Frequent filler focus Cho-Cho takes center stage in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations' latest one-off. Despite putting her best foot forward when training with her father, Cho-Cho is unable to summon her full power when in Super Cho-Cho Butterfly Mode. Hoping to replenish her strength with some sweet bean soup, the younger Akimichi is dismayed to discover that the village is experiencing an azuki bean shortage due to rampant bandit activity. However, when attempting to bring the thieves to justice, Cho-Cho and Anko (who's equally distraught by the bean robberies) find themselves in a pinch. Anko becomes trapped and immobilized, and Cho-Cho, who accidentally performed the real Akimichi Butterfly Mode, is unable to regain her original size and free her sensei. Even after a quick carb load, Cho-Cho can't summon her full strength, but upon reflecting on some advice from Choji—conjuring one's hidden power requires focusing on the desire to protect those you wish to protect—she's able pull off Super Cho-Cho Butterfly Mode without losing any strength. With the bandits defeated and the Hidden Leaf's azuki bean supply replenished, Cho-Cho basks in the praise of her father and friends as she indulges in some well-earned sweet bean soup.
On the plus side, it's nice to see a Cho-Cho-focused installment not revolve around the character's appearance (sort of) or an ill-fated crush. However, while previous Cho-Cho episodes have generally ended with the character learning a valuable life lesson, this one's main takeaway—focusing on the people and things you wish to protect will enable you to summon your true strength—is predictable, even by Shonen Jump standards. Other characters in this franchise (and many others) have learned this same generic lesson, and it's disappointing to see the show make no effort at adding its own spin to such a tired trope—unless food being among the things Cho-Cho wished to protect was intended as a subversion. In addition, while this is more an issue with filler episodes in general, this week's antagonists are far too weak to have presented as much of a challenge as they did. Even as a genin, Cho-Cho has been in far worse scrapes than this, and there's no way a kunoichi as powerful as Anko would have any trouble against a group of low-rent bandits.
Despite being one of Boruto's lighter episodes, none of the featured jokes are particularly inspired, and the narrative largely feels like it's just going through motions and trying to run out the clock. The episode also wastes a potentially good joke opportunity by never explaining why the bandits are specifically targeting azuki beans. Given how bumbling and eccentric this group seems—and how committed they are to recovering every last bean—revealing their intentions to be comedic in nature could have added some originality to the proceedings.
While not exactly bad, Boruto's latest outing makes no effort at being anything more than an inconsequential by-the-numbers filler episode. This lack of ambition is particularly disappointing in light of the show's decent track record with side-stories and one-offs. Although Cho-Cho is among the series' most frequent focuses of anime-original episodes, the screenwriters may be better-served by shifting their focus to other characters if they can't utilize her better than this.
Rating:
Amy is an author who has loved anime for over two decades.
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations is currently streaming on
Crunchyroll.
With seven full routes and one mini-route with a character from the previous game, if you enjoyed Cupid Paradise, Sweet & Spicy Darling is worth playing.― The first order of business is this: if you haven't played the original Cupid Parasite otome game, there isn't much point in picking up Sweet & Spicy Darling. There is one new route for this sequel, but even that relies on you knowing the backgrou...
With the release of Dead Dead Demon's Dededededestruction, Nick and Steve take a look at it and some other manga that were thought to be "unadaptable"—and see if that was truly the case.― With the release of Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction, Nick and Steve take a look at it and some other manga that were thought to be "unadaptable"—and see if that was truly the case. Disclaimer: The views and...
LiSA performs 'Black Box' opening theme― The official website for NieR:Automata Ver 1.1a, the television anime of Square Enix and Platinum Games' NieR:Automata action role-playing game, started streaming its "promotion file 11" on Tuesday. The video previews the opening theme song "Black Box" by LiSA, and reveals the premiere of the anime's second cours (quarter of year) in July. (The video below re...
When even the author says this story will hurt, you know it will be bad.― When even the author says this story will hurt, you know it will be bad. That's assuming, of course, that you weren't prepared for it going in. The fate of Astrea Familia is well-known to readers and viewers (and players) of the various Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon iterations, and the most recent season of ...
The documentary was full of cool tidbits about the 82-year-old producer and the anime he's worked on—including Ninja Scroll, Pluto, and In This Corner of the World.― Late last month, Japanese television network NHK put out a documentary on anime producer Masao Maruyama as part of their Anime Manga Explosion series. In it, the show delves into the now 82-year-old producer's life, philosophies, and so...
Masaki Watanabe directs anime at TMS Entertainment― Shueisha announced on Monday in its first "Jump Press" video that Yuuto Suzuki's Sakamoto Days manga will get a television anime series in January 2025 starring Tomokazu Sugita as Taro Sakamoto. The video also revealed the main staff. Masaki Watanabe (KADO - The Right Answer, Bartender, several Battle Spirits anime) is directing the anime at TMS En...
This is where the series earns its place in anime history, setting a precedent that other magical girl shows will follow.― It's a moment of magical girl history, right there on the screen: in episode forty-six of Fairy Princess Minky Momo's original 1982-83 television series, Momo is hit by a truck and dies. Even putting aside the question of whether or not this is Truck-kun's first victim, this is ...
Teaser video streamed― Bandai Namco Filmworks announced on Saturday that the Ghost in the Shell franchise is getting a new television anime series in 2026. Science Saru will produce the anime, which is tentatively titled Kōkaku Kidōtai (The Ghost in the Shell). Bandai Namco Filmworks, Kodansha, Science Saru, and Production I.G are on the production committee for the series. Bandai Namco Filmworks al...
This is a movie I never want to watch again. However, this is not because it's bad. Rather, it's a testament to just how incredible this film is.― Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction Part 2 is a film I never want to watch again. However, this is not because it's bad. Rather, it's a testament to just how incredible this film is. The film is full of well-developed and memorable characters—especiall...
Company acquires studio behind Lu over the wall, Inu-Oh, Scott Pilgrim anime, Tatami Time Machine Blues― The entertainment company Toho announced on Thursday that its board of directors has decided to acquire all shares of the anime studio Science Saru, effective on June 19. Toho will then make Science Saru its consolidated subsidiary from the second quarter (June-August) of the fiscal year ending i...