Why Naruto Changed Its Art Style

Why Naruto changed its art style. Masashi Kishimoto, the author of Naruto changed the art style of the manga during the story. This change was made before the time skip, and Naruto Shippuden. The change made the Naruto Manga art style more similar to the Naruto Anime art style. The character design in the Naruto series were slightly changed as well, and this change definitely had several reasons to be implemented. In this video we'll be talking about them.
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[@DygoKnight]

What's your favorite character design in Naruto?

[@iamkonner4813]

Gaara’s design even when he just poses or anything really I always think “oh god why is he so cool?!!”

[@BitchChill]

KCM2+6 paths sage mode Naruto

[@KiraiKatsuji]

Tobi without the akatsuki cloak and with the scarf.

[@okayspectre]

Sage Mode Naruto

[@loliH9]

There's just so many that I really like. The Sannin, Haku, Gato as weird and random as his inclusion seems, Hiruzen, Orochimaru in his black vest generic uniform, black kid Sasuke, post-Itachi fight Sasuke, Tobirama, kid Obito, Kagami Uchiha, Hanzo, Chiyo, Onoki, Gengetsu, Kushimaru. Kishimoto is really good at it, until he isn't like with half of the randoms revived in the war arc. And, no, I don't particularly like any version of Naruto. Just a matter of personal taste, I don't think any Naruto looks ugly.

[@theendisnear1131]

He just improve his art. But still in early stages he manage to use his skills and create a good style, even if the proportions were off most of the time.

[@_bakz_3682]

No

[@satorii_2060]

@@_bakz_3682 explain, you can’t just say ‘no’ and expect everyone to go ‘yeah ur right bro’

[@adamkelly6064]

​@@satorii_2060 yes 😂 😂

[@Asher-Tzvi]

@@_bakz_3682 no you

[@matthiasceus]

@@_bakz_3682 Fr 😔

[@MegaDrain]

It was super briefly touched at the end on how you said Kishimoto did stuff in the manga only because of the anime. Because his art style was heavily influenced of the anime, he drew certain scenes or fights in a specific way because he knew it was going to be animated and wanted those panels to be as detailed and precise as possible. Adapting a manga into an anime is one thing, but intentionally making panels in a way that you know are going to be animated is like subtle storyboarding.

[@brimmedhathoe4392]

True. With mainstream titles, panelling and line quality do seem unfinished sometimes. To be honest, I'm not really sure what to feel about manga artist treating their comics more like storyboards though. It can be so obvious that they are producing works on a tight deadline.

[@nisdebeste]

woahhh this is so cool

[@Suto_Ko]

bro, you're onto something, Kishimoto's awareness of the anime adaptation definitely influenced his manga art style. It's like he was storyboarding for the animated scenes, making them detailed and precise. It adds a whole new level of depth to the storytelling. Haha

[@junior523]

Whilst I am sure they are not the only two the only other Mangaka that I know of who also went out of his way to makes sure the anime was able to adapt certain scenes and also let the anime influence his work is Hajime Isayama (the guy who created Attack on Titan) I wanted to add the dragon ball guy because of the fact the anime overtook the manga and he was basically doing catch up but I don't like dragon ball so nah

[@remmborn8154]

most famous example of this is his famous 3 angle spreads where a big attack is shown in multiple angles and replays

[@kenshix7902]

I miss Naruto's closed eyes

[@vutebeats]

such a cutie with his eyes closed ^_^

[@kenshix7902]

@@vutebeats Believe it

[@kokirimido3924]

Yeah, It made him look like a fox.

[@kaxcommentssomethingREAL]

​ a fox is all i think about when i see those closed eyes, Kishimoto had something going, i really miss that one cute aspect of Naruto

[@jaycewxsted]

I did too

[@zanderwimpee8773]

I think the art style interestingly evolves as the general tone darkens and stakes get higher. For example, the first time that Sasuke was introduced, very cartoonish for the comedic beats but by the time the first Naruto Vs Sasuke fight happens, it's much more realistic and intense because of not only how Naruto has grown as a ninja and as a person, but it's also because he's fighting to save his first ever friend. The first solid bond he's ever had (besides Iruka). And the art reflects the seriousness of that event.

