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Masashi Kishimoto’sNarutoseries has long been praised for its deep, character-driven storytelling, particularly when it comes to its complex and multifaceted villains. Kishimoto’s approach to villains inNarutois often starkly contrasted with those in other Shonen manga such asDragon Ball,One Piece, or evenBleach. He aimed to create villains who weren’t just evil for the sake of being evil.
While this approach of Kishimoto humanizes them by exploring the psychological processes behind a villain’s actions rather than simply depicting their quest for power, this also has a negative side. This strategy of Kishimoto is the main reason whyNarutocould never have a supervillain-level threat like Aizen’s. Although Madara Uchiha posed quite a bit of a challenge in the 4th Great Shinobi War, the intensity didn’t really last long.
Masashi Kishimoto’s Unique Approach to Villains inNaruto
Masashi Kishimoto made it very clear from the beginning thatNarutowould not be a typical good-vs-evil story. His fascination with the psychological processes that mold a person led him to focus on the motivations and backstories of his villains. Typically in the Shonen series, the enemy represents the core of evil and can’t be redeemed; however, Kishimoto wanted to defy that norm.
In an interview viaKana, Kishimoto revealed that he focuses on why a villain becomes who they are. He believes that understanding a character’s past is essential for building empathy and creating more complex stories. He remarked,
In most of the shounen mangas, the enemy is the ultimate evil. He can’t be reasoned with. But countless mangas do that already and I didn’t want Naruto to be just a repeat of other stories.
What differentiatesNarutofrom many other Shonen manga is its psychological depth.Every villain created by Kishimotohas been shaped by a specific set of circumstances, many of which have their origins in their childhoods. He gradually revealed details about these backstories to the audience, allowing them to better understand how the circumstances molded these individuals.
Masashi Kishimoto Explained Why Jiraiya’s Death Was Necessary That Transcended Shock Factor: ‘In truth, Naruto really doesn’t get it’
Naruto‘s villains were not born evil; they were shaped by their environments, their experiences, and their traumas. Characters like Nagato, Obito, Gaara, Itachi, even Madara Uchiha, and Orochimaru were all driven by deeply personal and tragic motivations. Their actions, no matter how cruel or destructive, stemmed from a place of emotional pain and disillusionment.
Where This Approach of Masashi Kishimoto Fell Short inNaruto
As opposed toMasashi Kishimoto‘s strategy, some Shonen series, like Bleach, chose a different kind of antagonist. One ofBleach‘s iconic villains, Aizen, represents the archetype of the untouchable, god-like villain. Without any explanation or past, Aizen is a character that personifies evil. He is driven by an almost incomprehensible desire for power and control, with little focus on his emotional or psychological reasons.
While the complex villain trope worked forNarutoquite well, it robbed the series of the opportunity to truly explore the character of a merciless, purely evil antagonist. Not every villain needs to be humanized or redeemed, some of them should exist to just cause chaos and spread sheer terror. But Kishimoto’s approach not only made the villains inNarutoless deadly, but it also lowered the stakes of the battles by being overly predictable.
Naruto: It’s Still Baffling How Inconsistent Kishimoto Was in Writing Sakura That Has Aged Like Milk
In the end, Kishimoto’s legacy lies in his ability to create characters who feel real. But this is also whyNarutocould not have anAizen-level threat. Kishimoto’s focus was on creating villains who were human at their core. While it made the story emotionally rich, it failed to resonate with the audience who were for the intense hero-villain conflict and ultimate dread.
Narutois currently available to watch and read on Crunchyroll and Viz Media, respectively.
Moumita Chakraborty
Articles Published :931
Moumita Chakraborty is a seasoned Anime Writer at FandomWire with over 900 published articles. Passionate about the vibrant world of Japanese anime, she brings sharp analytical skills and cultural insight to every piece. From dissecting intricate plotlines to spotlighting the latest trends and releases, Moumita’s work resonates with both casual fans and seasoned otakus. Her writing aims to connect with fellow anime enthusiasts while contributing meaningfully to the ever-growing anime community.
