Should You Watch The Naruto Anime Or Read The Manga

Naruto first began publication in 1999, with the final volume coming out in 2014. Over this time, hundreds of chapters came out, split across a whopping 72 volumes. At the same time, a Naruto anime began to air in 2002, with the second part (Naruto Shippuden) ending in 2017.

Overall, this makes for a lot of Naruto content. While it’s possible to both read and watch Naruto, you may be asking yourself; which one is better? Here, we are going to answer just that. In this list, we’ll compare the manga and anime and decide which one comes out victorious.

8

Filler

Manga

The Naruto anime is notorious for having a lot of filler that spreads across dozens of episodes. Filler is any bit of the show that didn’t appear in the manga, so by nature, the manga of Naruto does not have any filler.

If you just want to get the core story without any extra bits of content, then the manga comes out on top. Of course, if you are really dedicated to Naruto, the filler can make for a fun watch. Overall though, the filler can cut into the main story at times and feel a bit out of place.

It’s worth noting that the original Naruto series does not have as much filler as Naruto Shippuden.

7

Artwork

Manga

This is the cast for a lot of long-running franchises, but the artwork in the manga is better than the anime. While the characters and world in the anime can look cool, it can feel a bit flat at times. This is exacerbated due to time constraints for animators who work on an anime.

The budget for the Naruto anime seems to be (unsurprisingly) allocated towards important episodes, so these will look visually better.

With the manga, you’ll also have more time to really take in the art. If you come across a panel that you really like, you can just stare at it. In the anime, something can pass by quickly before you get the chance to really take it in.

6

Immersion

Anime

This may seem obvious, but it’s a bit easier to get immersed in the Naruto anime. Rather than just reading what’s going on in black and white, you can immerse yourself into the world, see things in action, and hear characters talk.

The anime also has some phenomenal music in terms of openings and endings. Fans of the anime have their personal favorite opening, with ours being Silhouette by Kana-Boon. Overall, there is a bit more to engage with when watching the anime.

5

Violence

Manga

This can be either a pro or a con, depending on how you view violence. Overall though, the Naruto manga feels a bit more violent than the anime (especially Naruto Shippuden). The anime isn’t censored, but a lot of the graphic imagery has been redone.

Without spoiling too much, there is a character in Naruto who has bones that protrude from their skin. In the anime, this is pretty gore-free, but in the manga, these bones rip through skin and look pretty gruesome.

4

Battles

Anime

If you are a fan of fluid and fast-paced battles, then they will feel a bit more satisfying in the Naruto anime. You’ll be able to see character movement in real-time, rather than just looking at a few panels. This isn’t to say that the fights in the manga are bad; they just aren’t as fluid.

As a shonen anime, Naruto is filled with fights. Some are more impressive than others, but it’s always exciting to see a fight between two incredibly strong characters.

This can also make battles feel a bit dragged out, so it’s not always a good thing to have long battles.

3

Pacing

Manga

Due to fillers and stretched-out battles, the Naruto manga is better-paced than the anime. Additionally, the Naruto manga is absolutely packed with flashbacks. How many times can you see the same flashback before it gets old? ‘Naruto on swing’ and ‘Itachi poking Sasuke on the forehead’ have entered the chat.

In all seriousness though, the manga doesn’t have nearly as many stretched-out sequences or flashbacks, and since there is no filler, there will be no long stretches of a completely different story.

2

Character Backgrounds

Anime

There are a lot of characters in Naruto, and it can be hard to keep track of them all. While flashbacks and filler can be detrimental, they can also provide a glimpse at characters that otherwise aren’t as important.

If you really want to get a sense of the Ninja world, then these glimpses at side characters can be great. With flashbacks, you can also learn about the pasts of adult characters who weren’t children during the show at any point.

1

Winner

Manga

Without final ado, the winner of this competition is the Naruto manga! As a whole, the Naruto manga will be a better experience if you are looking to get the most out of the story. It’s worth mentioning that it’s totally possible to read the manga and watch the anime; you don’t have to only pick one.

Ultimately, whatever you choose to do is up to you, but the general consensus among fans is that the Naruto manga is far superior to the anime. In terms of just the anime, many also believe that the original run of the show is better than Naruto Shippuden. Of course, we still encourage you to watch both of these.