[@Viroh]

Wait characters are drawn more comically when there is humor? Hoollyyy ruuckksksnsb

[@Urbexbat]

PERFECTLY PUT

[@UnifiedEntity]

I dont know ..... by the time of Zabuza...the art style and atmosphere id say was one of the darkest moments of the ENTIRE series.

[@Keurgui1]

Kishimoto also got better at drawing Sasuke. He mentioned he struggled at first cause of the look in his eyes he always has, and it’s easy to see as it’s hard to believe at first he’s the same age as Naruto Over time his features feel more in line with the rest of team 7 and the other rookies

[@CoracaoAcidental98]

No! 100% wrong. Zabuza and Haku is one of the most heartbreaking stories in all of Naruto and a lot of scenes are very heavy on blood or sadness, Orochimaru's entrance is probably the only terrifying introduction of the series, Sasuke cruelty with one of the Sound Village ninjas and also everything involving early Gaara is mostly done in this artstyle. So no, the story was already very dark since the beginning, it actually gets less dark as it goes on, Shipudden is almost a childrens cartoon at some points.

[@rogerleo4654]

Although i do prefer the early Naruto's art style, with it's chaotic and messy, yet beautiful and unique background art, and the characters feeling so alive and cool, i can't deny the charm of mid to late Naruto's art style, the realistic take fits really well with the story Kishimoto wanted to tell, and his paneling is amazing as well

[@whowhy7554]

Yeah I feel like the art style aged as the characters did, with them having a fun cartoony looking style to it slowly becoming semi realistic as they grew.

[@manny7662]

I do too. It has a punk feel to it.

[@kyrudo]

Its a tough call, because I do like the pace of the manga, but one thing that since I was little that I absolutely loved about the Anime is the OST. Naruto has amazing music. I've listened to the soundtrack so much, I can name by heart most of the songs. One of my anime watching highlights was in the last Naruto v Sasuke fight when they are brawling, they bring back Need to be Strong for a bit. Gosh, I lost my mind.

[@DygoKnight]

You can always read the manga listening to the OST

[@lucasrxrxx1859]

I preffer early art style due to it being more "dirty" and less "round". Early naruto aestetics had way more to do with scrolls, sharp weapons, hand signs. This is something very noticible if you compare the chapters's covers and how they change

[@kudakwasherusere8150]

And those aesthetics were the best for a Manga about ninja. I really liked that art style and I don’t like the other art style especially in Shippuden, looks flat.

[@lorenzoreynolds2512]

​@@kudakwasherusere8150facts

[@Potidaon]

The earlier art style was more unique. Looked like a mix between DB and Akira, with some Togashi and Hiroaki Samura mixed in there. There was a lot of idiosyncrasies, with deliberate roughness to the line work. The later art style is just an imitation of Tetsuya Nishio's style.

[@JagoShogun]

"Fox-face" or Kitsunegao is usually drawn with slitty eyes, this means the character is mischievous, or in naruto's case, a literal fox.

[@odd-eyes6363]

Kishimoto really did change his artstyle but that was way later than when you seem to believe that happened. Kishimoto's style went under a lot of evolution in the first ten volumes of the manga and that already made the designs look pretty much 1 to 1 with the anime. The only difference being that they were more detailed. Read the full manga if you have the chance, the chapter covers are a delight, a true show of skill from Kishimoto

[@MichaelMadlock]

The reason is actually in Kishimoto’s journal. He says it plainly; he studied Tetsuya Nishio work on the Naruto anime and copied it. It’s really that simple 😳

[@markanine562]

Honestly both styles have their perks for me, after going to the naruto manga it was a bit jarring seeing Kishi's more cartoonish style but it became kinda home-ey for me,it felt really nice to look at overtime but going into shippuden it felt like the style evolved as most the fans grew up tbh. I liked how he added a bit more realism to the anatomy and kept it simple at the same time

[@Trigaming727]

Holy shit markanine you're alive??? Never expected to randomly run into you in the comment section of a video lol, small world I guess.

