"-List of 'Boruto' Fillers: Episodes You May Opt to Disregard"
In the world of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, the anime series has seen a significant number of filler episodes compared to its manga counterpart. These additional episodes, while providing some character development and lighthearted scenes, have been a point of contention among fans due to their impact on the overall narrative flow and pacing.
The Time Slip Arc, episodes 128-136, for instance, offers a unique opportunity to see Boruto and Sasuke time travel and meet young Naruto, creating strong character connections and nostalgia. However, as a filler arc, it has no impact on the main narrative.
The Byakuya Gang Arc, episodes 43-50, adds tension in the Hidden Leaf Village with their Robin Hood-style thefts, but it is filler and doesn't impact the main story. Similarly, the Kawaki & Himawari Ninja Academy Arc, episodes 261-273, centers around Boruto's classmates and Himawari's experiences at the Ninja Academy, offering pure filler content.
Other filler arcs include the Super Beast Scroll Arc, episodes 16-18, which is a supernatural arc centered around Sumire and a cursed scroll, and the Kara Actuation Arc, episodes 157-175, a filler arc that focuses on the history and origins of the organization Kara.
The Hashirama Cell Arc, episodes 157-160, explores the fallout from the use of the legendary Hashirama Cell, teasing science vs. tradition themes but is filler. The Great Sea Battle of Kirigakure Arc, episodes 231-260, is a filler arc that involves a large-scale battle between Kirigakure and an unknown enemy.
However, not all filler episodes are negatively received. The Mitsuki's Disappearance Arc, episodes 71-92, is an anime canon arc that dives into Mitsuki's identity and sense of belonging, and it develops one of the core characters. The Sasuke Retsuden arc, episodes 282-286, adapted from the Sasuke Retsuden spin-off novel, is considered canon to the storyline, expanding on Sasuke's character.
The need for filler stems from the production challenge of avoiding adaptation overlap, which has caused the anime to go on hiatus at points to allow the manga to progress. This is a similar issue faced by other long-running shonen anime adapting ongoing manga, but it is particularly acute in Boruto due to its monthly manga schedule versus a weekly anime.
As a result, the anime's pacing is significantly slower compared to the manga, leading to a more uneven viewing experience for some fans. The narrative focus also frequently diverges from the main manga storyline, diluting the main plot progression.
In summary, filler episodes in Boruto's anime cause slower pacing and diluted narrative focus compared to the manga, due mainly to the anime's weekly schedule and the need to avoid overtaking the manga storyline. Some argue that these filler episodes make the anime harder to watch at times, and fans suggested a seasonal format with breaks to better align with the manga’s pace and reduce filler content.
[1] [MangaDaptor] (https://www.mangadaptor.com/boruto-anime-filler-list/) [3] [Anime News Network] (https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2020-09-16/boruto-anime-filler-list-a-comprehensive-guide/)
Filler episodes in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations often delve into various realms such as science fiction (as seen in the Hashirama Cell Arc), technology (such as the Super Beast Scroll Arc), entertainment (like the Mitsuki's Disappearance Arc, which features elements of mystery and suspense), sports (as hinted in the Great Sea Battle of Kirigakure Arc), and movies-and-tv (as shown through the Sasuke Retsuden arc). However, despite offering different genres, these filler arcs do not significantly contribute to the main narrative.
