Some people believe, to be a true fan to any series, you need to own all of the official merchandise, others believe that you just need to have a love to the franchise, but... what really makes you a true fan? This is my theory.
One can still be a true fan and not own any merchandise. I myself am like that, sure, I have a few headbands and Shippuden Sakura's uniform, but that's because I cosplay. Everything else Naruto related I own has been gifts, such as my wall scrolls and boxed sets, I only go out of my way for the games and a few small posters... or anything Fourth Hokage related.
To be a fan, yes, you do
need a healthy love of the franchise, but you can't be ignorant of the
franchise. I have seen several complaints from people who like to call
themselves 'true fans' about stuff that should be obvious to a 'true
fan'. Namely the platform UN3 has been released on. Anyone truly in
sync with the franchise would know that NH3 was released on the PS2
therefore UN3 has to be released on the PS2. Believe me, unless Namio Bandai decides to build their own Part Two video games altogether. (I'm sorry to say, they probably won't, businesses are shallow, money is money, I have only heard of one business to ever turn down a promising income, and that's my father's. He just hates dealing with neighbours.) NA1 and NA2 will be released on the PS2, if you want to ask why was it made to those platforms when CLEARLY the PS3 was released in Japan during Shippuden's debut? Simply put, the PS2 still sells better then the PS2 in Naruto's homeland.
That aside...
Can I call myself a 'true fan'? Well I do admit my loyalty to Kishimoto had been falling with some of the recent chapters, only 399 and 400 renewing my trust to him. As for the Anime? Personally saying, it would have been much better if Sunrise or XEBEC had it. I can't really stand Perriot anymore. Hell, if the manga was a monthly manga instead of a weekly manga, it would be soo much better. Anyone read O-Parts Hunter (666 Satan) by Kishimoto's younger brother? It covered even more then what Naruto has covered in 400 chapters, yes I hated the conclusion, but whatever. Heck, even Fullmetal Alchemist as covered more plot then Naruto.
That's where my loyalty fails to the franchise,
because I know it could have been so much better then what it is today.
The producers have to stop responding to the fandom's wishes and do
what they want to do. If that even meant going on a two year haitus to
wait it out for Shippuden then by all means, they should have done
that. The massive amount of fillers can kill anything, as it has killed
Naruto, Bleach, Fullmetal Alchemist and many other wonderful mangas
that are still in the works.
So can I call myself a 'True Naruto Fan'? To finally answer that question, I have to say, no, I cannot call myself a 'True Naruto Fan' because that will be a lie. I hold too many doubts against the franchise, such as Kishimoto finishing the manga the way he wants the fandom to finish it, not the way he wants to actually finish it. Then Perriot going off and doing whatever the **** they want with it, thus breaking everything up.
If you ask me, no one can really call themselves a 'True Fan' no matter how much Naruto themed junk clutters up their room, how many times they've watched the original or the censored dub, or how many times they have read through the manga (for me, I've read through Part 1 at least 4 times, the initial run through, once again to grasp the full concepts, again for a fanfiction, then again because I got the SJ Subscription.) as long as you believe the manga or the anime could have been done so much better, one cannot call themselves a 'True Fan'.
Therefore, I will allow myself to call myself a 'Loyal Fan.' although I've had my doubts, I continue to stick with it, I will see it through to the end and continue to defend it from those ignorant dubbers out there.
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