Is Naruto at DBZ's level of popularity in the past?

Sebastian (SB) · Post by **Sebastian (SB)** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 12:04 am

I LOVED the first 130-50 or so episodes of Naruto! I felt that was Naruto at it's best, then the fillers came in.........Now I'm primerly a Dragon Ball/ One Piece fanatic. Of course I'm always open to other SJ titles..... Ahem, I think Naruto hasn't reached the status DB. Dragon Ball was a worldwide phenoma & is known across the world. It's iconic. Sure, it may not be as popular as more modern titles, but it's easily recognized. Is it as popular?....Hmm.

BlueSky · Post by **Kaboom** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 12:18 am

From what I understand, the fillers are just about over. The new season, "Hurricane Chronicles," was it called? It's starting up soon, kicking off with the Kakashi Gaiden special.

nathantheguitarist · Post by **nathantheguitarist** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 12:28 am

From what I understand, the fillers are just about over. The new season, "Hurricane Chronicles," was it called? It's starting up soon, kicking off with the Kakashi Gaiden special.

Yes they do

"Hurricane Chronicles" or "Shippuu-den" starts February 15th, but the anime itself has taken a short hiatus, and will be pooping out more fillers starting January 11th. It's a shame though, considering they've had close to 100 filler episodes... that many filler makes the Garlic Jr. Saga look like gold

Here's a preview of Naruto Part 2

Short, but neat ;P

I have no idea if they're going to start with the Kakashi Gaiden or not, though

Maker777 · Post by **Maker777** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 12:39 am

I think Db, One Piece and Naruto share the same fanbase. Since Db is finished and there are no more episodes they turn to other anime as One Piece and Naruto. I missed most of the Db era and now what do I have to watch? Naruto and One Piece. I have more Naruto DVD's the Db.

Uh..That is my opinion.

mAcChaos · Post by **mAcChaos** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 12:47 am

Where's the manga in all this? Did it grind to a screeching halt, or something, and they had to make more anime episodes to stall for time?

nathantheguitarist · Post by **nathantheguitarist** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 12:56 am

mAcChaos wrote:Where's the manga in all this? Did it grind to a screeching halt, or something, and they had to make more anime episodes to stall for time?

Yeah, the manga has been going into Part 2 for a good while now. They've made in the anime 100 filler episodes to give it time to get far.
I think since 2005 the manga has been in part 2

Xyex · Post by **Xyex** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 1:16 am

mAcChaos wrote:Where's the manga in all this? Did it grind to a screeching halt, or something, and they had to make more anime episodes to stall for time?

The manga didn't slow down or stop, the anime company just screwed up the beginning of the show and failed to include enough filler to keep a decent distance from the manga. Thus they needed to throw all of the filler in now in order to fall back again. That's one thing DB/Z handled well. Just enough filler to keep pace, not so much you started wondering if it would ever end.

Anyway, as for the question at hand, I don't think it's gotten there just yet. I'm not sure anything will reach the level of popularity of DBZ. But Naruto definately has the potential. Next to Z it's my favorite anime.

And people really need to stop bashing the Naruto dub. It's a great dub. Don't believe me? I got two words for you: One Piece.

Tenken · Post by **Tenken** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 1:35 am

I'm a big Naruto fan (been watching since 2002), so this will (probably) put some perspective on this.

First off: the filler. They've been showing filler episodes for the past two years, I kept reading the manga, but skipped the anime as soon as they started.

I once said that the first episode of Naruto has more character development than the first 30 episodes of dragon ball z. I stand by that statement...

...However, After the Leaf invasion, the anime gets pretty stale. It will certainly drop off in popularity after the "chase (don't wanna give too much away)" ends and the filler starts. I hope Viz just skips licensing the filler altogether, since its pretty much bunched together in one big lump, heh.

To be honest, I don't think Naruto can or ever will hit the mega-status that is Dragon Ball. It feels as if Kishimoto doesn't know what he wants to do with the series.

He's created so many awesome characters (The "Rookie 9," Legendary 3, Kimimaro, Rock Lee, ITACHI, etc, etc) and its very difficult to develop each of them and keep the manga at a decent pace. It wasn't such a big deal in the past but there are a heck of a lot more characters now.

Imagine Dragon Ball with 3 vegetas, 5 piccolos, and 10 Kame-senins and you'll get what I mean.

Snail · Post by **Snail** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 1:40 am

I'm not sure, but wasn't Yu Yu Hakusho, and Dragonball Z the 'big thing' back in the day in Japan? If so, then Naruto would be today's 'Dragonball Z', and Bleach would be today's 'Yu Yu Hakusho'. That's how I see it anyhow lol. =P.

Tenken · Post by **Tenken** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 1:43 am

Studio Pierrot fucked up Bleach the same way they did Naruto. After the Soul Society Arc, its filler city (Which is a shame because the new chapters of the manga are awesome).

nathantheguitarist · Post by **nathantheguitarist** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 1:45 am

Bleach fillers end in Febuary too

I'm not too sure when exactly, but I know it's comming around Naruto Part 2.

EvilGamerX · Post by **EvilGamerX** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 2:29 am

I'm sorry, can't control urge to speak anymore.

