Director: Hayato Date
Starring: Kate Higgins, Chie Nakamura, Maile Flanagan, Junko Takeuchi, Yuri Lowenthal, Noriaki Sugiyama, Ben Diskin, Akira Ishida, Brian Donovan, Hideo Ishikawa, David Lodge, Houchu Ohtsuka
Running Time: 276 minutes
Certificate: 12
Extras: Trailers, Production Art
Picking up where the last DVD set left-off NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Box Set 13 is the most focused and enjoyable collection from the last year. As Naruto discovers about the death of his master, it is now time for him to train and go up against the antagonist Pain. This set has a bare minimal number of side stories, flashback episodes, and other such filler, making it a wonderfully paced arc that should involve even the casual fans.
We return to the Frog World for Naruto to follow in his master’s footsteps and eventually avenge his death. The training sequences are handled with the correct balance of humour, but also never lose sight of why this training is essential. Once the training is complete, it’s battle time, and it’s here where the animation really comes alive. The action sequences are exhilarating, and are enhanced by the emotional context in which they are fought. Following on from previous episodes, the audience knows exactly how dangerous Pain is, which makes this all the more exciting. The writer’s are also not afraid to remove some of the main characters from the equation, once again detailing this as Naruto’s biggest challenge yet.
The drawbacks present are those inherent with the style of show that NARUTO SHIPPUDEN is. There are so many different powers that each ninja possesses, the fights sometimes have no meaning. It’s impossible to enjoy some of the battles as you know a character is just going to pull out some new or forgotten tactic in a deus ex machina twist. The dialogue is also crammed with exposition, which is necessary due to the complex nature of the mythology, but when it comes to explaining character’s emotions, it seems rather stilted and robotic. Perhaps these are remnants from the mangas, where tone of voice and animated facial expressions are non-existent.
Unlike previous collections, this set shoves Naruto back into the spotlight. Most animes, especially those with such a gigantic episode count, usually venture off to explore the lives of supporting characters, but it’s always nice to see the original hero back in the limelight. It’s twice as exciting when we see that very same character pushed to their absolute limits. And it’s even MORE exciting, when pitted against an understandable but deadly adversary.
Box Set 13 is sure to be a must buy for those invested with this colourful universe, and it’s clear to see why. Others may lash out at the extended training sequences, but these all add to the anticipation which most anime fans will be accustomed to. The final fights are filled with plenty of magical moves, bloodcurdling screams of “NOOOOOOO”, and well utilised violence that shocks and entertains.
NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Box Set 13 is released 24th June via Manga Entertainment.
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