When it comes to anime, few franchises have had the success and influence of Masashi Kishimoto‘s Naruto. It has been a staple of the genre since its debut in 2002 and has spawned multiple movies, spin-off series, and even a live-action movie. But despite its success, Kishimoto’s work with female characters in the series has been, for the most part, a missed opportunity.
There’s no denying that the characters in Naruto have a lot of depth and complexity. The main characters, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, are all well-developed with their own individual stories and motivations. But when it comes to the female characters, Kishimoto’s writing was often lacking.
The women in Naruto are almost always portrayed as secondary characters. They usually exist only to help out the main characters or to be love interests. Most of the time, they are relegated to the sidelines, never given a chance to shine in the same way that the male characters do. Even the strongest female characters in the series, such as Tsunade and Shizune, are rarely given the same attention as the male characters.
This lack of attention is especially evident when it comes to female villains. While there are a few female villains in the series, they are rarely given the same level of development as the male villains. Instead, they are typically portrayed as either powerless victims or as overly-sexualized villains who are mostly in the series to provide a cheap thrill.
Kishimoto’s failure to give the female characters their due is a major missed opportunity. Female characters in anime can be just as compelling and powerful as their male counterparts, and Naruto could have benefited from a more balanced cast of characters.
Kishimoto’s lack of focus on female characters also had a negative effect on the overall story. It’s hard to take a series seriously when the female characters are constantly overlooked or treated as secondary characters. If Kishimoto had taken the time to give his female characters more attention, Naruto could have been an even better series than it already is.
Unfortunately, Kishimoto’s failure to give the female characters in Naruto the recognition they deserved is something that can’t be undone. But hopefully, this can serve as a reminder to other anime creators that female characters should be given the same level of attention and respect as their male counterparts.
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