Introduction to the Naruto Series
The Naruto franchise stands as one of the most influential and successful anime series in history. Created by Masashi Kishimoto, the story follows Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja with a sealed demon fox within him, who dreams of becoming the Hokage—the leader of his village. This sprawling epic is divided into two primary series: the original Naruto and its sequel, Naruto Shippuden. For many newcomers, the sheer scale of the series can be daunting, leading to the frequent question: how many episodes in Naruto are there exactly? This Naruto series guide will help you navigate the massive amount of content, from the first episode to the grand finale.
Total Naruto Episode Count: Original Series Breakdown
The journey begins with the original Naruto series, which focuses on Naruto’s childhood and his time as a Genin in Team 7. When looking at the total Naruto episode count for the first part of the story, the series consists of exactly 220 episodes. It originally aired from 2002 to 2007. During this run, the show covers essential story arcs such as the Land of Waves, the Chunin Exams, and the Search for Tsunade. While the first 135 episodes are largely based on the manga, a significant portion of the latter half of the series consists of original television content, which leads us to the next chapter of Naruto's life.
Naruto Shippuden: Total Episode Count and Guide
Picking up two and a half years after the original series, Naruto Shippuden follows a teenage Naruto as he returns to the Hidden Leaf Village to face the rising threat of the Akatsuki. This sequel is considerably longer than its predecessor. The Naruto Shippuden total episodes count reaches exactly 500 episodes. This series concluded in March 2017, bringing the main narrative of Naruto's journey to a close. Throughout these 500 episodes, fans witness iconic battles, deep character development, and the eventual Fourth Shinobi World War. Combined with the original series, the total Naruto episode count for the entire saga of Naruto Uzumaki is 720 episodes.
Naruto Filler vs. Canon: Understanding the Episode List
One of the most discussed aspects of the franchise is the Naruto filler vs canon guide. Because the anime often caught up to the weekly manga chapters, the production studio created "filler" episodes—original stories not found in the source material—to allow the manga to get ahead. In the original series, episodes 136 through 219 are almost entirely filler. Naruto Shippuden also features extensive filler arcs, such as the "Twelve Guardian Ninja" and "Paradise Life on a Boat." While some fans enjoy these side stories for the extra character interactions, others prefer to stick to the canon material to follow the main plot. Approximately 40% of the overall series is considered filler, which is an important factor when looking at a Naruto anime episodes list for a streamlined viewing experience.
Complete Naruto Anime Episodes List Summary
To summarize the vast number of episodes across the franchise, here is the breakdown of the Naruto anime episodes list for the core series:
- Naruto (Original Series): 220 episodes
- Naruto Shippuden: 500 episodes
- Total Combined Main Episodes: 720 episodes
- Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (Sequel): 293 episodes
If you include the sequel series Boruto, the total number of episodes in the Naruto universe surpasses 1,000. Additionally, there are 11 movies and several Original Video Animations (OVAs) that provide even more content for dedicated fans to explore.
How to Watch Naruto: A Complete Guide for New Fans
For new fans wondering how to watch Naruto efficiently, the best approach is often to follow the chronological release order. Start with the 220 episodes of the original series, then move on to the 500 episodes of Shippuden. If you are short on time, utilizing a Naruto series guide to identify and skip filler episodes can reduce your watch time significantly. Most major streaming platforms like Crunchyroll, Hulu, and Netflix offer the series, though availability of the English dub versus subbed versions may vary by region. Whether you choose to watch every single episode or just the canon highlights, the story of Naruto remains a rewarding experience that has defined the anime genre for a generation.
