Studio Pierrot, the production studio of the popular anime Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, is rumored to take a long hiatus. An anonymous and reliable source has claimed that the show will not air this spring. However, the studio has not officially confirmed this news. Boruto is the sequel to the original Naruto story and revolves around the character of Boruto, Naruto’s son. Along with his friends Sarada and Mitsuki, Boruto is a member of Team 7 led by Konohamaru. However, his encounter with a member of the Otsutsuki clan changes his fate. The anime first aired in April 2017 and has never gone on hiatus since then. Therefore, if the show does take a break, it will be the first hiatus in six years.
According to a reliable and credible Twitter account, Anime News And Facts, Boruto anime will go on a hiatus from April 2023. The last episode that will air is Episode 293. Currently, the show has released 290 episodes. With three more episodes to come, the series finale will air on Sunday, March 26. While it is still unknown how long the hiatus will be, some sources claim that it will last for three months. This time frame is intended to allow the anime to obtain three more chapters from its manga source.
Boruto is currently telling the story of the Code Attack arc, which is adapted from chapters 56-71 of the manga. The manga is currently on chapter 78, while this week’s anime episode, 291, adapts chapters 61-63. It is reasonable to believe that Boruto is taking a hiatus since there is not enough manga content to adapt into anime. According to SportsKeeda, the anime has been chasing the manga too quickly, leaving the production team with a shortage of source material. Thus, it is possible that the series will switch to a seasonal format, allowing the production team enough time to adapt material from the manga. Additionally, it is said that Boruto’s contract with TV Tokyo has expired, which presents an opportunity to renew or modify it.
The Code Attack arc revolves around Code, the new leader of Kara and the vessel that failed to resurrect Isshiki Otsutsuki. Kara consists of many celestial creatures, one of which is an Otsutsuki who came to Earth to consume life energy and genetic material from Earthlings, eventually evolving into a god. This clan has a close connection to the Naruto series, responsible for the creation of all eye-based abilities. The parasitic form of life can mark anyone with a karma seal and turn them into an entire vessel to resurrect any dead Otsutsuki. This poses a dilemma for Boruto, who is currently the vessel in the anime.
The Code Attack arc mainly focuses on Code, who will be the main villain after the arc. He seeks revenge on the shinobi world and the Karma Bearers because he failed to become a true vessel. This event also shows that Boruto loses control of his karma seal, with the Otsutsuki inside him almost taking over full control. This indicates the return of dead villain Momoshiki Otsutsuki, making the storyline more intense if and when it returns after the hiatus.
Many fans seem to accept the hiatus, understanding that studio Pierrot needs time and manga content to deliver high-quality episodes with well-animated visuals. If the anime continues without a break, fans will be subjected to long filler episodes before canonical content is animated. Studio Pierrot is known for producing several popular anime shows and taking extended hiatuses. The studio stopped production of the series Black Clover a few years ago, with the movie set to be released in June 2023. The anime series will reportedly return in 2024. Last year, Pierrot adapted the final arc of Bleach, Thousand Year Blood War, after a ten-year hiatus.
