A newNarutopromo has been getting traction thanks to its bubbly protagonist’s dark new look, but Sasuke wears it better. The new illustration is part of the promotional material for JUMP Festa 2025. JUMP Festa is an annual event hosted byShōnen JUMP, the renowned manga periodical and the home toNaruto,Bleach,One Piece, and countless other beloved franchises. Crunchyroll reports thatJUMP Festa 2025 will host 42 different stage eventsfrom December 21 to 22, 2024.
Every stage event is dedicated to an individual franchise. This year’s JUMP Festa has generated controversy with hugely popular franchises likeOne-Punch Man,Black Clover, andNarutoabsent from the panel listings. However, whileNarutodoesn’t have a panel in the works for JUMP Festa 2025, it’s still getting in on the action with an original illustration showing a line-up ofNaruto’s most recognizable faces, funeral-ready in slick black attire—and Naruto’s iconic rival is giving him a run for his money.
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Loaded With References, The Illustration Tugs On Nostalgic Heartstrings
The Chara, an anime-centered merch store, shared the illustration ina tweet anticipating a futureNaruto Shippudenmerchandise drop for JUMP Festa.Narutois still certain to have a booth at the event, and the illustration most likely precedes an announcement of available merch. With the unifying “Black Coordinate” theme guiding the character designs, it’s likely the merchandise will be exclusive, although possibly available online for a limited time.
The redesigns seeShippuden’s cast in stark monochrome outfits, and while they’re easy on the eyes, it’s more than just eye-candy. The “Black Coordinate” theme sees the opportunity for their clothes to be ingeniously transformed into chalkboards as the white accents etch out character’s iconography. Sasori is accessorized with chains; Kakashi, with his dogs. This follows a recent trend forNaruto—for example, its20th anniversary remake of memorable scenes—as the franchise capitalizes heavily on nostalgia.
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If the recent attention given toAttack On Titan’s post-credit scene with Mikasa’s goth redesignis any indication, fanbases love nothing more than a macabre makeover. Naturally, Naruto is no exception. Seeing the character renowned for optimism and idealism dressed so morosely is jarring, but he manages to pull it off: the interplay of the brown belt and blonde hair with the monochromatic base clothing is visually striking. Rightfully, Naruto has been captivating eyes and imaginations with the surprising redesign.
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However,Sasuke still comes out on top. It’s more than an emotional association between black-dominant aesthetics and the sullenness and solemnity that Sasuke’s character has always represented; to be sure, Sasuke does appear more natural in his wear than Naruto, and it feels close to his aesthetics in the manga and anime. Nonetheless, the simplicity of the all-black wear punctuated by, for example, the silver buckle and dark blue strap of the belt is cohesive. Meanwhile, contrasts in robe length against the shirt and pants are disruptive, providing visual interest.
Both characters are looking sharp, but Sasuke comes out far ahead of Naruto in terms of style. At any rate, the “Black Coordinate ver.” redesigns are fantastic, and it’s great to see characters like Itachi and Sasori given equal footing—although the exclusion of fan favorites like Sakura should give hope for future merch.If the illustration proves anything other than Sasuke’s stylistic prowess, it’s thatNaruto’s upcoming merch drop is one to keep an eye out for.
Sources:@thechara_2014(X)
Naruto
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.
