In the late 1990s, the world of anime was forever changed with the release of two iconic series: Naruto and One Piece. Masashi Kishimoto, the brilliant mind behind Naruto, openly acknowledged the significant role that One Piece played in inspiring his work. The success of Naruto owed a part of its triumph to its counterpart, One Piece.
One Piece had a head start, being released two years before Naruto, which established Eiichiro Oda as Kishimoto’s senior in the anime world, despite their similar ages. Kishimoto admired and aspired to surpass Oda’s success, and he attributed Naruto’s publication and triumph to the influence of One Piece.
However, while Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece served as the main influence on Masashi Kishimoto’s creation of Naruto, Oda was not the one who inspired Kishimoto the most.
In an interview, Kishimoto revealed that another legendary mangaka continues to impress him to this day, showing the enduring impact of great minds in the world of anime and manga.
Naruto Mangaka Praised Toriyama’s Versatile Artistry and Enduring Influence
In a fan-translated Kana interview, Masashi Kishimoto shared his admiration for Akira Toriyama, whom he considers the best mangaka of all time. Kishimoto expressed that one aspect of Toriyama’s work that impressed him was how Toriyama’s characters seemed to transcend nationality and culture, a quality Kishimoto himself never intended for his own characters.
When asked by the interviewer to provide a professional analysis of Katsuhiro Otomo and Akira Toriyama’s artistic styles in technical terms. Kishimoto’s admiration for Toriyama likely influenced his response:
Toriyama’s style still impress me to this day, and as a kid as spent a lot of time analyzing his style. The bodies aren’t realistic, they’re disproportionate and sometimes simplified to the extreme. This could be just mere awkwardness or clumsiness, but it’s not. Everything is mastered and has a purpose.
Moreover, Kishimoto praised Toriyama’s versatility in using various angles, including high-angle shots, to enhance storytelling. Toriyama’s clear and coherent action sequences cemented his reputation as a master mangaka. This observation sheds light on Kishimoto’s perspective as a creator.
Kishimoto’s admiration for Toriyama stemmed from his blend of comical and dramatic elements, adept handling of backgrounds, and well-structured panels. Toriyama’s enduring influence on manga and his role as an inspiration for mangaka like Kishimoto are evident.
Masashi Kishimoto Admired Katsuhiro Otomo’s Dedication to Perfection
Masashi Kishimoto also added his admiration for Katsuhiro Otomo, recognizing him as an incredible master in the world of manga and illustration. According to Kishimoto, Otomo’s work stands out due to his unwavering commitment to perfection in every detail, even those that readers might not consciously notice.
He mentioned in the interview:
Otomo is an incredible master too. He pushed his esthetic sense in a completely personal direction. He takes care of every single detail, even if he knows the reader won’t probably notice it. I love that with him. His works really left a impression on me, like Domu or Akira.
Kishimoto distinguishes Otomo by his talent for subtly and nuancedly exploring themes through his characters. He views Akira as a manga pinnacle that may never be surpassed, and he believes Otomo’s artistic skill surpasses his own.
This is notably seen in Otomo’s mastery of panel composition, rhythm, and angles. Kishimoto recognizes that Otomo’s dynamic use of deformations, as seen in Fisheye, goes beyond aesthetics, they enhance character expression with precision.
This quality is a testament to Toriyama and Otama’s long-lasting influence on the world of manga and their position as a source of inspiration for fellow mangaka like Kishimoto.
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Source: Kana interview