[@shirotakeda8401]

You know Kishimoto didn’t change the art style for majority reasons you claim. For super simplistic reason. Kishimoto is huge fan of Tetsuya Nishio and he is a little animation head. It has been stated in many interviews

[@earlyman7439]

Norio matsumoto and hiroyuki okiura too.

[@sultanfaisal6074]

Kishimoto even took some inspiration from Norio Matsumoto.

[@SouthSun89]

I mean he would just say he got better over time and found a style that works best for him. It’s not just Naruto either, all major mangakas first works look significantly different from the start to the end or where the story currently is. Bleach, One Piece, Dragon Ball, Rave Master, Yu Yu Hakusho, JoJo, Yu-Gi-Oh, the list goes on. All series that look incredibly different from where they started off.

[@colbyjackcheeser]

I love the original style, it feels vintage and more expressive

[@ChrisMALUKAI]

Naruto was randomly introduced to me at the very beginning (with the battle against Haku) The art style caught my eyes so I started reading it. I loved how it was so dark, full of blood/murders and was more about the life of child-soldiers aka "ninja". The earlier art style definitely got me hooked. But the more I read, the more the art style evolved and I liked it too. I also tend to think that the style evolved to be more adapted for sharingans and other stuffs with dojutsu that was later introduced since it was more clean. I love both style but the latest is cleaner overall with better [more interesting] fight angles and nicer backgrounds/sight views. So I vote for the latest lol

[@shizukagozen777]

Haha Same ! There was a clip of some angry orange demonic kid fighting some ice guy throwing needles in the magazine's DVD that I bought back in the days and I got curious. 😅😂😂

[@alexgunn3879]

Personally I’ve always preferred the earlier more cartoonish art style as it seemed unique, however what I like about the changes described in the video are they also represent the characters themselves maturing/becoming stronger as the story progresses, like childishness giving way to maturity and realism

[@loliH9]

A bit of a tangent but I started thinking that it was pretty weird how Kishimoto forgot that Orochimaru's outfit was actually that of the female grass ninja he killed to infiltrate the Chunin Exams and just treated it as his actual main outfit, to the point most of his subordinates use the purple rope the female grass ninja he replaced had as part of their uniform.

[@justinarzola4584]

The sound ninjas of chunin exams didn't have it either, I guess the sound five changed their outfits to match orochimaru in that month gap between chunin exams finals.

[@satiatedghost9216]

Facts. Maybe he thought it was giving so he just kept it lmao

[@matygoo1644]

Can we take a moment to appreciate how tricky it is to just change and draw in a different art style going forward

[@shizukagozen777]

It's not, mangaka don't suddenly change their art style, it just natural evolves. If you draw, you'll understand better what I mean. :)

[@sofarsogood8680]

Most of mangaka will mature and refined the artstyle of his/her manga throughout of their run. We also can see it in Tite Kubo and Yusuke Murata works. Also when the manga will come out with anime adaptation, the key animators in the studios will make the characters and background more cleaner to ease the anime frame by frame

[@jzi4]

I like the art style after the change, but before Shippuden. Everything just looked so sterile and bland in part two. Think about how watered down Naruto looked using the beast cloak against Orochimaru vs that pure savage look he had fighting Sasuke.

[@jasonone8726]

The art style already changed before Shippuden, I thought the Tsunade and Sasuke retrieval arc was peak art Naruto.

[@DCYTB]

I started reading Naruto back in 2006 and saw the art style progress in real time. I was obsessed with how clean it started to look but I did miss some of the comedic qualities of the OG style.

[@verge..576]

this is normal for mangaka they usually start their series when they dont have a defined art style its not that masashi kishimoto chose that art style in the beginning its just that artist evolve (i can say that as a comic creator myself) but the change was for the better

[@sillyfudgemonkeys]

I prefer the earlier art style. Just Part 1 as a whole. Both early-early to the end of part 1 (aka Sasuke retrieval arc). There's just something about Naruto's hair they can't exactly re-capture in the later art style (both in the manga and anime).

