Jujutsu Kaisen may be the figurehead of modern shonen anime, but it’s about to be dethroned by the champion of decades past—Naruto. A lot has changed in the anime scene over the past 20 years, and that naturally includes which specific titles are trending. Naruto has never been far from our hearts and minds, and the story is still ongoing. However, in today’s world, the Naruto franchise is regarded as a classic. It hasn’t been able to compete with these “youngster” anime for a variety of reasons.
In the 2020s, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and Jujutsu Kaisen rule the anime scene. The latter series kicked off its third season in January 2026 and continues to perform spectacularly with viewers episode after episode. Based on the manga of the same name by Gege Akutami, Jujutsu Kaisen features high-quality, distinctly styled animation that goes beyond even those stunning action sequences.
Even newer installments in the Naruto franchise haven’t managed to reach this sort of level. However, the upcoming series, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, may bridge the gap. It’s set a few years after the conclusion of Boruto: Naruto Next Generation, so it should be much grittier and more mature. Still, that’s not the only way this new series will better align with modern shows.
Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Gives Naruto A Seasonal Anime
Seasonal anime have become all the rage, and it’s no big mystery why. Shows like Jujutsu Kaisen have become as popular as they are because their stories are much more streamlined. Traditional shonen anime like Naruto released new episodes weekly, with hardly any breaks. Once they inevitably caught up to the manga, viewers were forced to endure endlessly bloated filler episodes. This was a significant problem with Boruto: Naruto Next Generation, especially.
Studio Pierrot President Michiyuki Honma confirmed that Boruto: Two Blue Vortex would be the first Naruto anime series to take a seasonal approach, effectively breaking the franchise’s 23-year release strategy. It’s a deeply encouraging sign that his series will not only avoid the frustrating issues of its predecessor, but that Pierrot is taking efforts to place Boruto: Two Blue Vortex on the same tier as projects like Jujutsu Kaisen.
The Naruto Franchise Can Finally Compete With Modern Anime
Everything about Jujutsu Kaisen and other modern anime screams “bold” and “new,” which isn’t something Naruto has been able to claim for quite some time. In all the best ways, Naruto’s story is classic shonen, while recent anime within the genre have a new-age feel. A seasonal approach is a great way to elevate Boruto: Two Blue Vortex to a new level.
The Boruto: Two Blue Vortex manga has already brought the Naruto franchise into the new era of shonen. The older and more mature Boruto’s story is edgy and dark, full of high-stakes, high-intensity action. It has the potential to translate spectacularly to the screen, thus ensuring that Two Blue Vortex holds up against Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. The show’s seasonal approach will ensure that this potential isn’t hindered during the adaptation process.
Of course, performing better than Jujutsu Kaisen is a pretty tall order. Still, it’s important to remember that the Naruto franchise already carries a lot of weight. This isn’t just some sleek, new anime hoping to compete with the big dogs. Even after all these years, Naruto is regarded as one of the best anime of all time. If this new project takes the same approach that has worked for modern shows, it has every chance of retaking the top spot.
Why Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Could Still Struggle
There’s no doubt that Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is set up for success. However, there are still a couple more angles to consider here. First and foremost is the “Boruto” title. As popular as Naruto has remained for years, the Boruto spinoff has been pretty divisive. Naruto: Shippuden went full throttle, so it was a challenge to start the momentum over again with Naruto’s son. The anime made this that much harder, since it turned 80 chapters of manga content into a whopping (and agonizing) 290 episodes.
Boruto: Naruto Next Generation‘s excessive bloat turned a lot of viewers off. Many consider the end of Shippuden to be the definitive end. Without that viewerbase, it would be tough for Two Blue Vortex to gain the sort of traction it needs to compete with modern shows. It will really depend on whether the new Naruto anime can sell itself with some badass visuals that scream, “This isn’t the Boruto you thought you knew.”
Naruto Doesn’t Have To Prove Anything Anymore
We’d all love to see Boruto: Two Blue Vortex gain the same sort of recognition and hype as Jujutsu Kaisen. It would feel like a nostalgic return to the days when Naruto first took the world by storm as the next big thing. It could really happen, too, and Studio Pierott is certainly doing its best to make this dream a reality. Still, it should always be emphasized that nothing can take away from Naruto‘s success. This series was, is, and always will be a big deal.
The day will come when Jujutsu Kaisen no longer looks so fresh and new. Anime will continue to evolve, and some brilliant mind will find a reinvigorated way to carry the shonen genre forward. It’s too soon to say how well remembered this modern hit will be, and it’s possible that Boruto: Two Blue Vortex will be regarded even less. What we can count on, however, is that the Naruto legacy, which has already endured more than two decades, will remain strong.
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- First Film
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Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow
- Latest Film
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Boruto: Naruto the Movie
- First TV Show
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Naruto
- Latest TV Show
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Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
- First Episode Air Date
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October 3, 2002
- Cast
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Junko Takeuchi, Maile Flanagan, Noriaki Sugiyama, Chie Nakamura, Kazuhiko Inoue, Nana Mizuki, Hideo Ishikawa, Yûko Sanpei
Naruto is a franchise spawned from the manga series penned by Masashi Kishimoto that began in 1999. Generating several tv series, games, movies, and more, Naruto follows the exploits of a young outcast ninja harboring the spirit of a demon fox who seeks to become the Hokage, the leader of his ninja village, to break the stigma against him. Upon the conclusion of the initial series, Naruto expanded into Boruto, following many series protagonists’ children and returning faces.
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- Writer
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Masashi Kishimoto
- Writers
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Masashi Kishimoto
- Penciler(s)
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Mikio Ikemoto
- Inker(s)
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Mikio Ikemoto
- Colorist(s)
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Mikio Ikemoto
- Publisher(s)
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Viz Media
Years after fleeing his village with Sasuke, Boruto returns to confront the dark changes that have occurred. With memories altered and Kawaki now seen as the hero, Boruto faces a world where he is the outcast. The two rivals must settle their differences as their Otsutsuki powers grow more dangerous.
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Jujutsu Kaisen
- Release Date
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October 3, 2020
- Network
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TBS, MBS, CBC, Tulip Television, BSN, tys, NBC, HBC, RKK, i-Television, SBS, IBC, BSS, MRO, OBS, TUF, RSK, TUY, tbc, RKB, SBC, KUTV, RBC, UTY, RCC, MRT, atv, MBC
