Naruto
Title: Naruto
Year: 2002
Total Episodes: Unknown
Categories: Shounen, Action
Primary Fansubber: Dattebayo
Licensed in US: Yes (by Viz Media)
Introduction
Perhaps one of the most popular anime (in terms of viewership) of all time, Naruto has become a benchmark towards which many action-adventure shounen anime series are compared to (positively or negatively). Like many anime series, Naruto started out in 1999 as a manga serialised in the weekly Shonen Jump. Since then, more than two hundred anime episodes and three hundred manga chapters have been produced.
Naruto is primarily a balancing act between action and comedy, though drama is available in large portions from time to time. However, in recent days, sub-par filler arcs (storylines not within the manga) have begun permeating the anime series - resulting in a negative backlash from the animesphere.
Plot
As its name might imply, Naruto details the daily adventures of Uzumaki Naruto - a young ninja who was treated as an outcast within his village during his younger days due to the Kyubi (Nine-Tails Demon Fox) sealed within him. Though merely a container for the vile creature and kind by nature, Naruto was perceived much like the despised creature itself, and thus had few, if any friends during his childhood.
As a result, his personality developed into an attention-seeking one, with pranks being his primary source of attention. However, as he realises that there are people who do care about him (e.g. his first sensei/teacher, Umino Iruka), he grows into a more focused individual with the overall aim of becoming Hokage (ninja village leader).
Of course, Naruto would not be complete without a cast of companions and powerful villains. Core among Naruto’s companions are young ninja such as Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura - the former a rival (and close friend) and the latter his love interest, while the antagonists in the anime include individuals such as Orochimaru and mysterious organisations such as Akatsuki.
Last but not least, let us not forget the tremendously “impressive” combat techniques available on both sides, which colour the generally fast-paced combat scenes. In fact, due to the Kyubi sealed within Naruto, he has access to a tremendous amount of raw power - which is displayed from time to time as Naruto’s situation becomes dire.
