Possible Cancellation of Naruto Remake: Studio Pierrot’s Silence as Evidence

Currently, the release of the Naruto remake appears to be stalled significantly. Studio Pierrot, the animation studio associated with this highly acclaimed series, has not provided any updates regarding the anticipated reboot.

Unsurprisingly, fans of anime and manga are growing increasingly anxious, eagerly awaiting even the slightest piece of news. Initially, the studio offered a vague time frame to keep fans content, but since then, there have been no follow-up announcements or specific dates.

Given the circumstances, the ongoing silence from Studio Pierrot could suggest that a remake is not forthcoming anytime soon, if at all.

Studio Pierrot’s Ongoing Silence Suggests Potential Cancellation of the Naruto Remake

Naruto's first use of the Shadow Clone Jutsu — Naruto’s first use of the Shadow Clone Jutsu (Image via Pierrot)

Plans for a Naruto remake have seemingly been in motion for some time. There was an announcement for a four-episode special to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the original anime. The goal of this remake was to infuse contemporary animation techniques and designs to elevate Masashi Kishimoto’s iconic work, a task entrusted to Studio Pierrot.

In March 2023, the official Naruto website disclosed that four new episodes were in development, with the first episode expected to be available in September 2023. However, as September came and went, no episodes were released. The initial announcement also lacked details regarding the narrative or timeline of these episodes.

Furthermore, the release of the Naruto remake faced additional delays, attributed to the desire to “craft a product that meets fans’ expectations.”The studio issued an apology via their official X account but provided no clarity on future release dates or episode content. Speculation continued to rise amid this fog of uncertainty.

In May 2024, a project insider communicated with TV Tokyo about a possible release window, stating the Naruto remake might debut “this fiscal year.”This conversation included mentions of distribution in regions like Latin America, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe.

This means the remake could potentially be released by the end of the current fiscal year, which concludes on March 31, 2025. Nevertheless, as time progressed, there was no formal confirmation from the studio. Such persistent silence might indicate a shift in priorities away from the remake and toward other projects.

Final Thoughts

One Thousand Years of Death (Image via Pierrot)

Taking all this into account, Studio Pierrot’s lack of communication raises concerns. The tentative nature of the announced release window suggests it’s unlikely the remake will come to fruition soon. As a prominent studio in the industry, Pierrot is currently busy with other projects such as Boruto, Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War, and Black Clover.

A quick look at Pierrot’s X handle shows significant focus on the airing of Tokyo Ghoul: RE, possibly signaling where their current priorities lie. Additionally, the studio celebrated its 45th anniversary in May 2024, releasing a video that highlighted its historical journey. Considering all these factors, it’s plausible that the Naruto remake may be on indefinite hold.

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