Naruto is one of the big three anime, and it is extremely popular, having been a part of many people’s childhood. The anime was adapted from a manga series of the same name, and it was written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto.
The series was originally published in Shueisha’s Shounen Manga magazine Weekly Shounen Jump from 1999 to 2014. The anime initially premiered in Japan on October 3, 2002. The series ran for 220 episodes and was followed by a sequel series, Naruto Shippuden, which ran for 500 episodes from 2007 to 2017.
The series has been a huge success, with the manga having sold over 250 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling manga series of all time. The anime series has also been popular, with the first series being one of the most-watched anime series in Japan.
The series has been adapted into numerous video games and feature films, and it has continued to be one of the top anime to have been made. Naruto’s spin-off manga series Boruto which follows the life of Boruto, Naruto’s son, was published in May 2016 under the title Naruto: The Next Generation. The series was adapted into an anime, and the first episode was aired in 2017.
Naruto [Credits: Crunchyroll]
How Many Seasons Are There In Naruto?
Naruto’s original series, which was released in 2002, has a total of 5 seasons and 220 episodes. The story follows a young ninja called Naruto who has lived his life being shunned by other ninjas in the Hidden Leaf Village.
When he was born, the soul of a spirit-monster, Kurama, was trapped in Naruto’s body, and the other villagers were terrified of Naruto due to his unique existence. Having been called a monster all his life, Naruto was determined to become the Hokage of the village so that everyone would finally acknowledge his strength and he could have a place where he belonged.
After many hardships and unlikely friendships, Naruto ended after the death of the 4th Hokage and his friend and rival Sasuke’s disappearance. Soon after, Naruto: Shippuden was released, which continued our favorite protagonist’s life. Naruto: Shippuden had 21 seasons and a total of 500 episodes. The entire Naruto series has 720 episodes that are compiled into 26 seasons.
Naruto [Credits: Crunchyroll] Naruto grows into a teenager in Naruto: Shippuden, where he trains under the Great Sage Jiraya and gains more power and skills. Naruto also becomes somewhat successful in controlling the Nine-tailed Fox Kurama’s chakra and losing control when he is agitated.
The risk of Kurama completely engulfing Naruto in his moments of mental weakness continues to persist, and the threat looming over all Jinchurikis becomes more and more evident. We are also introduced to the nefarious Akatsuki, the history of Uchiha Clan, and the great shinobi Madara’s ultimate plan.
Is Naruto Worth Watching?
Naruto is a long-running franchise with over 700 episodes, filled with adrenaline-fueled action scenes, and it also addresses social issues and emotions. Naruto has great worldbuilding that has enticed the viewers with the different Shinobi villages and skills.
The series has a diverse cast of characters that have their own unique personalities, like the optimistic and simple-minded Naruto, eccentric Rock Lee, shy and under-confident Hinata, and many others. The most popular characters of the series include the talented Kakashi, heroes like Naruto and Jiraya, and even villains like Pain, Obito, and Madara have their own convoluted history.
The series is exciting and well-animated, and the story is continuously moving forward with tons of twists and turns that make it engaging. Even though the series is quite long, Naruto doesn’t feel repetitive, with our characters trying to be the best version of themselves.
Naruto [Credits: Crunchyroll] Just like a lot of other Shounen series, Naruto has an underwhelming importance and representation of strong female characters. The kunoichis that are featured in the series are shown to be weak and helpless and are even disliked by the overall community. The female characters have a minimal role overall, which can be off-putting for a lot of people.
Even with its flaws, Naruto remains one of the most popular anime, and its fanbase still continues to grow and expand. The series has a thrilling story and an immersive world that has the ability to captivate readers. It is a series worth watching if you want a simple yet emotional action anime filled with fantasy elements and unique powers.
Naruto: Where to Watch?
Naruto is available to watch on a number of streaming platforms like Crunchyroll , Netflix, Hulu, and Funimation for both Sub and Dub watchers.