[@Sheik-yo9fj]

Personally I always prefered the old style. The only thing I like about the new style is that atleast the colors are more radiant, but honestly I miss the expression and variety from the first style (Just compare Sasuke or Haku with the new design, they barely look like the same person) Also I dislike that since there's no variety in style, most characters have the same face and a unnecesary "realism" (my god Naruto is only 16 he doesn't need a super detailed jaw or nose whenever he fights)

[@asgdfhomjuzjntbz123]

I don't think you can compare the manga to the anime. Like for example, the anime has way less blood and less swearwords (oh no how bad) but the it has has fillers which mean free character development and also fight scenes look way more epic most the time in the anime. Both have good and bad aspects so I like both equally.

[@sirnetflix7162]

Technically, anime filler can’t be character development because it’s not canon. It does let the characters do other stuff, but if you care about lore and all that, it means nothing, unfortunately.

[@asgdfhomjuzjntbz123]

@@sirnetflix7162 You're probably right as long as fillers aren't included in flashbacks or something. But for people who watch the anime before reading the manga, things might be more "realistic", like filler arcs making the bond between team 7 become stronger or so. LIke, for the people who watched all the fillers, therefore seeing more of the characters, for example deaths might be more tragic or something like that.

[@yoru8815]

Swearwords? You clearly don't know how Japanese language use such thing then. If you're talking about English or other dub you can blame your own country.

[@asgdfhomjuzjntbz123]

@@yoru8815 So the Japanese dub has swearwords and stuff? Sorry, I don't speak Japanese.

[@yoru8815]

@@asgdfhomjuzjntbz123 for Japanese they don't need crude words to be insulting and rude. Out of place exaggerated politeness is considered rude, for example kisama. Or responding in sarcasm is rude, or too casual or colloquial when polite is needed also rude and insulting. They don't need crude words, those things equal to swear words.

[@danielclv97]

I read the manga and I was incredible surprised by the quality from the chapter 1! I didn't noticed really the difference in the art as I was reading trough it from chapter 1, but I surely liked both styles. I think I like the manga Naruto a bit more then the Naruto Shippuden though, not sure if because of the style, I think because in Naruto everything seemed more mysterious, we had more techniques, and the characters used more of their brain powers, it wasn't about who has the biggest rassengan or the best eyeballs, but often about who is the smartest in a fight. Even Naruto was coming up with clever tricks to beat his oponents early, and then in Shippuden he became the clasic Shounen Protagonist who goes with his head ahead and uses his plot-armor at the highest. The manga quality dropped tremondously in Boruto, and I'm not sure why, they should have plenty of money to make good manga, but noped, decided to make a trash released once a month.

[@muhtasimfuad9084]

I prefer the later art style Because I think kishimoto knew that the manga was getting more serious and mature that wouldn’t go with cartoonish art style so that's why the art got more cleared but I do miss the eyes that kishimoto drew for Naruto at the start of the manga

[@KeyleeTamirian]

Then why One Piece is so cartoony despite being serious and mature?

[@muhtasimfuad9084]

@@KeyleeTamirian Because oda is a Alien from another world living amongst us like a human 🗿🗿🗿

[@Potidaon]

That's silly. Osamu Tezuka's art style is way more stylized and he's written infinitely more mature stories. Ditto Go Nagai, and the art style of Barefoot Gen. Oyasumi Punpun's main character looks like a cartoon bird. Maus' characters all look like cartoon animals. Art style and maturity of the subject matter have nothing to do with one another. The real reason for the change is Kishi was a fan of the character designer for the anime, Tetsuya Nishio, and sought to imitate his style.

