The Boruto anime series, a sequel to the immensely popular Naruto franchise, can be enjoyed with the Naruto movies to enhance the overall viewing experience. While Boruto doesn’t directly incorporate the Naruto movies into its canon storyline, watching them beforehand offers valuable context about the characters, world-building, and power dynamics that influence the Boruto narrative.
Understanding the Boruto Timeline and Movie Integration
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations follows the adventures of Naruto Uzumaki’s son, Boruto, and his friends. While the anime primarily focuses on its own original storylines and adaptations of the Boruto manga, understanding the events of the Naruto era, particularly those depicted in the movies, enriches the viewing experience. The movies provide critical backstory and character development for figures like Naruto, Sasuke, and the various villains who still hold sway in the new generation.
Chronological Context is Key
While the Boruto anime is generally considered a separate entity from the Naruto movies, knowing the power scaling and abilities showcased in the films – like the Rinnegan abilities of Sasuke or the various transformations of Naruto – allows for a better appreciation of the limitations and possibilities within the Boruto universe. It’s less about strict chronological adherence and more about understanding the established power levels and character arcs.
Why Watch Naruto Movies Before or During Boruto?
The Naruto movies showcase key events and power-ups that are often referenced or alluded to in Boruto. While Boruto explains some of the relevant backstory, the movies offer a more visually engaging and detailed account. For instance, understanding the events of The Last: Naruto the Movie provides context for Naruto and Hinata’s relationship and the evolution of the Hyuga clan, which are central to Himawari’s character development in Boruto. Similarly, understanding the threats faced in films like Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Blood Prison reveals the scope of the power Naruto and others attained.
Recommended Movie Viewing Order for Boruto Fans
It’s generally recommended to watch the Naruto movies before diving deep into the Boruto anime, or alongside it, following the original release order of the Naruto films. This ensures that the viewer experiences the character and world-building developments in a progressive manner.
Essential Naruto Movies to Watch
While all Naruto movies offer entertainment, some are more relevant than others to the Boruto narrative:
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Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow: Introduces themes of teamwork and overcoming adversity that resonate throughout both series.
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Naruto the Movie 2: Legend of the Stone of Gelel: While not directly referenced, expands on the world-building and showcases different types of ninja techniques.
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Naruto the Movie 3: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom: Emphasizes Naruto’s dedication to protecting others, a trait passed down to Boruto.
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Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Sets the stage for the power levels characters like Naruto and Sakura reach.
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Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Bonds: Explores themes of brotherhood and the consequences of war.
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Naruto Shippuden the Movie: The Will of Fire: Showcases the dedication of the previous generation to the Hidden Leaf Village, a concept important to Boruto’s understanding of his father.
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Naruto Shippuden the Movie: The Lost Tower: Introduces time travel elements, which occasionally appear in the broader Naruto/Boruto universe.
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Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Blood Prison: Demonstrates Naruto’s resilience and his fight against injustice.
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Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie: Explores alternate realities and character personalities.
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The Last: Naruto the Movie: Crucial for understanding Naruto and Hinata’s relationship, and the origins of Himawari’s Byakugan. This should be watched before starting Boruto.
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Boruto: Naruto the Movie: This movie is essentially the first arc of the Boruto anime. Watching the movie before watching the anime provides a condensed and visually stunning introduction to Boruto’s story.
How Boruto: Naruto the Movie Fits In
The Boruto: Naruto the Movie is particularly important. It’s the foundation upon which the Boruto anime series is built. While the anime expands on the movie’s plot, watching the film first provides a concise and exciting introduction to Boruto’s character, his relationship with Naruto, and the new threats facing the ninja world. Many fans consider it essential viewing before even beginning the Boruto series.
Alternative Viewing Options
Not every viewer wants to dedicate the time to watching all the Naruto movies. Here are some alternatives:
Watching Key Movie Scenes
If time is limited, consider watching summaries or key scenes from the more relevant movies (like The Last and Boruto: Naruto the Movie) on platforms like YouTube. This provides crucial context without committing to the full-length films.
