ANIME REVIEW: NARUTO SHIPPUDEN BOX SET 21

Naruto Shippuden Box Set 21
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 12
Running Time: 300 Mins
Audio: English & Japanese DD 2.0
Release Date: 10/8/2015
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes 

Here Naruto looks back on his time as a ninja when Sasuke was in his squad and causing him to feel inadequate due to his sharingan. Naruto worked his way up from what Sasuke considered loser to what he considers winner, but from this flashback, it took a lot of time to get to where he is now. 

This is the start of the Fourth Great Ninja War with Kabuto taking the lead under the watchful eye of Madara, but Kabuto has undergone a lot of changes with his appearance; as a result of his use of Orochimaru's cells, he is becoming more snake like in looks and actions and even speech. 

It brings back memories just to see the old teams when they are about to take the survival test in the forest. Each team is assigned to find and bring back an Earth Scroll and a Heaven Scroll. Interesting cameos are from a younger Kabuto, the original Sound Ninja and an early Orochimaru when he has taken a woman's form. It is the challenge Orochimaru issues to Naruto that partly establishes him as being the stronger character at that time.

Over the next few episodes, viewers get to see what happened to Sasuke to make him the avenger he is now. I suppose it is so we don't feel as though he is a bad guy, merely someone who tried to make the right decisions while others thought worse of him. For those who like to watch angst and fight sequences done well, this is the box set for them as it is look back at the older days, the ones that were easier. As the Fourth Great Ninja War looms heavy on the older teen version's shoulders, much harder times are coming and their adversaries are much more sophisticated as well as deadly. 

This is where the anime gets really serious about where it is headed over the next few seasons. The enemies aren't messing around any more, Madara is sure he can defeat the opposition's army and take what he wants from the battlefield. We can only hope Naruto and his allies can sort them out. Box Set 21 could be where it all changes from being comical to much darker than expected.


Comical bits are Naruto kicking the crap out of a model of Sasuke in his bedroom in sheer frustration, Naruto answering the door to Shikamaru wearing his comical hat and Sasuke, Sasori and Deidara arguing when they have been reanimated and Naruto doing their famous "scaredy cat"routine. 
 
Bonus Material: Production art and Trailers for other Anime series.

 
Verdict: Now Naruto has gone into darker territory - there's more thrills, more excitement - and fiercer battles!