CATDOLL: "Naruto" author Masashi Kishimoto: I only want to make live-action movies!

There were previous reports that "Naruto" will be made into a live-action movie by Hollywood, and everything is already in preparation. Recently, in a pre-screening interview for "Naruto: Boruto Next Generations", when asked about his opinion on the current manga adaptation into a live-action drama, the original author of "Naruto" Masashi Kishimoto said: "I am in favor of it. This will be a different work from the animation."

Masashi Kishimoto said: "Of course I agree. Because we can see the parts that are different from the animation. I think that letting actors perform means that fans will treat it as a different work. Unlike stage plays, live-action adaptations of movies and TV are a whole new world that I have not seen yet, so I think I will be very happy if it really appears."

In this interview, Kishimoto also mentioned a lot of news about "Naruto" and "Boruto Next Generations". Now someone has specially translated it, let's take a look. In this interview, Kishimoto also said that he would take a good rest and go watch a movie. It seems that the story of "Naruto" is really coming to an end.

Interview with Kishimoto before the release of "Naruto: Boruto Next Generations":

Reporter: When THELAST was announced last year, it seemed that the script for BORUTO had already been written. And in April, the short-term intensive serialization of the original spin-off began. What is your schedule like?

Kishimoto: It was the end of January when I finished writing the script for the theatrical version. Adding the time for subsequent revisions, the script was finished around the end of February. However, in my mind, I had always planned to finish the work on the theatrical version in early February, and then start the short-term serialization in February in parallel. For short-term serialization, the characters must be decided before it can begin. Because the story cannot be started without creating the characters first. After deciding on the overall concept, the rest is to supplement the content every week.

Reporter: Teacher, you have supervised theatrical works and produced stories before.

Kishimoto: I was in charge of composition for Road to Ninja, and I was in charge of character design and story supervision for THELAST. However, this is the first time that I wrote everything from scratch, including the lines.

Reporter: Do you think there is any difference between making comics and making movies?

Kishimoto: For me, the fundamental things have not changed. When I was a rookie, I read books related to film script writing and learned a lot from them.

Reporter: It is said that you often use movies as reference when creating comics.

Kishimoto: There are many. The one that was most influenced by the film was The Rock. My favorite movies are Back to the Future and The Dark World. I also like heroic stories, so I used Spider-Man as a reference. However, there are so many references that I don't know which one to mention right away (laughs).

Reporter: What kind of influence have you received from movies?

Kishimoto: Although comics have had the method of introduction, development, turn and conclusion for a long time, I actually used the method of three-act structure. I have always liked movie magazines. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that there were fewer reference books for comics in the past, so I used movies to learn. In "The Rock", the first thing I learned was to let readers understand the characters, and then use the three-act structure method to end the story.

Reporter: Whether in "NARUTO" or "BORUTO", the characters other than the protagonist are also very attractive.

Kishimoto: In the short-running spin-offs, Fluttershy was very popular among the person in charge, the assistant, and the people around her. Although I made Sarah carry a very heavy load and made her appear cheerful, it was unexpectedly well received by everyone. This was completely beyond my imagination and really surprised me. In "NARUTO", it turned out to be Rock Lee. And I didn't pay much attention to Jiraiya, but he was unexpectedly very popular. Character design is a very difficult thing. The characters that the author created with great effort and aim are unexpectedly not popular, but the characters created unconsciously are very popular anyway. This is really unpredictable.

Reporter: For teachers, which role is easier to control?

Kishimoto: Because "this character should act this way" changes depending on the situation, all characters are equal. There is no character that is particularly difficult to control. However, if you don't give the character a variety of situations, the character will not be able to act. In this sense, Sasuke is probably the most difficult to control. Because his character setting was determined from the beginning, you can't force him to do things that the character won't do.

Reporter: What kind of things specifically do you mean?

Kishimoto: For example, Sasuke is a character who likes to drink tea, so he is always seen drinking tea in the scene. Because he doesn't like juice, it was decided that he couldn't drink it. However, if he doesn't drink juice, the story can't go on. If the story doesn't unfold in a different way than serving tea, the character can't act. However, if he drinks juice, the character image will be destroyed. Sasuke, who appeared in many scenes, encountered many such reluctant situations.

