Why Shippuden’s depth and philosophy makes me love the series more than OG Naruto.
I’ve been thinking a lot about why I prefer Shippuden to the original Naruto series, and while I know a lot of people are crazy about the OG and that’s completely justified, I’ve come to realize that for me, Shippuden just hits differently. OG Naruto definitely has its charm with its consistency and its ability to keep things light and enjoyable without demanding too much thought. You could almost just sit back and watch, have fun with the fights, and enjoy the characters without really diving into deep themes.
But when Shippuden came around, that’s when the show really forced me to think. Yes, I’ll admit, Shippuden was far more inconsistent. It had its highs and lows, some arcs dragged, some moments were too over the top, and there were definitely some stretches that didn’t do the series justice. But those moments of greatness? They were amazing. The philosophical depth, the expansion of character backstories, and the weight of the conflicts that started emerging really drew me in. I started questioning things, seeing connections to the real world issues, and comparing the characters ideologies to what we go through in our own lives.
Take Madara and Pain, for example. These guys weren’t just villains, they were philosophers. The things they said about human nature, about the cycle of hatred, about the futility of war, there was so much truth in their words. Yeah, their methods were extreme (to put it lightly), but they didn’t just act out of pure evil or madness. There was a reason behind everything they did, and in a weird way, I found myself agreeing with some of their points. Madara believed that people would always go to war as long as they were given the freedom to choose, that true peace could only come by eliminating free will. Pain believed that suffering was the key to breaking the cycle of hatred. It’s all pretty harsh stuff, but there was so much real world relevance in what they were saying.
In Shippuden, the series really expanded on this philosophy in a way that made me question the state of the world around me. It made me think about conflict, about suffering, about the price of peace, and whether we’re truly capable of breaking out of the cycles that have existed for centuries. I’d argue that Shippuden really pushed the boundaries of what the show was about. It wasn’t just about the characters growth, it was about the worldview they presented and how it reflected some of the darker sides of human nature.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I still love the OG Naruto for what it was. There’s something nostalgic and fun about it. It was more consistent in keeping you hooked with its episodes. The story wasn’t too heavy; it was just the right balance of fun and character development. But Shippuden? It made me think. It challenged my perception of the world. It made me feel like I was watching something bigger, something that had real world implications, even though it was set in a fictional universe.
In the end, it’s the complexity of Shippuden that won me over. The way it took the ideas of conflict, peace, and human nature and built upon them gave the series so much philosophical depth. I loved how it made me reflect on the characters’ beliefs and how much of it resonated with the struggles and ideals that exist outside of the anime world. Sure, Shippuden had its flaws and wasn’t as consistent as the OG, but the thought provoking ideas and the emotional weight of its best arcs made it stand out for me.
Side note: These are just my personal thoughts, and I respect anyone else’s opinions if they disagree. I’m curious to know if anyone else feels the same way
I’ve been thinking a lot about why I prefer Shippuden to the original Naruto series, and while I know a lot of people are crazy about the OG and that’s completely justified, I’ve come to realize that for me, Shippuden just hits differently. OG Naruto definitely has its charm with its consistency and its ability to keep things light and enjoyable without demanding too much thought. You could almost just sit back and watch, have fun with the fights, and enjoy the characters without really diving into deep themes.
But when Shippuden came around, that’s when the show really forced me to think. Yes, I’ll admit, Shippuden was far more inconsistent. It had its highs and lows, some arcs dragged, some moments were too over the top, and there were definitely some stretches that didn’t do the series justice. But those moments of greatness? They were amazing. The philosophical depth, the expansion of character backstories, and the weight of the conflicts that started emerging really drew me in. I started questioning things, seeing connections to the real world issues, and comparing the characters ideologies to what we go through in our own lives.
Take Madara and Pain, for example. These guys weren’t just villains, they were philosophers. The things they said about human nature, about the cycle of hatred, about the futility of war, there was so much truth in their words. Yeah, their methods were extreme (to put it lightly), but they didn’t just act out of pure evil or madness. There was a reason behind everything they did, and in a weird way, I found myself agreeing with some of their points. Madara believed that people would always go to war as long as they were given the freedom to choose, that true peace could only come by eliminating free will. Pain believed that suffering was the key to breaking the cycle of hatred. It’s all pretty harsh stuff, but there was so much real world relevance in what they were saying.
In Shippuden, the series really expanded on this philosophy in a way that made me question the state of the world around me. It made me think about conflict, about suffering, about the price of peace, and whether we’re truly capable of breaking out of the cycles that have existed for centuries. I’d argue that Shippuden really pushed the boundaries of what the show was about. It wasn’t just about the characters growth, it was about the worldview they presented and how it reflected some of the darker sides of human nature.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I still love the OG Naruto for what it was. There’s something nostalgic and fun about it. It was more consistent in keeping you hooked with its episodes. The story wasn’t too heavy; it was just the right balance of fun and character development. But Shippuden? It made me think. It challenged my perception of the world. It made me feel like I was watching something bigger, something that had real world implications, even though it was set in a fictional universe.
In the end, it’s the complexity of Shippuden that won me over. The way it took the ideas of conflict, peace, and human nature and built upon them gave the series so much philosophical depth. I loved how it made me reflect on the characters’ beliefs and how much of it resonated with the struggles and ideals that exist outside of the anime world. Sure, Shippuden had its flaws and wasn’t as consistent as the OG, but the thought provoking ideas and the emotional weight of its best arcs made it stand out for me.
Side note: These are just my personal thoughts, and I respect anyone else’s opinions if they disagree. I’m curious to know if anyone else feels the same way