Top 10 Songs in the Naruto OST
The theme song that started it all way back in 2002. A pretty fitting setup for the entire series with its tribal drum backings overlaid with shamisen, shakuhachi, and electric guitar. It’s anachronistic but flavorful, which perfectly represents the tone thatNarutoexhibits all throughout.
One of the best “sad” tracks in any form of media, whether that’s anime, video games, film, or TV. Just look at how many covers there are on YouTube to get a glimpse of how many people this song has affected.
The “Grief and Sorrow” variant is even sadder, played during the funeral of one of the most important characters in the originalNarutoseries.
The otherworldly feel of this track is absolutely insane, and it’s made even more awesome when you consider the context of its debut: Orochimaru’s first attack in the Forest of Death. It’s the first time we’re forced to reconsider the character and wonder just who the heck is this guy?
Industrial, maverick, with a touch of Western twang to highlight the wildness that brews beneath—a perfect summation of Sasuke’s character and his lone wolf ways, wrapped up in a cool and mysterious exterior. The evolution of this theme inNaruto Shippudenis also an interesting listen.
The first time Rock Lee removes his self-imposed limits and busts out his true abilities? One of the most badass moments in any anime series, and so memorable too. Jaw drops and fist pumps!
Related:The most epic anime theme songs
One thing I love in the originalNarutois that it didn’t take itself too seriously. All of the serious moments were punctuated with moments of levity, often times devolving into downright silly antics. This song is a perfect representation of all that.
As one of the strongest female characters in the series, it’s fitting that Temari gets such a badass track. The Eastern flavor is just too good to pass up. It’s unfortunate that she never quite amounted to anything more than a minor side character.
Related:The most powerful women in anime
There are lots of “assessing the situation” type scenes in the originalNaruto, and this is what plays every time. I love it because you just know that some big realization or “Eureka!” moment is waiting around the corner—the kinds of moments that madeNarutoso mentally stimulating.
Every once in a while, somethingbighappens inNaruto—and in the face of overwhelming opposition, is there a better track? It adeptly captures feelings of danger, caution, and the need to do something about the threat even though the odds are stacked against you.
The iconic “reversal of fortune” track. Some character is beat down and overwhelmed and left hopeless, but they still have the will to survive and carry on. It’s everything that the originalNarutostood for, and it’s no wonder that this track is one of the most popular and most memorable from the series.
Top 10 Songs in the Naruto Shippuden OST
Ethereal, melancholic, with a touch of hope. That balance of sadness and yearning for something better is the undercurrent that carriesNaruto Shippudenever onward. There’s just something magical about this track, and it’s my absolute favorite song in any anime soundtrack. No contest.
Regret. It oozes from every note in this track, and you can’t help but feel sympathetic. The worst villains inNaruto Shippudenalways had backstories and motives that were rooted in character, but it was the music—tracks like this one—that really made you come to understand their point of view.
If “Strong and Strike” was the reversal-of-fortune track for the originalNaruto, then this would be itsNaruto Shippudencounterpart. But more than just evoking the will to survive, this track is about the will to overcome those who want to keep you down.
I didn’t think it was possible to compose a track sadder than “Sadness and Sorrow,” but somehow Toshio Masuda pulled it off. Whereas the former is a sadness rooted in grief, this one is a sadness of isolation and hopelessness. Oh, now I’m getting sad…
Related:Sad anime moments that made us cry
This track isn’t played too often, but when it comes on, it’s extremely cathartic—because it’s basically the victory theme ofNaruto Shippuden. Victory is always hard to come by in the Naruto universe, which is why the occasional win always tastes so sweet.
Name a more iconic anime villain organization than Akatsuki. I’ll wait. There really isn’t much more that can be said about the greatness of this song and how perfectly it captures the dark, ominous, and almost otherworldly qualities of Akatsuki.
To be honest, I didn’t like the theme song forNaruto Shippudenwhen I first started watching it. Coming from the originalNarutoseries, it just didn’tfeellikeNarutoto me—a bit too orchestrated, if that makes sense. But after a while, it grew on me, and it’s clear that this track has beautiful layers.
Every so often, we get a denouement inNaruto Shippudenthat offers bittersweet closure—and this is the perfect track for those moments. “It’s been a long and weary journey, but we made it.”
This track oozes with tension and I just love it. When someone has something up their sleeve and you don’t quite know what it is and you’re waiting with bated breath to see what it might be? Yeah, this is the track for that.
Related:Iconic anime abilities that are suspiciously similar
There’s something deeply primal about this track—maybe it’s the drums, maybe it’s the chanting—that fits so well with the title. Just listen to it.
Isn’t It Time for a Naruto Rewatch?
Just listening to these tracks brings back so many memories and awesome moments from the series.
If asked to pick my favorite moment of all time, I don’t think I could do it—but I will say that the Chuunin Exam arc is a solid contender for the best stretch ofNarutoepisodes. That storyline was just so mind-bending and engaging in so many ways for me.
Read next:How to watch Naruto without any fillers
1. “Naruto’s Theme”
The theme song that started it all way back in 2002. A pretty fitting setup for the entire series with its tribal drum backings overlaid with shamisen, shakuhachi, and electric guitar. It’s anachronistic but flavorful, which perfectly represents the tone thatNarutoexhibits all throughout.
