The hopes are high for the upcoming project of the Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto. The famed manga artist will be working on a new manga series titled Samurai 8 with a sci-fi samurai theme, along with the illustration of Akira Ōkubo.
Kishimoto is going to mix the Japanese culture and history with a sci-fi setting on Samurai 8. In a teaser, it gave a glimpse of outer space images, steely samurai, futuristic weapons, and robots.
In a personal message, via Asahi, Kishimoto said he loves "Japanese things" and is thrilled by its culture and decorations. He is also fond of science fiction, so he is also excited with the gimmicks and settings it has. With these things, he decided to create a story that will mix two of his favorite things with Samurai 8.
"I'm desperate to make it more interesting than Naruto," Kishimoto said about Samurai 8. "Don't miss it!"
With the excitement, fans are now setting their expectation on Samurai 8. So, here is what they are expecting to see in the new manga series, per CBR.
Samurai 8 is expected to draw inspiration from the Japanese folklore that will eventually go wild. Based on its title, Kishimoto will use samurai for its story the same way he used ninja for Naruto. His iconic use of Japanese culture's images and symbols that will turn into a creative and insane direction will also be at play.
As Samurai 8 is announced to use a sci-fi setting, it is expected to have a twist and turn of events like how Naruto used a fantasy theme. Naruto is not a ninja series. In fact, it is about wizards. As Kishimoto's new manga series is said to have a speculative fiction genre, it is expected to have futuristic concepts, advanced science and technology, and more about this category.
There are also expectations that Samurai 8 may feel like the return or continuation of Naruto. It may feel like it is "free and light" from any dramatic constraints, or it is going to begin in a war where the story will revolve.
Just as expected, Samurai 8 will be over-hyped for being Kishimoto's new project. Expectations will be high that it will either match or surpass Naruto. However, fans should keep their hopes low to this new manga series as nothing beats the original, although what it has to offer remains to be seen.
Samurai 8 will be out this spring. It will be seen in the Weekly Shonen Jump comic anthology.
