NARUTO COLLECTION VOLUME 5 (ANIME)
January 9th 2009 22:24
Category: Videos, Television
Based on the Naruto manga by: Masashi Kishimoto.
Director: Hayato Date.
Producers: Tomoko Gushima (TV Tokyo) & Ken Hagino.
Starring: David Wittenberg (Kakashi Hatake), Maile Flannigan (Naruto), Kate Higgins (Sakura), Yuri Lowenthal (Sasuke), Mary Elizabeth McGlynn (Kurenai Yuhi), Steve Kramer (The Third Hokage), Liam O’Brien (Gaara), Stephanie Sheh (Hinata Hyuga), David Lodge (Jiraiya), Steven Jay Blum (Orochimaru), Henry Dittman (Kabuto), Kyle Herbert (Kiba Inazuka), Tom Gibis (Shikamaru), Derek Stephen Price (Shino Aburame), Robbie Rist (Choji Akimichi), Colleen O’Shaughnessy (Ino Yamanaka), Doug Erholz (Asuma), Brian Donovan (Rock Lee), Steve Staley (Neji Hyuga), Danielle Judovits (Tenten), Skip Stellrecht (Might Guy), Michael Lindsay (Kankuro), Tara Platt (Temari) & Quinton Flynn (Iruka Sensei).
Produced by: TV Tokyo & Studio Pierrot.
Released by: Madman Entertainment.
Running Time: 325 minutes. Rating: PG.
What is there to say about this collection, the first such collection that I have managed to get my hands on since they started being released here in Australia by Madman Entertainment. It is a good move by the Madman to bring out the series in collection volumes, each collection consisting of about thirteen episodes from the Naruto anime series and in the end is far better value then buying a single DVD with only four or five episodes. Now for those of you who are like myself do not have access to pay TV this is a great way to get a hold of the show, it is apparently a regular running on the Cartoon Network, for some reason Channel Ten’s Toasted TV no longer show it – at least as far as I am aware. Which is really sad as it was nice seeing something like this on free to air TV, but that’s the world of television networks and mass media for you. The decisions of those who determine a particular stations programming content are unfathomable to anyone who has a shred of sanity; in my opinion they’re all secretly part of some kind of Lovecraftian cult dedicated to squeezing any last shreds of real entertainment from their networks content and replace it with inane and moronic reality TV shows
That being said what is actually going on in the Naruto collection volume 5? The last episode that ever aired on Toasted TV of a week day morning saw the number one maverick ninja of the Hidden Leaf Village, Naruto Uzumaki, trying to master the technique of water walking under the tutorship of Master Ebisu in the hot springs quarter of the village. Ebisu-sensei spies some stranger peeking into the women’s bath he responds most vigorously only to end up getting knocked out by the tongue of a summoned giant frog conjured by the stranger. This marks the end of the second season and also sees the arrival of the mysterious Toad Mountain Sage, Jiraiya. One of the legendary Sanin, the Three Legendary Shinobi of Konoha, Jiraiya seems on first impression to be nothing like a living legend that is spoken of with awe throughout his own village and in the other hidden villages. Although this is something that Naruto seems completely oblivious too, no doubt he was getting some quality nap time during history classes at the academy.
Now Jiraiya is the second of the Sanin to make an appearance in the show, Orochimaru the serpentine, shape shifting and androgynous S ranked renegade is the first and he made his presence felt to Naruto and his fellow team mates during the second phase of the Chunin Exam. His motivations were primarily focused on the Leaf village’s number one rookie Sasuke Uchiha, the tragic survivor of the clan’s massacre by his older brother Itachi. For some reason Orochimaru has his sights on Sasuke and has marked him with a rather unusual looking sigil on his neck after biting him, this is the Seal of Heaven and what it pertains for the young Uchiha is as yet unknown although Kakashi is determined to make sure that the serpentine former Leaf village shinobi does not achieve his ends.
