Naruto Live-Action Can Be Saved By This One Piece Life Hack

Summary:

• The Naruto manga series, written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto, was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine from September 21, 1999, to November 10, 2014.
• The anime adaptation premiered in Japan on October 3, 2002.
• The series was translated into multiple languages and distributed in numerous countries.
• Now, a live-action adaptation of the hit anime has received a huge update, bringing it closer to release.

The live-action adaptation of Naruto has been long-awaited by fans of the beloved manga and anime series. It has been in production since 2015, but the authors have shared almost no information about it.

It is no surprise that the news of director Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) joining the production generated immense excitement among the fanbase.

However, the opinions are divided due to past disappointments with anime adaptations. Many fans remain skeptical, citing previous failures that have failed to live up to expectations.

Remember Death Note, released in 2017? It was criticized for its whitewashed casting, with many fans expressing disappointment over the decision to relocate the story from Japan to Seattle and cast predominantly white actors in Japanese roles.

The whitewashing along with deviation from the established lore was also a problem in Dragonball Evolution (2009) and Ghost in the Shell (2017) as well, leaving the fans underwhelmed and feeling that the adaptation lacked the depth and nuance of the anime.

Yet, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon. The recent successful adaptation of One Piece on screen has sparked optimism among some fans. The well-received adaptation has demonstrated that it is possible to translate beloved anime series into live-action formats with authenticity and quality.

The key to success was the close involvement of the franchise creator Eiichiro Oda in the show’s development. He revealed that he even forced Netflix to reshoot some of the scenes just to ensure that the series gives due respect to the original and its devoted fanbase.

With that being said, the involvement of Naruto’s creator Masashi Kishimoto in the creative process is already a huge win for the upcoming adaptation. At least fans can expect it will deliver a faithful and compelling interpretation of the source material.

Fans believe that Naruto could have a shot at success if Kishimoto shows as much devotion to the production process as Oda did with One Piece's adaptation.

”If Kishimoto is involved I’m intrigued, if Kishimoto has as much involvement and control as Oda did for One Piece I’m interested and have faith," X user makenshi_madou said.

And since Kishimoto himself stated that Daniel Cretton is the perfect director to lead the project… can we now expect a perfect live-screen adaptation of little ninja’s adventures?