[@zthirtyblue]

I've always interpreted the subtle change to the art style as a progressive maturity that the manga gained over its run on Shonen Jump. Its obviously not what really happened, but it fits pretty well. the earlier arcs like land of waves and early stages of the Chunin Exam arc gave off a bombastic and energy filled mood to the story but as we begun delving deeper into the world and exploring darker ideas within it, the art almost matures, by the end of the first part, we notice Naruto begins to take himself more seriously, and the subject matter of the final arc of part one is certainly no laughing matter you begin to realize this isn't just a story about a airhead ninja and something more of a battle of philosophies between friends, a journey of finding ones self and learning to empathize with those who hurt us. and for this reason and many others, i consider Naruto to be one of the best pieces of literature ever put on paper

[@Gsmooth84]

I always looked at it like this. I was looking at it from Naruto's perspective. The sillyness of the art represented how he saw the world. As time progressed, Naruto was changing as well as the art styles showing the experiences he went through

[@tyrellbronson7929]

I kinda just figured his art style got better over time

[@124avenged]

1:43 that specific image of sasuke looks a lot more like itachi in certain flashbacks

[@CaptainHalodude]

Really liked the townscapes that Kishimoto did in his earlier works - feels very much like a steampunk, or like the environments in Howl’s Moving Castle

[@brimmedhathoe4392]

Kishimoto's art style development was really fun to see hihi. This video makes me want to binge read the manga again, nicely done!

[@michaelyanni6061]

Even though I grew up with the later/anime art style I love the earlier art style way more because it was so much more unique than most shonen art styles.

[@sonnywoods6846]

I thought the reason Naruto Eyes were closed all the time was because it represented the Japanese Fox. Everytime you see an image of a fox in anime or manga their eyes looked closed

[@kaxcommentssomethingREAL]

I've always found that extremely cute, it fit perfectly for Naruto's early chapters

[@rodneylane952]

I like the later artstyle better but the early artstyle has a charm that the later style doesn't, so I can appreciate both

[@tacogaming9461]

I prefer the later art. I think the softer look to the characters towards the end of part 1 fits the characters then but when it gets to shippuden I think it looks off

[@psychedashell]

I always wrote the changes up to the additions of a professional inker and assistants having a positive effect on Kishimoto’s work. Never thought it was a conscious thing. I prefer the older art style but only marginally, very marginally.

[@delix787]

I would just think Manga creators naturally drew better as they go on. 💀 Didn’t think the anime was his inspiration. 😇

[@deuxtrainsderetard7902]

The art style changes a lot because the team moved from hand drawn to computer drawn, leading to more sharp and regular lines. We can even see the aliasing in closeup faces. And that's a very brutal change.

[@IIIISai]

Naruto without the headband is clean

[@walkingarmageddon5479]

It’s more illegal that garras new hairstyle to be this early

[@D_Owo]

Wdym?

[@frankbarrie6785]

The Boruto manga doesn't look bad tho.. and it's a monthly release instead of week to week

[@justmediocrelad]

When you compare Naruto to the other big three. His art is the most simple, Bleach is the most detailed while One Piece in the middle. You can say Kishi is the weakest in terms of details and complexity, but he have an ability to create a "cinematography art". His angle.. facial expression.. body language and fight scene. Its just lively. Not to mention how good he was in a perspective. Oda admitted that Naruto manga has a new way of expressing things that you dont see in a manga. That is thanks to Kishimoto for loving animations which also lead to Naruto anime success. You can see Naruto fight still goes around on the internet and look as good as today animations, even arguably still have the best anime fight. So his changing art are just for the better, simple and realistic. A win win solution for both author and anime staff.

[@rileylavid5025]

dare I say it, the changes in the art style made the characters look... hot!!

[@ryszakowy]

naruto: first chapters art style sasuke: usuratonkachi naruto: *changes art style

[@swjr-br1kf]

Thought he was gonna address how Shikamaru didn’t look human in the beginning of naruto manga lol

[@theking8347]

The biggest change is that Sakura actually has a big forehead in the earlier chapters.

[@rhinuu045]

feel like the older artstyle was far more dynamic and less stiff, but i completely understand the change bc of working conditions

[@rhinuu045]

its still good tho

[@rawpower117]

I’m pretty sure a lot of main shonen change art style over time

[@jpcintratakahashi95]

I preferer the mid artstyle. I feel more personality from the earlier art but the later art has better composition. So, I think the mid between them has the best of each.

[@santiagomoralesgarcia1802]

The great thing about super early Kishimoto's style was camera angeles. They were so good

[@shizukagozen777]

It's simple: mangaka who just started their career have lots of "room" for improvement therefore their art style changes drastically over the first years till they find their definitive style (after that it can still evolve but it rarely does).

