10 Best Naruto Character Designs That Hold Up a Decade Later

May 23, 2024, 9 p.m.

Movies

10 Best Naruto Character Designs That Hold Up a Decade Later

0 0

Summary Naruto's best character designs are memorable and key to fans' engagement with the series.

Each character's aesthetics reflect their personalities and roles, making them stand out.

From Pain's distinctive look to Kakashi's iconic mask, the designs enhance the storytelling and fan experience.

With its position as one of the 'Shonen Big Three' series, Naruto unsurprisingly sports character designs that commonly rank among popular fiction's best, most recognizable ninjas. Masashi Kishimoto continues to add to this expansive world alongside Mikio Ikemoto in the Boruto manga. Still, stepping back and observing Kishimoto's classic, original work on the series is essential. For the best Naruto character designs, it's a matter of how memorable they are to the readers and viewers and even how other characters react to their distinctive appearances.

Before Boruto: Two Blue Vortex or Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, shonen manga readers were captivated by the adventures of Naruto Uzumaki and his ninja cohort.

As the story expands, fans latch onto the personalities, achievements, and characteristics of the series' many supporting characters. The best-designed characters of Naruto come from across the Great Nations of Kishimoto's created world, and they often serve as fascinating topics among the fans.

Related Boruto Anime Team Releases New Art Paying Homage To The Series' Roots The staff of Boruto released a new stunning illustration to celebrate the spring season, paying homage to the legacy of Naruto.

Pain (Yahiko)

Nagato Channels his Most Memorable Techniques Through This Body

Sporting the distinctive red hair and facade of Nagato's dear friend Yahiko, as well as an undeniably memorable assortment of black chakra receiver piercings, Pain's Deva Path is one to remember. Pain's Yahiko path features most prominently in the Pain Arc of Naruto, and, unsurprisingly, the best-designed variant and instrument of Konoha's would-be demise would be a lasting one for the fans. However improbable his facial piercings might be to achieve, Nagato's most iconic Pain vessel left an indelible mark on the Naruto fandom.

Pain's most notable act with the Deva Path is using Shinra Tensei or "Almighty Push" to effectively level Konohagakure and handle Naruto in the depths of his Nine-Tailed Fox-possessed fury. Pain can devastate the people of Konoha and many elite ninjas during this arc, namely Naruto's mentor, Jiraiya, and even temporarily kill many other supporting characters in his assault. It's Yahiko who helped establish Akatsuki, so his body being used as one of his friends, Nagato's Paths and the face of the organization's leadership is a fascinating choice.

Konan

Nagato's Closest Ally and Naruto's Greatest Argument for Print Media

Despite Pain stealing the show in Naruto's Pain Arc, Konan outlives her friends while arguably sporting the coolest aesthetic of the founding Akatsuki members. Along with wearing a matching blue paper flower in her hair in most of her appearances, Konan also rocks paper constructs, including foreboding wings and paper clones. Despite hailing from Amegakure, the Village Hidden in the Rain, her paper constructs are so robust she can disguise them as entire bodies of water without succumbing to the elements.

Despite a tragic past and, frankly, a tragic present where she loses friends, allies, and mentors to conflict and their quests, Konan is an adamant character. Her Paper Person of God Technique is an especially memorable, unfathomably complex assembly of billions of paper bombs. Her most noteworthy achievement includes holding her own against Obito Uchiha as she defended the remains of her friend, Nagato.

Related Naruto: Shippuden Filler List - Which Episodes To Skip Like any long-running anime Naruto: Shippuden has many filler episodes. Here’s which episodes can be skipped without missing anything vital.

Killer Bee

Bearer of the Eight-Tailed Beast and Spitter of Fire

In Naruto's enormously popular world of fiercely individualistic ninjas, Killer Bee stands alone for his character design and cocky swagger. The shinobi of Kumogakure, much like any of the Great Nations, have their sense of style, with Killer Bee doubling down on that by baring skin under his flak jacket to show his 'Iron' tattoo, used to seal Gyuki, his tailed beast, inside him. However, aside from his fashion sense, his overall muscular appearance, light hair, and a goatee are classic looks that never quite go out of style.

Killer Bee is also one of the deadliest ninjas in Naruto, with his character design being the tip of the iceberg, as his legacy in the franchise is more than skin-deep. He is a pioneering Jinchuriki, able to form a bond with Gyuki, which in turn helps Naruto develop his connection with Kurama. Finally, Killer Bee's absurd Acrobat technique is undeniably cool to watch, especially seeing him use it with all seven swords in close combat against Sasuke's Taka team.

Might Guy

Bushier Brows Sensei is Unironically Among the Best Character Designs in Naruto

Naruto fans had just gotten used to the appearance of Rock Lee, an instant favorite with a simplistic design complete with dinner plate eyes, big eyelashes, and bushy eyebrows in Chapter #36. However, it's revealed that his look is inspired by Rock Lee's beloved sensei, Might Guy, Konoha's strongest Taijutsu master. Beneath the Bruce Lee haircut and imposing eyebrows is fierce, unbridled power.

Might Guy is one of Konoha's most important and influential defenders, coming close to defeating Madara Uchiha singlehandedly with his Eight Gates technique. His rivalry with Kakashi is lighthearted, less fraught than Naruto's with Sasuke, and he's genuinely one of the most wholesome, entertaining characters to follow. His character development isn't too interesting, but he's compelling to watch or read in action as one of the most influential Naruto character designs ever.

