If you pay attention, you will notice that Naruto’s Rasengan has a changing color. In one scene, it can appear blue, and naturally, it shifts to yellow in another scene. Of course, there are those who suspect that this change is related to Kurama’s chakra, but the idea has been dismissed. When “The Last: Naruto the Movie” was released in 2015, many viewers were somewhat puzzled by this color change, but the explanation is quite simple.
Rasengan’s Yellow Color: Studio Pierrot’s Decision to Change the Color
In Masashi Kishimoto’s manga, Naruto’s chakra is yellow, bright, and powerful. In chapter 91, Naruto states that if a color were to represent his strength, it would be yellow. Therefore, when Naruto’s chakra transforms into a sphere resembling the Rasengan, it should indeed be yellow.
So why did the anime production team decide to change the Rasengan’s color to blue in the animated version? Even without a definitive statement, it seems they wanted to make every representation more visually appealing during design. Yellow might have been a problematic color for certain animation styles, especially if one had to work with round shapes like the Rasengan.
Whether in the realm of fantasy or tradition, there are many color combinations that have become trademarks in anime, such as orange and blue. Considering that Naruto wears an orange outfit, it makes perfect sense for Pierrot to choose a cool blue for the Rasengan to create a distinct contrast, instead of the yellow, which might blend in with the surrounding colors.