Reporter: I see.

Kishimoto: So, for Naruto, we can't let him say too complicated lines. Although it's okay if he has experienced certain situations and has certain experience, but if he suddenly says it, because he has never experienced it, it's easy for people to feel that those words are not real and don't fit the character. In short, because the role is decided at the beginning, I can't always describe it frankly according to my own meaning.

Reporter: Is the love relationship of the characters in the series decided at the beginning?

Kishimoto: I didn't pay much attention to this aspect. Because I just let it develop naturally. I thought about what would happen if Sakura and Sasuke were together while I was drawing. Because in terms of love, I didn't draw Sakura as a heroine at all. Basically, except for the protagonist Naruto who is a little special, there is no distinction between the main and the secondary characters. They are all equal. It's all the characters themselves who decide how to act in the story. But halfway through, I always felt that Sakura and Naruto were not suitable. I had this feeling from a long time ago.

Reporter: It's all up to the characters to act on their own.

Kishimoto: For me, it's not that I didn't realize it at the beginning. It's more that I feel more shy to draw it, and there are parts that I don't want to draw at all. (laughs) THELAST describes Naruto's love, and I'm also very happy to see the parts that I can't draw in the movie.

Reporter: Speaking of which, Naruto realized his dream of becoming Hokage, so when did he take the Jonin exam?

Kishimoto: Naruto didn't become a jonin. He was always a genin and became Hokage. And Sasuke wasn't a chūnin or jonin either. It's better to say that he left the village and became a traitor. The two of them are really messing around. (laughs) But I think that being a genin and becoming Hokage is more like Naruto's style and is also very interesting.

Reporter: The opening plan of the new era includes theater versions and stage plays, etc. There are many plans.

Kishimoto: Regarding stage plays, I am not very familiar with this circle, so I cannot comment on whether it is good or bad, so I can only talk about my own feelings. Although this stage play is my own work, I went to watch it and found it unexpectedly very interesting and funny. It is obviously my own work, but I was moved to tears. When the actors perform, they always express themselves vividly, making people feel like they are in the scene. It is a completely different way of expression from painting. The scene of using props to perform ninjutsu is also very interesting, which can well convey the atmosphere of that scene.

Reporter: What would you think if "NARUTO" were to have a live-action movie or TV series?

Kishimoto: Of course I agree. Because I can see the parts that are different from the animation. I think that letting actors perform means that fans will treat it as a different work. Unlike stage plays, the live-action adaptation of movies and TV is a brand new world that I have not seen yet, so I think I will be very happy if it really appears.

Reporter: The "BORUTO" movie has been released and the story of "NARUTO" has come to an end. How do you feel now?

Kishimoto: "I feel a little relieved." This is probably the feeling. After the short-term concentrated serialization ended, I finally had some free time after drawing the bonus "The Book of" manga. Although I have a hunched back because of the pressure that has been accumulating until now. But this has also healed me and I feel that my body is experiencing the joy of liberation. My whole body and mind have become healthier. (laughs)

Reporter: The pressure of serialization is really amazing.

Kishimoto: I'm used to it. It's basically a feeling of something chasing me. But, that feeling still makes me feel unable to calm down.

Reporter: So what about the teacher's future?

Kishimoto: First of all, I would like to play with my children, and I also want to learn how to play tennis. I also want to go to the cinema to watch many new movies.

Postscript:

Although he is a popular manga artist who has swept the world, Mr. Kishimoto always smiles during the interview and answers every question seriously. He said, "The growth of the characters in the work has not reached the point. After growing up, they take on the responsibility of teaching the next generation, so their story continues." The "NARUTO New Era" that inherits Mr. Kishimoto's thoughts will probably warm the hearts of children and adults who have been accompanying this story for the past 15 years.

It seems that Mr. Kishimoto is still looking forward to the live-action movie of "Naruto", but the live-action movie of Naruto has been confirmed to be shot by Hollywood. I wonder if Mr. Kishimoto will be the director when the time comes? In fact, Hollywood has shot a live-action version of "Dragon Ball" before, and the response was also good. Let's look forward to the live-action movie of "Naruto".