[@bohushi]

Nice video! I also could not overlook change in style in the manga, but I like it at every stage. I really like Boruto's artstyle too, maybe even more than Kishimotos. I find it more illustrative and more realistic at the same time :)

[@loliH9]

It might have been intentional but it was a mistake. The old art style really drove the point of it being a dangerous world across. The later art style is way too clean.

[@medicenelfercho]

Naah I like the more refined drawings, it makes them more appealing and aestetik to look at, besides it still looks amazing and more accurate body proportions

[@Icessien]

Tbh I feel like the art style contrasts with Naruto’s life. The cartoony style for his childish, carefree days and the more realistic art to show his growth

[@kitkat5596]

I really miss the old art style of Naruto and One Piece, felt so right to me. Along with the old animations.

[@jobdylan5782]

his eyes are closed bc that's how the japanese depict foxes

[@gemodemplay415]

The actual reason is because mangaka usually change their art style in time in a natural way. Examples? Well, Bleach, Hunter x Hunter, Inuyasha, D-Gray Man, Dragon Ball, One Piece, Gantz only to name a few.

[@nemuiexe]

dont compare the art style to boruto bro he didnt draw it by himself he just thorw it away to his assistants, he didnt even write the story

[@GoldChocobo77]

I interpreted the drawings change of style as characters gaining maturity. And liked it

[@junieeee]

I beg to differ lol. I grew up watching/reading Naruto as a kid, & I think his original style in the earlier chapters was more gritty and detailed/realistic, but over time (Shippuden and Boruto) the characters started to look progressively more simplified. It was especially noticeable in the characters faces, very minimal shading and their eyes started looking bigger and further apart, giving them a somewhat flat look. Although Kishimoto having to meet insane deadlines is a dead giveaway to the change in his style, just thought id throw in my 2cents ✨

[@ramens]

because he’s been drawing for more than 2 decades so of course he’d improve. good video tho

[@aaronflores21af]

What I didn't like was the way the headband kept getting smaller

[@rakshitkhullar2287]

2:35 naruto's hair looks like ssj goku

[@DygoKnight]

lol yeah, that's definitely an homage

[@BitchChill]

Goki

[@loveonick1]

Itachi's manga design in part one is goated. That panel when he is preparing to fight asuma and kurenai is perfect

[@noelgayle2228]

I prefer the later art style since I like the art style when Naruto started but it looks to cartoonish

[@Brotendo21]

i mean alot of Kishimotos design choices especially when it got to around the end of series was because of time. example everyone wearing the same basic vest so he doesnt have to draw every single character in their own individual outfit for the entire war arc, and the same with Narutos goggles.

[@LLnullZer0]

nice vid man, although wish you would have made more overt references to your sources (like interviews or whatever), paritcualrly when you say things like "kishimoto purposefully changed the artstyle to fit the manga" because had i not stumbled upon this piece of info a few times before this vid would feel as if it was just a personal interpretation of the artstyle's evolution rather than being based on any sort of actual research, like you know enough about the world of anime and manga to string things together. i mean i still don't know where that comes from but willing to be open-minded about that.

[@kokirimido3924]

I am a believer of Art chooses Artist, and believe that Naruto was a story that chose kishimoto as it's artist. Before, Naruto Kishimoto was the "Karakuri" guy (I meant to say the guy who made Karakuri), and The Illustrations give a cartoonish vibe, like Hunter Hunter, but then some time after the initial chapters of Naruto this change happened, which I believe is the best thing to happen to Naruto, as I believe, Naruto is the only one of the big 3, to have the cleanest design, and Illustrations.

[@bootyjiggle5695]

I like his older artstyle because it had more character and stuck out way more, it was cartoony but had weight to some scenes. I like the newer one and I understand why he changed it and I like that he did evolve as an artist, but I think it just got too simple in the end. I think Naruto was hurt by this, because he’s always been such a cartoony goofy character the older artstyle worked better with him

[@bruh-tx7tb]

I actually liked the change. Naruto looked better to me.

