Naruto’s Next Anime Is Going To Save The Franchise
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Naruto’s Next Anime Is Going To Save The Franchise

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Despite lasting popularity, strong merchandise and video game presence, and a legion of dedicated fans, the Naruto franchise was in a tricky spot until recently. It’s currently the only Shonen Big Three series to be without an anime for any component to its franchise in the past three years, while Bleach enjoyed its gorgeous swan song and One Piece has only continued to reign supreme on multiple fronts. Its sequel series, Boruto, has been carrying the torch for Naruto fans over the past decade. It even managed to overcome massive sequelitis as creator Masashi Kishimoto and Boruto series illustrator/co-creator Mikio Ikemoto guided the story to greater heights in the Kawaki and Omnipotence Arc.

But fans were understandably dismayed by the fact that Boruto: Naruto Next Generations’ anime stopped short of fully adapting the manga on March 26, 2023. The remaining few Boruto chapters would have brought the story into a new postmodern hell for its protagonist, with the entire village convinced he’s a traitor who killed their Hokage, and a member of the Ōtsutsuki clan. But instead, fans were left with the promise of four remade Naruto episodes, waiting years for good news. But as 2026 sails into the fall season, it turns out Naruto and Boruto fans have plenty to be excited for. Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is an exciting future as Naruto’s next new anime, with far more projects on the way.

Naruto’s Next Anime Will Handle Its Story Better Than the Previous Sequel

The Divine Trees
Boruto-Divine-Trees

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations had big shoes to fill in its April 5, 2017 debut. Naruto: Shippuden’s conclusion featured cathartic conclusions to its biggest storylines, and some truly spectacular fights to close out the series, along with a practically blissful ending for many of its principal characters. By comparison, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations differed sharply in its anime from even the movie’s similar events, or the manga, quickly setting off interludes to spark an absurd pacing problem. While it was naturally going to happen for a weekly anime adapting a monthly manga, Boruto’s next anime in the Naruto franchise has years of content already written.

Studio Pierrot is in a better position to handle the Boruto anime’s pacing now, but that’s not the only perk of the confirmed Part 2 coming, whenever it does. The Omnipotence Arc set up the biggest conflicts for the entire Boruto saga, namely, the splintering of Boruto and Kawaki’s relationship; the brainwashing of Konoha against Boruto; and Naruto and Hinata being taken out of play.

Adapting what’s little more than 10 monthly chapters remaining from the first Boruto manga will present a much more mature story. Boruto’s alienation from his village will hit that much harder.

Naruto Has Major Upcoming Projects Beyond Just One More Anime

Naruto New York Comic Con 2026 Announcement

Over the past several months, the Naruto franchise has confirmed an upcoming brand-new trading card game as well as news for Set 2 for the Naruto Mythos card game. It even released a brand-new Little Golden Book perfect for introducing new Naruto fans with Ninja ABCs. Over the past few months, the fandom finally got the striking confirmation that the live-action Naruto movie is going forward. Helmed by all-time top domestic box office winner Spider-Man: Brand New Day director Destin Daniel Cretton, the Naruto movie’s casting calls have gone out, seeking the right talent to play its iconic characters. But the news doesn’t stop there, either.

Ahead of New York Comic Con, VIZ Media and the Naruto franchise confirmed a special announcement on October 10, 2026 for its panel, featuring Naruto voice actor Junko Takeuchi and Sasuke voice actor Noriaki Sugiyama. It teases what’s next for the franchise, a “new Naruto project”, and a roadmap for the future. Fans may have previously seen the quiet confirmation of a Boruto Part 2, and this could also easily be a release date announcement for the four remade episodes, or even a Naruto movie. But for now, in Pierrot’s hands with its new production model, there’s plenty of reason to suspect it’ll be excellent no matter what.

Studio Pierrot’s Seasonal Approach Is Paying Off

With even old-guard anime like One Piece ditching unsustainable weekly releases for a seasonal release schedule, Pierrot’s decision following rival studio Ufotable’s Demon Slayer success is looking brighter than ever. Black Clover is finally back, and its first episode for season 2 certainly did not disappoint. Kingdom continues to look great as a generational seinen anime far beyond its humble beginnings as a junky 3D CG-laden anime. But Pierrot’s absolute coup de grâce for anyone doubtful of the extent to which they can improve their anime, is Bleach. Thousand-Year Blood War, the adaptation’s phenomenal climax for a fellow Big Three franchise with next to no filler.

The Naruto franchise was only just stopping its pipeline of new anime episodes as Pierrot’s model took off initially in 2022. With a whopping 70% filler rate for Boruto’s first anime, the bar isn’t exactly high for the Naruto franchise’s next move, and it’ll almost certainly be felt with production teams being allocated more strictly to the main story. This is excellent news, as well, as Boruto’s story truly takes exciting new generations in its sequel manga.

