In the manga/anime Naruto, if you pay attention, you will notice that regardless of what outfit the main character Naruto wears or the environment he finds himself in, the color orange always dominates the visual landscape.
Although we often focus on Goku from Dragon Ball, who is frequently depicted in a simple orange outfit during battles, Naruto is different. As a ninja, he embodies the essence of stealth, which typically involves wearing dark colors to blend into the shadows. So, why does Naruto don such a vibrant orange hue?
This intriguing question was addressed by Naruto’s creator, Masashi Kishimoto, during a panel at New York Comic Con in 2015. When asked about Naruto’s signature orange outfit, the mangaka revealed that he had a clear vision when creating ninja characters.
“In reality, a ninja would wear dark clothing to conceal themselves and only use their eyes to observe, operating in the shadows and executing assassinations. This concept is quite appealing in its own right, but it doesn’t necessarily align with the traditional aesthetic of a shonen manga,” Kishimoto explained.
The author continued: “If it were a traditional ninja story, it would be of a different style. Therefore, I thought about what would fit not just any shonen manga, but specifically a shonen manga from Jump. I felt that I wanted to pursue a completely opposite approach and depict a character wearing an orange outfit.”
When asked why he specifically chose the color orange, Kishimoto’s response was surprisingly candid, stating that there was no particular reason behind it. Any color that deviated from the ninja standard would suffice.
Indeed, the orange color of Naruto’s outfit has been meticulously crafted over the years, and even after he became Hokage in Boruto: Naruto’s Next Generations, this color has not faded from his character design.
Kishimoto stated: “When wearing that orange outfit, Naruto would say, ‘Here I am!’. This is completely contrary to how a ninja would typically operate! It serves as a contradiction. However, I thought, ‘Why not create a different type of ninja?’. Naturally, some traditionalists would say, ‘You idiot, cut that out.’ The reality is that it’s challenging because this isn’t how ninjas are supposed to behave!”
