The upcoming Naruto movie is a big undertaking, but the live-action film can finally fix one of the anime’s biggest flaws 21 years after its debut. Naruto is one of the “Big Three” anime, and it earns its reputation with its lovable characters, thrilling action, and compelling story. After the success of Netflix’s One Piece, it’s no surprise that it’s next on the list of series to get a live-action remake — though it’s a shame Naruto is embracing a movie format over One Piece‘s TV approach.
A live-action Naruto movie will have challenges to overcome bringing the original story to the big screen, from fitting all the storylines and characters into its run to capturing the humor of the anime. However, with a dedicated and passionate creative team behind the wheel, the film may be able to do its source material justice. It could even improve upon Masashi Kishimoto’s story in one area, fixing a character complaint that’s existed since the series began back in 2002.
The Live-Action Naruto Movie Already Has 1 Advantage Over The Manga & The Anime
It’ll be difficult for the live-action Naruto movie to live up to the source material, but the film has one advantage the manga and anime didn’t.
The Live-Action Naruto Movie Can Fix The Anime’s Approach To Female Characters
The Original Series Underutilizes Them
The Naruto manga and anime have many strengths when it comes to characters, but both offer flawed portrayals of the girls and women present in Naruto’s life. Although Naruto includes Sakura in its main trio, she’s undoubtedly the most underutilized main character. The series focuses heavily on Naruto and Sasuke’s rivalry, sidelining Sakura and giving her much fewer opportunities to develop abilities on the same level of her peers. Sakura’s not the only female character who gets relegated to the background in Naruto either; in fact, most of them do.
None of the girls training to be ninja alongside Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura are given the same amount of screen time or power as their male counterparts. They often serve as love interests first and foremost, diminishing their characterization to their romantic relationships. Sakura and Ino’s entire rivalry in the early parts of Naruto comes down to impressing Sasuke, a depiction that doesn’t hold up years later. Even better-written women, like Tsunade, pale in comparison compared to Naruto‘s male characters. While Tsunade gets an interesting arc, she’s still portrayed as less powerful than the other two Sannin when it comes to combat.
How The Film Can Fix The Naruto Anime’s Biggest Problem 21 Years Later
Naruto’s Female Characters Need Better Story Arcs
A live-action Naruto movie shouldn’t make too many changes to the source material, but one way it can improve upon the manga and anime is by giving its female characters more to do — and making their motivations more about themselves than their love interests. Sakura has a few great moments throughout the Naruto anime, and the movie should play them up. It should also give her interests and goals outside Sasuke. Far too much of Sakura’s dialogue and behavior revolves around Sasuke. The film can rectify this, making her a more indepedent character while keeping the main trio’s storyline intact.
Additionally, the Naruto movie — and any sequels — can flesh out the other female characters in more depth. Ino, Hinata, Temari, and Tenten can be just as interesting as characters like Shikamaru, Neji, Choji, and Lee given the chance. Unfortunately, the Naruto anime and manga don’t offer them such opportunities, instead focusing on their male peers. While a movie might have a hard time fitting such changes into its runtime, it would benefit from stronger women. Anime like Attack on Titan and Jujutsu Kaisen prove there’s a demand for such depictions of female characters. Including them could see the Naruto movie improving the original series’ legacy.
Naruto Wouldn’t Be The First Movie Adaptation To Make This Change
The Super Mario Bros. Movie Improved Peach’s Character
With movies and TV improving their depictions of women over the past few decades, Naruto wouldn’t be the first adaptation to make its source material’s female characters more independent and interesting. The Super Mario Bros. Movie created a new take on Peach upon its 2023 release, turning her from a damsel in distress to a competent heroine. This ramped up the movie’s appeal when it came to girls and women, and future adaptations would be wise to take a similar approach. The Legend of Zelda movie could certainly benefit from copying this element of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and so could Naruto’s upcoming adaptation.
A Naruto movie could appeal to female audiences by improving Sakura and her peers’ characterization, and it could also make them more popular among the rest of the fan base. After all, female fans aren’t the only ones to acknowledge how Naruto: Shippuden failed Sakura or wish for more interesting storylines for Naruto‘s women. Fortunately, a Naruto movie can finally address those concerns.
