7 Times Boruto Outshined Naruto (And Fans Secretly Agree)

Summary

Improved animation quality in Boruto surpasses the inconsistency of Naruto’s original anime, providing a polished viewing experience.
Boruto focuses on meaningful character development, balancing legacy characters and establishing new ones for fans to connect with.
The Boruto anime introduces evil and dangerous antagonists, deviating from tragic villains in Naruto, setting up high-stakes encounters.

In the realm of anime enthusiasts, Boruto has sparked intense conversations and discussions. With the arrival of the sequel series, opinions have been flying left and right. Despite the buzz on the internet, it’s clear that Boruto is making a significant impact in the anime community. The imprint that Naruto made was always going to be challenging to surpass, but Boruto manages to rise to the occasion. This spin-off not only honors the existing storyline but also delves deeper into various aspects – sometimes even a little too deeply. While some might have differing views, this departure is an essential move to help the show carve its own identity separate from the shadow of its predecessor.

Compared to Naruto, Boruto’s storytelling approach is smoother and better timed. There are many more intricate plotlines and intense action sequences in the narrative. Despite its many strengths, even the most die-hard fans can’t deny that Naruto sometimes struggled with pacing, causing unnecessary delays. However, it doesn’t mean Boruto is perfect either, but when it’s at its best, it produces some truly memorable scenes.

7. The Animation & Visual Styles

Naruto’s Nightmare Fuel Animation Style Is Improved In The Boruto Anime

In my view, it’s challenging to dispute the superiority of the animation in “Boruto”, given its contrast with the original “Naruto” and “Shippuden”. I recall instances where the animation quality seemed to dip noticeably in the past series, such as during the fight sequences in the Forest of Death arc’s Chunin Exam, specifically the Sasuke vs. Orochimaru encounter, which felt somewhat crude despite its intended epic nature. The same can be said for the Naruto vs. Pain battle in “Shippuden”, whose animation looked rough despite the grandeur it was meant to convey. Even during the Kazekage Retrieval arc, there were moments where the animation quality seemed to falter.

It’s not entirely negative – there were moments of beautiful artwork and good animation. However, looking back, Boruto clearly surpasses it in terms of consistency and quality. Considering the time gap, it’s reasonable that the newer Naruto‘s animation is improved. The original series is almost a decade old, and animation technology has significantly advanced during this period.

6. More Character Development

A Better Look At Both New & Established Characters

In the conclusion of Naruto Shippuden, after the war finished and Sasuke willingly rejoined the Hidden Leaf Village, fans yearned to witness their beloved characters maturing and living contentedly together. Boruto delivers on this desire, allowing viewers to experience some of their favorite characters in blissful relationships. Furthermore, it offers glimpses into everyday life for these characters post-war – from raising children, teaching students, to simply being themselves.

Boruto plays an exceptional role in presenting the upcoming Shinobi generation. Unlike Naruto and his companions who faced numerous challenges, Boruto’s trials seem fresh, complex, and multi-dimensional. By paying tribute to the older characters without overshadowing them, Boruto simultaneously provides room for the newcomers to make their mark. The series is captivating audiences by developing a unique set of new characters that fans are eagerly embracing.

5. Legitimately Evil, Dangerous Villains

Naruto’s Villains Are Tragic, But Boruto’s Are Straight-Up Evil

In the original Naruto series, Danzo and Hidan aside, you won’t find many truly despicable villains. Instead, most major antagonists have a tragic past that often leads to emotional scenes. Characters like Pain, Zabuza, and Itachi are perfect examples of this blend of tragedy and villainy, and their stories are well-written and well-developed.

To put it another way, throughout the Boruto series, we encounter villains who aren’t merely products of their situations but are genuinely wicked, with no concern for the shinobi world or humanity whatsoever. Powerful adversaries, like the Otsutsuki clan, view humanity as insignificant and exploit them as tools or food. This establishes a traditional good versus evil confrontation filled with high-stakes drama. Additionally, there are other villainous groups on the same level, such as the Sentient Human God Trees, who act instinctively without much emotional involvement. Their indifferent behavior, immense destructive power, and newfound autonomy make them an unpredictable factor in the narrative.

4. Better Filler Content

Shippuden’s Filler Episodes Were A Slog, But Boruto’s Feel Like A Breeze

One significant drawback to watching Naruto Shippuden was the abundance of filler episodes within the anime series. In contrast to the original Naruto fillers that boasted a more leisurely pace, they skillfully and thoughtfully advanced the narrative. However, an excessive number of episodes focusing on secondary characters emerged, illuminating them in a novel perspective. The Genou Arc serves as a prime example, where each principal character contributed significantly to the plot. This arc was structured effectively, presenting a feasible conflict, logical progression of events, and ultimately resolving the issue at hand. In contrast, the filler arcs in Shippuden seemed disconnected and unengaging. The narratives were tedious to endure, and viewers had to patiently wait for the return of the main story arcs.

It’s great to note that the Boruto anime draws heavily from the Naruto series for its filler episodes. Each arc is rich with tension, suggesting a significant amount of thought and effort has been put into their production. In fact, some of these arcs delve deeper into existing lore, providing fans with additional context and depth to the narrative.

3. The Pacing Feels Perfect

No Prolonged Arcs And Faster Resolutions Of Plotlines

Fans often criticized the pacing of the series Naruto Shippuden, finding that it either moved too quickly with incomplete or rushed stories, or it progressed at such a slow pace that viewers lost interest. The War arc serves as the prime example, where the anticipation and excitement for the climactic finale were immense, but the story ultimately felt drawn-out – spanning a total of 200 episodes. This prolonged duration diluted the emotional impact as viewers became fatigued.

Contrast that with the highly concentrated and swift narrative pace in the Boruto anime, and you’ll find day and night is a more fitting comparison. Boruto manages to create ample space for its characters to develop without leaving anything feeling overly drawn-out or unnecessary.

2. More Tech Focus & Flashier Combat Scenarios

Naruto Had Grounded Combat, But The Boruto Fights Feel Much More Exciting

Initially, the jutsu system in Naruto was quite rugged, and the portrayal of technology was often inconsistent. Most tasks were performed either manually or required high-level jutsu, and this applied to combat as well. Every fight had a raw, primitive atmosphere, with even the most advanced technology being limited to basic ninja tools. The supernatural element was strongly emphasized, at the cost of less attention paid to contemporary technology.

Instead of focusing on traditional storylines, the main themes in Boruto revolve around the chilling consequences of advanced technology gone awry. The series emphasizes science without boundaries or ethics, as demonstrated by the creation of sentient weapons with questionable moral standing. Characters like Ada and Daemon, for instance, are essentially powerful humanoid weapons grappling with existential dilemmas. Each such character in the show appears to yearn for transcending human limitations, even if it means making sacrifices. These thought-provoking themes give the anime a depth and sophistication that its precursor failed to deliver.

1. Himawari Uzumaki

The Secret Weapon Of The Boruto Anime

In the world of “Boruto,” Himawari Uzumaki stands out as an unexpected powerhouse, often capturing attention whenever she appears on screen. She embodies Hinata’s grace, Naruto’s tenacity, and the untapped prowess of the Hyuga clan. Moreover, with Kurama’s reborn essence now tied to her, Himawari is a formidable presence that demands respect.

It’s amazing how poised and mature she is, considering her young age and the fact that she’s Naruto’s daughter. What sets her apart from other characters is her profound empathy, a quality that’s not common among many of them. All in all, she’s quickly becoming one of the most compelling and balanced characters within the series.

2025-05-04 06:37