No, this isn't natural in Japanese manga at all. I've been reading manga for over 30 years and sorry, I don't recall even one manga that had an ending that made a complete travesty of the whole story- I'm not just talking about the nonsensical pairings, but look at Naruto- he's stern and clearly unhappy (no smile like he always had for everyone), an alcoholic (whiskey bottle right out in the open at his desk,along with stacks of instant ramen cups- another point he's ignoring his mother's advice on) who avoids his so called family as much as possible, physically and verbally puts his son for wanting him to be a father. This is a Naruto who acts like Sasuke... Note as well Kishimoto did not write this epilogue nor will he be writing the part 3 limited series- one of his assistants is doing both. Kishimoto talked about how his assistants hated Sakura even back in part 1, remember as well. Plus there's been quite a bit of noise in the Japanese Naruto fandom about how wrong this ending is and how it was forced by the huge number of fans that Nana Mizuki has- voice actor for Hinata and also a very popular idol singer. (Far more popular than any of the other Naruto voice actors, including Junko.) Only the voice actor for Shikamaru comes anywhere near Nana Mizuki's fanbase. But her fans have no real ties to Naruto fandom, it's just about Mizuki's idol singer popularity- they'll buy or see anything she does, as long as she's the star of it. Japanese fans are thanking Kishimoto for what he wrote, but are making the same critical reactions about the complete nonsensical chapter 700.
Ciardha! I'm not sure how I missed your post earlier, but I was wondering about your thoughts on the manga ending/movie/spin-off! It's good to hear your opinion after reading mangas all your life about never seeing something quite like this before.
I agree, it's incredibly disappointing to see Naruto as a version of himself we've never seen before. Weighed down by the cares of the world. Even in his youth, when the whole village was against him, he was never like that. He's lost his thousand-watt smile. And his son is not a 'chip off the old block,' either. Bolt is grumpy and unhappy and vengeful. Every bit of art so far shows him looking pouty or stuck up. He does not have Naruto's indomitable spirit.
I have also been terribly disappointed in the promotion of Hinata in a Cinderella-like fashion, getting recognition only because of her good deeds/gentle spirit. It's such an old storytelling archetype, and it's the one to give the least offense to the masses. I agree that Kishimoto must have been bending to pressure, because the ending is so unlike any part of the story he's written so far. Your perspective is very appreciated!
I agree wholeheartedly.
No, it is not an issue of cultural differences at all. I have been reading manga and watching anime for longer than some members of this board have been alive (I am not gloating or something ridiculous like that. It is only a fact). I grew up watching anime in the eighties. And I have never seen something like this.
And I had never watched an anime show where a girl following a guy like a deranged stalker or hooking up with a deranged stalker was treated like something positive.
...
In fact I do not remember any anime where a girl followed a guy like a deranged stalker or hooked up with a guy that was a deranged stalker.
It is an issue of bad writing -and perhaps editorial interference-, that is all.
Maybe it is an issue of anime shows pandering to otaku during the last decade, though. For a long while they have been catering to people who is not interested in real relationships with real people but in living vicariously through characters that hook up with quiet, submissive women that are always supportive, soft-spoken and kind and never get angry, upset or talk against you (ironically the characters that they usually treat like epitomes of womanly perfection -Rei Ayanami and the like- are NOT supportive, sweet and kind AT ALL).
And I really appreciate your perspective too, Jenskott - it's really nice to hear your opinion after comparing Naruto to all the other mangas/animes you've read/watched. It's a very different world since anime became a little more main stream in the US in the early 80s. Kishimoto is 40, so this would have been the world he grew up in too. Not as an Internet-native where everything is new and modern and readily available at the touch of a finger, but as he would have been a kid in Japan, waiting for the next chapter or release with zero information about it, just like everybody else.
So it's comforting to hear that you can't remember a series ever going down like this either. Maybe it is indicative of the sway that 'otaku' hold over the industry right now in Japan, as Miyazaki says. Maybe 10-15 years ago, or when Kishimoto started Naruto, a mangaka could expect to have more control over his story than one does now, in the world of instant marketing and international audiences. Yeah, and maybe it's less about the manga girls fitting into a cultural stereotype as it is about marketing an anime that is going to hit the most profitable audience.