2. “Sadness and Sorrow” / “Grief and Sorrow”
One of the best “sad” tracks in any form of media, whether that’s anime, video games, film, or TV. Just look at how many covers there are on YouTube to get a glimpse of how many people this song has affected.
The “Grief and Sorrow” variant is even sadder, played during the funeral of one of the most important characters in the originalNarutoseries.
3. “Orochimaru Fight”
The otherworldly feel of this track is absolutely insane, and it’s made even more awesome when you consider the context of its debut: Orochimaru’s first attack in the Forest of Death. It’s the first time we’re forced to reconsider the character and wonder just who the heck is this guy?
4. “Sasuke’s Theme”
Industrial, maverick, with a touch of Western twang to highlight the wildness that brews beneath—a perfect summation of Sasuke’s character and his lone wolf ways, wrapped up in a cool and mysterious exterior. The evolution of this theme inNaruto Shippudenis also an interesting listen.
5. “Beautiful Green Wild Beast”
The first time Rock Lee removes his self-imposed limits and busts out his true abilities? One of the most badass moments in any anime series, and so memorable too. Jaw drops and fist pumps!
Related:The most epic anime theme songs
6. “Naruto’s Daily Life”
One thing I love in the originalNarutois that it didn’t take itself too seriously. All of the serious moments were punctuated with moments of levity, often times devolving into downright silly antics. This song is a perfect representation of all that.
7. “Dance”
As one of the strongest female characters in the series, it’s fitting that Temari gets such a badass track. The Eastern flavor is just too good to pass up. It’s unfortunate that she never quite amounted to anything more than a minor side character.
Related:The most powerful women in anime
8. “Confrontment”
There are lots of “assessing the situation” type scenes in the originalNaruto, and this is what plays every time. I love it because you just know that some big realization or “Eureka!” moment is waiting around the corner—the kinds of moments that madeNarutoso mentally stimulating.
9. “Heavy Violence”
Every once in a while, somethingbighappens inNaruto—and in the face of overwhelming opposition, is there a better track? It adeptly captures feelings of danger, caution, and the need to do something about the threat even though the odds are stacked against you.
10. “Strong and Strike”
The iconic “reversal of fortune” track. Some character is beat down and overwhelmed and left hopeless, but they still have the will to survive and carry on. It’s everything that the originalNarutostood for, and it’s no wonder that this track is one of the most popular and most memorable from the series.
1. “Early Summer Rain” / “Mountain Haze”
Ethereal, melancholic, with a touch of hope. That balance of sadness and yearning for something better is the undercurrent that carriesNaruto Shippudenever onward. There’s just something magical about this track, and it’s my absolute favorite song in any anime soundtrack. No contest.
2. “Man of the World”
Regret. It oozes from every note in this track, and you can’t help but feel sympathetic. The worst villains inNaruto Shippudenalways had backstories and motives that were rooted in character, but it was the music—tracks like this one—that really made you come to understand their point of view.
3. “Heaven Shaking Event”
If “Strong and Strike” was the reversal-of-fortune track for the originalNaruto, then this would be itsNaruto Shippudencounterpart. But more than just evoking the will to survive, this track is about the will to overcome those who want to keep you down.
4. “Loneliness”
I didn’t think it was possible to compose a track sadder than “Sadness and Sorrow,” but somehow Toshio Masuda pulled it off. Whereas the former is a sadness rooted in grief, this one is a sadness of isolation and hopelessness. Oh, now I’m getting sad…
Related:Sad anime moments that made us cry
5. “Crushing”
This track isn’t played too often, but when it comes on, it’s extremely cathartic—because it’s basically the victory theme ofNaruto Shippuden. Victory is always hard to come by in the Naruto universe, which is why the occasional win always tastes so sweet.
6. “Akatsuki”
Name a more iconic anime villain organization than Akatsuki. I’ll wait. There really isn’t much more that can be said about the greatness of this song and how perfectly it captures the dark, ominous, and almost otherworldly qualities of Akatsuki.
7. “Shippuden”
To be honest, I didn’t like the theme song forNaruto Shippudenwhen I first started watching it. Coming from the originalNarutoseries, it just didn’tfeellikeNarutoto me—a bit too orchestrated, if that makes sense. But after a while, it grew on me, and it’s clear that this track has beautiful layers.
8. “Homecoming”
Every so often, we get a denouement inNaruto Shippudenthat offers bittersweet closure—and this is the perfect track for those moments. “It’s been a long and weary journey, but we made it.”
9. “Emergence of Talents”
This track oozes with tension and I just love it. When someone has something up their sleeve and you don’t quite know what it is and you’re waiting with bated breath to see what it might be? Yeah, this is the track for that.
Related:Iconic anime abilities that are suspiciously similar
10. “The Hidden Will to Fight”
There’s something deeply primal about this track—maybe it’s the drums, maybe it’s the chanting—that fits so well with the title. Just listen to it.
Just listening to these tracks brings back so many memories and awesome moments from the series.
If asked to pick my favorite moment of all time, I don’t think I could do it—but I will say that the Chuunin Exam arc is a solid contender for the best stretch ofNarutoepisodes. That storyline was just so mind-bending and engaging in so many ways for me.
Read next:How to watch Naruto without any fillers
