Kishimoto Reveals How One Piece Affected The Way He Wrote Naruto

Kishimoto Reveals How One Piece Affected The Way He Wrote Naruto

As someone who grew up with both One Piece and Naruto gracing the pages of Weekly Shonen Jump, I have to say that these two masterpieces hold a special place in my heart. Having followed their adventures since their early days, I can confidently say that they’ve not only entertained me but also shaped my perspective on storytelling and character development.

This article contains spoilers for the Naruto Shippuden series.

Key Takeaways

  • Kishimoto altered Naruto’s dark tone compared to One Piece for uniqueness.
  • Kishimoto’s writing style paid off, creating a lasting impact on fans.
  • Oda and Kishimoto influenced each other, with both series becoming masterpieces.

Initially published following the success of One Piece, Naruto has maintained its popularity in Shonen Jump alongside it. Over the years, these two manga have stood as some of the most beloved stories in the genre, with creators Eiichiro Oda and Masashi Kishimoto often expressing mutual admiration for each other’s works.

On numerous occasions, Kishimoto has discussed the series “One Piece,” and interestingly enough, he previously disclosed that “One Piece” significantly influenced his storytelling due to Oda’s exceptional writing style, compelling him to approach his narrative in a unique manner to enhance the appeal of “Naruto.

How Oda Influenced Kishimoto’s Way Of Writing

Kishimoto Reveals How One Piece Affected The Way He Wrote Naruto
  • Oda doesn’t like to kill off his characters
  • Kishimoto wanted to make Naruto darker than One Piece

It’s well-known that Oda and Kishimoto engaged in a friendly competition for years within Shonen Jump. Their respective stories, One Piece and Naruto, were published side by side for nearly two decades. During this time, they were constantly trying to outdo each other. In the end, One Piece retained its dominance within Jump, while Naruto gained popularity globally. However, Kishimoto acknowledges that Oda’s work was beyond his reach, expressing respect for it. Similarly, Oda has previously stated that no other work is quite like Naruto and that it stands uniquely on its own. It’s clear that they often used each other as motivation, with Kishimoto even admitting he approached his storytelling differently to stand out, by doing the opposite of what Oda did. Here’s a quote from Kishimoto in 2013:

In simpler terms, Kishimoto stated in 2013 that One Piece is a humorous story, while Naruto seems to take the opposite approach by incorporating serious battles with character deaths, as Oda, the creator of One Piece, doesn’t kill many characters. This strategy may contribute to Naruto’s popularity.

It’s evident that Kishimoto’s writing style bears a strong resemblance to how Oda crafted One Piece. Kishimoto himself acknowledges that One Piece is generally considered light-hearted, though this description might not fully capture the complexity of the series. In reality, One Piece is far from being a simple, humorous tale. Fans often perceive it as such due to Oda’s reluctance to kill off characters. However, Oda has expressed that eliminating characters complicates large gatherings, which could be a factor in his approach to certain character deaths. If Kishimoto had followed Oda’s methods, fans might accuse him of imitation or claim his work lacks originality. Instead, Kishimoto opted for more frequent character deaths and a darker narrative, thus creating a unique style for his manga.

Kishimoto Reveals How One Piece Affected The Way He Wrote Naruto

In the Naruto Shippuden series, the narrative veered towards a more somber tone, which sometimes effectively contributed to the plot, but other times seemed out of place.

Did Kishimoto’s Way Of Writing Pay Off?

Kishimoto Came Up With A Phenomenal Story

Fans often ponder whether Kishimoto’s shift in writing style, influenced by Oda’s work, was beneficial. In many aspects, it appears that it was. Readers frequently note similarities between One Piece and Naruto, with one key difference being that Naruto is generally perceived as a darker narrative. However, upon closer examination, One Piece also has its own share of darkness. The intricacies presented in Oda’s storyline are profound. While Naruto might seem dark on the surface, it indeed delves deep into complex themes. Interestingly, Naruto is not just dark but also gritty, at times making readers question the fairness of the world’s justice system.

Obito’s anger following Rin’s demise and the annihilation of Konoha, as well as numerous other occurrences throughout the narrative, underscores that Kishimoto’s writing approach was successful in shaping Naruto into a unique series with its distinct style.

It’s clear that Kishimoto’s choice to revive characters and position Kaguya as the main antagonist in the series was met with disapproval from fans, a stance that Oda strongly opposes. In fact, Oda has openly expressed his dislike for resurrecting characters who have been previously killed off, which is another area where these authors differ.

Regardless of how Naruto’s storyline wrapped up, it’s undeniable that it’s an exceptional masterpiece, one that future generations will remember fondly. Even after more than a decade since its end, fans continue to discuss Naruto on a daily basis, demonstrating the timeless appeal of the series. The fact that Naruto remains significant without its spin-off series, Boruto, underscores just how influential and popular Kishimoto’s writing style has been, serving as compelling evidence of its success rather than failure.

The truth is that Kishimoto does certain things better than Oda, while Oda does most things better than him. While One Piece is, in general, considered to be the better story, even Oda himself has taken a few pages from Kishimoto’s book, such as when he clearly based the illustration of Shiryu’s invisibility technique on the shinobi from Iwagakure, from the Kakashi Chronicles.

One Piece And Naruto Are Both Masterpieces In Their Own Ways

Both One Piece And Naruto Defined An Era

Comparisons between the two renowned works of fiction, “One Piece” and “Naruto,” are unavoidable given their simultaneous popularity and shared magazine publication. Debates about which story is superior will persist among fans, with each individual entitled to their unique perspective. Those who appreciate Naruto should definitely consider exploring the captivating narrative of One Piece as well.

Just as One Piece enthusiasts should acknowledge Naruto’s greatness and pay tribute to Kishimoto, it’s important to remember that both manga creators are exceptional talents who have significantly impacted Shonen Jump. They’ve inspired countless individuals worldwide, including popular Weekly Shonen Jump authors like Gege Akutami, Kohei Horikoshi, and Yuki Tabata.

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2024-11-29 07:04