Masashi Kishimoto’s beloved ninja-themed shōnen manga, Naruto is currently celebrating its anime adaptation’s 20th anniversary with an exhibition here in Malaysia.

The Naruto TV Animation 20th Anniversary Exhibition takes place from 7th October until 31st December 2023 at Pavilion Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, celebrating the series with displays of artwork, merchandise, VR, and plenty of fun activities.

The first thing about the exhibition is that it does not hold back from hitting one with nostalgia, especially since it is held to commemorate 20 years of the Naruto anime and many attendees who would visit the venue are undeniably fans who grew up watching the series, myself included.

Before walking into the exhibition hall, you could already hear the theme songs of the anime playing loudly in the background, ranging from the first-ever opening, “R★O★C★K★S” by Hound Dog to other iconic tracks such as “Haruka Kanata”, “Blue Bird” and “Silhouette”.

The entrance itself is guarded by an enormous inflatable prop of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, Kurama, greeting fans as they slowly make their way into the exhibition.

A Walk Down Memory Lane 

The exhibition itself follows the series in chronological order, guiding fans through the story once again from its inception to the present, beginning with the Ninja Academy.

The entrance gate is guarded by statues of Naruto and his mentor, Kakashi Hatake, both on a 1:1 scale. As you walk through the gate, you will be greeted by the many characters in their early years when they were still students in training.

Once you meet all the characters, you will enter the exhibition and be immersed in the art on display, celebrating Masashi Kishimoto’s creations, such as the various televisions broadcasting some of the most iconic scenes from the anime.

Aside from TV broadcasts, fans can also relive certain scenes with live art recreation of them such as the childhood moment of Sasuke with his brother, Itachi, the scene where Naruto summoned the four toads in Konoha Village when battling against Pain, and so on.

Life-sized recreations of many of the iconic weapons and items used throughout the anime are also on display, including the sentient sword Samehada, wielded by villain Kisame, the Adamantine Staff of the Third Hokage, and various ninja tools.

Become as Naruto

Apart from art displays, the Naruto 20th Anniversary Exhibition also features various interactive zones and photo booths for fans to immerse themselves in Kishimoto’s world. One such interactive zone is a platform where fans can stand to pretend to use the Summoning Technique from the series. A great spot for a photo session.

Fans of the series can also engage in various fun games, especially one that allows them to step in the shoes of Naruto and learn how to channel the power of Rasengan with the objective of destroying a large rock in front of them.

There is also a VR experience zone, utilizing a VR headset to immerse fans into playing as a ninja in the world of Naruto and go through missions, fighting enemies, and eventually defeating the One-Tail Shukaku.

Towards the end of the exhibition, there is also a behind-the-scene segment, showcasing the production of the anime adaptation of Naruto. As produced by animation studio Pierrot, this part of the exhibition shows the many drafts and concept stages of the anime before their approval, shining light on some of the never-before-seen concept art.

Merchandise for Fans

Of course, before the exit, fans can walk through the main gate of Konoha Village and enter the merchandise area.

This particular zone is filled to the brim with various merchandise for fans to spend their wallet on, including many unique T-shirts, caps, bags, cups, and of course, figurines. There are many figures on display as well as some purchasable through the counters such as the ones from the Ichiban Kuji series.

Overall Experience

Growing up with the Naruto series and walking through the exhibition, many of my deep memories began to be revived, reminding me of my childhood.

Not only that the exhibition showcase many iconic scenes and quotes that would make fans feel a little emotional, but it is also filled with fun interactive zones for everyone to immerse themselves in and have fun.

If you are a fan of the Naruto series, the 20th Anniversary Exhibition is worth checking out to bring back some of your inner childhood.

For more information on the ticket options of the Naruto TV Animation 20th Anniversary Exhibition, you can check here.