[@chrissyweikoop7931]

when i first found out about manga (naruto was the second one i bought and actually completed), i didn't even knew there was something like anime. i don't think either of the art-styles is better. they just have two different goals i think.

[@Vall_Ey]

Little fact, the reason all of exaggeration and perspective angle in pre Shippuden gone is bcoz Seishi no longer become Masashi assistant , he is Masashi brother, who made 666 Satan and Blazer Drive.

[@hunteroxz]

What i don't like about later naruto chapters is that backgrounds (aside from konoha) are just backgrounds, not places, think of one piece or hunter x hunter each new arc brings new places as well as new characters, and those places are as interesting as the new characters and the plot

[@zoopoliswanderer2028]

I like the later manga style better. Very beautiful and easy to navigate what is happening.

[@djbostick]

Moto experimentation with paneling and angles makes in the greatest

[@souls-of-mist]

I've noticed the change years before, and kinda figured out that it was made in name of efficiency, but didn't know Kishimoto really liked the anime style and thus decided to change. Really cool video

[@phmv3532]

Awesome video! I'm trying too re read the manga, where can I find it in color look kk me that?

[@nagiiboo]

Similar to yourself, I prefer the later art style as my first ever manga volume was volume 55(and I specifically chose that one for a reason). So I’m more used to it than the old style.

[@Ray03595]

Happens with every mangaka. Early Bleach also looks drastically different to Kubo's final style. Even the middle of Bleach looks different to the end of Bleach actually. One Piece, same thing, though Oda had always loved to pack his panels with tons of background art.

[@marianainesairaldi5517]

I prefer the new one, it's more "clean"?

[@eatereater6312]

Masashi Kishimoto?? Yea that’s my goat😎

[@theunderdawg.]

I wouldn't say the manga is better than the anime, I think both are iconic for different reasons. The manga has more 'pop' to it and WAY better pacing, but it lacks the amazing soundtracks and well done voice acting of the anime.

[@granola055]

Old art just like you said it feel little bit cartoonist but is acceptable now I read manga it's so good without including the cartoon feeling

[@AbahDirgaLv997]

Oda doing same things, and isyama to .. maybe all mangaka same thought. When they going through for first drawing and ended for long chapter always make improve for his style drawing or had some inpiration for they art, same too like animator how shingo yamashita make iconic eps or cut for naruton vs pain and after then, now we see his doing well to found his style self, look art work his doing recenlty for studio bones in my hero acadamia etc

[@ENNEN420]

"wtf? how come Kishimoto got better at drawing? This is so stupid!!! This isn't something that you just do unconsciously, right??" - Room temp IQ Naruto fans

[@zzodysseuszz]

It didn’t change. That’s literally the same art style in the thumbnail except it’s vastly more professional looking through improved lineart and details on the right.

[@Yoshikage8008]

Finished the manga back in high school. Newer art style is my preference. Kishimotos art style really shines. That one Pain Panel is amazing

[@acensodelcazador4256]

Bros talking from ignorance, as an artist I'm 100% sure that the reason he change his art style is because he just improve is art

[@zzodysseuszz]

As an artist of like 15 or so years, no. He didn’t change his art style. He literally just got better at drawing. That’s all. His style is the same

[@DygoKnight]

Kishimoto literally states in his journal that he adapted the anime art style

[@zzodysseuszz]

@@DygoKnight adapted doesn’t mean change. wtf are you talking about. Adapted especially in Japanese literally just means to adjust under different conditions, or improve. Change and adapt are specifically different words.

