Naruto is one of the biggest franchises in the world, and together with Bleach and One Piece, it is regarded as one of the most iconic series under Shonen Jump’s Big Three. Despite the other two series being amazing in their own ways, Naruto still outshines them in so many categories that it is sometimes crowned as the face of anime and manga.
This action-packed ninja series transcends genres to deliver one of the best experiences in fiction. From the captivating plot to the awesome characters, there is a lot to love about this series even nearly a decade after its conclusion.
10 Reasons One Piece Was the Best of Shonen Jump’s Big 3
Although Naruto and Bleach are both incredible manga in their own right, One Piece is ultimately the best of Shonen Jump’s so-called Big 3 series.
10 Naruto Is The Most Influential
Naruto‘s influence is immense, not only inspiring the current generation of manga creators but also being at the forefront of anime’s global expansion. Described as the building blocks for Crunchyroll, Naruto has sold a quarter billion manga copies and is the most streamed anime of all time. Many authors credit their manga careers to Kishimoto’s Naruto, and it is very evident in the plot that it takes a lot from this iconic series, such as Yuki Tabata’s Black Clover, Kohei Horikoshi’s My Hero Academia, Gege Akutami’s Jujutsu Kaisen, and Koyoharu Gotouge’s Demon Slayer.
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9 Naruto Has The Best Action
The most incredible fights in Naruto are not only the best in the Big Three, but also anime in general. Since the series is a ninja series, there was an emphasis on hand-to-hand combat that also used various weapons and techniques, elevating the action to incredible heights. Although the fights were very exciting, the context behind each made them more emotional and more enjoyable, such as Kakashi putting down Obito or Bee taking on his older brother. Other times, however, the fights serve as a pure spectacle for the absurdity of the powers, most notably Madara destroying the Allied Forces.
8 Naruto Is Grounded In Reality
Kishimoto masterfully weaves in real-world scenarios and themes in Naruto, making the series much more dark. Naruto has many complex themes, such as betrayal, genocide, discrimination, sacrifice, and more. Although targeted at young boys under the shōnen category, Naruto could sometimes be overwhelmingly dark with scenes that are hard to stomach, such as Itachi killing his clan or Orochimaru performing experiments on humans. Darker doesn’t usually equal better, but in Naruto‘s case, it gave readers an insight into how the ninja world really is.
Naruto is the most grounded in reality. Unlike in Bleach and One Piece where the main cast are presented as loveable heroes, Naruto does not shy away from portraying the characters in a negative light and showing that they are humans capable of making mistakes. Sakura is the best example of this, as she has been the target of hate for how she treated Naruto at the beginning but later became kind and had great development.
7 The Villain Cast Is The Best
With about 700 episodes, Naruto has had many villains with each as different as night and day. Each was as amazing and complex as the other, making them one of the best villain casts in anime and manga history. There was plenty of time to flesh out each villain, which led to amazing backstories that sometimes made the viewer empathize with them despite all their actions. From Pain’s tragic past, Obito wanting to change the unfair world to Madara being a product of Konoha’s discrimination, Naruto‘s villains are one of the best in anime.
6 Naruto’s Unpredictability Sets It Apart
One Piece and Bleach‘s formula is fairly predictable, with the Straw Hats going to a new island and overthrowing an oppressive regime, and Ichigo saving the Soul Society again. They are entertaining and perfectly executed, but Naruto‘s unpredictability arc after arc is a refreshing breath of air that keeps watchers guessing. One moment will focus on a tournament, another will be about the biggest war in history, and then another arc will focus on Sasuke’s rogue ninja days. No one arc is the same as the other, but they are all a great watch.
10 Best Naruto Story Arcs, Ranked
Naruto is a manga that had plenty of separate story arcs, and these are ten of the best major story arcs in the series.
5 Naruto Has The Best Backstories
One Piece is known for its sad backstories, but Naruto manages to one-up the iconic pirate series in this category. The characters’ pasts are so interesting that even when a few episodes are deviated to focus on a particular person, it never feels boring. What is interesting is that each backstory is carefully placed to make sense of something huge that is about to happen, such as Kakashi’s heartbreaking past right before the reveal of Obito as the mastermind.
4 Chakra Is The Best Power System
The power system in Naruto is the most interesting in the Big Three despite it having similarities to that of many other series. The shōnen trope of spiritual energy being utilized is not new, but Chakra manages to stand out for its huge number of variations and how it can be used. From the fusion of chakra natures called Kekkei Genkai, hypnosis to something as absurd as overwriting reality, there is no limit to how simple or complex a technique can become, and that is only possible because of the foundation of chakra.
The Best Power Systems In Anime History
Many anime shows feature fantastical power sets. Some excel for their simplicity and versatility, while others are set apart by their complexity.
3 Naruto Has The Best Character Developments
Almost every major character in the series goes through some kind of character development. Whether it was good or bad, this made sure that they were not stagnant and one-dimensional, which often led to boring characters. Whether it is Naruto shedding his naivety, Sasuke embracing the Uchiha hatred, Obito joining the good side, or Madara finally accepting defeat: there is no end to the forward movement of each Naruto character’s mentality and perspective. This made them memorable and helped Naruto stand out for its incredible line-up of characters.
2 Naruto’s Art & Animation Has Always Been Top-Notch
The current One Piece and Bleach have fabulous animation and quality, but Naruto has been more consistent and ahead of its time. The best example is the fight between Naruto and Sasuke in the pre-time skip. The animation was praised for rivaling those that came many years later with access to better technology. Naruto Shippuden took it to another level, having amazing choreography fit for the best ninja series ever, with the final fight displaying how much resources were put into this series.
The manga’s art is equally breathtaking. Although art can be very subjective and up for debate, there is a widespread belief that Naruto’s artwork is the best in the Big Three. Eichiro Oda and Tite Kubo are exceptional artists, but they cannot hold a candle to the brilliance of Kishimoto as he puts out panel after panel that feels like it took multiple weeks to draw but in reality only took a few days. From the mesmerizing landscapes to the expressive characters, the art in Naruto is the best in the Big Three.
1 Naruto Has The Best & Most Complex Story
Describing the plot of Naruto in a few sentences is very considering considering how complex the series can be, but people still try. Telling the inspirational tale of an orphan boy who seeks acceptance more than anything, Naruto is a testament to how deep a stereotypical shōnen can get. The life values it teaches and the way it does that while entertaining with the entrancing developments is truly legendary, and it makes sense as to why Naruto is a household name even for people who do not watch anime.
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Naruto: Shippuden
Set two and a half years after the events of Masashi Kishimoto’s original anime, Naruto Shippuden continues the titular hero’s attempts to become the best ninja in the Hidden Leaf Village and bring his former friend Sasuke Uchiha back to the light. The 500-episode series features the return of allies such as Sakura Haruno and Naruto Uzumaki’s mentor Jiraiya, as well as the villainous organization Akatsuki.
