Does the Animation Naruto Contain Life Lessons Beyond Entertainment?

There is no doubt that Naruto is one of the biggestthat kids love McDonalds and the same way goes
anime that hit the US market today, but can Narutowith Naruto.
be educational? From its origin from a more EasternThe adult humor aside, Naruto is also very
background, animation in general has come a longeducational in my opinion. The focal point of the
way since its first inception. Starting back in the oldanimation itself remains between the fight of good
days with the original dragon ball series where it wasand evil. However it becomes educational throughout
first created all the way to Naruto today, there havevarious episodes when we are provided the
definitely been a lot of changes that have beenbackground of various characters. For example when
taken place in the animation world.we examine the life of just the main character
The population of kids attracted to Naruto is growingNaruto; not only is he a below average kid, he is
by the day and I believe there is a clear reason whyalways the underdog in terms of his studies beside
it is the most popular anime or cartoon here in thethe fact that he’s also unpopular with others.
US today besides its artistic values in comparison withThe crucial point that the animators have it a success
numerous cartoons that are shown in our televisionis how Naruto reacts to these oppositions. He tries
screen on a day to day basis. Let’s take a lookeven harder! Similar in our society unlike the baby
our cartoon Batman for example. The plot or a singleboomers who in majority have worked with the
episode usually involves with a villain shown in thecorporate world for many years and an
story and causes trouble with a certain amount ofoverwhelmingly amount of them have pensions and
people through their special techniques. However,benefits to assist them after retirement, the people
their evil deeds are eventually squashed toward thefrom Generation X are faced with even greater
end of the episode as Batman saves the day. In thechallenges. Besides massive layoffs and work sent
cartoon itself, there’s nothing wrong with it. Theoverseas, the problems just keep stacking up. Along
good prevails over evil, and the single episode iswith kids that grow up nowadays, the piles of stress
ended with a happy ending.have pushed them toward the edge in many ways.
What the problem with these cartoons however isThat’s why we see kids running into the malls
that they are very interpersonal and kids and teensand shooting others all the time in our news today.
cannot relate themselves to them. Kids nowadaysNot only does Naruto try hard in his daily training to
are more intrigued with interactions then ever before.overcome others that are smarter or have talents,
This is shown through the popularity of the internetthe greatest success that animators have by
and social sites such as Myspace, Facebook, Blogger.developing Naruto Episode is by depicting how normal
They have grown tremendously due to itshe really is. It implies in many ways that hardships will
fundamental pitch to allow kids to relate and connectalways come in our way and hard work will always
with each another.payoff in the end. This is something that is lacking in
What has made Naruto so powerful is as an anime istoday’s society where the richer gets richer and
that they have developed their characters so wellthe poorer gets poorer. Doesn’t matter if
that their ability to relate to kids is tremendous.you’re poor or rich, one must always work hard
Similar to a soap opera, we are able to see each andto achieve success. Obviously a little bit of luck would
every single character develop in their own way. Wealways help too. This is one of the only small lessons
see that the animation characters often time interactthat I’ve observed in the anime Naruto, if you
with the kids through numerous contests andhaven’t watched Naruto yet, you should
promotions related to interact with the kids. Thisdefinitely eitherwatch Naruto by yourself or with
type of close and very personalized interaction, youothers. Who knows, you might learn something from
can think of it similar to the strategy that McDonaldit as well!
uses to make kids feel like at home. It is no wonder