Watch out! Naruto hits the states.

The next big thing…

At the San Diego Comic-con, did anyone wonder why all the anime gomers were wearing metal plated head bands? Naruto has just premiered on Cartoon Network, but to anime fans around the world, it’s already one of the biggest hits ever.

Anime News Network described the series:

“Naruto closely follows the life of a boy who is feared and detested by the villagers of the hidden leaf village of Konoha. The distrust of the boy has little to do with the boy himself, but it’s what’s inside him that causes anxiety. Long before Naruto came to be, a Kyuubi (demon fox) with great fury and power waged war taking many lives. The battle ensued for a long time until a man known as the Fourth Hokage, Yondaime, the strongest ninja in Konoha, fiercely fought the Kyuubi. The fight was soon won by Yondaime as he sealed the evil demon in a human body. Thus the boy, Naruto, was born. As Naruto grows he decides to become the strongest ninja in Konoha in an effort to show everyone that he is not as they perceive him to be, but is a human being worthy of love and admiration. But the road to becoming Hokage, the title for the strongest ninja in Konoha, is a long and arduous one. It is a path filled with betrayal, pain, and loss; but with hard work, Naruto may achieve Hokage.”

Simply described it’s like “Harry Potter meets Ninjas”. I really fell for this show right away. The main character Naruto is very likable, but what I found amazing is how rich the supporting cast is. Every character has his or her personal angst to deal with (usually in the middle of a battle that spans over 4 episodes). The cool action mixed with the over the top melodrama works wonderfully.

I love subs over dubs any day, but the English dub is definitely pretty decent. Some of the extreme comedy and drama comes off a little awkward in English, but the spirit of the show remains. Check it out!