A Naruto Theme Park Is Officially on the Way, & It Could Be Arriving Sooner Than You Think (2024)

As Naruto enjoys its cemented popularity as one of the greatest anime and manga franchises of all time, it's unsurprising that its brand would be exciting as the new face of a theme park attraction. Confirmed by manga-news.com, Parc Spirou Provence in France will be gaining a 15,000m² dedicated Naruto portion where fans can be transported to Konoha thanks to their partnership with Studio Pierrot and Shueisha in 2026. With the theme park continuously expanding its spaces, this is a sure draw to the mighty manga-reading populace of France.

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With France's spending per capita on manga being among the greatest in the world, it is unsurprising that a theme park attraction would be built around one of the medium's most adored franchises. Parc Spirou Provence was founded in 2018 and has brought in over 1.5 million visitors, with kids and adults sure to flock to the world's most beloved ninja franchise. With Naruto joining the likes of Spirou, Marsupilami, and The Smurfs, one of the world's biggest manga and anime markets will get an enormous space for fans to enjoy after over four years of work and counting.

How Naruto's Theme Park Section Might Stack Up to Other Anime Attractions

They're Not Just Propped up in Hidden Villages, After All

A Naruto Theme Park Is Officially on the Way, & It Could Be Arriving Sooner Than You Think (1)

While the Naruto theme park attraction gears up towards its 2026 opening at Parc Spirou Provence, it's worth looking over just how popular the anime theme parks of the world are. In Japan, Nijigen no Mori is a predominantly Naruto-themed venue with its Naruto & Boruto Shinobi Village while also notably hosting Godzilla, Crayon Shin-Chan, Dragon Quest, and even a Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War collaboration. TDR Explorer showcases the theme park's attractions, offering a glimpse into what such a theme park could be like for those seeking a Naruto experience abroad.

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But beyond Nijigen no Mori, there are other enormous locations like Universal Studios Japan, which recently opened its Super Nintendo World, and Ghibli Park, with its locations themed after many of the most popular anime films ever. However, as one may guess, these locations are still largely in Japan, so such a high-profile experience abroad is important in and of itself for readers and viewers worldwide who enjoy Naruto too. A country with as broad an anime and manga consumption rate as France must be the one to host it.

Why France Is a Perfect Fit for Naruto's Theme Park Section

The French Market Is an Astonishing Presence

While fans in the United States or elsewhere in the Americas would love for a Naruto theme park attraction of this magnitude or greater, France is a perfect choice in this case. With an incredible market that consumes more manga per capita than practically any other Western nation, Actualitté notes its frequent position as second in the world outside Japan, aside from increasingly growing markets like China. With the nation's culture broadly embracing the world of bandes dessinées, or French comics and an appreciation for global media, it's an appropriate location with a population eager to attend.

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As the New York Times reported, France has incentivized their youth to invest in culture, sending them 300 euros, broadly spent on manga in 2021.

What's also impressive about the prospects of Naruto's expansion at Parc Spirou Provence is that, in that same Actualitté piece, Naruto's readership sits at 38% of all manga readers there, outpacing One Piece. Half of the 18-34 year olds surveyed preferred Naruto, with even more youths than Pokémon readers, while Dragon Ball readers crossed the generational gap at 43%. Hence, a Naruto theme park extension seems the most natural anime-themed choice for young attendees, with natural options should they expand further and acquire the needed licenses.

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A Naruto Theme Park Is Officially on the Way, & It Could Be Arriving Sooner Than You Think (3)
Naruto

Naruto is a franchise spawned from the manga series penned by Masashi Kishimoto that began in 1999. Generating several tv series, games, movies, and more, Naruto follows the exploits of a young outcast ninja harboring the spirit of a demon fox who seeks to become the Hokage, the leader of his ninja village, to break the stigma against him. Upon the conclusion of the initial series, Naruto expanded into Boruto, following many series protagonists' children and returning faces.

First Film
Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow
Latest Film
Boruto: Naruto the Movie
First TV Show
Naruto (2002)
Latest TV Show
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations

First Episode Air Date
October 3, 2002

Cast
Junko Takeuchi , Maile Flanagan , Noriaki Sugiyama , Chie Nakamura , Kazuhiko Inoue , Nana Mizuki , Hideo Ishikawa , Yûko Sanpei
Current Series
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
TV Show(s)
Naruto (2002) , Naruto: Shippuden , Boruto: Naruto Next Generations

Character(s)
Naruto Uzumaki , Sasuke Uchiha , Sakura Haruno , Kakashi Hatake , Itachi Uchiha , Hinata Hyuga , Gaara , Jiraiya , Tsunade , Orochimaru
Video Game(s)
Naruto: Clash Of Ninja Revolution 3 , Naruto: Ultimate Ninja (2003) , Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations , Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 , Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 , Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 , Naruto: Rise Of A Ninja , Naruto: The Broken Bond , Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker , Naruto Shippuden Dragon Blade Chronicles , Naruto: Path Of The Ninja , Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections

Summary

Naruto is a Japanese manga and anime franchise created by Masashi Kishimoto. It follows Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja striving for recognition and aiming to become the Hokage, the leader of his village. The franchise has a global fanbase due to its rich storytelling, character development, and themes of perseverance and friendship. It has expanded into anime series, films, novels, video games, and more. The sequel series Boruto continues the story, focusing on Naruto's son, Boruto Uzumaki.

Sources: manga-news.com, Actualitté, New York Times, TDR Explorer

A Naruto Theme Park Is Officially on the Way, & It Could Be Arriving Sooner Than You Think (2024)
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