The Naruto franchise is still one of the biggest shonen titles around, running from 1999 to 2014 in Weekly Shonen Jump. The series popularity spread across the globe, and the market is teeming with several options to enjoy the tale of Naruto Uzumaki and his quest to become Hokage. With this series wrapped up, and its sequel Boruto well underway, new fans are in an ideal position.
Newcomers can enjoy the installment updates of Boruto while digging into the original Naruto at their own pace, either savoring it like or blitzing through 72 volumes' worth of ninja action and a few hundred episodes of the anime. The Naruto manga and anime are widely available for those looking to enjoy the series for the first time or a repeat experience, here's how.
How to Read the Naruto Manga
Fans looking to read Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto manga -- whether to avoid the anime's infamous fillers or experience its source material -- have all kinds of options to get started. Collectors can seek out the Naruto franchise in print in 72 single volumes, or they can get their hands on bulky three-in-one omnibus volumes instead. While local bookstores may stock a few volumes of the series, online outlets like Barnes & Noble, Amazon and Rightstufanime have a robust offering. This is hardly a short series, so those collecting VIZ Media's English translation may need a dedicated bookcase.
For those who prefer reading the Naruto manga digitally, there are plenty of options to explore. VIZ's official website has digital options at a discount price compared to the print edition, which is also available digitally via Nook, Google Play, Kindle, iBooks and more, according to VIZ's site. Naruto's 700 chapters can all be read through VIZ/Shonen Jump's monthly $1.99 subscription -- the massive catalog also includes the likes of Dragon Ball, One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen and many more. There is a free week trial once you sign up that you cancel at any time too.
How to Watch The Naruto Anime Series
The anime is split between the original Naruto run and the lengthier Naruto Shippuden, though streaming sites will typically have both. Subscribers of FUNimation and Crunchyroll can find the entire series available on their respective streaming services. VIZ's website will direct visitors to either of those sites and other options, including Netflix and Hulu -- though availability may vary based on region and language.
Fans can grow their physical collection of the Naruto anime with the DVD and Blu-ray options found at retailers like Amazon, Vintage Stock (including some brick and mortar locations), and Rightstufanime in a variety of boxed sets of the series. Best Buy has recently started stocking Blu-ray collections for $24.99-$27.99, though it's currently limited to the series' earlier episodes.
The Naruto franchise also included 11 feature films, eight of which are currently available on Netflix, while others can be purchased and streamed through Amazon for $7.99 for SD and $9.99 for the HD version. Blu-ray collections and individual films can be found on Amazon and Best Buy as well. Thankfully, for anyone new to the ninja world of Naruto or fans looking to experience some of their favorite adventures, there are plenty of ways to dive into the shonen mega-hit.
