As a sequel to Naruto, you might think that the watch order for Boruto would be fairly straightforward. But with both movies and a TV series, the watch order can get a little tricky.
Let’s take a look at Boruto, and how it fits into the Naruto shonen anime universe.
Boruto Plot
Before Boruto
After Naruto Shippuden ended, Naruto Uzumaki married Hinata Hyuga, and started a family.
However, Boruto Uzumaki’s story really begins with either Boruto: Naruto the Movie, or with the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations anime series.
The movie and the TV series overlap somewhat (specifically episodes 51-66). Some fans say that the series is better than the movie. At the very least, the anime expands upon points made in the movie. Therefore we will concentrate on the TV series when describing the plot.
Setting
Boruto takes place more than a decade after Naruto Shippuden. It features the teenage sons and daughters of the original cast from Naruto. The original characters are all still there — Naruto, Hinata, Sakura, Sasuke, etc.
But the main focus is on the next generation. In addition to the family heritage characters, the series also introduces several completely new characters, such as the tech genius Denki; the struggling but hard-working Iwabee; and the rebellious Kawaki.
As it so happens, the world of Naruto changed after the end of the Fourth Shinobi World War.
In Boruto, the great nations are at peace, and the old ninja ways no longer seem as relevant. There are technological changes as well, as Konoha village has grown into a major city.
One big change is the development of “Scientific Ninja Tools.”
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
Boruto is the son of the Seventh Hokage (Naruto). Like his father was at his age, he starts out as a mischievous troublemaker. Unlike the young orphan Naruto, Boruto feels neglected by his famous, busy father.
Boruto joins a new ninja Team 7 which is vaguely similar to his father’s. Sarada Uchiha, the daughter of Sakura and Sasuke, seems like a blend of her parents. Mitsuki, a partial clone of Orochimaru, is the third genin member of the team. Konohamaru takes on the team leader/ mentor role.
During the Chunin Exams, Boruto uses Scientific Ninja Tools to boost his abilities, which leads to him being disqualified. Shortly afterward, the Otsutsuki Clan attacks. One of the Otsutsuki gives Boruto a mysterious seal, known as Kama.
The significance of the seal becomes more clear with the arrival of Kawaki, who also has a seal. Boruto’s seal was designed to allow Momoshiki Otsutsuki to control Boruto, and eventually regenerate using Boruto’s body.
Team 7 takes the Chunin Exam again. Sarada passes, and becomes the new team captain. Kawaki joins the team.
Eventually, Boruto will find a way to prevent Momoshiki from regenerating through him.
The Complete Watch Order
When watching a sequel series, you always have to take the original into consideration. There are characters and inside jokes which make more sense if you are familiar with the history of the anime. (And yes, Naruto is more than just “Boruto’s Dad.”)
However, the Boruto series can stand on its own without needing a Naruto encyclopedia. With Boruto, question is whether you watch the movies, or just the anime series.
Release Date Order: Seasons and Movies
- The Last: Naruto the Movie (2014)
- Boruto: Naruto the Movie (2015)
- Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, Season 1 (2017-2018)
- Boruto, Season 2 (2018-2019)
- Boruto, Season 3 (2019-2020)
- Boruto, Season 4 (2020-2021)
- Boruto, Season 5 (2021-2022)
- Boruto, Season 6 (2022-2023)
The Last takes place before either the Boruto movie or the Boruto series. Unlike most Naruto movies, The Last is canon. It’s not filler. Regardless, it’s not strictly vital to any of the Boruto story arcs.
The Boruto movie is also canon. However, you don’t need to watch it if you watch the Boruto TV episodes.
Although the movie came out first, the first season of the TV series takes place before the movie. The Boruto movie overlaps with the series.
Boruto Chronological Watch Order
- The Last: Naruto the Movie
If you are a completionist, you might want to watch The Last, which bridges the gap between Naruto Shippuden, and Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. Although technically not a Boruto movie, it does show the beginning of Naruto’s family life. At the end of the film, we get a brief look at Boruto as a young boy.
- Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, episodes 1-50.
The first part of Boruto covers several story arcs not included in the movie, mostly centering on Boruto’s academy days.
- Either Boruto: Naruto the Movie or episodes 51-66 of Boruto
The movie features the Chunin Exams Arc of the series. This story arc is extremely important, as it introduces Boruto’s Kama seal.
- The rest of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
As of summer 2023, there have been 293 Boruto episodes. Although Episode 293 is titled “Farewell,” the story isn’t finished yet.
According to reports, this is only the ending to Part 1 of Boruto. Indeed, the manga is continuing with the Omnipotence Arc.
