The Surprising Hidden Inspiration behind Kishimoto's Naruto Unveiled!

The Naruto series, written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto, has had a profound impact on the world of anime and manga. It is widely acknowledged that this series has significantly influenced the way storytelling is approached, just like other popular anime and manga titles.

Julia Kristeva is known for popularizing the term "intertextuality." Put simply, this refers to when a piece of literature makes references to another existing piece of literature in different ways. In the world of anime and manga, there are numerous instances where creators cleverly incorporate easter eggs and subtle nods that fans love. When examining certain visuals from the manga and anime, it becomes apparent that Masashi Kishimoto drew inspiration from Akira, the science fiction film from the late ‘80s directed by Katsuhiro Otomo.

This movie’s groundbreaking animation paved the way for the future generation of manga artists and animators.

Naruto: Stills from the anime which suggest a possible link to Akira

The images displayed above exhibit an intriguing phenomenon: both Naruto characters experience a partial metamorphosis on their arms. In one instance, the arm appears to undergo a mutation, while Gaara succumbs to the influence of the Tailed Beast. Significantly, these transformations share a commonality—their impact on the arm.

The transformation commences at the arm, bearing a striking similarity to Tetsuo's depiction. Tetsuo, the main antagonist in Akira, experiences a mutation as his psychic/telekinetic abilities progress.

The manner in which characters from Akira and Naruto undergo this mutation draws a noteworthy resemblance. This initial evidence suggests a potential connection between the two.

The treatment of Naruto and Sasuke as characters is another clue. No one can deny that Sasuke did not start off as evil. Instead, he went through traumatic experiences that left lasting scars, ultimately leading him down a darker path.

Similarly, Tetsuo was a loyal friend to Kaneda and didn't exhibit any evil characteristics. However, after undergoing a mutation and acquiring extraordinary powers, he transformed into the story's antagonist. The portrayal of these characters was remarkably alike, leading many fans to speculate that Masashi Kishimoto drew inspiration from Akira.

Surprising fans, they flocked to X (previously referred to as Twitter) to express their opinions on this matter.

Other popular influences in the Naruto series that fans discussed

The connection between Kishimoto's works and Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball series is well-known among Naruto fans. One of the most notable elements that link the two aforementioned series is the color palette used for the main characters.

Furthermore, speculation abounds among fans that Masashi Kishimoto may have found inspiration in Blade of the Immortal, a manga series penned and illustrated by Hiroaki Samura. It appears that certain parallels can be drawn between Sasuke Uchiha and Taito Magatsu.

As shown above, there is a Naruto character with six arms, and his name is Kidomaru. Fans believe that this character was inspired by a series known Kinnikuman.

In this series, there is a character named Ashuraman who serves as the leader of the Devil Knights. The resemblance in character design suggests that Masashi Kishimoto might have taken inspiration from this particular show.

It is fascinating to observe how the works of established shows and manga influence the creativity and storytelling of up-and-coming manga artists, as they explore their unique style and narrative.

With exceptional titles such as Attack on Titan, Demon Slayer, and Vinland Saga, among others, one cannot help but anticipate the remarkable quality of forthcoming anime and manga creations that will emerge in the future.

Stay tuned for more anime and manga news as 2023 progresses.