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Has the Tighter, Better Story Than Its Predecessor

While middle arcs and key fights like those against Isshiki Ōtsutsuki, it’s not hard to find Naruto fans who balk at watching the entirety of the Boruto anime. It’s notably different from its source material, and in some ways, for good reason (Ikemoto’s child character designs are particularly rough early on), but Boruto: Two Blue Vortex has extremely positive potential.

Boruto’s manga is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and its creators and publishers rolled out impressive new cover art, a massive guidebook, and a stunning Boruto Uzumaki figure to commemorate it. Ikemoto’s excitement, as well as the general enthusiasm around the series, is quite tangible as shown in his quote commemorating the anniversary’s first update. Not only that, but Boruto: Two Blue Vortex has virtually always stayed at or near the top of Manga Plus’ hottest trending series, commonly only behind One Piece. Its creators, as well as its viewers, recognize that the series is truly more special as it has matured over the years, finally taking a well-deserved one-month break this past summer.












































Hidden Leaf Village · Chunin Exam
Naruto
Trivia Challenge

🔥
Jinchūriki
Believe it!

🔴
Sharingan
Copy ninja

🌀
Jutsu
Rasengan!

🌿
Village
Will of Fire

⚡
Bonds
Unbreakable

01

Naruto Uzumaki carries an immense burden — a powerful Tailed Beast sealed inside him since birth by the Fourth Hokage. This fox demon’s chakra gives Naruto extraordinary power but also makes him an outcast. What is the name of this Nine-Tailed Beast?




✓ Correct! Kurama is the Nine-Tailed Fox sealed within Naruto by his father, the Fourth Hokage. Initially a source of fear and hatred, Kurama eventually becomes one of Naruto’s closest allies. Their bond is one of the most emotional arcs in the entire series.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Kurama. Shukaku is the One-Tail sealed in Gaara, Matatabi is the Two-Tails, and Gyuki is the Eight-Tails sealed in Killer Bee. Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Fox, is Naruto’s legendary partner.

02

Naruto’s greatest rival is a prodigy from a prestigious clan who possesses a powerful eye technique called the Sharingan. Consumed by a desire for vengeance against his older brother, he defects from the Hidden Leaf Village. Who is this rival?




✓ Correct! Sasuke Uchiha is Naruto’s eternal rival and best friend. After the Uchiha massacre, Sasuke’s obsession with killing his brother Itachi drives him to leave the village and seek power at any cost. Their rivalry is the emotional backbone of the entire series.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Sasuke Uchiha. Neji is a Hyuga clan genius with the Byakugan, Gaara is the Sand Village’s jinchūriki, and Rock Lee is the taijutsu specialist. Only Sasuke wields the Sharingan and defects to join Orochimaru.

03

Naruto’s signature jutsu is a spinning sphere of concentrated chakra formed in the palm of his hand. Originally created by the Fourth Hokage and taught to Naruto by Jiraiya, it becomes the foundation for many of his most powerful attacks. What is this technique called?




✓ Correct! The Rasengan is a pure chakra manipulation technique that doesn’t require hand signs. Created by Minato Namikaze and passed down through Jiraiya to Naruto, it evolves into many variations including the devastating Rasenshuriken with added Wind Release nature transformation.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is the Rasengan. The Chidori is Sasuke and Kakashi’s lightning technique, Shadow Clone Jutsu is a different Naruto staple, and the Lava Rasenshuriken is a late-series variant. The base Rasengan is Naruto’s iconic spinning chakra sphere.

04

Team 7’s leader is a mysterious, mask-wearing jonin known as the “Copy Ninja” for his ability to replicate over a thousand jutsu using his borrowed Sharingan eye. He’s always reading a certain novel. Who is this legendary sensei?




✓ Correct! Kakashi Hatake, the Copy Ninja of the Sharingan, leads Team 7 (Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura). His Sharingan was a gift from his dying friend Obito Uchiha. Always cool under pressure and perpetually reading Make-Out Paradise, Kakashi eventually becomes the Sixth Hokage.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Kakashi Hatake. Might Guy leads Team Guy, Asuma leads Team 10, and Jiraiya is one of the Legendary Sannin who later trains Naruto. Only Kakashi is the masked Copy Ninja with a borrowed Sharingan who leads Team 7.

05

Sasuke’s older brother massacred nearly the entire Uchiha clan in a single night, then joined the criminal organization Akatsuki. It was later revealed he did it all on orders from the village to prevent a coup — sacrificing everything to protect his brother. Who is this tragic figure?




✓ Correct! Itachi Uchiha is one of Naruto’s most complex characters. A pacifist genius forced into an impossible choice, he bore the hatred of the entire world — including his beloved brother Sasuke — to protect the Hidden Leaf from civil war. His final words to Sasuke remain iconic.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Itachi Uchiha. Madara is the legendary clan founder, Obito is the masked man behind much of the war, and Shisui was Itachi’s best friend. Itachi alone carried out the massacre to prevent the Uchiha coup and protect Sasuke.

