Bonds

Naruto: Shippuuden 2: Bonds

Official Japanese Title : Naruto Shippuuden: Kizuna
English Translated Title : Naruto: Shippuuden 2: Bonds
Japanese Theatrical Release Date : August 2nd, 2008

The second movie in Naruto's new part, Shippuuden, and fifth overall movie called Naruto Shippuden - Bonds. This movie was released approximately one year from the last one, on August 2nd, 2008. To help promote the film a special event took place which had Naruto appear with the band that sung its theme song, Home Made Kazoku. There was a live playing of that song as well as a short question and answer session with those that took part in the movie.

Following with the previous movies tradition, this movie also gave away a special present to those lucky visitors that went to see it early. This year's gift was a special changing necklace that changes to show three pictures featuring Naruto, Sasuke and the kanji Kizuna which means bonds. Being released up against many great films Hayao Miyazaki's Ponyo this movie stayed in the 7th position for three weeks, before dropping to the 9th spot its fourth week and then finally off the charts.

A mysterious group of ninjas makes a surprise attack on the Konohagakure, which takes great damage. The nightmare of another Shinobi World War could become a reality. Sasuke, who was still a missing nin from Konoha trying to kill his brother, Itachi, appears for the second time in front of Naruto at an unknown location to prevent it from happening.

Naruto Shippuuden

Naruto the Movie : Naruto Shippuuden

Official Japanese Title : Naruto Shippuuden
English Translated Title : Naruto Hurricane Chronicles
Japanese Theatrical Release Date : August 4th, 2007

The fourth movie in Naruto's timeline, but the first film for the second part of Naruto known as Shippuuden. Released on August 4th, 2007 and stated to be released in the states sometime in the year 2009, with its DVD already released in Japan on April 23, 2008. The movie takes place after the 2 and a half year break in the Naruto world, so Naruto is now much bigger and has completed his training to allow him to use Rasengan.

Much like previous movies, this movie also had bonus gifts promoting it. By going to the convenience store Lawson, you could get both a card featuring scenes from the movie and a black wristband with the Shippuuden logo on it. The movie also did very well in the box office with it coming in at number six its first week, and then staying at number eight for the following two weeks.

Demons that once almost destroyed the world, are revived by someone. To prevent the world from being destroyed, the demon has to be sealed and the only one who can do it is the shrine maiden Shion from the country of demons, who has two powers; one is sealing demons and the other is predicting the deaths of humans. This time Naruto's mission is to guard Shion, but she predicts Naruto's death. The only way to escape it, is to get away from Shion, which would leave her unguarded, then the demon, whose only goal is to kill Shion will do so, thus meaning the end of the world. Naruto decides to challenge this "prediction of death."

The Animal Riot of Crescent Moon Island

Naruto the Movie 3: The Animal Riot of Crescent Moon Island

Official Japanese Title : Dai Koufun! Mikazuki Jima no Animal Panic Dattebayo!
English Translated Title : The Animal Riot of Crescent Moon Island!
Japanese Theatrical Release Date : August 5th, 2006

The third Naruto movie to be released in theaters was announced on August 6th, 2005 at the premiere of the second Naruto movie. This third movie, Naruto the Movie 3, opens on August 5th, 2006 in theaters across Japan and will feature many of the most popular characters from the series, with some new summer clothing. If this movie were to take place during the anime series timeline (which differs greatly from the manga series timeline) it would have taken place between part 1 and 2 of the series, after the Sasuke Retrieval Arc and sometime before the end of part 1 of the series.

It has been announced that this will be the very last Naruto movie in part 1 of the anime. As a promotional item, the first 100,000 Naruto fans to watch the movie at select theaters through-out the country will receive a high quality Naruto yo-yo (dubbed a Datteba yo-yo), with a picture of Naruto that when spun, special LED lights inside will light up, making it appear as a rasengan with colors that change while spinning.

Uzumaki Naruto, Hatake Kakashi, Haruno Sakura, and Rock Lee are sent to protect a prince during his trip around the world and see that he returns safely to his home in the Moon Country. The Moon Country happens to be really rich and as such the Prince tends to buy anything his heart desires. During his travels the Prince comes across a circus group that features a rare Sabre-toothed tiger that he just has to have, so he purchases the entire group. Suddenly a mission to protect the prince that hardly listens to anything said, turns into a mission to look after animals and a prince that doesn't listen to what they say, and in the end somehow get them all back safely to their home country. All the while there are three mysterious Ninja wielding some frightening jutsu waiting for them.

