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Former fighting dreamers, this might perk your ears! The creator of Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto, will be returning as the storywriter for the Boruto source material. According to Anime News Network, the original writer, Ukyou Kodachi, will be retiring from the manga and Kishimito will take over from the 52nd chapter. This chapter will be published by Shueisha on November 21.
Kodachi’s official Twitter account (interpreted from Japanese via Anime News Network), stated that this change was “planned from the beginning”. The writer then expressed his gratitude to the fans for their support.
Passing of the Torch to Boruto
Following the huge success of Naruto, the Boruto sequel manga was launched in 2016. The anime quickly followed, premiering in 2017. Many fans of the original series have expressed their disappointment in the direction of the sequel – in particular, the Boruto anime. Fans and critics have cited pacing, lack of character development, and the general traits of Boruto as reasons for their dissatisfaction.
In addition, they have also noted that there is an inconsistency in the treatment of previous main characters like Naruto and Sasuke. The powers and abilities of these anime legends were god-like in the original series. To give way to the new hero in Boruto, their abilities have been noticeably downplayed in the sequel. There are, however, several critics that believe the Boruto manga is superior to the anime adaption.
Kishimoto’s Return to the Boruto Manga
We will just have to wait and see what Kishimoto’s return means for the source material and its fans. Will he impose his own vision, or will he stay somewhat true to Kodachi’s established story? The idea that this was a “planned” change perhaps suggests that Kishimoto already had something in mind for Boruto. Only time will tell.
As a Naruto fan myself, I understand the frustration in the new series. Seeing your childhood heroes become boring parents is not the most exciting thing in the world. However, there is a time when we must give way to the new. So, here’s to the new – and the return of the old, I guess.
How do you feel about this writing change? If you haven’t been satisfied with the Boruto anime and manga, do you think this will change your tune? Let me know in the comments!