BLU-RAY ANIME REVIEW: BORUTO NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS SET 2

Boruto Naruto Next Generations Set 2
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 15
Running Time: 370 mins
Release Date: 9/12/2019
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

It's the end of one story and the beginning of another with Boruto beating Nue and Sumire being taken and possibly sent away from the academy for further questioning, though her former classmates are confused and wish her no ill will, she could be punished for what she has done.

In this second box set, there are several storylines to concentrate on; the up and coming ninja exams with Sarada thinking she is ready while Boruto is not so sure. Boruto and his friends go on a journey to the Hidden Mist Village.

There they find out what the dark side of being a ninja feels like and Sarada doubts about Sakura being her real mother. Boruto has much of what the early series of Naruto featured; classroom scenes, the rivalry between classmates, adventures that turn into missions, yet its obvious Boruto, Sarada and Mitsuki are different in many ways even if they do have personality traits shared by their parents.

For me, it is exciting to see how Naruto and Sasuke are friends again and how Kakashi deals with the reality that Sasuke would have killed him way back when he realised the truth about his brother. Boruto has his own problem too. There is a power that has awakened in his eye which could be a form of power inherited from his mother, Hinata, though it is only hinted at so far.

The series keeps on showing us as part of Borutos private life his anger aimed at his father's constant absence; blaming Naruto for how disappointed he feels. This is a stark contrast to how the young Naruto felt growing up an orphan. Sarada has a similar problem of not seeing her dad Sasuke, but Boruto comes across as being more childish in how he deals with it. Sarada is at the point where she wants to find out whether Sakura is her real mum, finding a photo of Sasuke next to Karin makes her think Karin might be her mum after all.

Boruto is the sort of anime that is purely for those who read the manga and watched the Naruto series from the start. It is truly nostalgic to see how characters we have grown up with have had kids who backchat their parents in the same way; Shikamaru and Shikadai are a good example of finding everything a drag.

There will be those fans who enjoy the early part of the series and some who will be curious as to how the story will progress; hoping for more content and less filler which, it could be said might have been the bane of Naruto Shippuden.

So while the series is doing well at establishing the characters the individual episodes are entertaining to watch from the kids perspective on their parents though the real surprise is in the animation quality and how it has progressed over the past two years. It seems more colourful and I am impressed there is more bonus material this time around.

Bonus Material: English Cast Interviews, Storyboards, Art Gallery, Clean Opening and Closing Animations.

Summary: For those who have watched Naruto from the start, this is sure to be a fun watch as we get to see what Sasuke and Naruto's kids are getting up to!