10 Anime Shows That Tried To Be Naruto But Failed Miserably

1. "Black Clover" (2017)

From the get-go, "Black Clover" seemed destined to fill the Naruto- shaped hole in our hearts. It had a plucky underdog, Asta, with an undying dream to become the Wizard King. It had a rival, Yuno, prodigiously talented and cool as a cucumber. Sound familiar? Despite these apparent similarities, "Black Clover" stumbled in its execution. Character development often felt rushed or non-existent, and the plot pacing was inconsistent. And remember when Asta's yelling made everyone's ears bleed in the first few episodes? Yeah, not the best start. Even though it did gather a cult following, critics often bashed it for being a generic shounen that failed to bring anything new to the table.

2. "Boruto: Naruto Next Generations" (2017)

How can a Naruto spin-off try and fail to be Naruto? Well, "Boruto: Naruto Next Generations" found a way. Instead of capturing the essence of Naruto, Boruto leaned into the shadow of its predecessor, often straining under the weight of the expectations set by the original series. Viewers found the new generation of characters less engaging, with Boruto himself often criticized for lacking Naruto's inspiring determination. Fun fact, the creators initially didn't even plan for a sequel to Naruto, but due to its popularity, they eventually went ahead with "Boruto". However, the show often struggled with filling its episode count, resorting to mundane slice-of-life arcs that failed to capture the adventurous spirit of Naruto.

3. "Fairy Tail" (2009)

"Fairy Tail" seemed like a promising contender in the Naruto-inspired arena. It had a team of powerful wizards, epic battles, and the underlying theme of the power of friendship. However, it quickly fell into a loop of repetitive arcs and formulaic outcomes. Remember when Natsu defeated the bad guy by merely remembering his friends? Yeah, rinse and repeat for 328 episodes. The power scaling became inconsistent, with characters defeating stronger opponents through sheer plot convenience. Critics have often lamented its excessive fan service and lack of character development. Even though it has a loyal fanbase, it never reached the heights Naruto did.

4. "Twin Star Exorcists" (2016)

"Twin Star Exorcists" took a page from the Naruto book with its destined couple narrative and conflict-ridden world. It follows Rokuro and Benio, two talented exorcists destined to marry and have a child prophesied to be the ultimate exorcist. However, the show often lost its way with its inconsistent tone, shifting from dark themes to light-hearted romantic comedy, often in the span of a single episode. Plus, the characters didn't exactly scream originality, with many of them falling into standard anime archetypes. Despite its potential, the anime suffered from poor pacing and an over-reliance on clichés, ultimately falling short of being the next Naruto.

5. "Radiant" (2018)

Inspired by the shounen formula, "Radiant" had all the makings of a Naruto-style show. Its protagonist, Seth, a young wizard with a grand ambition, certainly had Naruto-esque qualities. However, unlike Naruto, which effectively balanced its humor with emotional depth, "Radiant" struggled to hit the right tone, often turning serious moments into comedic ones, thereby lessening their impact. Furthermore, the anime was criticized for its slow pacing and excessive filler episodes. It felt more like a Naruto filler arc than a stand-alone show, causing it to pale in comparison to the anime it drew inspiration from.

6. "Blue Exorcist" (2011)

"Blue Exorcist" offered a unique premise with Rin, the son of Satan, aiming to become an exorcist to fight his own kind. However, despite its interesting setup, the series didn't capitalize on its potential. While it started strong, it veered off course in its second half with an anime-original ending that left fans scratching their heads. This series also suffered from inconsistent character development and pacing issues, which detracted from the overall experience. Due to the backlash from the fans about the first season's ending, a second season was made that ignored the events of the first season's latter half entirely.

7. "Ninja Collection" (2020)

As the title suggests, "Ninja Collection" was an obvious attempt to jump on the ninja-themed anime bandwagon. However, unlike Naruto, which made us empathize with and cheer for its characters, this anime failed to create a strong emotional bond between the viewers and its characters. Furthermore, the animation quality was subpar, and the storytelling was disjointed, which made the viewing experience less engaging. Critics panned the series, and it holds a rather dismal rating on many anime databases.

8. "Soul Land" (2018)

This Chinese anime, also known as "Douluo Dalu," tried to emulate the success of Naruto in the Chinese market. It features a reincarnated martial artist in a new world who aspires to reach the pinnacle of the martial world. However, despite its promising premise, the anime suffered from stiff animation, unoriginal characters, and a lack of depth in its storytelling. The protagonist's overpowered abilities also made the battles less thrilling, as the outcome was almost always a foregone conclusion. Although it's relatively popular in China, it hasn't gained much traction internationally, largely due to these shortcomings.

9. "UQ Holder!" (2017)

"UQ Holder!" presents a Naruto-like protagonist, Touta, who aims to climb to the top of a tower to fulfill his promise to a friend. Sounds like an interesting premise, right? Unfortunately, the series suffers from an overly fast pace, rushing through arcs without giving them room to breathe or properly develop. The characters, despite being likable, lacked depth, and their abilities often felt inconsistent. Critics also pointed out the overuse of fan service that often felt forced and detracted from the narrative. Overall, while it may have sought to replicate Naruto's success, it ultimately didn't hit the mark.

10. "Taboo Tattoo" (2016)

In "Taboo Tattoo," we follow the journey of Justice Akazuka (nicknamed "Seigi"), a young man who acquires a mysterious tattoo that gives him supernatural powers, reminiscent of Naruto's seal. Similar to the early days of Naruto Uzumaki, Seigi is raw and untrained but filled with a strong sense of justice. However, the anime falls short of being a Naruto replacement. The pacing is erratic, rushing through some parts while dragging in others. The storyline grows increasingly convoluted, and the excessive fan service was a turn-off for many viewers. Critics were harsh, pointing out its subpar animation quality and lackluster fight scenes. The most damning criticism? Seigi's supernatural powers seem far too random, lacking the systematic growth and progression that Naruto's abilities demonstrated.