Ask John: Is It Fair to Call Naruto a Dragonball Ripoff?

Question:
With Naruto growing in popularity by leaps and bounds, it seems as though the series will probably get licensed in the U.S. relatively soon. And with its rise in popularity, it seems more and more people are comparing it to simply being a DBZ ripoff. I was wondering what your thoughts on this are.

Answer:
Unfortunately, it’s probably inevitable that Naruto will eventually develop a reputation akin to that of Dragonball and Yu Yu Hakusho, even though the comparison isn’t entirely fair. Stylistically there are similarities between anime and manga series like Naruto and Dragonball and Yu Yu Hakusho and One Piece. These boys’ adventure series are long-running titles published by Shonen Jump magazine. Their popularity stems from their combination of fighting action with humor, and their tendency to develop long story arcs told rather slowly. While these characteristics are similar and recognizable, ultimately they’re superficial and don’t interfere with the unique appeal and qualities of any of these individual series.

The reputation and Western fan response to these shows often develops not from the distinct qualities of the shows themselves but as a reaction to the success of these titles. As much as anime fans wish it to be otherwise, anime is still a niche market product in America, and unconsciously I think many American fans prefer it that way. The novelty and appeal of anime is that its Japanese. It’s not familiar and commonplace. Americans aren’t used to anime, so it’s unusual and special. But in the case of Dragonball Z, in particular, which became such a tremendous international hit that it broke out of its niche market status, anime fans couldn’t imagine Dragonball Z as their personal domain any longer. I think that the American anime fan community largely began to resent Dragonball Z because it became so popular and so over-exposed that it didn’t feel foreign and unusual anymore. The same thing may be poised to happen with Naruto.

Already, Naruto merchandising is overwhelming in Japan. Even though the animation is not officially available in America, it’s almost as well known among American fans as official domestic release titles are. And the Naruto manga, through its publication in Shonen Jump USA Magazine, is one of the most widely read manga titles available in English. If the tidal wave of Naruto exposure in America continues unabated, it’s almost inevitable that the massive exposure will generate a backlash. The similarity between Dragonball Z and Naruto is the fact that, in spite of their quality, there will inevitably be resentful fans that criticize these shows based entirely on their arguable overexposure and adoption into mainstream American consciousness. The analogy is a jealous child that doesn’t want a toy anymore because all of his friends have it, even though it’s still an outstanding toy. The child’s rejection is based in spite and disappointment, not honest evaluation of the toy itself. American anime fans have seen this happen to Akira and Sailormoon and Dragonball and Gundam Wing. And we may yet see it happen to Naruto. That, I think, is where the most significant parallel between Dragonball and Naruto lies.