06

From the very first episode, Naruto declares his lifelong dream to earn the respect of his village and prove his worth. He vows to achieve the highest rank in the Hidden Leaf — its supreme leader. What is this title that Naruto dreams of?




✓ Correct! Hokage is the title of the Hidden Leaf Village’s leader, and Naruto’s dream of becoming Hokage drives the entire series. After years of struggle, he finally achieves his dream and becomes the Seventh Hokage in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Hokage. The Kazekage leads the Sand Village, Jonin Commander is a military rank, and Anbu Captain leads black ops. The Hokage is the Hidden Leaf’s supreme leader — and Naruto’s lifelong dream since he was a lonely academy student.

07

Naruto’s father was the Fourth Hokage, known as the “Yellow Flash of the Leaf” for his incredible speed using the Flying Thunder God technique. He sacrificed his life to seal the Nine-Tails inside his newborn son. What is his name?




✓ Correct! Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage and Yellow Flash, sacrificed himself using the Reaper Death Seal to seal Kurama inside baby Naruto. His love for his son and faith in Naruto’s potential made him one of the series’ most selfless characters.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Minato Namikaze. Hiruzen Sarutobi is the Third Hokage, Tobirama Senju is the Second, and Hashirama Senju is the First. Minato, the Fourth Hokage, is Naruto’s father who sealed the Nine-Tails at the cost of his own life.

08

A shy, kind-hearted kunoichi from the Hyuga clan admired Naruto from afar since their academy days. She boldly confessed her love while fighting Pain to protect him, and eventually became his wife. Who is this character?




✓ Correct! Hinata Hyuga went from a timid girl who could barely speak around Naruto to a fierce warrior who stood against Pain to protect him. Her confession during the Pain arc is one of the series’ most emotional moments. They marry in The Last: Naruto the Movie and have two children, Boruto and Himawari.

✗ Substitution jutsu failed! The answer is Hinata Hyuga. Sakura is Naruto’s teammate who loves Sasuke, Ino is Sakura’s rival from the Yamanaka clan, and Temari is a Sand Village kunoichi who marries Shikamaru. Only Hinata loved Naruto from the very beginning.

Mission Complete
Your Ninja Record


/ 8

Are you Hokage material — or still at the academy practicing clone jutsu?

Finally, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex’s anime would unify what everybody loves about Naruto: Shippuden, namely, its primary characters more battle-ready and capable of succeeding their mentors, while infusing a bit of Ikemoto’s stylistic influences. From Dragon Ball to JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, moments and still action panels such as Boruto’s dynamic return in chapter #1, or Sarada’s showstopper Sharingan moment from chapter #21, as highlighted in a recent and brilliant manga trailer, or Inojin Yamanaka’s lethal finisher against Mamushi, all speak to how exciting Boruto’s anime would be. While Boruto’s first anime cast Naruto’s franchise future in doubt, Two Blue Vortex may yet bring it back to its glory days.

With three years, a handful of Boruto’s previous manga chapters, and over 32 chapters, Naruto’s next anime is looking well-equipped as its legacy voice actors begin to gather for its production. Pierrot’s seasonal approach is more-or-less proven to be a net win for the studio, with Naruto poised to receive an astonishing quality upgrade for its eventual new releases. But more importantly, for those following, the new Boruto anime will simply be better, adapting a better story, characters having grown to become better shinobi, with new attacks, and terrifying twists on Naruto’s most powerful villains. The franchise, upon this anime’s arrival, has plenty to be optimistic about.

  • Naruto (2002) TV Show Poster

    First Film

    Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow

    Latest Film

    Boruto: Naruto the Movie

    First TV Show

    Naruto

    Latest TV Show

    Boruto: Naruto Next Generations

    First Episode Air Date

    October 3, 2002

    Cast

    Junko Takeuchi, Maile Flanagan, Noriaki Sugiyama, Chie Nakamura, Kazuhiko Inoue, Nana Mizuki, Hideo Ishikawa, Yûko Sanpei

    Naruto is a franchise spawned from the manga series penned by Masashi Kishimoto that began in 1999. Generating several tv series, games, movies, and more, Naruto follows the exploits of a young outcast ninja harboring the spirit of a demon fox who seeks to become the Hokage, the leader of his ninja village, to break the stigma against him. Upon the conclusion of the initial series, Naruto expanded into Boruto, following many series protagonists’ children and returning faces.


  • Boruto Two Blue Vortex Volume 1 Cover

    Writer

    Masashi Kishimoto

    Writers

    Masashi Kishimoto

    Penciler(s)

    Mikio Ikemoto

    Inker(s)

    Mikio Ikemoto

    Colorist(s)

    Mikio Ikemoto

    Publisher(s)

    Viz Media

    Years after fleeing his village with Sasuke, Boruto returns to confront the dark changes that have occurred. With memories altered and Kawaki now seen as the hero, Boruto faces a world where he is the outcast. The two rivals must settle their differences as their Otsutsuki powers grow more dangerous.


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