards that.
Boruto: Naruto the Movieis available to watch on Netflix.
Adya Godboley
Anime Content Manager
Articles Published :1879
Adya Godboley is the Anime Content Lead at FandomWire with over 1800 published articles. She is a Rotten Tomatoes-certified critic with a background in literature. From The Case Study of Vanitas to Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, her anime knowledge is one she’s gathered with years of experience. She also enjoys Marvel, DC and Superhero media with her works having been recognized by prominent figures such as Dwayne Johnson, Abby Trott and the Blood of Zeus creators.
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