The Legendary Three shinobi have a major part to play within the overall storyline of Naruto, hence the inclusion of first Orochimaru and now his former friend and rival Jiraiya. Since having parted on the worst of terms with his once friend Jiraiya has been keeping an eye on the activities of the S ranked renegade (apparently S rank means you are the worst of all criminals) and every so often in trying to keep abreast of things the Toad Mountain sage finds himself returning to his home village. The really interesting thing about this character is not only is he a skilled ninja, a master summoner and wielder of numerous jutsu but is a recognised best selling author, although his works are on the rather racy side, sale of which is prohibited to minors. In fact his Icha Icha (Make Out) Paradise series of novels are the favoured reading material of Kakashi sensei and although he doesn’t know it Naruto himself is named for a character in one of Jiraiya’s previous works – the Gutsy Ninja.
At their first meeting though all our resourceful hero can think about is that his trainer has been knocked for six and he has the third and final stage of the Chunin exam to face in a month’s time. This is the showdown phase of the exam where the final contestants will not only battle for the right to be promoted to the rank of Chunin but also for the pride and prestige of their respective shinobi nation. Five Leaf shinobi have managed to make the finals along with a single Sound shinobi and three Sand shinobi, the contest will be intense and Naruto has to face Neji Hyuga in his first round fight. He knows that as he is he hasn’t got the goods to make a good run of it in a fight against Neji, the former years number one rookie, thus his desire to train, train and train some more in an attempt to close the gap against his opponent.
So when the man appointed to oversee his training Ebisu sensei is taken out, literally, naturally he is a tad bit miffed by the whole affair. But rather than bemoaning his fate or just going quietly off and looking for some other option he immediately focuses on the person responsible for his predicament and demands that this total stranger continue his training. Very gutsy, especially considering just how powerful Jiraiya is, still as mentioned earlier Naruto has no idea who Jiraiya really is and in fact throughout the entire series is in fact totally under whelmed by his mentor’s status. Thus the stage becomes set for what will be a monumental confrontation as after much prompting and heckling by Naruto Jiraiya agrees to train the young would be Chunin and future Hokage. These particular episodes contained in this volume mark a major turning point within the series as we see just what exactly Orochimaru has been planning for his former home and for the number one rookie Sasuke Uchiha, he has been a very busy individual and his plans are about to come to fruition.
Of course it isn’t only just Orochimaru’s ambitions that are unveiled but we learn something of the nature of Gaara which will become a focus for later episodes in the story and makes up a major chunk of the follow on anime series Naruto: Hurricane Chronicle. So along with drama, humour, new jutsu and some humongous feats of combat and stamina the producers of this show are not only thinking of the now but the somewhat distant future episodes and the overarching storyline. Perhaps Master Yoda should have said to Luke in Empire Strikes Back “Hmmm hard to see the future is, always in motion, unless an anime series director you are.” If you like good fun entertainment and action anime then Naruto Collection Volume 5 would be right up your alley…BELIEVE IT!
Director: Hayato Date.
Producers: Tomoko Gushima (TV Tokyo) & Ken Hagino.
Starring: David Wittenberg (Kakashi Hatake), Maile Flannigan (Naruto), Kate Higgins (Sakura), Yuri Lowenthal (Sasuke), Mary Elizabeth McGlynn (Kurenai Yuhi), Steve Kramer (The Third Hokage), Liam O’Brien (Gaara), Stephanie Sheh (Hinata Hyuga), David Lodge (Jiraiya), Steven Jay Blum (Orochimaru), Henry Dittman (Kabuto), Kyle Herbert (Kiba Inazuka), Tom Gibis (Shikamaru), Derek Stephen Price (Shino Aburame), Robbie Rist (Choji Akimichi), Colleen O’Shaughnessy (Ino Yamanaka), Doug Erholz (Asuma), Brian Donovan (Rock Lee), Steve Staley (Neji Hyuga), Danielle Judovits (Tenten), Skip Stellrecht (Might Guy), Michael Lindsay (Kankuro), Tara Platt (Temari) & Quinton Flynn (Iruka Sensei).
Released by: Madman Entertainment.
Running Time: 325 minutes. Rating: PG.
