All about of Naruto seasons and everything
The Naruto franchise consists of two main anime series: Naruto and Naruto Shippuden. Naruto has 5 seasons, while Naruto Shippuden has 21 seasons, making a total of 26 seasons for the entire franchise. Additionally, there are also spin-off series, such as Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, which has 9 seasons as of March 2023.
The Naruto franchise can be confusing because of its complex storyline, multiple characters, and numerous episodes across multiple seasons. Additionally, there are also spin-off series, movies, and other media that add to the complexity of the overall story. However, for fans of the franchise, this complexity can also be part of what makes it engaging and interesting.
Here for even more? Let’s get started-
What is Naruto?
Naruto is a Japanese anime and manga series that was first created by Masashi Kishimoto in 1999. The story follows the adventures of Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja from the fictional village of Konohagakure (also known as the Hidden Leaf Village). Naruto dreams of becoming the Hokage, the leader of his village, and has a passion for proving himself as a powerful ninja.
Throughout the series, Naruto trains and battles with other ninjas, including his teammates Sasuke and Sakura, as well as his mentor, Kakashi. Along the way, he discovers that he is the host of a powerful Nine-Tailed Fox demon that was sealed within him when he was born. The story explores themes of friendship, teamwork, sacrifice, and overcoming personal obstacles.
The Naruto franchise has expanded beyond the original manga and anime series to include various movies, video games, novels, and spin-off series, such as Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, which follows the adventures of Naruto’s son. The series has become a cultural phenomenon, with a large and dedicated fanbase worldwide.
How many Naruto seasons are there?
As I have mentioned earlier, the Naruto Franchise has two series; Naruto and Naruto Shippuden. The Original Naruto series consists of 5 series and 220 episodes. The Sequel to the original Naruto anime series is Naruto Shippuden. Naruto Shippuden includes 21 seasons and 500 episodes.
That means in total the Naruto Franchise has 26 seasons with around 720 episodes.
However, some of the sources may provide the information that the Naruto anime series has 9 seasons as many OTT platforms only show 9 seasons. But in reality, the series is much longer.
While the original Naruto anime series aired from 2002 to 2007, the sequel Naruto Shippuden came live in 2007 and was aired up until 2017.
What are some of the other media related to the Naruto Anime series?
Apart from the two main series, many other media and movies are also related to this Anime and Manga series. The list follows-
| Series Name | Information |
| Naruto | The original Naruto series, which aired from 2002 to 2007, consists of 220 episodes across 5 seasons. |
| Naruto Shippuden | The sequel series to Naruto, which aired from 2007 to 2017, consists of 500 episodes across 21 seasons. |
| Boruto: Naruto Next Generations | A sequel to Naruto Shippuden, Boruto follows the story of Naruto’s son, Boruto Uzumaki. As of March 2023, it has 9 seasons. |
| Naruto Movies | There are 11 Naruto movies that have been released, which are separate from the main anime series. |
| Naruto Spin-off: Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals | This is a spin-off comedy series that follows the adventures of Naruto’s teammate, Rock Lee. |
| Naruto SD: Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals | Another spin-off comedy series that follows the same characters as the above spin-off, but with a different art style and storyline |
| Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm | A series of video games based on the Naruto Shippuden series. |
| Naruto Spin-Off: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring | A 10-chapter manga miniseries that focuses on the character Sasuke Uchiha. |
Breakdown of all Naruto seasons and episodes
I believe a short and crisp breakdown of each of the seasons into episodes will give a comprehensive understanding. For your better understanding, here goes the detailed breakdown-
The Original Naruto Series
| Season | Episodes |
| Season 1 | 1-57 |
| Season 2 | 58-100 |
| Season 3 | 101-141 |
| Season 4 | 142-183 |
| Season 5 | 184-220 |
The original Naruto Series aired in Japan from October 2002 to February 2007. As you can see in the aforementioned table the original series consists of 5 seasons with a total number of 220 episodes.
