Naruto 20th Anniversary Special Episodes Get a Major Update

Summary:

After more than three years, you're getting what you've been eagerly waiting for: new Naruto episodes. The four-episode Naruto 20th Anniversary Special was announced in March 2023 and has now completed production. If you've wondered when these long-awaited episodes will release, why they were postponed, and what they might cover, here’s everything you need to know.

What Are Naruto’s Four New Special Episodes?

The project was announced in Jump Fest 2022 by its mangaka, Masashi Kishimoto. This four-episode Naruto special was announced to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the anime debut of Naruto on September 3, 2023.

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Teaser and promotional images featured at Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi during their younger Genin days, reimagined through new animation. It was a great opportunity for fans to revisit the golden era of Naruto through new eyes, just like the highly anticipated remake of One Piece.

Why Were The Naruto Special Episodes Delayed?

Days before release, the Naruto Production Committee and Pierrot Studio announced a delay for "improving quality." That last-minute delay left the fanbase frustrated after all those years of anticipation.

The truth is that Pierrot was working on massive titles like Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War and Black Clover at the same time. Therefore, they most likely pushed Naruto’s return aside.

Since then, speculation ran wild. TV Tokyo's financial reports even hinted at a possible release window between late 2024 and March 2025. However, it was false.

When Will Naruto’s 20th Anniversary Episodes Release?

There’s still no official release date for now. The recent news shared by SugoiLITE on X (formerly Twitter) reveals that the studio has completed production of these four special episodes.

Fans can expect it to be released soon now that the production has been completed. We will have to wait for Naruto’s official Twitter account to make an announcement.

What May Naruto’s 20th Anniversary Episodes Story Be About?

There has not been any plot revealed, yet fans speculate that the specials to revisit Naruto’s early journey. Whether we get standalone stories or more of a broader look at his growth from Genin into his Hokage, these special episodes are written for you to enjoy and appreciate why Naruto became one of the most beloved anime of all time. 

Some speculate that even Pierrot could adapt new material like Minato's one-shot manga, but for now, it's just speculation.

If you’ve been missing the Naruto days and weren’t satisfied with Boruto, these four special episodes could be the celebration you’ve been waiting for. The only question left is: will they live up to their hype?