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Masashi Kishimoto

Historical Figure

Masashi Kishimoto

b. 1974

Japanese manga artist (born 1974)

Modern

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Biography

Masashi Kishimoto is a Japanese manga artist. His manga series, Naruto, which was in serialization from 1999 to 2014, has sold over 250 million copies worldwide in 46 countries as of May 2019. The series has been adapted into two anime and multiple films, video games, and related media. Besides the Naruto manga, Kishimoto also personally supervised the three anime films, Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie, The Last: Naruto the Movie and Boruto: Naruto the Movie, and has written several one-shot stories. In 2019, Kishimoto wrote Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru which ended in March 2020. From May 2016 through October 2020 he supervised the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations manga written by Ukyō Kodachi and illustrated by Mikio Ikemoto. In November 2020 it was announced that he had taken over as writer on the series, replacing Kodachi.

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Timeline

The story of Masashi Kishimoto, told in moments.

1997 Event

Submitted a one-shot called Karakuri to Weekly Shonen Jump. It won the Hop Step Award for new artists. He'd been working toward this since seeing a poster for Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira in high school, which reignited his love of manga.

An Akira poster reigniting your love of manga. Which frame hit hardest? The Hop Step Award. Did that feel like permission?
1999 Event

Naruto began serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump. The story of a lonely ninja outcast trying to earn his village's respect. It ran for 15 years. He drew it every week, 19 pages at a time.

700 chapters, 19 pages a week, for 15 years. When did exhaustion set in? A lonely outcast earning his village's respect. Was that your story too?
2014 Event

Naruto ended after 700 chapters. Over 250 million copies sold in 46 countries. Two anime adaptations, multiple films, video games. Kishimoto supervised several of the movies personally.

250 million copies in 46 countries. Does Naruto belong to you or the world? Supervising several movies personally. Is control necessary?
2020 Event

Took over as writer of the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations manga, replacing Ukyo Kodachi. He'd launched Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru in 2019 but it was cancelled after 43 chapters. Back to the world he built.

Samurai 8 cancelled after 43 chapters. Did failure sting? Returning to the world you built. Is Boruto a continuation or a safety net?

Artifacts (15)

Naruto, Vol. 21: Pursuit

Tsunade sends a team to hunt down the conflicted Sasuke. Are Naruto, Neji and the others capable of beating the Sound Ninja Four, who already have Sasuke in their clutches? They have no choice but to...

2007
Works Read Talk

Naruto 40th Anniversary

Naruto is a young shinobi with an incorrigible knack for mischief. He's got a wild sense of humor, but Naruto is completely serious about his mission to be the world's greatest ninja!.

2008
Works Read Talk

Naruto Illustration Book

Art from the world’s most popular ninja comic! Naruto is a young shinobi with an incorrigible knack for mischief. He’s got a wild sense of humor, but Naruto is completely serious about his mission to...

2010
Works Read Talk

Naruto, Vol. 6: Predator

Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura passed the written portion of the Chûnin Exam, but that was only the beginning! Now in the thick of the exam’s second phase, held in the aptly named Forest of Death,...

2010
Works Read Talk

Naruto, Vol. 8: Life-And-Death Battles

As the preliminaries to the third phase of the Journeyman Ninja Selection Exams begin, the student ninja face off against each other in no-holds-barred, one-on-one bouts. Deaf to Sakura’s pleas to...

2011
Works Read Talk

Naruto, Vol. 17: Itachi's Power

What does Sasuke’s older brother want with Naruto? As Jiraiya trains Naruto to push beyond his limits, secrets of the past are revealed, and a mysterious shinobi who could change everything begins to...

2011
Works Read Talk

Naruto, Vol. 19: Successor

It’s all-out shinobi war as Naruto, Tsunade, Jiraiya and Shizune take on Orochimaru and Kabuto in battle...with the final fate of Tsunade hanging on the outcome! Will her darkest fears finally become...

2011
Works Read Talk

Naruto, Vol. 54: Viaduct to Peace

Naruto and his team engage in an intense battle with the Akatsuki organization as both sides seek the power to determine the future of their land. Internecine fighting weakens the Akatsuki, but will...

2011
Works Read Talk

Naruto, Vol. 45: Battlefied, Konoha

Sasuke and Naruto find that their powers are ever-increasing. Sasuke can now use the Mangekyo Sharingan in multiple ways, and Naruto may have become even more powerful than his fallen sensei, Jiraiya!...

2011
Works Read Talk

Naruto, Vol. 29: Kakashi vs. Itachi

Naruto's teacher and Sasuke's brother finally face each other down. Plus, Gaara and Naruto discover more about their common enemy...the Akatsuki! -- VIZ Media

2011
Works Read Talk

Naruto, Vol. 24: Unorthodox

Kankuro, Temari and Gaara unexpectedly aid Konohagakure against the Sound Ninja. Could they have another purpose besides rekindling the old alliance between Leaf and Sand? -- VIZ Media

2011
Works Read Talk

Naruto, Vol. 68: Path

Even as the Shinobi Alliance’s resolve begins to falter in the face of Obito’s overwhelming power, Naruto refuses to give in. But how can he turn the tables with the odds so stacked against him? Can...

2014
Works Read Talk

Naruto, Vol. 66: The New Three

Naruto will have to summon all of his Nine Tails power if he hopes to stand up against the devastating team of Obito and Madara. Luckily for the Allied Shinobi Forces, the greatest help they could...

2014
Works Read Talk

Naruto, Vol. 70: Naruto and the Sage of Six Paths

In order to face off against Madara and his newly acquired Six Paths power, Guy pulls out his most dangerous move. Guy has put his very life on the line, but is it enough against Madara? Meanwhile, as...

2015
Works Read Talk

Naruto, Vol. 72: Uzumaki Naruto

With Naruto and Sasuke working together, Kaguya is finally sealed away for good. But just when it seems that the ninja world can find true peace, one more obstacle appears. Fueled by opposing ideals,...

2015
Works Read Talk

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