Stanley Kubrick’s psychological thriller Eyes Wide Shut is a rather uncanny yet absorbing film that was released back on July 16th, 1999, in the United States. It stars stunning cast members Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman as its main protagonists who go through unusual sexual revelations that end up bringing them closer as a couple.
Arthur Schnitzler’s novel, which goes by the name Traumnovelle was an inspiration for this film. However, there are some deviations. For example, the original 1926 novel is set in Vienna instead of being set in 1990s New York.
The plot follows Dr. William’s life after he finds out that his wife came very close to indulging in infidelity in the past. This hurts his belief that women were naturally “faithful.” Soon afterward, William hears about a secret society that’s known to hold sexual cult-like meetings once in a while. He goes on an adventure to this lavish place, only to end up risking both his and Alice’s life.
Asides from Tom Cruise starring in the role of Dr. William Harford and Nicole Kidman as Alice Harford, the cast of Eyes Wide Shut consists of the actors Sydney Pollack as Victor Ziegler, Todd Field in the role of Nick Nightingale, Marie Richardson plays Marion Nathanson, and Gary Goba stars in the role of the Naval officer.
Projected Background scenes filmed at Pinewood Studios (Credits: Warner Bros.)
Eyes Wide Shut: Filming Locations
Eyes Wide Shut is the only movie, at present, that had such a long filming period, lasting more than 400 days. Most of the filming for this Stanley Kubrick classic took place in London since Kubrick was known to have had a fear of flying. The cinematographer of Eyes Wide Shut was Larry Smith.
Pinewood Studios:
The Greenwich Village, which we see in Eyes Wide Shut, is just the Pinewood Studios located in Iver Heath, England. This studio, built way back in 1936, boasts a history of hosting hit movies like Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny , A Haunting In Venice , No Time To Die , and other movies from the James Bond franchise.
As Bill leaves his home, he arrives at a New York Jazz Club called “Club Sonata.” This isn’t a real place and was just a temporary build on the Pinewood Set. For the interior parts of the scenes where Bill talks to Nick, a place called Madame JoJo in Soho was used as a set.
The Sonata Jazz Cafe Where Bill Meets Nick (Credits: Warner Bros.)
Luton Hoo, Luton, Bedfordshire:
The place where Bill and Alice show up for the grand party organized by Victor Ziegler was filmed at the Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf And Spa. This place used to be open to visitors and tourists that wanted to experience the hotel & the history of cinema attached to it.
It now stands as nothing more than an extravagant luxury hotel that’s been the filming spot for movies and TV shows like Enigma (2001), Inspector Morse , and Bleak House .
Mentmore Towers, Mentmore, Buckinghamshire:
The main parts of Eyes Wide Shut revolving around the secret sexual cult-like group were filmed at Mentmore Towers located in Buckinghamshire. Despite the popularity of these towers, they were left unattained for several years until they became a golf club back in 1944.
Over the years, these historically significant towers have provided perfect filming sets for movies like Batman Begins , The Mummy , Johnny English , and Brazil .
The Secret Society Scenes were filmed at Buckinghamshire (Credits: Warner Bros.)
Hamley’s Regent Street, London W1:
At the end of the film, we see the city all lit up with Christmas decor, with the Harford couple passing by a Hamley outlet. This store is the infamous West End toy store on Regent Street in London. The regent street shopping district has always been a beautiful place to visit during the holidays since all of the shops and lanes are covered in decorations.
This street now even has its own website where visitors from anywhere can learn about the diverse fashion, dining, and wellness experiences that are offered here. From high-end brands to flagship stores, there’s much to indulge in on this lavish street.
Elveden Hall, Suffolk:
While most of the interior shots of the secret society building were filmed in Buckinghamshire, the exterior of the building was shot at Elveden Hall, an architectural delight that features hints of both English and Indian designs. This certainly added to the mystery and grandeur of this place while William was shown visiting it for the first time.
The building is a private house near Thetford in Suffolk. Elveden Hall was also a filming location for movies like Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and Stardust .
At present, Eyes Wide Shut is available to watch on Netflix and Prime Video.