Naruto is the sole reason why I have given up in the manga/anime genre. When a crappy series of this magnitude can become popular, I know that shit floods popularity. I fuu--ucking hate the characters. Most annoying unoriginal peaces of shit. I'm a loud ninja who wears bright colors, bite me. The story actually made me bang my head once I caught up-to-date (which was rescue Sasuke arc). I liked the beginning... Zabuza. Once the Hunter Ex... I mean Chuunin Exam began... it was numbing. I actually banged my head so hard once that I ended up bleeding from the forehead a lot. It was tedious, but in order for me to have a stable say, I had to be up-to-date so no whiny turd could tell me I didn't get to this or that plot/hole yet. I did give up once Gaara was resurrected with the Dragon Balls. I'm sorry... the high blood pressure is coming back due to thinking of how the hell people like this crap and how crappy the manga standards are, so I better stop before I get sent to the hospital again (no joke). Let me conclude...

Basically here is the deal, when Dragon Ball was around there were all these great series running, and not 95% shit as it is now-a-days. Basically the time periods can't be compared. One Piece is more popular in Japan. I can't blame it for not being in the U.S. because face it America is more like fights and blood yay, plot is boring; also every English version of One Piece blows. Naruto and Bleach are popular, and I say they aren't special. We all know I think Naruto is crap and that the only way I use the manga pages now is to wipe my ass. As for Bleach, I like it... but I have to admit... it is just simply repetitive. I swear if there is another "Save the princess" arc... I will kill someone. Want good current manga, read One Piece, Eyeshield 21, FullMetal Alchemist, and 20th Century Boys.

DBW · Post by **DBW** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 3:45 am

EvilGamerX wrote:Naruto is the sole reason why I have given up in the manga/anime genre.

Heh, although I can't say Naruto was my catalyst, I agree with giving up on anime. Nowadays I might sample series here and there, but for the most part I either stick with writers/directors that I love, or I just go retro.

Anime used to be much more creative, and the process was much more selective from the '60s through to the '80s. Urusei Yatsura (one Japan's most popular series), came out in Weekly Shounen Sunday in 1978, but didn't make it to TV until late 1981 because they were waiting for the correct timing to release the series (it ended up being paired with Dr. Slump). If they released it in the late '70s it would've been up against such dramas as Space Pirate Captain Harlock, Galaxy Express 999, Mobile Suit Gundam, and Rose of Versailles. Instead they decided to hold off production until 1980, when most of these heavy-hitter dramas had ended, and more light-hearted shows (like Slump) were starting to hit the airwaves. And as far as I'm concerned, the Toriyama/Takahashi team-up of the 1980's ended up being one of the greatest moments in animation history. Dr. Slump / Urusei Yatsura - DragonBall / Maison Ikkoku. Now that's what I'm talking about!

I mean, even the original Lupin III series from 1971 (a brilliantly directed series for it's time) got cancelled 3 episodes shy of it's finale, due to sub-par ratings. It used to be a very harsh world for anime, you know, what with maintaining quality and all. Nowadays they just shovel the shit out as fast as they possibly can. The sad thing is that the market is so saturated with crap right now, that what few gems there are out there generally go unnoticed.

Anyways, I don't think Naruto is at Dragonball's level at the moment, but if it ever does get there, it just shows what a sad state of affairs the anime world is in right now. All the while One Piece flies below the radar in North America...geez.

Tenken wrote:I once said that the first episode of Naruto has more character development than the first 30 episodes of dragon ball z. I stand by that statement...

I respect that you like Naruto, but c'mon. First off, the first 30 episodes of DBZ are actually episodes 154-184 of the series. Secondly, I don't consider it good character development when they just tell you the emotion.

Naruto is sad, he has no friends/family, he seeks attention.
Naruto's emotional fault is used against him, he is tricked!
Iruka protects Naruto, but why?
*Flashback* - Iruka shared a similar childhood, he can relate to Naruto!
Naruto and Iruka are now good friends.

Toriyama, on the other hand, develops his characters through actions. We learn about the characters by observing how they act in every episode. There's no point where we see a flashback of Yamucha's fractured childhood, but we can understand his character perfectly by simply watching his behaviour from episode to episode.

Brad Redfield · Post by **Brad Redfield** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 4:35 am

Naruto's quality aside, the series is pretty popular in the US, I think. Each new manga volume has been a bestseller, the uncut DVDs appear to be doing well, and it is Cartoon Network's number one watched show apparently. Is it as popular as DBZ was at its height? Not yet, I believe. Give it some more time and it could get to that point unless the filler loses a good chunk of the viewing audience here.

Now if you excuse me, I'm gonna go weep over One Piece in that random corner over there.

Maker777 · Post by **Maker777** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 5:22 am

I'm sure the filler arc will lose most manga reading fans. Although the clueless " I like l1k3 t3h Amin3 f0r t3h 1 am sh1t at p00" fans will stay and watch.

