Synopsis
Naruto the Movie: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom follows Team Kakashi on an escort assignment that sits apart from the usual village missions. Kakashi Hatake leads Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, and Rock Lee as they accompany Prince Michiru Tsuki and his son Hikaru back to the Land of Moon, a prosperous island nation the two have been touring for an extended period. The task looks simple on paper, but the royal father and son prove to be demanding travelers whose whims reshape the journey at every turn.
Chief among those whims is the prince's decision to buy an entire traveling circus, largely so that Hikaru can keep the saber-toothed tiger featured in its act. That purchase turns a straightforward trip into a rolling spectacle of animals, performers, and frayed tempers, pushing the shinobi team into improvised work they never trained for. Naruto's stubborn, loud brand of empathy grinds against Hikaru's sense of entitlement, giving the film a personal friction that runs alongside its action.
When the group finally reaches the Land of Moon, the country they were sent to protect is no longer waiting for them. Chief Minister Shabadaba has moved against the throne with the help of ninjas whose abilities and motives are unclear, leaving the returning royals with nowhere safe to land. The escort mission becomes a fight over who will rule the island, and the spoiled boy the team spent the journey complaining about turns out to matter far more to that outcome than anyone expected.
Trailer
Should You Watch It?
Watch it if you enjoy
- Watch if you enjoy Naruto's Part I era and want a self-contained Team Kakashi mission with Rock Lee along for the trip.
- Watch if you like light adventure mixing royal escort duty, circus animals, and ninja action in the Land of Moon.
- Watch if you are following the Part I Naruto films in order and want the third and final theatrical entry from that era.
It may not suit you if
- May not suit viewers seeking main-canon progression, since this is an original side story set apart from required franchise events.
- May not suit those who prefer focused missions, as the prince's circus purchase and whimsical demands reshape the journey.
- May not suit viewers who dislike bratty-child humor or animal-centered comedy mixed into ninja combat.
The primary starting work is a movie, so the full film is the natural Volluble Test Drive. This gives you the complete story instead of applying an episodic trial to a feature-length work.
Why It Connects With Audiences
Why people love it
- The team dynamic of Kakashi, Naruto, Sakura, and Rock Lee gives the escort mission familiar chemistry and martial-arts flavor.
- Naruto's stubborn empathy clashes with Hikaru's entitlement, adding a personal friction alongside the action.
- The circus and saber-toothed tiger turn the trip into an animal-filled spectacle, offering a change from standard village missions.
- As a stand-alone Part I movie, it can be enjoyed without having to continue straight into Naruto Shippuden.
Common criticisms
- Some may find the circus detour and demanding royals slow the story before the Land of Moon crisis begins.
- Because it is not a direct manga adaptation, it may feel optional or disconnected from the main Naruto storyline.
- Hikaru's spoiled behavior and the broader comedic antics could wear thin for viewers wanting a serious ninja tale.
- Its side-story scope may seem smaller in stakes than later Naruto films or series arcs.
Volluble DNA
A quick profile of the title’s dominant storytelling ingredients.
Characters and Voice Actors9 characters
Naruto Uzumaki
Main character- Japanese: Junko Takeuchi
- English: Maile Flanagan
Kakashi Hatake
Main character- Japanese: Kazuhiko Inoue
- English: Dave Wittenberg
Sakura Haruno
Main character- Japanese: Chie Nakamura
- English: Kate Higgins
Michiru Tsuki
Main character- Japanese: Akio Ootsuka
Rock Lee
Supporting character- Japanese: Youichi Masukawa
- English: Brian Donovan
Tsunade Senju
Supporting character- Japanese: Masako Katsuki
Korega
Supporting character- Japanese: Kenji Hamada
Hikaru Tsuki
Supporting character- Japanese: Kyousuke Ikeda
Narrator
Background characterProduction and Staff26 credits
View all 14 additional credits
Production Background
Naruto the Movie: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom is a 2006 anime film with a 94-minute runtime. It is based on Masashi Kishimoto's manga and the anime franchise that developed from it, and the saved record classifies its source material as manga. The Japanese title is 劇場版 NARUTO -ナルト- 大興奮!みかづき島のアニマル騒動だってばよ.
The film was announced on August 6, 2005, in connection with the opening of Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel. It was the third and final movie tied to Part I, and it arrived before the first film released during Part II. Its story is set after episode 196 of the Naruto anime, and footage from the movie appears in the opening and ending credits for episodes beginning with 197.
TV Tokyo's website listed the DVD release for April 25, 2007. The record also notes that an English dub exists and that the film has been available on Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Tubi TV.
Franchise Context
This movie is a stand-alone theatrical entry within the Naruto franchise, positioned during the original series era before the Naruto Shippuden timeline. It is the third Naruto film and the final one produced for Part I, following the earlier features Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow and Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel. Its story is not a direct adaptation of a specific manga arc; instead, it presents an original mission for Team Kakashi and Rock Lee, using characters and world elements established by Masashi Kishimoto's manga and the Naruto anime.
Within the broader franchise, the film functions as a side story rather than a sequel, reboot, or spin-off centered on a new protagonist. It does not begin the Naruto narrative, nor does it continue the main storyline in a way required for later installments. Viewers can approach it as a self-contained adventure set after episode 196 of the original anime, and it remains distinct from the Naruto Shippuden films that follow. Its placement makes it part of the original series' theatrical output while standing apart from the main canon events.
Where This Fits in NARUTO
A spoiler-light guide to where this exact work fits within the broader NARUTO franchise.
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Step 1
Start with the original Naruto anime or manga and get through Part I, since this film belongs to that era rather than serving as a standalone entry point.
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Step 2
If you are following the Part I Naruto films in order, watch the earlier Part I movies first; this is the third and final film released during Part I.
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Step 3
Place this film after episode 196 of the Naruto anime, where its story is set, and treat it as optional side-story viewing that can be skipped without breaking the main narrative.
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Step 4
After this, continue into the Naruto Shippuden Part II era; the later Part II films follow that stage rather than coming before this Part I movie.
Franchise Path
- Part I Naruto era: watch the original Naruto anime through episode 196, where this film is set.
- Release order for Part I films: Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow, Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel, then this film.
- After the Part I era, continue into Naruto Shippuden for the Part II storyline.
After You Finish
Continue with
- No direct sequel to this film; continue the Naruto franchise with Naruto Shippuden and its later films.
- Treat this as optional side-story viewing before moving to the Part II Naruto Shippuden era.
Community Verdict
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