The first Naruto series follows the story of a young orphan boy named Naruto who dreams of becoming the Hokage (the leader) of his village. As he was the host of the Nine-tailed Fox, the villagers shunned him from the village. Naruto then joins the ninja academy to train to be strong and powerful. He was placed in Team 7 and was acquainted with Sasuke and Sakura. The team was led by their sensei, Kakashi. Throughout the whole series, they fight against powerful forces and other Ninja villages, rogue ninjas, and powerful individuals who were trying to destroy the village. We also see a revelation when he realizes the true nature of the Nine-Tailed Fox. This helps his overall growth as he was the host of the powerful beast. Near the end of the first series, Naruto also makes many friends, including his mentor Jiraiya and fellow ninjas like Gaara and Rock Lee. Ultimately, Naruto becomes the Hokage of his village Konohagakure (the hidden leaf village) located in the Land of Fire, which ends the first Naruto series.
Naruto Shippuden
| Season | Episodes |
| Season 1 | 1-32 |
| Season 2 | 33-53 |
| Season 3 | 54-71 |
| Season 4 | 72-88 |
| Season 5 | 89-112 |
| Season 6 | 113-143 |
| Season 7 | 144-151 |
| Season 8 | 152-175 |
| Season 9 | 176-196 |
| Season 10 | 197-221 |
| Season 11 | 222-242 |
| Season 12 | 243-275 |
| Season 13 | 276-295 |
| Season 14 | 296-320 |
| Season 15 | 321-348 |
| Season 16 | 349-361 |
| Season 17 | 362-372 |
| Season 18 | 373-393 |
| Season 19 | 394-413 |
| Season 20 | 414-479 |
| Season 21 | 480-500 |
The story of Naruto Shippuden takes place two and half years after the original Naruto series. After returning to the hidden leaf village from his ninja training, Naruto finds that his village is in danger from a criminal organization named Akatsuki. Naruto with his friends and other villages builds a team to stop Akatsuki. During the journey, Naruto also had to face battles with his friend Sasuke Uchiha, who by chance turned to evil and join Akatsuki. As the series progresses, Naruto gains more power, including the ability to harness the power of the Nine-Tailed Fox. He also discovers the history of the ninja world and the past of his family on this journey. Making the final assault on the Akatsuki takes Naruto Shippuden to its climax. This assault reveals the name of the leader of the organization. In the end, Naruto and his allies successfully defend his village by stopping Akatsuki. Naruto also fulfills his dream to be the Hokage of his village in Naruto Shippuden.
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
| Year | Episodes |
| 2017-18 | 1-52 |
| 2018-19 | 53-104 |
| 2019-20 | 105-156 |
| 2020-21 | 157-208 |
| 2021-22 | 209-260 |
| 2022-present | 261-293 |
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations follows the story of Boruto Uzumaki, the son of Naruto. Boruto is now the seventh hokage of the hidden leaf village. The anime is ongoing and started airing in 2017. As of March 2023, the series has around 293 episodes. Like his father, Boruto also dreams of becoming like his father and follows the legacy of his father while forging his own path. He goes on various missions with Sarada Uchiha and Mitsuki to save his village from various threats. Throughout the whole series, Boruto faces powerful foes and organizations to fight off. The series also puts emphasis on teamwork, discipline, and the true meaning of being a ninja warrior. As the series progresses, Boruto also discovers a unique power within himself, the Karma seal, which leads him to uncover a deeper conspiracy that threatens the peace of the ninja world.
What is a filler episode in anime?
Filler episodes are anime exclusive episodes that do not follow the original storyline. Instead, filler episodes bring out the time for the whole series to develop. Filler episodes usually introduce new characters or provide additional background information for the existing characters so that the story can develop in a narrative way. In short, filler episodes are created to extend the length and duration of the anime series. While some viewers do love filler episodes, most times they are highly criticized by the audience. Naruto is such an anime series that is notorious for having a large number of filler episodes.
Filler episodes and Naruto
The original Naruto series has a total number of 91 filler episodes out of its total 220 episodes. That means the Naruto original series has almost 41% of filler episodes. Filler episodes are never a problem. Viewers most often enjoy such episodes. But having a large number of filler episodes most times make low-quality episodes that may disappoint viewers. The filler episodes in “Naruto” are often criticized by fans for being of lower quality than the canon episodes and for interrupting the flow of the story.
We have a suggestion for you. If you think that filler episodes are boring, you can skip them anytime and still understand the whole context of the story.