Gaiash · Post by **Gaiash** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 5:44 am

Whenever I see a list of new members on a big forum like Gaia I notice that there will be at least one name of a character from with Dragonball Z, Naruto or InuYasha. Now being English I haven't seen much of InuYasha except for my last trip to florida when it was late and I had to keep the volume down or else my family would have woke up and I tend to like seeing a fair amount of dub episodes before I see the Japanese vertion. But Naruto does air here in England and I've seen the Japanese episodes that haven't aired here yet so its safe to say I enjoy both vertions so I can give my views on this debate.

Naruto has a lot of net fame yet like most shows I like its fans are spread out and just about none live near me or are in my class. But while I think Naruto is a great anime its not as good as the fanboys make it out to be, but that doesn't make it crap in fact its actually become one of my favorates along with Pokemon and Dragonball. Now Dragonball Z does indeed have a very similar fanbase, in fact this forum contains the more mature fans but on forums that aren't exactly Dragonball themed the n00bish people tend to be the ones with names like Goku118, SasukeXNaruto, SSJVegeta42, OVERNINETHOUSAND etc. As stated already One Piece has a bigger fanbase than Naruto in Japan, mostly due to the edits at 4kids decreasing the number of new fans outside Japan, I think its safe to say if One Piece had been dubbed by someone else that it would have a similar fanbase since it and Naruto combined are in some ways the new Dragonball.

Payne222 · Post by **Payne222** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 8:34 am

Tenken wrote:Studio Pierrot fucked up Bleach the same way they did Naruto. After the Soul Society Arc, its filler city (Which is a shame because the new chapters of the manga are awesome).

Oi! Hey, Bleach's Filler Arc (called the Arrancar Arc), ends...I guess a few hours now in Japan.

EvilGamerX wrote:I'm sorry, can't control urge to speak anymore.

Naruto is the sole reason why I have given up in the manga/anime genre. When a crappy series of this magnitude can become popular, I know that shit floods popularity. I fuu--ucking hate the characters. Most annoying unoriginal peaces of shit. I'm a loud ninja who wears bright colors, bite me. The story actually made me bang my head once I caught up-to-date (which was rescue Sasuke arc). I liked the beginning... Zabuza. Once the Hunter Ex... I mean Chuunin Exam began... it was numbing. I actually banged my head so hard once that I ended up bleeding from the forehead a lot. It was tedious, but in order for me to have a stable say, I had to be up-to-date so no whiny turd could tell me I didn't get to this or that plot/hole yet. I did give up once Gaara was resurrected with the Dragon Balls. I'm sorry... the high blood pressure is coming back due to thinking of how the hell people like this crap and how crappy the manga standards are, so I better stop before I get sent to the hospital again (no joke). Let me conclude...

Basically here is the deal, when Dragon Ball was around there were all these great series running, and not 95% shit as it is now-a-days. Basically the time periods can't be compared. One Piece is more popular in Japan. I can't blame it for not being in the U.S. because face it America is more like fights and blood yay, plot is boring; also every English version of One Piece blows. Naruto and Bleach are popular, and I say they aren't special. We all know I think Naruto is crap and that the only way I use the manga pages now is to wipe my ass. As for Bleach, I like it... but I have to admit... it is just simply repetitive. I swear if there is another "Save the princess" arc... I will kill someone. Want good current manga, read One Piece, Eyeshield 21, FullMetal Alchemist, and 20th Century Boys.

I agree on the whole Naruto thing, but what I beg to differ is your choice of a "good current manga". I would have to say, Bleach, Fullmetal Alchemist, D. Gray-Man, and/or Kattekyo Hitman Reborn!.

Olivier Hague · Post by **Olivier Hague** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 8:55 am

Payne222 wrote:
Tenken wrote:Want good current manga, read One Piece, Eyeshield 21, FullMetal Alchemist, and 20th Century Boys.
I agree on the whole Naruto thing, but what I beg to differ is your choice of a "good current manga". I would have to say, Bleach, Fullmetal Alchemist, D. Gray-Man, and/or Kattekyo Hitman Reborn!.

And I'd say (in no particular order) Vagabond, Berserk, Yotsuba & !, Mugen no Jûnin, Real, Hunter x Hunter (yes, it's "current"... technically), Gunnm Last Order, Mushishi...
And in the "recent but not "current" anymore" category, I'd probably add Genshiken and Death Note.

20th Century Boys, though? The five first volumes were nice, but after that... The whole story has been falling apart for years, now...

Rioan · Post by **Rioan** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 9:36 am

I havnt posted in a while, but i think you huys are getting a little off topic here. By the way, Death Note is a one-shot manga. I mean, how many volumes could they actually do? You write the name of a person in the book and they die.Ok, where is the story? I've only read the first, but i dont think ill read more. Although its popularity is pretty high in Japan. Could someone make a new posting about "The Japanese Manga Chain"?
Then we could put what we think on the top for best manga (DRAGONBALL!!!) or Anime.(I'm not going to, just an idea.)

Olivier Hague · Post by **Olivier Hague** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 9:50 am

Rioan wrote:By the way, Death Note is a one-shot manga. I mean, how many volumes could they actually do?

Er... If you call any series with less than 30 volumes "one-shot", yeah, I guess? ^^;

You write the name of a person in the book and they die.Ok, where is the story?

... You're kidding, right? ^^;