The Illusionary Ruins at the Depths of the Earth

Naruto the Movie 2: The Illusionary Ruins at the Depths of the Earth

Official Japanese Title : Daigekitotsu! Maboroshi no Chiteiiseki Dattebayo
English Translated Title : The Illusionary Ruins at the Depths of the Earth
Japanese Theatrical Release Date : August 6th, 2005

The Naruto anime series first hit the silver screen in Japan on August 21st 2004 in the very first theatrical release of a Naruto title. Being an instant smash hit, estimated to be seen by over 13,000,000 people across Japan, it would soon be announced that a second Naruto movie was in the works due to the unexpected popularity of the first, and thus, we have this movie which was released in theaters across Japan on August 6th, 2005.

This time it isn't just Naruto, but Konoha villages Nara Shikamaru and Haruno Sakura, and from the (wind country) Sand villages Gaara, and Kankurou are making their appearance. The movies setting will take place in a moving fortification, or better yet put inside an inside an enigmatic historical ruins location in the depths of the Earth. Fierce ninjas battle it up on the big screen in a performance never before seen in an original art work nor anime!

Naruto, Shikamaru, and Sakura are executing their mission of delivering a lost pet to a certain village. However, right in the midst of things, troops led by the mysterious knight, Temujin, attack them. In the violent battle, the three become separated. Temujin challenges Naruto to a fight and at the end of the fierce battle, both fall together from a high cliff. Furthermore, Shikamaru, having been left behind, beholds a giant moving fortress as it appears before his very eyes. In order to get a grasp on the situation, he infiltrates the fortress by himself, however once there he witnesses a frightening sight.

Snow Princess' Book of Ninja Arts

Naruto the Movie: Snow Princess' Book of Ninja Arts

Official Japanese Title : Daikatsugeki! Yukihime Ninpocho Dattebayo!!
English Translated Title : Snow Princess' Book of Ninja Arts
Japanese Theatrical Release Date : August 21st, 2004

The first ever theatrical release of a Naruto anime title was released on August 21, 2004 to large crowds throughout Japan, it was indeed an instant hit that stayed atop the Japanese box office charts for a good run. Due to it's unexpected popularity a sequel to the movie was made for a theatric release in 2005, and has now spawned an entire series of Naruto movies with the third movie being released on August 5th, 2006. Naruto the Movie 1 was released on DVD in Japan on April 28th, 2005 and in Taiwan on May 27th, 2005 (under an alternative name "Naruto–Princess Snow Ninja rule").

As a bonus the DVD featured a short special (Konoha Undokai, "The Leaf's Athletic Meet"). The ten minute opening revolves around Naruto's inability to use the washroom while participating in the tournament. One thing that makes the short interesting is that nearly every character who had ever appeared in the Naruto series up until that point (living, and even dead) makes an appearance.

Set in the Snow Country (a previously unheard of Country in the Naruto universe) the first Naruto movie follows the plight of the leader of the Snow, his young daughter, and his young brother. Originally, the ruler of this small, ice covered country was a bespectacled man named Kazehana Sousetsu, who had helped keep the country peaceful and had ambitions to let his daughter rule the country when he had retired. However, his younger brother Dotou was also keen to take the throne and revolted against Sousetsu to take control of the Snow Country. Tragically, Sousetsu was killed, but as he died he gave a precious crystal to his daughter, named Koyuki, who then fled the country.

At this time, a younger ANBU-member Kakashi was also in the Snow Country fulfilling a mission, and it may be logical to assume that he had helped the girl desert from her homeland. Ten years later, and back in the present, the new ruler of the Snow Country, Dotou, is trying to strengthen his military forces in order to challenge the power of the 5 Great Shinobi countries (Cloud, Earth, Fire, Water, Wind). Back in the Leaf Village, it is some time after the end of the Chuunin exam, and Kakashi's Team 7 are given a new mission, the first one they've worked together on in a long time.

The duty assigned to the team is to escort a popular but selfish actor named Fujimi Yuki to the Snow Country where she is to film a new movie, the last in the "Adventures of the Unlucky Princess" series, even though she is reluctant to go and walks out of the studio. Eventually she is persuaded to go, but the reception she receives in the Snow Country is far from friendly.Their enemies in the movie are Mizore, Nadare, and Fubuki (whose names translate directly to Sleet, Avalanche, and Snow-Storm) who are dressed in special suits that allow them to utilise snow-based attacks, particularly with the mechanical lokking devices on their arms. They attack the actress and Team 7 at once, but there seems to be some relation between their attack and the girl Koyuki, who went missing ten years ago.