Reading Movie Summaries and Analyses
Numerous online resources offer detailed summaries and analyses of the Naruto movies. These resources can provide a quick overview of the plot, characters, and themes, allowing you to understand the relevant information without watching the movies themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Watching Boruto with Movies
Here are some common questions related to viewing the Naruto movies in conjunction with the Boruto anime:
FAQ 1: Do I have to watch the Naruto movies before watching Boruto?
No, it’s not mandatory. The Boruto anime is designed to be accessible even without prior knowledge of the Naruto movies. However, watching them greatly enriches the experience by providing context and backstory that enhances your understanding of the world and characters.
FAQ 2: Is Boruto: Naruto the Movie canon to the Boruto anime?
Yes, absolutely. The events of Boruto: Naruto the Movie are considered canon and are retold in the early episodes of the Boruto anime, albeit with some expansions and modifications. Watching the movie first provides a condensed and exciting introduction.
FAQ 3: Should I watch the Naruto movies in chronological order of release or in-universe chronological order?
It’s generally recommended to watch them in chronological order of release. This aligns with how the story and character development were revealed to the original audience and avoids potential spoilers for later developments in the Naruto storyline.
FAQ 4: Are there any Naruto movies that are completely irrelevant to Boruto?
While all Naruto movies offer some level of entertainment, some are less directly connected to the Boruto narrative. Films like Naruto the Movie 2: Legend of the Stone of Gelel and Naruto the Movie 3: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom are more self-contained adventures.
FAQ 5: Where can I watch the Naruto movies and the Boruto anime legally?
The Naruto movies and Boruto anime are available on various streaming platforms such as Crunchyroll, Hulu, and Netflix, depending on your region. Always choose legal streaming options to support the creators and avoid piracy.
FAQ 6: Is it necessary to watch all the Naruto Shippuden movies?
Watching all the Shippuden movies is not essential, but highly recommended. The Last: Naruto the Movie is considered vital for understanding the relationship between Naruto and Hinata, which is crucial for understanding Himawari’s role in Boruto. The other Shippuden films offer insights into the increasing powers of Naruto and his allies during the Fourth Great Ninja War era.
FAQ 7: Does the Boruto anime ever directly reference specific events from the Naruto movies (besides Boruto: Naruto the Movie)?
While there aren’t constant direct references, the movies set the stage for the character power levels and the geopolitical landscape that the Boruto series operates within. Characters’ abilities, past events, and the overall world-building are all implicitly influenced by the events depicted in the films.
FAQ 8: How can I tell which Naruto movies are canon?
The concept of “canon” in the Naruto universe is often debated. Boruto: Naruto the Movie is definitively canon, as it is retold in the anime. Many consider The Last: Naruto the Movie close to canon due to its crucial role in establishing Naruto and Hinata’s relationship. The other movies are generally considered non-canon “side stories,” but still provide character insights.
FAQ 9: What if I just want to watch one or two Naruto movies before Boruto? Which ones should I pick?
Prioritize The Last: Naruto the Movie and Boruto: Naruto the Movie. These two films provide the most significant context for the relationships and conflicts that drive the early Boruto narrative.
FAQ 10: Will watching the Naruto movies spoil anything about the Naruto Shippuden anime?
Yes, watching the Naruto Shippuden movies before watching the Shippuden anime will likely contain spoilers. Watch the Shippuden anime before the Shippuden movies.
FAQ 11: Are the Boruto manga and anime different enough that I should watch the movies even if I’ve read the manga?
Yes. While the Boruto manga and anime share the same core story, the anime often expands on the plot and provides more detailed character interactions. Watching the movies, particularly Boruto: Naruto the Movie, offers a unique visual experience that complements both the manga and anime.
FAQ 12: Will watching the Naruto movies help me understand any specific Boruto characters better?
Yes. Understanding the backstories of characters like Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata, and Sakura from the Naruto movies directly informs their roles and relationships in Boruto. Knowing their past experiences helps you appreciate their influence on the next generation.