[@carrotcola2131]

I'd have to disagree with some of the things with what you said about the Boruto manga. The first few chapters of Boruto were god awful that I agree. But there's definitely been improvements made to the art by Ikemoto. His art style takes on a more realistic approach in terms of design. Eg. he puts in a lot more detail to hair, fur and especially the eyebrows (he draws individual hair strands rather than having 1 rectangle as an eyebrow). Characters lips are also given more attention rather than having 1 line as a mouth. Ikemoto definitely knows how to make characters look badass and intimidating especially with the new characters he designs like Shojoji, Jigen, Eida, Kawaki, Ao and the rest of Kara. He still has rooms for improvements like characters expressions (most of them have the same stoic look), 5 point perspectives, squash and stretch (exaggerations) and definitely a lack of shading (Panels like Jigen's face reveal was amazing due to the use of shading). The opposite can be said for the Boruto anime though. The characters look flat and janky and their design are too oversimplified. If they adapted more of Ikemoto's art style in the anime for example like episode 189 (Kawaki vs Garou) I think more people can appreciate Ikemoto's work.

[@NeoPotato98]

Well said

[@jasonone8726]

I prefer the anime's designs because they stick more to Kishimoto's style. I'm not too big on Ikemoto's, even for the new gen like Boruto and Sarada. Naruto Gaiden looks much better than a lot of the Boruto manga.

[@MuhammadAreeb-qk9zc]

​@@NeoPotato98no not all all kara and cyborg designs are trash

[@alterac1541]

Another note. Naruto anime design was created by a legendary celebrity animator in the industry at the time "Tetsuya Nishio". In a data book Kishimoto explain how amaze he is with the anime design and use the settei (character design) sheet as style base on his work desk and that's how he end up with the cleaner design at the end. In the anime final product the result are pretty significant due to Animation Director variety but if you see the real settei, even when the design from manga are really rough at the time, Tetsuya Nishio simplified it and make it much better especially for the character expressions.

[@caiguycrafter]

The Boruto manga looks really good now lol. It may have looked bad at first, but you can clearly tell Ikemoto's style improved. Another thing, he does have a couple of assistants. They clear up some of the art mistakes. If they really thought his art style was bad, they would have replaced him or told him to improve.

[@DygoKnight]

Still looks awful

[@caiguycrafter]

@@DygoKnight I respect your opinion, but in my own opinion, I never really liked Kishimoto's style. I actually did however love the style of his first few chapters before he changed it. So I welcomed Ikemoto's style. Even the first few chapters. Sasuke's hair looks realistic, it has a wave to it rather than your usual spiky anime style.

[@Dave102693]

The chins and noses are hard to look at in the manga.

[@reddboytv1332]

They are biased asf it looks totally different. I feel like he deserves the same credit every other artist gets as their art style improves overtime, notice when they talk about the style it’s always early boruto chapters just to push that narrative 😂I feel like he’ll get better just like every other artist did.

[@caiguycrafter]

@@reddboytv1332 exactly. For me personally, I just love the way he draws the characters. Ikemoto gives them such swagger every chance he gets. Look at Boruto for instance, I mean, in every chapter cover, he's giving that cool glare to the camera, (as well as being shirtless in a few chapters?) And another thing is the belt that comes down, it's pretty sick. To be fair, I am biased as well, since I started the Boruto manga before I read the Naruto manga, but you have to give it credit. Looks amazing at times.

[@helrazr44]

Kishimoto was never the best artist, and he took shortcuts all the time, simplifying the designs throughout the story. That's why the headbands exist. You can tell where you're at with the art style based on Sakura's hair, originally, she looked ratty as hell.

[@altair7744]

in the first chapter, they made naruto look slimmer, but i think they realized that naruto is not japanese

[@keithcreatesmedia6503]

Same with Soul Eater and it's Manga & Anime

[@cal5266]

I miss the original art style of the first several volumes. It didnt feel cartoonish to me. But it was a lot more dynamic imo.

[@jasonone8726]

That style wouldn't of fit at all with the later arcs of Naruto and Shippuden, when it got serious. The beginning was definitely more cartoony and almost gag like.

[@Potidaon]

Art style and subject matter don't have to match. That's just a stereotypical way of looking at art. Maus is no less serious, emotional or profound because of the art style. Ditto stuff like Osamu Tezuka's more mature work, Go Nagai's Demon Lord Dante/Devilman/Violence Jack, or Oyasumi Punpun.

[@stevengerards1147]

The beautiful thing is that Kishimoto learning every single day. I think is an beautiful way to see the begin and the end. That is what art is. Arts is a process