Whether you love him or hate him, Naruto will be around for awhile. But what is it about the series that makes it so popular? Fans and non-fans (is there another word for haters?) have asked this question. Some say it’s the story, others say it’s the humor, a small minority say it’s the “hot guys”… I ignore those people. There is no one answer, but there are a few ideas.

It’s the Action and Adventure Aspect

… maybe. I don’t doubt the adventure and action is what keeps the audiences’ attention. Pokémon and Dragonball Z (the animes) were hugely popular in their time. But the popularity of the two series started to dwindle later on. Why? From my point of view, they were getting repetitive. The boss battles in Dragonball Z stuck to the over-the-top, over-stretched episode format. People started to skip episodes. Ash (Pokémon) never got around to reaching his dream of becoming a Pokémon Champion, maybe because there were too many pokémon around, so the series stretched. So, is Naruto any different? Yes and no. Yes because the series in manga and anime form have lasted for so long. No because it is starting to show signs of repetition (at least the anime is). Naruto still has a long way to reaching his dream, hopefully before it gets boring.

The Humor

People like to laugh and Naruto creators know that. It’s no fun kicking butt all the time when there isn’t a break to joke around. The humor in Naruto varies to all types of audience. They range from childish to “naughty.” Even though here in the states anime is alluring to kids, the teens and younger adults find the shows appeal to them too. Come on, where else will you see a kid transform into a naked chick?

An Underdog Story

I like underdog stories. I love to see the main character overcome great odds, unless it’s a sports story (Eyeshield 21 is an exception). Naruto is the underdog. He is out casted by society, and dreams of becoming the next Hokaga (someone in charge of the village). It seems like an impossible dream, yet as he grows through the manga and anime, the dream starts to seem reachable. Readers and viewers want to see him succeed. It’s probably a personal thing, but I think people like seeing hard work pay off.

The Numerous Characters

Don’t like the main character Naruto? No problem. We have over 30 other characters who want your love and attention. Yeah, there are a lot of characters in Naruto. It does certainly help keep the fans intact to the series. Some of those characters have their own rabid fans. Scary.

NINJAS!

THEY’RE NINJAS!

…

What do you mean so!? Alright, fine. But I still think it partially helped.

They’re “Special”

This is a personal observation. There is something about “special” beings that appeal to people. “Superheroes” or normal characters with “powers” have some instantaneous affect on people. So what does this have to do with Naruto? Well, they’re special. Think of the Naruto characters as the X-Men. Each character has their own unique “powers,” each also has their own insecurities and issues. Okay so the last one was a stretch, but it’s true. The fact that someone with special abilities can be human at times leads to a connection with the audience. That is not a stretch. Look at Batman. Batman has a bigger readership than Superman (even a bigger movie-going audience), even though Superman has superior powers over Batman. Naruto has “powers,” but doesn’t act as an alien. He is the special human underdog, and people dig it.

My finding may not be scientific, but they are a good starting point. Name some reasons why you think Naruto is still popular.