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Borutois ridden with criticism and controversies. As a sequel to Masashi Kishimoto’s magnum opus, it mostly receives the middle child treatment. While it may not live up toNaruto’slegacy, it is excellent in its way. There’s a caveat to that as well, albeit its moments of success.
The series receives the most hate and backlash because of its precursor. The community is notorious for projecting its double standard opinions. From animation to design, these are the prominent criticisms.
1Botched Animation inBorutois worse than its precursor
Narutofans would be lying if they believe the sequel is worse off in animation. An interesting example of this is the infamous fight between the titular character and Pain. Studio Pierrot didn’t spare the sequel either.
The protagonist’s ugly crying face became a butt of jokes. This started a chain of viral yet hilarious memes. But most importantly, it highlighted Pierrot’s failure to do justice to the scene.
2Pacing is too fast inBorutowhereasNarutois too slow-paced
To pace or to not pace is the question of the century for Otakus. Especially with the series’ contrasting nature. While the sequel isdeemed fast-paced, the precursor is considered too slow. Like most Shonen series the sequel faces this issue. However, there’s more to this than meets the eye.
The fandom likes to shrug acing issues like it’s nothing. Both the series are flawed in terms of its pacing. The precursor takes the cake with the sheer number of filler episodes. This further aided its slow-paced plot development.
3Character designs are oversxualized inBorutowhereasNarutohas undersxualized
Character designs inBorutohave been ridden with controversies. The criticism has peaked to extremes with fans associating Ikemoto with pedophilia. However, that is not all.
Narutohas its fair share and moments of objectification. Be it Tsunade or Mei Terumi, women are objectified and misrepresented. This is done through their character designs.
Boruto’s Decline in Quality Might Have More to Do with the Fans Constantly Hating it than the Manga Being an Unworthy Sequel of Naruto
In a similar vein, Sarada Uchiha’s design was the epicenter of backlash. Especially with its modern flair and costumes which didn’t sit well with most fans.
4Female characters are too empowered inBorutoand useless inNaruto
From Sarada to Tenten, the female characters’ powerup in the sequel doesn’t sit well with the old fans. Considering how the sequel gives them their due, this is another double-standard opinion. The female characters deserve far more screen time as opposed to theoriginal series.
This is true withMasashi Kishimoto’sinitial treatment of female characters. The series also outlines side characters and their pivotal role in the series. As opposed to the original series, the female characters are visible and proactive.
5Power-ups are way more cool in Masashi Kishimoto’s series but are an annoyance in its sequel
Another contradictory statement made by the fans is in terms of the powerups. The Shippuden series introduced the viewers to Sage Jutsu. The series witnessed a chain of power-ups. From Sage Mode clones to Rasen Shuriken, it outlined a leveling up of the protagonist’s strength.
On the contrary, power-ups in the sequel are not taken seriously. It is perceived as unnecessary and bothersome. This holds especially true with theBaryon modewhich is deemed as the worst power-up.
6Dependency on old characters while longing for nostalgia
This is partly understandable considering the series finale in 2017. This further marked the end of an iconic era for the fans. With the sequel’s premiere in 2017, several fans sought a glimmer of nostalgia. Since the series breaks away from its precursor’s shadow, this was a far-fetched dream.
WithTrue Blue Vortex, the sequel moves away from traditional power systems and characters. While the series reflects dependency on old characters, it subverts it as well. It is a double-standard statement since it extends to the original series as well.
From Jiraiya to Four Hokage, the Shinobi’s would wiped out if not for their dependency on reanimated characters. This extends to the pivotal role played by old characters in their fight against Momoshiki.
Boruto Must Give Sakura Her Biggest Moment But That Still Can’t Surpass Tsunade’s ‘Gigachad’ Naruto Scene
All in all, both series are laden with controversies and criticism. It is important to understand that the fandom is its worst enemy. This holds especially true with the relentless backlash and double standard opinions. Despite the popularity, Kishimoto’s series isn’t exempt from its own shortcomings.
Boruto: Naruto Next GenerationsandNarutois available for streaming on Crunchyroll. The manga is available for reading on Viz Media.
Himanshi Jeswani
Anime Writer
Articles Published :993
Himanshi Jeswani is an anime writer at Fandomwire, with her work spanning over 900 articles. Her articles cover shojo, shonen, seinen, and all things beyond. Her interests, however, aren’t limited to simply anime. She has a penchant for exploring different genres of manga, be it horror, yanki, music, and food. She brings out her specialization and expertise in the performing arts through her articles. As a writer, she strives to bridge the gap between the viewers and the medium itself. To her, anime is a revolutionary medium that is capable of creating communities and stories after all.
