July 4th saw the release of the first Naruto Anime Profiles book. This book saw release in Japan several years ago. It’s been translated and brought over for English consumption.
Pros: The book features nice full glossy images from the anime. The book itself is nearly twice as big as its Japanese counterpart, but the pictures don’t suffer from it. The included foldout poster probably benefits most from the enlargement, and it’s suitable to remove and hang-up. It includes very good translations of the original Japanese with some of the American dub personality thrown in. (i.e. a couple of “Believe it!” jokes) It features very brief profiles over the characters and the episodes (1-37) themselves. It also features some nice pre-production artwork.
Cons: The book is edited for content. Any pictures using animation frames edited from the American broadcast have been replaced with the editted version. This doesn’t really harm the book but it’s noticeable if you’re looking for it. Such things as the kunai stab, and various nose blood spurts from Sexy Jutsu and Gai hitting Lee have been changed to resemble broadcast. The book also does not feature the plastic dust jacket cover found on the original Japanese release. Also the book has been flipped versus the original Japanese version. While some of the content makes sense, the book is laid out to be read from front to back, but some pages are clearly supposed to be read right to left. The art itself isn’t flipped though, which makes this change palatable.
The Cool: Did you know there was another Sound team participating in the second test of the Chuunin Exam? Get the team leader’s name and the leader names for all the teams particpating in the Second test. Even learn what scrolls they had. This is one of the neat tidbits included inside.
Final Verdict: This is a good buy at around $15 U.S.. While the bios and episode guides might not be too extensive, they provide a handy resource when your internet connection is down and you can’t reach us. 😉
8/10
News Archives:
July 5th, 2006 at 12:50 pm
Hello, I´m a spanish boy…I have discovered this web page few weeks ago…very cool.
I am only 15 years, so my english level isn´t as good as others but well, i understand nearly all of the things that are written here (ninjutsu, akatsuki and these sections)
Well, naruto haven´t arrived to spain yet, but i´m looking for that day. I only want to say that this web is very good and that i have some forums with naruto rol games.
Thank you for doing this web, and continue like this
HaVoR
P.D.: Maybe i don´t write very well, but i hope you will understand
July 5th, 2006 at 12:51 pm
I can understand you fine! Thanks for the complements.
July 5th, 2006 at 1:34 pm
You’re English is suberb compared to people who actually speak it. Nice review Shika. I thought I had already gotten this book, but I guess I haven’t if it’s just released. I got some other profiles book, I guess.
It’s called “Naruto Collector” by Shonen Jump, I believe. Still good though. But, I shall get this one, as well. But, I always come here for my Naruto Information.
July 5th, 2006 at 1:37 pm
indeed, HaVoR, this is really the best Naruto site that i’ve ever seen… since the first day i discovered it, it’s my first place to go whenever i wanna get some info regarding Naruto
July 5th, 2006 at 1:43 pm
I believe this is a different book from the Naruto Collector. I have yet to see Collector in stores, though I’ve read many people mention it.
July 5th, 2006 at 2:31 pm
another sound team
are they anyone that they showed in the series beside thte original sound genin
July 5th, 2006 at 3:15 pm
Hello everybody…xD
I’m Guilherme,14, from Brazil and I discover that site few months ago…and like Harvor,my english is not very good yet…xD
But I want to say that this is the best Naruto’ site that I know to get informations about the anime…like the future releases and the titles for the future episodes…
And like every fan of Naruto, I hope that the fillers finish one day…xDDD
July 6th, 2006 at 4:35 pm
I have the Naruto Collector. It’s not the same as the Anime profiles book. Naruto collector got information on Naruto merchandise, Episodes, Games and those things.
July 6th, 2006 at 5:27 pm
O I see, thanks for the differences, Exirias.
Vicious your English is just as good, as Havor. Never seen a 14 year olde write so well before. LOL ^_~
July 6th, 2006 at 6:03 pm
who created this website? this place is really good although i wish it had naruto episodes to download. Man i wanna see ep 132
July 7th, 2006 at 7:43 am
Does this mean that one of the unanswered ?’s can be answered about Orochimaru’s Chunnin exam team based on what this profile book says? Or does it only mention this second team? Or are Orochimaru’s two teammates the second team?
July 7th, 2006 at 9:08 am
The second Sound team is an entirely new group. It would seem they are seperate from whomever helped Orochimaru in the exam as the fake Grass ninja.
July 7th, 2006 at 12:23 pm
I got that book. It is awesome. Glad I got it.
July 8th, 2006 at 8:23 pm
Did you notice they gave Kakashi a brown right eye?!