Some thoughts on Boruto.
I finished watching it after quite some time, initially having several reservations about watching it due to the enormous hate it receives. As I watched it, various thoughts emerged which I wanted to share.
Before I begin my argument, I would like to state that I ultimately loved the anime and consider it one of the best sequels that Naruto could have.
One of the main axes of hate is that it has many fillers, it's boring, it drags on, etc. Although it has a strange structure, as it is an anime that consists mostly of anime canon episodes, for its pacing, it's important to understand the political economy and the modern sociological positioning of Boruto.
The Great War is over, we are in an environment of global peace, something that has inevitably led to economic development. We have moved from a completely feudal society to a semi-feudal one with strong capitalist characteristics, with large companies, business groups, technological sciences, and the demilitarization of society.
As a result, the shinobi have acquired a more ceremonial but still institutional role, and their missions are mostly executive or even philanthropic in nature. This means that the new children, the new generation of shinobi, do not grow up in an environment of constant violence, suspicion, and mutual destruction, but in one of cooperation, solidarity, and, of course, peace. This assigns the anime a very different core from Naruto.
The creator needs to show this, and the viewer must start from a different point of view. Hence the slow pacing, the uninteresting villains until the introduction of Kara, and the slice-of-life character of the anime with episodes characterized by everyday shenanigans. For me, it conveys this contrast between the worlds of Naruto and Boruto tremendously, giving you the space and time to digest it and skillfully building the escalation of threat and violence.
Could the villains, even the second-rate ones, have been more interesting and not just there for the sake of it? Certainly. But maybe this was also a choice by the creator due to their insignificance.
For me, Boruto is divided into two major sagas. One concerns the period up to the appearance of Kara, with the absolute crescendo being the chunin exams (handled much better than in the movie) and the post-Kara reality of the shinobi world. This is evident from the upgrade of the previously unremarkable soundtrack, the design of the villains, and even the openings. The anime is slowly approaching its climax.
And what is there not to like from that point on? How beautifully the Otsutsuki are handled, who, since they were introduced, had to be utilized somehow, how cleverly technology is integrated into the power system, how the concept of jinchuriki continues with the vessels of Karma, everything concerning Kawaki and how his relationship with both Naruto and Boruto himself is structured, the plot twists approaching the end? All the emotions are there.
Is everything perfect though? No.
The biggest problem with the anime is the animation, which is unacceptable. It often ruins the moments, the emotions, even the battles. You can't overlook it, especially when comparing it to other anime of the same period.
Next for me is the soundtrack. Until a small upgrade after Kara, the soundtrack was simply unremarkable. And it plays a huge role when it comes to a sequel to an anime with one of the most iconic musical scores ever.
Third and last, what struck me very negatively was the handling of the women of the previous generation, especially Hinata, who, once they started a family, are essentially presented just as housewives. As if that is the objective role of women.
That's all I had to say, I look forward to discussing it in the comments!
