Naruto: Shippuden is an anime series adapted from Part II of the Naruto manga series by Masashi Kishimoto. The series is directed by Hayato Date and produced by Studio Pierrot and TV Tokyo. Naruto: Shippuden is a continuation of the Naruto manga, and continues the same story line after the passing of two and a half years in the Naruto universe. It began broadcasting on TV Tokyo on February 15, 2007
In 2008, Viz Media and Crunchyroll began providing eight English subtitled Naruto Shippuden episodes on the official Naruto website every week until it caught up to the Japanese anime. In 2009, Viz began providing subtitled versions of the latest Naruto: Shippuden episodes a week after they first air in Japan, with a new episode being added to the Naruto website each subsequent Thursday. Viz had stated the English dub would be released sometime in the near future.[3][4]
The English dub of Naruto: Shippuden made its U.S. premiere on Disney XD on October 28, 2009.Episodes 1- 296 of the English dub are now available at the iTunes Store,[6] Zune Marketplace and PlayStation Store. The first DVD release of the series in North America was released on September 29, 2009.Episodes 1 through 53 were made and broadcast in 4:3 standard definition fullscreen, while episodes 54 onward were made and broadcast in 16:9 widescreen.
While Naruto: Shippuden was cancelled on Disney XD in October 2011 after 97 episodes, DVD box sets generally containing thirteen dubbed episodes from episode 1 onward are being released quarterly in their uncut format.The English dub was streamed on Neon Alley from its launch in October 2012 and, beginning December 29, 2012 with episode 98, new episodes are released every week uncut. Toonami began airing the series from the beginning on January 4, 2014 in an uncut format.
The series is being released to Region 2 DVD in Japan with four or five episodes per disc. There are currently six series of DVD releases divided by arc. The first covers episodes 1 through 32 over eight DVDs,[11] the second covers episodes 33 through 53 over five DVDs, the third covers episodes 54 through 71 over four DVDs, the fourth covers episodes 72 through 88 over four DVDs, the fifth covers episodes 89 through 112 over six DVDs, and the sixth is currently being released from episode 113 onward. There is also a special feature included with the seventh Naruto: Shippuden compilation DVD based on the second ending of the series called Hurricane! "Konoha Academy" Chronicles.Limited edition of Seventh DVD of "Master's Prophecy and Vengeance" comes with special DVD Behind the Scenes of UCHIHA containing interview mixed with footage from episodes.