Itachi Uchiha

The Uchiha Clan's Greatest Traitor is Also Their Most Stylish

With his middle-parted hair, signature lines running below his eyes and across his cheeks, and Sharingan eyes that match the red of his Akatsuki robes, Itachi's design in Naruto is coordinated from the start. However, his aesthetic carries across his many looks, whether serving as an Anbu ninja or beyond the grave while fighting alongside Sasuke in the Fourth Great Ninja War. Itachi's nail polish and necklace enhance his look as one of Naruto's most extraordinary character designs, enhanced with crow imagery and a striking red and black motif.

Itachi is one of the most essential characters in the Naruto canon, serving as the basis of Sasuke's initial character arc. However, as the plot progresses into Part II, or Naruto Shippuden in the anime, Itachi's role is fleshed out as it's revealed that his actions are to infiltrate Akatsuki and ultimately prevent it from focusing on Konoha. This complicates Sasuke's perception of him and further prompts later crucial events, such as Sasuke's pivotal fight against Danzō.

Sakura Haruno

Tsunade's Star Pupil Grows Increasingly Fierce Over Time

Sakura's character design in Naruto is a fascinating example of embracing even the qualities that make her insecure, such as her prominent forehead. The story of how she overcomes this is lovely as a reminder of her bond with Ino. However, her signature cherry blossom aesthetic and pink hair capture the hearts of her peers like Rock Lee and Naruto, even if it's not reciprocated. The fact that she gets to bear the Strength of a Hundred Seal as Tsunade's successor indicates that she can boost the power of her abilities and phenomenal strength while rocking the look.

Sakura is also naturally an essential character throughout every part of the Naruto franchise, as a member of Team 7, Naruto's first crush, and eventual wife to Sasuke. Her key victories include defeating Sasori, developing eventual immunity to genjutsu, and surpassing Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage. Sakura's strengths as a supporting character are instrumental in bringing the Fourth Great Ninja War to an end, which is no mean feat for a young Chunin.

Hinata Hyuga

The Demure Hyuga Scion with Crescendoing Courage

Hinata's introversion is easy to see in her first iterations; she is a reserved character whose kindness shines through every interaction in Naruto, both in her design and actions. It speaks to how adaptable the Byakugan eyes are depending on the character, as her cousin, Neji Hyuga, is comparatively fierce with his expressions despite ostensibly having the same eyes. Hinata's boldness and comfort zones have increased and changed her aesthetic, winning Naruto's heart.

Hinata idolizes Naruto at a young age, admiring his courage and wishing to emulate it. This is first demonstrated in the Chunin exams, where she refuses to back down against Neji despite his superior abilities and again when defending Naruto against Pain. She ultimately professes her love for Naruto in the Pain Arc, and the pair get married as she becomes a strict and loving mother to their children.

Related Boruto Has a HUGE Chance to Restore One Famous Naruto Clan to its Former Glory A major clan that was in the shadow of the Uchiha finally has the time to shine bright once again in Naruto's sequel.

Gaara

A Tragic Future Kazekage with Bespoke Designs

Gaara is one of the saddest characters introduced early in the Naruto franchise, and his design reflects that in multiple ways. The dark circles around his eyes hint at insomnia due to resisting sleep to prevent Shukaku from taking over his body. His signature tattoo, bearing the kanji for "love," is etched onto his face after a traumatic childhood incident where an attempt on his life by a close confidant is made. His sullen appearance is timeless and finally softens when he reaches adulthood.

The story of Gaara in Naruto is well-paced throughout the franchise, with touches of his cruel fate explored in the Chunin Exams Arc. Naruto chooses to look past this and see just another kid ravaged by a cruel society for having a Tailed Beast inside him, such as in the Konoha Crush Arc and again in the Kazekage Rescue Mission Arc. It's one of the earliest instances of Naruto's kindness in trying to forgive and befriend someone as infamously brutal as Gaara, as well. Finally, Gaara is the first shinobi of Naruto's age group to reach Kage status at fifteen.

Minato Namikaze

Konoha's Yellow Flash Gave Naruto His Spark

Teases of Minato, the Fourth Hokage, appear as early as Episode #1 of the Naruto anime, with Minato sporting his signature Hokage cloak. Everything about this character boasts youth, heroism, and Konoha's Will of Fire, perhaps literally in the case of the flames at the ends of his cloak. It's a hopeful glimpse at the man Naruto can eventually become, with his character design directly contradicting the appearance of the Third Hokage while prompting instant questions.

Minato is revealed to be the man who sealed the Nine-Tailed Fox in Naruto's newborn body, bravely sacrificing his life. However, he leaves a part of his consciousness in the seal, allowing him to communicate with Naruto at a crucial moment when his seal collapses in the Pain Arc. He is hailed as one of the fastest, most potent ninjas ever, but it's also genuinely heartening to see Minato remind Naruto he has faith in him like every father should have in his son. It doesn't hurt that Minato has an excellent spin-off manga.

Kakashi Hatake

The Copy Ninja and Lord Sixth Hokage

Kakashi's introduction in Naruto instantly won over fans as an iconic, contemporary design for a ninja mentor. Aside from some specific filler, Kakashi spends the series with the lower half of his face obscured under a mask. While his garb is essentially a standard Konoha issue, he puts his spin on every aspect. He wears his Sharingan eye with his headband for much of the series, and his body language persistently exudes an aloof, confident persona fitting of one of Konoha's greatest Jonin.

Kakashi excels even at a young age and consistently, after that, is persuaded by Minato to join the Anbu at a young age. He is a prodigious user of the Sharingan eye he inherits from a dear friend, earning the Copy Ninja moniker quickly while unlocking the eye's many secrets to use against enemies throughout the series. Despite being one of the series' best ninjas, he's also beloved for his goofy side, regularly carrying Make-Out Paradise novels to read even when conducting training exercises. Indeed, the most relaxed and eclectic Hokage in Naruto.