Anime Review: Boruto: Naruto the Movie (Lights, Camera, Action!)

Boruto: Naruto the Movie (UK Rating: 12)

Okay, it has to be said that "Boruto" is indeed a silly name. It's basically "Bolt," as evidenced by the shape of a Bolt behind the series title. It makes sense to the fans out there who understand - Naruto ended up with Hinata, Hinata's older brother Neji lost his life in the Ninja War, Neji means "Screw" or "Whirl," so he was named after his deceased uncle. Now into the story! The film picks up with the next generation of kids, and compared to where the original series ended, the world has drastically altered. The ninja villages have come to a unifying peace after the great war, and thanks to this, the technology and society of the world have greatly moved on.

The story picks up as a major event is about to begin in Konoha. Preparations for the Chuunin exam are underway and ninja from every country are coming to attend. The Chuunin exam holds a special place in the hearts of fans of the original series. Naruto's Chuunin exam had many memorable and iconic moments: rhe forest of death, the "Ninja info cards," Rock Lee vs. Gaara, the impromptu rescue arc, the introduction of many special moves, and so on. It is, without a doubt, one of the best arcs in the series. Here the Chuunin exam is rather brief but it's filled with promising moments that will doubtlessly get fleshed out when it reaches the new anime adaptation. There are the necessary one-on-one battles at the end of the tournament, and even something of a capture the flag match to showcase the abilities of the new characters.

The Chuunin exam may be the backdrop to the story but its heart is the relationship between Boruto and his father. While Naruto grew up without parents, Boruto is growing up with an absentee father. Naruto taking on the office of the Seventh Hokage has taken up the majority of his time, and while he utilises liberal and inventive uses of his shadow clones to take on more tasks than would ever be possible, he has still missed much, and children's lives. Boruto has gotten use to his father's lack of attention, but it's when Naruto lets down Boruto's little sister, Himawari, on her birthday that Boruto finally snaps. He enlists his father's rival, Sasuke, as his mentor to train him to whoop his Dad.

This tale may be all about the Chuunin exam and the Uzumaki family feud, but there is a much bigger threat lurking in the background. The antagonists are a familiar classic anime trope - one huge powerhouse and one smaller that, of course, turns out to be much more powerful. This pair is of the Otsutsuki clan, the same as series' final antagonist Kaguya. These two are attempting to track down the fruit of the Chakra Tree also, gathering up the Jinchuuriki and planning to use them to produce special pills that grant them immortality. The pair has its eye on a certain fox…

There were many contenders to the big three over the years but none quite made it: series like Toriko and Assassination Classroom. There's still hope today for new Shonen to reach those same levels, though, with popular new series like Boku no Hero Academia, The Promised Neverland, and Black Clover all vying for the mountain where One Piece now is.

8/10

Great - Silver Award

While original series creator, Masashi Kishimoto, had a huge part in this story, it's also the work of Ukyo Kodachi, the man who is helming the monthly manga, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. Whether the Boruto series can live up to its lineage is yet to be seen, but if this film is anything to go by, it's safe to say the story is in good hands. Boruto: Naruto the Movie completely captures the heart of the original and sets the stage for a new story with a new protagonist, bridging the gap between the generations. A highly enjoyable story that fits with the series; if only the main series had an epilogue like this.