Key Takeaways:
– Naruto’s creator, Masashi Kishimoto, was heavily inspired by the Mobile Suit Gundam series.
– One character, Kakuzu, prominently displays this inspiration through a series of similar attacks.
– Despite the macabre nature of Kakuzu’s immortality, the homage to Gundam is a noteworthy aspect of its creation.
From Gundam to Naruto: Kishimoto’s Childhood Fandom
As fans of Naruto will know, the hit manga and anime series thrives on a wealth of distinct characters, each boasting unique power sets and personalities. Masashi Kishimoto, the mastermind behind Naruto, hasn’t hesitated to lean on his creative inspirations to shape these characters. One prominent example is revealed in Kishimoto’s use of influences from Mobile Suit Gundam in crafting the character of Kakuzu.
Kishimoto’s fondness for the Mobile Suit Gundam series, an iconic mecha anime, has always been evident, tracing back to his childhood. As a young boy, he was drawn to sketching the robot-like Gundams and enthralled by the characters existing within Gundam’s universe. This childhood fascination didn’t just stay on the drawing board; snatches of it found their way into his work Naruto, particularly within the character of Kakuzu.
The Akatsuki’s Black Sheep: Gundam Elements in Kakuzu’s Features
In the deep pool of Naruto characters, Kakuzu, a member of the villainous team, Akatsuki, stands apart. His pursuit of immortality leads him down a grim and ruthless path, but what sets him further apart is his genesis. Kishimoto’s affinity for Gundam subtly seeps into this character, fashioning a unique tribute to the famed anime series.
The thematic tie to Gundam, highlighted by CBR, is seen in Kakuzu’s array of attacks mirroring those of the Gundam Units. Attack techniques such as Earth Grudge Fear, Earth Release: Earth Spear, and Fire Release: Intelligent Hard Work all hint at connections to Gundam. Further connections are evident in the names of attacks themselves, which correspond with notable Gundam units like Zeong, Dom, and Z’Gok.
Behind Kakuzu’s Horrid Immortality Quest
Known for his audacious claim to have attempted an assassination of the first Hokage, Kakuzu’s brash bravado gains attention. While his attempt may not have been successful, it denotes a reckless ambition that marks him as a failure in the eyes of his hometown, the Village Hidden by the Waterfall. His response to this rejection takes a destructive turn.
In order to gain immortality, Kakuzu resorts to the ghastly measure of killing village heads and absorbing their hearts. This method offers him a perverse form of eternal life that snatches the life force from others to maintain his own. It is a ruthlessness that extends further than the scope of his immortality, as Kakuzu poses an equally significant hazard to his fellow Akatsuki members due to his uncontrollable rage.
The subtle colorings of childhood influence can be spotted in Naruto’s fabric if you know where to look. Kishimoto’s reverence for Mobile Suit Gundam isn’t a secret, nor is the influence it has had on his work. By ingraining familiar elements within Naruto’s narrative, Kishimoto has formed a cross-series tribute to the Gundam universe.
To explore the inspirations firsthand, Naruto is available for viewing on Netflix, and Mobile Suit Gundam can be found on Crunchyroll.
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