Naruto is, undoubtedly, one of the most iconic anime franchises in the whole world. Naruto is recognizable to anyone, regardless of whether they're an anime fan or not, and its main character, Naruto Uzumaki, is one of the faces of anime. The Naruto anime went on quite a generational run from the moment of its debut all the way to 2017, when it finally ended. Since then, the only new animated content for the franchise has been via its sequel, Boruto. Sadly, even Boruto went on hiatus in 2023.
Boruto Anime Reportedly Stopped Production Due To Filler Episodes
The Boruto anime has been on a hiatus. It could have to do with its filler episodes.
Much to the surprise of all fans, a revival of the Naruto anime was announced in 2023, with a short anime featuring 4 new special episodes for Naruto’s anniversary. Sadly, these episodes were delayed indefinitely. Now, they are officially set to be released. It’s been confirmed that Naruto’s 4 special episodes will drop sometime in late 2026. This is exciting news and an amazing way to expand the story before the events of Shippuden.
Naruto’s 4 Special Episodes Are Finally Coming In 2026
- Series Planned For A Late 2026 Release
- Naruto Will Finally Make Its Grand Return
There are not many anime series out there that can compete with the fame of the iconic Naruto anime. Naruto is one of Shonen Jump’s biggest series, and even a decade after its conclusion, its popularity is only growing.
Even years after the announcement of the new episodes, fans are waiting patiently for them. These episodes are not a new project. They were initially planned to be released in 2023 for the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Naruto anime. Obviously, that never happened.
These episodes were indefinitely delayed by Studio Pierrot. At the time, the reason for the delay was stated to be the quality. It was said that in order to deliver even higher levels of quality, the Naruto anime would be delayed and fans would get even better quality in return.
The Episodes Were Initially Planned For Naruto’s 20th Anniversary
Of course, fans would definitely prefer a delayed Naruto work over a subpar one. With 3 more years of work, these episodes should be fully polished now that their production is officially over. Now, work on these anime episodes seems to have been completed. Naturally, fans will be glad to know that the much-awaited 4 special Naruto episodes are finally coming.
Say Goodbye To Naruto Uzumaki, And Welcome The New Strongest Character In Boruto
Naruto Uzumaki is powerful, but there is one stronger ninja in Boruto now.
Naruto’s 4 special episodes are now expected for a late 2026 release. At the moment, there isn’t an exact date for their release. However, fans do know the production of these episodes wrapped up in 2025. The proper release date should be revealed in the upcoming months by Studio Pierrot via a key visual or even a trailer.
What Will Naruto’s 4 Special Episodes Be About?
The Story Is Set Before The Naruto Timeskip
Naruto Uzumaki’s story was concluded at the end of the Shippuden series. However, these new 4 Naruto episodes will take place long before that. Based on the key visual, it seems that these episodes will cover events before the timeskip and Sasuke’s disappearance. Fans will get to see Team 7 in action together again as children. Fans are very excited for what new adventure the beloved trio and Kakashi could head out on. The exact plot, however, is still unclear. Fans will have to wait for a trailer for more information on that end.
The Future Of The Naruto Franchise Is Up In The Air
- A Naruto Remake Is Needed
- The Boruto Anime Could Return
Naruto is a beloved franchise, but it’s greatly lacking in anime content at the moment. The last bit of Naruto content fans got was through Boruto. While Boruto wasn’t universally loved, it was still a great way to see Naruto and the others in action. Boruto, however, went on a hiatus in 2023 due to multiple issues.
While Boruto is on break, it will eventually return. No return date is confirmed, but with Studio Pierrot bringing back the likes of Black Clover, a Boruto return is inevitable as well.
A Boruto return would be great for the franchise, but fans would also love a Naruto Remake. Naruto isn’t a very old anime, but it’s definitely outdated in many ways. The Naruto anime has an outrageous amount of filler, and a modern remake would be welcomed by fans. One Piece, an anime still ongoing, is getting a remake by WIT Studio. In that regard, Naruto should receive the same treatment eventually.