What is there to say about this collection, the first such collection that I have managed to get my hands on since they started being released here in Australia by Madman Entertainment. It is a good move by the Madman to bring out the series in collection volumes, each collection consisting of about thirteen episodes from the Naruto anime series and in the end is far better value then buying a single DVD with only four or five episodes. Now for those of you who are like myself do not have access to pay TV this is a great way to get a hold of the show, it is apparently a regular running on the Cartoon Network, for some reason Channel Ten’s Toasted TV no longer show it – at least as far as I am aware. Which is really sad as it was nice seeing something like this on free to air TV, but that’s the world of television networks and mass media for you. The decisions of those who determine a particular stations programming content are unfathomable to anyone who has a shred of sanity; in my opinion they’re all secretly part of some kind of Lovecraftian cult dedicated to squeezing any last shreds of real entertainment from their networks content and replace it with inane and moronic reality TV shows
Now Jiraiya is the second of the Sanin to make an appearance in the show, Orochimaru the serpentine, shape shifting and androgynous S ranked renegade is the first and he made his presence felt to Naruto and his fellow team mates during the second phase of the Chunin Exam. His motivations were primarily focused on the Leaf village’s number one rookie Sasuke Uchiha, the tragic survivor of the clan’s massacre by his older brother Itachi. For some reason Orochimaru has his sights on Sasuke and has marked him with a rather unusual looking sigil on his neck after biting him, this is the Seal of Heaven and what it pertains for the young Uchiha is as yet unknown although Kakashi is determined to make sure that the serpentine former Leaf village shinobi does not achieve his ends.
The Legendary Three shinobi have a major part to play within the overall storyline of Naruto, hence the inclusion of first Orochimaru and now his former friend and rival Jiraiya. Since having parted on the worst of terms with his once friend Jiraiya has been keeping an eye on the activities of the S ranked renegade (apparently S rank means you are the worst of all criminals) and every so often in trying to keep abreast of things the Toad Mountain sage finds himself returning to his home village. The really interesting thing about this character is not only is he a skilled ninja, a master summoner and wielder of numerous jutsu but is a recognised best selling author, although his works are on the rather racy side, sale of which is prohibited to minors. In fact his Icha Icha (Make Out) Paradise series of novels are the favoured reading material of Kakashi sensei and although he doesn’t know it Naruto himself is named for a character in one of Jiraiya’s previous works – the Gutsy Ninja.
At their first meeting though all our resourceful hero can think about is that his trainer has been knocked for six and he has the third and final stage of the Chunin exam to face in a month’s time. This is the showdown phase of the exam where the final contestants will not only battle for the right to be promoted to the rank of Chunin but also for the pride and prestige of their respective shinobi nation. Five Leaf shinobi have managed to make the finals along with a single Sound shinobi and three Sand shinobi, the contest will be intense and Naruto has to face Neji Hyuga in his first round fight. He knows that as he is he hasn’t got the goods to make a good run of it in a fight against Neji, the former years number one rookie, thus his desire to train, train and train some more in an attempt to close the gap against his opponent.
So when the man appointed to oversee his training Ebisu sensei is taken out, literally, naturally he is a tad bit miffed by the whole affair. But rather than bemoaning his fate or just going quietly off and looking for some other option he immediately focuses on the person responsible for his predicament and demands that this total stranger continue his training. Very gutsy, especially considering just how powerful Jiraiya is, still as mentioned earlier Naruto has no idea who Jiraiya really is and in fact throughout the entire series is in fact totally under whelmed by his mentor’s status. Thus the stage becomes set for what will be a monumental confrontation as after much prompting and heckling by Naruto Jiraiya agrees to train the young would be Chunin and future Hokage. These particular episodes contained in this volume mark a major turning point within the series as we see just what exactly Orochimaru has been planning for his former home and for the number one rookie Sasuke Uchiha, he has been a very busy individual and his plans are about to come to fruition.
Of course it isn’t only just Orochimaru’s ambitions that are unveiled but we learn something of the nature of Gaara which will become a focus for later episodes in the story and makes up a major chunk of the follow on anime series Naruto: Hurricane Chronicle. So along with drama, humour, new jutsu and some humongous feats of combat and stamina the producers of this show are not only thinking of the now but the somewhat distant future episodes and the overarching storyline. Perhaps Master Yoda should have said to Luke in Empire Strikes Back “Hmmm hard to see the future is, always in motion, unless an anime series director you are.” If you like good fun entertainment and action anime then Naruto Collection Volume 5 would be right up your alley…BELIEVE IT!
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