Well, the subbed version of the first two episodes is finally out. We've all been waiting over a year for this, and the moment is finally here. For those of us who read the manga as well (including myself) make sure to mark any spoilers that haven't occurred in the anime just yet.

Now, onto my impressions. I thought the opening was excellent. Despite being out of order chronologically, it makes sense to introduce Sasuke again now rather than later because it's been so long for the anime-only watchers so the surprise/shock/awesomeness factor is still there. It was the perfect scene to pick and introduces sort of a cliffhanger questions without giving too much stuff away. The execution and feel of the scenes was perfect, I'm so excited to finally see this stuff animated! The rest of the episode was a great intro, the animation looks better than ever, and I think it's safe to say that Naruto is finally back in form.

So, what did you guys think?

I thought it was worth watching, so I'll start watching them again from now on. No real action in this opener though.

There's plenty coming, don't worry.

Great opening, and that opening scene was great. They have done a great job so far.

Most excellent

Soooooooooooooooooo good

I have a new favorite character lolz

horrible sig for a horrible character

sig= google + hinata

if you want me to have a better one, you could make one for me yourself.

And Hinata rocks

I liked her better after she has that pep talk with Naruto right before the end of the last round of the Chunnin exams but then she pretty much disappears. SHe's not even awake when Naruto "defends" her against Neji

Not Asuka's fault that Kishimoto fails to develop his characters to their proper potential. Oh and Naruto will end up with Hinata, guaranteed.

That was a great intro to the new series. The ONLY thing it lacked was Hinata.

I approve of the post time jump Hinata in the manga, don't worry she'll come

Sakura seems like a good fit for Naruto though

*slaps*

You shut your filthy mouth.

On topic: Loved this ep, got me back into Naruto.

diaf

wtf does dattebayo mean?

Nothing. It was added on to the end of his sentences (in a very weird, Japanese dialect rule) to give his speech a more child-like quality.

From what I've read on the narutofan boards from the people who translate the manga each week, it's supposed to have a connotation of "Believe it!" if it were to be put into words. Sort of a childish cockiness, exactly the personality Naruto has.

In the Japanese versions, Naruto often ends his sentences with "dattebayo" or "(verb)-ttebayo" ;, and as such Naruto has a unique style of speech. In the Japanese language, an ending can be added with no meaning to make the tone sound more tough, childish, girlish, or many other changes depending on the many existing endings. "-ttebayo", which is not a well-known ending, has no literal meaning and cannot be translated, but carries the connotations of the speaker being uncultured, brusque, and seeming tougher than they really are.In the English anime and video games, he often says "Believe it!" to fit with the mouth flaps of "-ttebayo".

This new sig is my first creation with photoshop

I've heard a rumor that Naruto and hinata have kissed in the manga, can anyone confirm this?

haha, pm me if its some spoiler

Wow, I haven't watched a single episode of Naruto before this new series. Now I have a new anime to watch. hahaha

It is starting a bit slow... too many flashbacks
But other than that, there is a lot I am looking forward to.

I'm liking the slower pace and stuff they are adding to each fight. The stuff in the manga seemed way too short, so making it longer, and adding some stuff is just fine to me.

Plus, this is more time that we have until filler is needed to let the manga get further ahead, and that is always a good thing, especially in Naruto.

And if there is going to be a pairing in the show, it will be Naruto and Sakura. Hinata has gotten pretty much no development, character wise in the entire show. Unless there is a drastic increase in screen time for Hinata, she's out.

My money is on there being no pairing though, considering that this is a shonen anime after all...

My avatar says otherwise

Edit: It could be worse. She could have the character development that Ino has

Sakura and Rock Lee, I could see happening too.

I wish that a more competent animation studio had the rights to the naruto anime, Stuido Pierrot is just horrible. So far I'm not really fond of the slow pace, but the starting intro was pretty damn good.

What's wrong with the animation? I mean not every episode has as much care put into it as the Naruto/Sasuke fight that was hand-drawn frame by frame (and looked amazing) but the important fight scenes are always well done, in my opinion anyway.

I really approve of the new music they're using, makes everything seem more grand and dramatic

Well there are quite a lot of times where the characters just look like shit. Eye positioning is all weird, etc, I'm too lazy to go look up for individual frames of those incidents, but it happens a lot. There are also other things that I just don't like about studio pierrot, like their horrible directing. Like that Gaara and Rock Lee vs Kimimaro (or whatever his name is) episode, where they had the same flash back 3 times in the same episode. Then the fillers, list goes on.

Well the newest episode was alright, we knew Gaara was that over powered and I like how they developed Kankuro after a couple years.

They're staying heavy on flashbacks and repeated scenes. It was ok, but nothing special.

I guess that stuff concerning visuals doesn't bother me as much.

I don't like the way that they're handling the anime either in terms of the fillers and directing, but I'd rather have a few flashbacks and filler placed within canon episodes than another season of complete filler somewhere down the line.

This Akatsuki guy would have to try and have a lamer ability.

You won't be saying that in a few episodes. He is probably the lamest of the bunch though, just wait for the Sasori fight. He's awesome.

No Naruto this week

We will get one next week, but the wek of the 22nd there is no episode either. BUT, on the 29th, we get an hour long 2 ep special.

that pissed me off to no end :/

Good thing this Akatsuki guy is strong and has cool attacks and isn't a fag.

o wai-

so true

aaaaannnnndddd another narutoless week ahoy

Episode 6 + 7 came out early this morning. Or do you mean next week? That probably just means another double episode in 2 weeks.

Yeah, I grabbed and watched 6+7 late last night and there will be a double ep in 2 weeks. But narutoless weeks make me cry regardless

http://graffit.blogspot.com/

Wahahahaha, Japanese rap makes me rofflecopter. Good song though.

I don't care how old this topic is! I stopped watching Naruto a while ago, but I started downloading the new series a few days ago.

It's pretty good. They still do the annoying thing where they cut to multiple fights and everything progresses so slowly I want to die, but I guess I'm used to it.

Episode 15 was good. There was lots of actual fighting instead of other BS. Naruto's new rasengan was pretty sweet.

Ok, I am a person who does NOT read the manga.
As such, with Akatsuki in the latest episode, I did NOT see that coming!!
(post dumbed down for spoiler reasons, those who have watched know what I am talking about)

Why not?

I mean <blank> said he couldn't use his <blank>, that should have clued you in that something was going on.

But man, that was an okay episode, but they really need to improve Shippuden. I have no problems with the slower pace storywise, that allows for more time without filler. What they need to do is freaking make the filler they add to fights better and more exciting. Everything seems to be going in slow motion, which just makes fights that should be exciting annoying and boring.

well, I knew something was going on, but not that much...

I totally agree, so little gets done in these episodes that they end when it just gets interesting.