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Is Boruto worth watching? Analyzing the anime adaptation produced by Studio Pierrot and comparing it to the source material.
Boruto is one of the most popular shonen titles today. However, it didn’t really have the best start. The anime adaptation received a lot of negative attention. There are plenty of reasons for it. But what fans failed to realize was that the sequel had extremely big shoes to fill. It’s a direct sequel to the original Naruto series. Therefore, expectations were through the roof, and there was a lot riding on the anime.
That being said, there are plenty of anime consumers who still haven’t watched the show. They seem to have one question in particular – is Boruto worth watching? The anime adaptation isn’t consistent, and therefore, it’s safe to say that the anime adaptation isn’t worth watching.
However, if you as a viewer do not mind inconsistencies in your adaptation, then it’s worth a try. That being said, the adaptation is laden with issues and is currently on an indefinite hiatus. Aside from the issue mentioned earlier, the portrayal of the protagonist didn’t really help the anime’s case. Masashi Kishimoto and Mikio Ikemoto portrayed Naruto’s son in a way that upset many fans. This is because he stained his father’s legacy, something that he built with blood, sweat, and tears. Let’s take a look at the source material, compare it to the adaptation, and understand why it’s better to read the manga instead.
Boruto Manga: The Source Material
The Boruto manga is the source material. Masashi Kishimoto and Mikio Ikemoto wrote and illustrated the sequel series. The source material tends to have better pacing, and this is no exception. The pacing in the manga is steady and doesn’t feel extremely slow. There are parts of the manga that could have been more entertaining. However, the manga largely is fun to read. The art style is quite similar to the original Naruto series. Veteran anime and manga consumers will enjoy it since it’s an art style that they have seen for nearly a decade.
There is a sense of familiarity that helps readers get hooked on the manga. There are several titles with compelling stories, but the art style can be a bit of a barrier. This is not the case with the Boruto series. Therefore, it has all the elements that can get the readers hooked on the series. That being said, there are some glaring issues.
The initial portrayal of the protagonist was far from optimal. However, this characterization improves organically over time. In fact, this is part of the reason why the manga is entertaining to read. There are a plethora of fight sequences, and Ikemoto has a dynamic quality to his illustrations. Now that we have covered a few compelling points that make the manga worth reading, let’s take a look at some of the pros of watching the anime adaptation.
The Pros of Boruto Anime Adaptation
It’s safe to say that the anime adaptation has very few points that make it entertaining. Studio Pierrot is known for its weekly release schedule, which affected the quality of the anime adaptation. That being said, there were a few episodes that showcased incredible animation.
The fight involving Naruto, Sasuke, and Momoshiki was a visual masterpiece. There was plenty of taijutsu, which makes for an entertaining viewing experience. The particle effects were perfect for this fight. This is quite possibly the best part of watching the anime adaptation. Aside from this, there aren’t many elements that make the anime adaptation worth watching. There are very few people who enjoy the slice-of-life filler content that Studio Pierrot puts out. However, the majority of fans don’t like it since it impacts the pacing. Music lovers who enjoy J-Rock have a few openings that they can enjoy. These are the only few elements that make the anime worth watching.
Cons of the Boruto Anime
Pacing and animation were the biggest problems here. The weekly schedule impacted their resources, and their animation went downhill. The anime adaptation had a weekly schedule, and the manga had a monthly schedule. This is a recipe for disaster because there were plenty of filler episodes.
Fans wouldn’t have an issue if the animation studio put out good-quality filler content. However, that wasn’t the case. The viewing experience deteriorated very quickly. The sheer length of the filler arcs made it almost impossible to stick to this show. To add fuel to the fire, the animation studio is currently on an indefinite hiatus. We don’t know when the anime adaptation will return. However, we can say one thing for sure. The anime will be more enjoyable to watch if Studio Pierrot releases episodes in a seasonal format.
Should You Read the Manga or Watch the Anime?
The answer is clear. We highly recommend that you read the manga. The source material has been releasing content regularly. Furthermore, fans who read the manga will thoroughly enjoy the Two Blue Vortex installation. This has incredible writing, the stakes have risen substantially, and every character has gotten considerably stronger.
The political landscape has changed quite a bit, and newer antagonists have made their way into the village. The manga is far better than the anime adaptation. Therefore, we urge interested anime and manga fans to pick up the source material and read it. However, we also suggest watching a couple of well-animated fight sequences if they wish to consume that particular medium.
Conclusion
The Boruto anime is not a good adaptation. There are glaring issues that need fixing. Fans can read the source material until that happens. Studio Pierrot has shown incredible promise with the way they adapted Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War. We know that the animation studio is exceptionally capable. Therefore, a seasonal release of the anime adaptation could have a cascading effect and solve most, if not all, problems. Until then, fans can read the source material if they wish to explore the series.
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