Boruto Author Mikio Ikemoto Explains How His Villains Are Different To Kishimoto’s

This article contains spoilers for Naruto and Boruto

Many viewers who enjoyed the complex and intriguing villains in the original Naruto series were curious if Mikio Ikemoto, the creator of Boruto, could craft a comparable cast of captivating and memorable antagonists for his own narrative. While both series share the same ninja setting and main characters, it’s their villains that have garnered significant attention among fans due to their differences, particularly in terms of quality and memorability. These distinctions have been noticed by many over the years, aside from stylistic and aesthetic variations.

At the Konoha Experience event in Paris, Ikemoto and his mentor, Masashi Kishimoto, had an open conversation about their series during a public talk. It wasn’t long before the discussion turned to villains, as prompted by the audience. The authors didn’t hesitate to point out unique aspects of their characters that distinguish them, so without delay, let me share some insights from their dialogue and discuss how these characteristics shape their stories.

Boruto’s Villains Are ‘Unreasonable Antagonists’

Unlike The Villainous Ninja Seen Previously In Naruto

It’s hard to sympathise with Boruto’s villains.
This marks a stark difference between them and Naruto’s antagonists.

For those who enjoy the anime series, Boruto, you might have pondered over why the antagonists seem unusually ruthless and heartless compared to the villains in the original Naruto series. Well, wonder no more! The creator of Boruto, Ikemoto, sheds some light on this topic during an interview. The interviewer initiated the conversation by noting that many of the series’ antagonists lack the “humanity” we saw in the Naruto villains and often have sparse backstories or flashbacks.

Instead of attributing Ikemoto’s character development to lack of time or effort, it seems there’s a more profound explanation. As per Ikemoto, Kishimoto has already delved into numerous complex characters who become villains due to their personal experiences. Ikemoto suggests that Kishimoto has essentially explored all possible angles for this narrative theme. Given that Boruto is his own independent series, he aimed to avoid creating a villain reminiscent of those from the previous story, wanting to offer something fresh and unique in his own work.

Mikio Ikemoto stated that in creating Boruto, he found no fresh territory to explore, and it wouldn’t be captivating to introduce a foe reminiscent of Naruto. Instead, he opted for an intriguing twist by crafting unusual main characters.

In a deliberate choice, the author decided to construct antagonists for the story that were purely unsympathetic, lacking any background or scenes that might make them appear somewhat understandable or justified. Instead, these villains serve as challenges for Boruto to conquer in order to safeguard human lives. To say that he was successful in portraying them as such would be an understatement.

Boruto’s Villains Are As Merciless As They Come

The Series’ Villains Come Across Like Truly Unforgivable Monsters

In contrast to numerous villains depicted in Naruto, the antagonists in Boruto’s narrative typically lack justifiable motives for their malevolent actions. Instead, these villains are often fueled by personal greed and self-interest, which frequently leads to harming others. A prime example of this can be found in the first significant villain faction introduced within the story – Kara.

A formidable band of enigmatic warriors, boasting immense power, will stop at nothing to acquire Kawaki. It may seem like they are doing this to shield and nurture the young boy, but in reality, their intention is sinister – they aim to seize Kawaki as a means to house Isshiki Otutsuki within him, disregarding Kawaki’s welfare and treating him merely as an ultimate weapon.

“Oh please…we’re both monsters” – Momoshiki to Naruto

After viewing Kawaki’s harrowing childhood, it becomes abundantly clear how ruthless and malicious these antagonists truly are. They were prepared to conduct horrific experiments on the innocent boy for their personal advantage. The creators of Kara seem to relish in making their villains utterly detestable, yet avoid giving them any background that could potentially evoke pity or understanding.

This approach may foster intense dislike towards these characters, but it raises an interesting question: how do they differ from the villains portrayed in Naruto? While both series feature antagonists who are morally reprehensible, Kawaki’s adversaries seem to lack any redeeming qualities or complex motivations that were common in the Naruto universe. In comparison, villains like Orochimaru and Sasuke had their own unique backstories and struggles, making them more multi-dimensional and less purely evil.

Naruto’s Villains Weren’t Completely Evil

They Had Deep Motives Behind Their Actions

It’s easier to see where Naruto’s villains are coming from
Many of them have hopeful goals, but go about them the wrong way

In addition to its captivating plot and charming characters, what sets Naruto apart over the years is its well-crafted villains. As Ikemoto noted at a conference, unlike Kishimoto, he strives to provide his antagonists with credible motives for their destructive actions in life.

For instance, Pain, intent on destroying Konoha, believes that only when everyone in the world has experienced genuine pain will the world be free of its endless cycle of war. Similarly, Madara aims to put everyone under a hypnotic state to end the relentless fighting, thinking this would usher in a peaceful era with no more bloodshed. However, their methods, which are often destructive and harmful, make them villains. Yet, it’s important to note that these villains aren’t simply seeking chaos for its own sake; they have deeper motivations behind their actions, which stop them from becoming completely cold-hearted.

In a more concise manner:

Characters like Pain and Madara have complex motives. Pain aims to end war by spreading pain, while Madara seeks peace through hypnosis. Despite being villains due to their methods, they don’t appear to be chaotic; instead, they act with deeper intentions that keep them from becoming heartless.

In the same talk, Kishimoto expressed his view that his villains didn’t start out evil but transformed into formidable adversaries because of their background and surroundings. Meanwhile, Ikemoto is dedicated to making his villains as detestable and menacing as he can, resulting in different lineups of iconic antagonists in both series. It ultimately comes down to personal preference for fans which cast of villains they prefer.

2025-08-23 17:06