In an old interview, Masashi Kishimoto – famous author of Naruto manga and anime shared his views on the influence of One Piece manga on his work. The respect and admiration for Eiichiro Oda – the author of One Piece is clearly shown in his words.
Kishimoto revealed that the premiere of “One Piece” took place about a year before “Naruto” was released. In his candid confession, he admitted to initially feeling very jealous.
However, more than simple jealousy, Kishimoto realized that Oda’s success was an important motivation for him. It was this feeling of friendly competition and the desire to surpass Oda that was the catalyst that drove Kishimoto to create Naruto. After its release, the manga about the ninja world became a global phenomenon, with a huge fan base around the world.
“One Piece came out about a year before Naruto, even though we’re the same age. He [Eiichiro Oda] beat me to that. At first I was really jealous and at the same time I didn’t just want to be like that but I wanted to get over him. In a way, I feel the reason Naruto was published and successful is because of One Piece,” Kishimoto said.
The author and Naruto expressed gratitude for the positive influence that One Piece has had on him and his career.
These revelations have provided a new perspective on the interactions between manga authors and the influence they may have on each other. Kishimoto’s statements show how competition, admiration and inspiration can intertwine in the manga industry, creating stories that continue to delight generations of readers around the world.