Difference Between Manga and Anime series
Manga and anime are two different forms of media that share some similarities but are different in reality. Manga is usually the Japanese graphic novels or comic books that are usually the basis for anime. Manga usually features a black-and-white illustration and is read from right to left. Anime, on the other hand, refers to Japanese animated television or movie series that are based on manga or novels. Anime series are produced with full-color animation and voice acting. Another good difference that is worth mentioning between manga and anime is the pace of delivery. Manga can cover a lot of stories within a short time, which anime series usually can’t. Readers can instantly get absorbed in a manga novel. While watching an anime, viewers usually need to sit for a good amount of time to understand the overall context. Manga can also deliver a good amount of detail as it does not have to think about animation. But making an anime demands good hard work. Finally, there may be differences in the plot and characters between the manga and anime versions of a story. Anime adaptations may make changes to the story or characters to better suit the medium or appeal to a wider audience.
Censorship and content restriction
Despite having huge popularity, Naruto has had some censorship and content restrictions across different countries of the globe. As the anime features a lot of action, violence, and themes, the series has faced restrictions in many countries. For example, in the United States, the Naruto series has been edited in different timeslots before publicly broadcasting. This is done to ensure that the anime series is appropriate for the target audience. China is another country where Naruto has faced a complete ban from public production due to its content and theme. Naruto also faced a censorship restriction in Australia. Some scenes were toned down or removed entirely to comply with Australian media regulations. Naruto content has also been removed from YouTube and many online platforms due to copyright infringement or violations of terms and conditions.
Reception and popularity
Naruto has gained huge popularity and a massive following around the world since its first publication. Due to its well-executed action scenes, intricate storyline, and compelling characters, both Naruto manga and anime series have been a success worldwide. The Naruto Mana series has sold over 250 million copies worldwide, whereas the anime series has been a huge success with over 700 episodes.
The relatable and well-developed characters are one of the main reasons behind the huge success of the manga series. Naruto’s struggle and perseverance have resonated with the audience of the whole world, which makes the audience adore the whole series. The epic fight scenes along with friendship, loyalty, and determination as its main theme has successfully made the series accessible to almost all audience. Overall, “Naruto” has received critical acclaim and has been widely popular among anime and manga fans. Its enduring popularity has led to numerous spin-offs, merchandise, and adaptations, cementing its place as one of the most beloved anime and manga franchises of all time. Due to its huge popularity, the series also has numerous spin-offs, merchandise, and adaptations, making it one of the best manga franchises worldwide.
Future of the Naruto Franchise
While Naruto and Naruto Shippuden stopped airing long ago, the series has not finished yet. With Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, the Manga series is also ongoing at its full pace. Like Naruto, Boruto: Naruto’s next generation also has received huge appreciation from the audience. The franchise also has brought numerous video games, merchandise, and adaptations. The Naruto movies are also bringing huge popularity across different countries of the world. Currently, a live-action Hollywood adaptation of the Naruto series is in development. Therefore, it is worth saying that we will continue to see new Naruto-related media and content in the future too. While the original series has come to a close, the world of “Naruto” is rich with possibilities for new stories and adventures. Fans can look forward to more manga, anime, and other adaptations in the years to come
Merchandising and fan culture
The Franchise has a huge fan culture and a plethora of merchandise. The franchise has inspired a large number of collectibles, such as figurines, clothing, accessories, and video games. Besides, there are also many Naruto theme parks and attractions in Japan. Besides, the fans are always busy creating popular fan action, fan art, and cosplay. The Naruto series also has inspired numerous online communities, where Naruto lovers share and discuss their love for the series. Different online forums, platforms, social media groups, and fan websites are all popular ways to connect with one another. Therefore, it is worth saying that the Naruto series has inspired a huge fanbase across the whole world.
Final words
“Naruto” has been a beloved anime and manga series for over two decades, and its impact on pop culture and entertainment cannot be understated. Its enduring popularity is a testament to the incredible characters, engaging storylines, and thrilling action that have captivated fans around the world. As the series comes to a close, it leaves behind a legacy of unforgettable moments and characters that will continue to inspire and entertain audiences for generations to come. Naruto’s story of determination, perseverance, and friendship will always be a source of inspiration and hope for fans, and its impact on the world of anime and manga will be felt for years to come.