Studio Pierrot and Masashi Kishimoto have honored the 20th anniversary of “Naruto” with newly illustrated images and re-animated scenes, revisiting the show’s most iconic moments and paying tribute to one of the most celebrated anime of all time.
Titled “Road of Naruto,” the clip manages to capture over 700 episodes of lore spanning two decades and two series — “Naruto” and “Naruto: Shippuden” — within a roughly 10-minute runtime, touching upon many of the most important junctions on Naruto’s journey from village outcast to the seventh Hokage.
All of the re-animated scenes featured throughout the clip play out against the backdrop of some of the series’ most iconic opening tracks, including Asian Kung-Fu Generation’s “Haruka Kanata,” Ikomonogakari’s “Blue Bird,” and Kana-Boon’s “Silhouette.”
The team has also released three new images which portray various phases of the beloved shonen anime.
The first image depicts scenes from the original series, such as the demises of rogue ninjas Zabuza and Haku during the Land of the Waves arc, the showdown between Hiruzen, the Third Hokage and Orochimaru during the climax of the Konoha Crush arc and the first major battle between Naruto and Sasuke in the Valley of the End during the closing moments of the Sasuke Retrieval Arc.
The second image depicts sights from the first half of the sequel series, “Naruto Shippuden.” Naruto and his friends, along with the series’ antagonists, a criminal organization called the Akatsuki, are surrounded by stills of some of the show’s most emotionally resonant moments, including the lifeless body of Naruto’s mentor, Jiraya, drifting down into the depths of the ocean after a fatal encounter with Akatsuki leader Pain and Sasuke gearing up to confront his older brother Itachi to avenge his slain clan.
The third image showcases elements of the show’s climactic closing arc: the Fourth Shinobi War. Front and center are the show’s core duo, Naruto and Sasuke, who are accompanied by their closest family members. Looming ominously over Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura with their signature summons are the series’ true antagonists — Madara, Kaguya and Obito — who have orchestrated the formation and actions of the Akatsuki from the start.
Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto also shared a tribute of his own — an illustration of all past iterations and stages of his most popular character.
Featured Image via studioぴえろ【公式】
