After the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter, the weight of the years is once again remembered to us. The year 2022 thus celebrates the 20th anniversary of the first publication in France of “Naruto”. The manga has become cult, a classic among the best-selling in the world. A performance because the series ended in 2016. The adventure has 72 volumes and there won’t be one more.
“Naruto” yet continues to attract new followers. It even came out of its category of “shonen” to conquer boys and girls alike, transcending generations. It must be said that the character is endearing, both turbulent, joker and not afraid to be sensitive. The reader is also embarked on an initiatory journey rich in twists and turns and worked secondary characters.
Result: nearly 2 million copies were still sold in France in 2021 according to the publisher Kana. “Or a tome bought every 15 seconds”, rejoices Christel Hoolans, general manager of the publishing house contacted by franceinfo.
This anniversary year should still satisfy the fan community since Kana plans to deliver from March a complete reissue of Masashi Kishimoto’s work, in double volume, in large format, with original visuals and in color. What more ? This reissue already claims to be a collector because it will only be intended for the French public.
The epic of Naruto also continues through feature films and its variation “Boruto”, in bookstores as well as on animated platforms. The credits and songs of the series “Naruto” They will be the subject for the first time in France of a cine-concert. The musical universe will be performed by a symphony orchestra at the same time as a 2h20 film from the 220 episodes of the animated film will be shown.
Fifty musicians will be on stage.“For that, we had to arrange the scores, we enriched certain parts while integrating traditional instruments very present in the music of Naruto”, explains Julien Vallespi, producer of the show (Un pour tous production) and musical director.
Among them: the shamisen, a kind of three-string banjo, the shakuhachi, a bamboo flute, or the taiko, a large drum usually played standing. They will coexist with more pop instruments like the guitar or the drums. Prestigious guests from Japan are also expected.
Our interview with Julien Vallespi:
The Culture Fact of France Info @CedricCousseau
The spectable “Naruto Symphonic Experience “ is therefore the meeting of several cultural universes. “It is undoubtedly the opportunity to introduce a live orchestra to an audience that is not used to listening to classical or going to the opera ”, adds Julien Vallespi, impatient to finalize the recruitment of musicians and to start rehearsals in April. The symphony orchestra led by conductor Sylvain Audinovski will then perform in Paris in October, at the Dôme de Paris, before going on tour throughout France.