Filler
Boruto has some filler. But it’s not a lot, considering Naruto’s overall reputation for too much filler. They include:
- Episodes 16-17
- Episodes 40-41
- Episodes 48-50
- Episodes 67-69
- Episodes 96-97
- Episodes 112-119
- Episodes 138-140
- Episodes 152-156
- Episodes 231-232
- Episodes 256-258
Three Best Places to Watch Boruto Online
Netflix
In the United States, Netflix has a lot of Naruto. This includes the original series, and a lot of the non-canon movies. But Netflix U.S. doesn’t have the Boruto movie or any Boruto TV episodes.
Netflix Singapore has Naruto, Naruto Shippuden, and Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. But Singapore doesn’t have any of the Naruto or Boruto movies.
Singapore has 52 Boruto episodes, which it divides up into three seasons. These seasons don’t match up with the seasons as given elsewhere.
Language: Audio – Japanese or Mandarin. Subtitles – English, Malay, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Indonesian, Thai, and Vietnamese. Also, Japanese closed captioning.
Price: Basic with ads, $6.99/ month. Basic: $9.99/ month. Standard: $15.49/ month. Premium: $19.99.
How to Watch Boruto on Netflix Anywhere in the World
This method works on both desktop PCs and mobile phones or tablets.
- Purchase (or start a free trial) of a VPN. I can confirm that NordVPN works for this purpose.
- In the settings, choose Singapore as your location.
- Fire up the VPN and wait for it to do its magic
- Once you’re connected, navigate to Netflix (browser or app)
- Search “Boruto” in the Netflix search bar and you should see the anime pop up.
Enjoy! Please note that if your Netflix library doesn’t update to reflect the country you selected in your VPN, you may have to clear the Netflix cache first and try again.
To do this on mobile, go to settings -> apps -> Netflix -> clear cache. To do this on PC, you have to clear the cache in your web browser.
I’ve had no trouble using this method and I still use NordVPN to watch anime from various Netflix country libraries daily.
Crunchyroll
In the U.S., Crunchyroll simulcasts episodes of Boruto. As of July 2023, the streaming service has all 293 episodes.
Crunchyroll doesn’t divide these episodes up by season or by story arc, so you have to pay attention to the episode numbers.
Languages: Japanese, with subtitles in English, German, Latin American Spanish, European Spanish, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, and Arabic.
Price: Free, limited viewing allowed for some shows. $7.99 for “fan” level; $9.99 for “mega fan”; and $14.99 for “ultimate fan.”
Hulu
Hulu states that it has 224 episodes of Boruto available. But when I checked, I could only find the first 35. However, this could be a temporary glitch.
Languages: Japanese with English subtitles, or English dubbed.
Price: First month free. $7.99/ month with ads. $14.99/ month without ads. $9.99/ month for the Disney Bundle Duo Basic. $12.99/ month for the Disney Bundle Trio Basic. $19.99/ month for Disney Bundle Trio Premium. $69.99 for Hulu + Live TV.
Hopefully, you should now have a better understanding of the Boruto watch order, and where to watch it. Enjoy the show!
FAQs
How do the character developments in “Boruto” compare to their parents’ developments in “Naruto” and “Naruto Shippuden”?
The character developments in “Boruto” compared to their parents’ developments in “Naruto” and “Naruto Shippuden” show a shift in challenges and themes due to the peaceful era they are born into. While Naruto’s generation struggled with wars, loss, and the heavy legacy of their villages, Boruto’s generation deals with the expectations set by their legendary parents and finding their own path. This creates a different set of character dynamics, where the new generation must navigate their identities in a world that still respects the heroics of their predecessors but is also rapidly changing due to technological advancements and new threats.
Are there any specific thematic elements introduced in “Boruto” that distinguish it from the “Naruto” series?
“Boruto” introduces thematic elements that distinguish it from “Naruto” by addressing contemporary societal issues such as the use and misuse of technology. While “Naruto” centered on overcoming loneliness, “Boruto” focuses on the challenges of escaping the shadow of one’s family legacy. This shift in focus reflects a more modern concern, differentiating the sequel in both tone and theme from its predecessor
How does the introduction of “Scientific Ninja Tools” in “Boruto” affect traditional ninja techniques and battles compared to “Naruto”?
The introduction of “Scientific Ninja Tools” in “Boruto” significantly alters traditional ninja battles, creating a dynamic where technology supplements or enhances physical and tactical abilities. These tools offer advantages such as boosting muscular reflexes for better dodging and striking capabilities, but they also have limitations like overheating and vulnerability to unpredictable moves. While they can mimic certain abilities, like the Sharingan, they’re not foolproof. This evolution suggests that while technology can aid ninjas, reliance on personal skills and traditional techniques remains crucial for victory, emphasizing a balance between innovation and tradition
Are there any filler arcs in “Boruto” that provide significant character development or additional insight into the main story?
Yes, there are filler arcs in “Boruto” that, while not central to the main storyline, offer significant character development and additional insights. These arcs often explore the personal backgrounds, motivations, and growth of secondary characters, enriching the world of “Boruto” and providing a deeper understanding of its characters. Check out this Boruto Filler Guide to find out what you can skip.
Thank you