The Boruto: Naruto Next Generations anime, a sequel to the immensely popular Naruto series, has garnered a lot of attention since its debut. Following the adventures of Boruto Uzumaki, the son of the Seventh Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki, Boruto continues the story of the Hidden Leaf Village and introduces a new generation of ninja. While the anime is officially part of the Naruto franchise, one question that has constantly been asked by fans is: How much of Boruto is filler?
Filler episodes in anime refer to content that does not directly contribute to the main storyline, often being introduced to allow time for the source material (usually manga) to progress or to give the animation studio more time to work on key episodes. This article will provide a comprehensive breakdown of Boruto, the filler episodes, and how they affect the overall story of the series.
Understanding Filler in Anime
Filler is a common phenomenon in anime, particularly in long-running series. Anime series often adapt source material, such as manga or light novels, into animated episodes. However, because the animation process typically moves faster than the manga’s release schedule, it often results in the creation of filler episodes. These filler episodes do not appear in the original manga and usually deviate from the main plot to provide some breathing room for the source material to progress.
Filler episodes can serve various purposes:
Character Development: Some fillers allow for deeper exploration of side characters or minor story arcs that aren’t central to the main narrative.
World-Building: Fillers may introduce new locations, backstories, or small adventures to expand the universe of the anime.
Time Padding: Filler episodes are often used as a means to slow down the plot when the manga has not yet produced enough material for the anime to adapt.
While fillers can sometimes enrich a series, they are often criticized for disrupting the pacing and diverting focus from the main storyline.
The Filler Debate in Boruto
As Boruto: Naruto Next Generations has progressed, many fans have pointed out the prevalence of filler episodes in the series. Given that Boruto is an anime adaptation of the Boruto manga (written by Ukyo Kodachi and later by Masashi Kishimoto), the presence of filler episodes is somewhat expected. But the real question is: How much of Boruto is filler compared to its manga source material?
Filler Content in the First 100 Episodes
To evaluate the filler content of Boruto, we need to first examine the early episodes. The Boruto anime began airing in 2017, but it was made clear early on that the series would not immediately follow the manga’s plotline, instead opting to develop original filler arcs.
Episodes 1 to 16 of Boruto introduce the characters, setting, and premise, and while they aren’t directly based on manga content, they serve to establish the world post-Naruto Shippuden. These episodes are considered mostly canonical, though the anime does begin to veer into filler territory as it progresses. The filler content becomes more apparent after the early episodes, particularly when the focus shifts to individual side characters and small, non-essential story arcs.
Episodes 17 to 66 are often regarded as filler-heavy. The anime spends a lot of time exploring minor characters and side stories. Some of these fillers involve new missions for the young ninjas of the Hidden Leaf Village, such as Boruto, Sarada, and Mitsuki, while others delve into character development for side characters like Konohamaru Sarutobi and others.
However, this period also introduces the Mitsuki Disappearance Arc and the Chuunin Exams Arc, which are canonical to the Boruto manga. These arcs provide some key narrative progress, but they are interspersed with filler episodes that don’t contribute directly to the main plot.
Key Filler Arcs in Boruto
Several filler arcs in Boruto have been notable for their lack of significant plot progression or connection to the core story. Some of these arcs include:
The Byakuya Gang Arc (Episodes 47–50): A four-episode filler arc that focuses on a small gang causing trouble in the Hidden Leaf Village. While it does provide some action and minor character development, it doesn’t advance the main plot in any meaningful way.
The Sports Festival Arc (Episodes 56–57): A two-episode filler that features a sports festival designed to showcase the competitive spirit of the younger ninjas. While it’s entertaining, it adds nothing to the overall narrative and serves purely as filler.
The Kamiu Temple Arc (Episodes 93–95): Another filler arc that features a temple and an ancient artifact. While the episodes are fun to watch, they offer no major developments for the main characters or plot.
The Moegi and Konohamaru Focus Arcs (Episodes 69–71, 80–82): These episodes delve into the lives of characters like Moegi and Konohamaru, but they stray away from the main story of Boruto and his friends. These arcs focus on side missions and adventures that don’t contribute to Boruto’s growth or the conflict surrounding the larger narrative.
The Transition Toward Canonical Content
Despite the significant amount of filler in the earlier episodes, the anime gradually moves toward more canonical material as it progresses. Episodes 67 to 102 are where the Boruto anime begins to shift towards adapting the manga’s storyline more closely.
The Chuunin Exams Arc (Episodes 51–66) is a pivotal part of the anime that sets the stage for major developments in the plot. This arc was adapted directly from the manga, and it sets up important storylines involving the Kara organization, the mysterious forces at play in the world, and the growth of the main characters.
As the anime continues, filler content becomes less frequent, especially after Episode 102, when the anime starts adapting more material from the manga. The Kara Organization Arc, which begins after Episode 152, is an example of the anime becoming more aligned with the manga’s core plot.
How Much Filler Is There in Boruto?
Now that we’ve reviewed the filler arcs and episodes, the question remains: How much filler is there in the anime overall?
The Boruto anime has a significant amount of filler content, especially in its early episodes. Out of the first 200 episodes, approximately 50-70% of the content is filler. These filler episodes can range from entire filler arcs to single, standalone episodes that explore side stories or secondary characters. However, with the introduction of major manga-based arcs, filler episodes have become less common.
By the time the Kara Organization Arc (Episodes 152 and beyond) begins, the filler content sharply decreases. This arc aligns closely with the manga’s storyline, and the anime continues to adapt key events from the manga. However, there are still occasional filler episodes sprinkled throughout the anime, though these are far less frequent in comparison to the earlier episodes.
In summary, while Boruto does have a significant amount of filler, especially in its first 100 episodes, the anime has increasingly focused on adapting the main storylines from the manga in recent episodes. The balance between filler and canonical content is expected to shift even further as the series progresses, with more of the episodes becoming integral to the overarching plot.
Conclusion
The Boruto anime, like many long-running series, has had its share of filler episodes. These episodes range from fun side stories to character-driven arcs that don’t always contribute to the main narrative. As the anime continues to adapt more material from the Boruto manga, the amount of filler will likely decrease, and the focus will shift to the more serious and action-driven plotlines that are central to the series.
If you’re a fan of the Boruto series and wish to avoid filler, it’s important to be aware of the filler-heavy episodes and arcs, especially in the early seasons. However, these episodes are also an opportunity for character development and world-building, which can add value to the overall experience of the show. Ultimately, the filler content is a part of the Boruto anime’s structure, and while it may not always be essential to the main plot, it contributes to the richness of the series as a whole.
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