“Naruto Fans Demand Release of 4 Episodes on Social Media Ahead of Manga’s 25th Anniversary”

The Naruto manga first began serialization in 1999 and concluded in 2017. Recently, the series celebrated its 25th anniversary with a post from the anime’s official X (formerly Twitter) account. However, this singular announcement has stirred significant frustrations among fans regarding a previous project that nearly fell through the cracks. The series was initially slated to receive four special episodes in honor of its 20th anniversary, which had a release date scheduled for September 2023.

Unfortunately, those episodes were never released and went unaddressed until a recent Q&A session took place in May 2024. Many fans are now voicing their discontent that the 20th anniversary special project remains elusive, even as the series celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Naruto Fans Express Disappointment Over Missing Episodes

The Naruto manga officially marked its 25th anniversary on September 21, 2024. While fans reflected on the series’ profound significance and its impact on the perception of anime, they couldn’t help but remember the four special episodes promised for September 2023 as part of the 20th-anniversary celebration.

Despite speculation that production issues might have contributed to the delay, the ongoing silence around the matter has frustrated a substantial portion of the fandom. These four anticipated special episodes were expected to be a highlight for fans, thus intensifying the disappointment surrounding their absence and the void of information about them.

Fan Reactions to the Anniversary Announcement

Many Naruto fans responded positively to the anniversary, recalling the series’ monumental achievements and its role in popularizing anime globally.

However, numerous fans also remarked on the unfinished business concerning the 20th-anniversary project, which included the long-awaited four remade Naruto episodes. With no updates on their status after an entire year since the intended release date, many fans are demanding clarity about the episodes.

“They better release them 4 episodes too.”One fan asserted.

“Any updates on the 20th anniversary 4 episodes? 🙂”Another fan queried.

Some fans have speculated that the long-awaited 20th-anniversary episodes might be released during the 25th anniversary, although this idea has struck many as absurd. Meanwhile, countless others are still fixated on the fate of the four special episodes.

Naruto as shown in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot) — Naruto as depicted in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

“So we’re really getting the 20th-anniversary episodes during the 25th anniversary? Ain’t no way! 😭😭😭😭”One fan tweeted.

“When are those 4 episodes coming out? 💀😭,”Another fan asked.

Ichiro Ishikawa last commented on the four special Naruto episodes during a Q&A session on May 21, 2024, indicating that the anime’s 20th-anniversary special project would be released sometime in 2024, coinciding with the series’ 25th anniversary.

This series is also part of a collaborative effort with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, potentially reigniting fans’ enthusiasm for the Naruto series.

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