The Naruto series became popular in both Japan and the United States. The overwhelming responses from the people and the demand for his comic could be seen in terms of his sales. In Japan, over 71 million copies of volume 36 were sold, and volume 43 sold 1.1 million copies during 2008, making it Japan’s ninth best-selling comic. In the first half of 2009, it was ranked as Japan’s third best-selling manga, with 3.4 million copies sold. Volume 45 ranked fifth with 1.1 million copies sold, while volume 46 ranked ninth with 864,708 copies sold, and volume 44 ranked 40th.
The ups and downs can be seen everywhere. This series has also received praise and criticism from various critics. IGN’s AE Sparrow noted how some manga volumes focus only on certain characters to the point that the number of fans increases. He was impressed by the way Kishimoto manages to pull off remarkable combinations of fight scenes, comedy, and good art. Anime and manga magazine Neo feels that Naruto’s character is annoying, but at the same time feels that the series has an unhealthy addiction to his level of characterization. Carl Kimlinger of Anime News Network (ANN) really liked the character designs. He also pointed out how even the “dumbest character” can act “really cool” when he fights. He also praised the way the battles unfold and how emotional it is at the end.
The fight scenes and opponents in the series arouse the interest of readers and viewers. Lugo also commented on Kishimoto’s artwork as it makes the story dramatic and exciting. The beginning of Part II has been praised in another review by ANN’s Casey Brienza. She noted how well the characters were developed as they had new looks and abilities.
