A set of new figures from the Naruto and Sanrio crossover are now available for preorder.
The new 8-inch vinyl figures feature Sanrio mascot Hello Kitty cosplaying as the future Seventh Hokage, Naruto Uchiha, while Chococat portrays his best friend and rival, Sasuke Uchiha. The ninajs are represented with their post time-skip costumes. Both figures are posed to recreate each character's signature special attack: Hello Kitty is readying Naruto's Rasengan, while Chococat charges forward with a dazzling Chidori. Hopefully the clash between the two cuddly mascots will have less explosive results than the final time the two shinobi put those two techniques up against each other. Both figures are now available for pre-order from collectible manufacturer Kid Robot for $94.99 each. The pair is estimated to ship sometime in late 2022.
Naruto and Hello Kitty have collaborated for a number of times in the last few years, which has resulted in the release of a wide variety of merchandise, ranging from shirts and hoodies to Funko Pop! figures and other designer collectibles. Sanrio also recently announced a collaboration with another iconic anime and manga franchise, Sailor Moon, to produce merchandise that combines the Sailor Scouts with the company's own lineup of mascot characters. The new collaboration is being released to mark the 30th anniversary of the original anime series' premiere.
Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto is celebrating a big anniversary of its own in 2022, as well. The original anime adaptation of the series premiered in 2002, and the show's producers have announced plans to celebrate the 20th anniversary of that debut throughout the year. A new logo for the series was unveiled at this year's Jump Festa, which shows the titular ninja at three key stages of his life -- his appearance at the beginning of the series, how he appeared during the Fourth Shinobi World War, and finally, as he appears as an adult in the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations sequel series. A new illustration, which depicts a young Naruto being reassured by his adult self, was also revealed at the event. Additional events and new releases related to the anniversary have been teased to be in the works.
Naruto was created by Kishimoto in 1999 and was one of Weekly Shonen Jump's biggest hits during the anime boom of the early 2000s. The series is the fourth best-selling manga of all time, with over a quarter of a billion copies in circulation. The Naruto and Naruto Shippuden anime are available for streaming on Netflix, Crunchyroll and Funimation, while new episodes of the Boruto anime are being simulcast through Crunchyroll.
Source: Kid Robot (1, 2)
