Due to Naruto's legacy, the Boruto manga has always been in the spotlight of fans and critics, often sparking polemic not only because of its storytelling decisions, but also because of the character design of the new generation of female shinobis. Boruto’s artist and current author, supervised by Kishimoto, Mikio Ikemoto, has received backlash about the clothes of the female characters, especially the co-protagonist Sarada, for their revealing and impractical outfits unsuitable for an active ninja.

Although the character's design in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex was controversial, the criticism started way back, after Ikemoto changed Sarada’s original outfit, drawn by Kishimoto, into a tight minidress. However, one of the biggest oppositions Ikemoto faced was because he changed the female characters’ usual footwear to high heels, which are fashionable but uncomfortable shoes that ninjas wouldn’t wear on missions.

Because of this, at the special event in for Naruto's franchise “Nuit à Konoha,” where Boruto’s authors were interviewed about the new installment of the manga, Ikemoto decided to address his reasoning behind his questionable clothing choice.

The interview cited below has been translated by fans, so there may have been some inaccuracies.

Drawing Boruto’s Female Characters in High Heels Helps Ikemoto Stay Motivated

The Female Character's Design in Boruto Raises Concerns After Comparing It With Naruto

In a translated interview posted by @UzuRepo on Twitter, when asked about advice for aspiring manga artists, Ikemoto talked about how drawing things you like helps stay motivated, using the high heels he draws in Boruto as an example and revealing he chose them because he likes them.

I want to advise them to show, to reveal what they love. [...] Even if you love something that is more niche, if you manage to gain sympathy, maybe loyal fans will encourage and follow you.

I sometimes read comments about Boruto. Some find it strange that all the female characters wear high heels even though they are ninjas. However, that’s my taste, so that’s how it is. It’s one of the things that helps maintain my motivation. Originally, they are professionals at chakra control, so for them, it’s not a problem. After all, they are ninjas of the new generation. The fact that you can do these kinds of things is also an advantage of manga. – Mikio Ikemoto

Ikemoto’s comment gave a new perspective to his character designs, showing that fashion seems to be an important theme in Boruto’s manga to show a different world from its predecessor, and that as the author, he has the right to do the things that motivated him to keep drawing. However, fans also have a valid reason to be concerned about the clear contrast between the female character design in Naruto and Boruto, as the clothes in the original series were more practical.

Tsunade, the fifth Hokage, wore heels, but she was a retired ninja for a while and also a mature woman. Sakura also wore heels in Naruto: Shippuden, but hers weren’t stiletto heels nor near as high as the ones used by the characters in Boruto. Even in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations’ anime, Sarada’s heels were modified to be more suitable for her. Because of this, even if functionality isn’t an issue for Boruto’s female characters as professionals at controlling chakra, fans still find their designs to be questionable.

Boruto Isn’t the Only Anime Where the Female Characters Wear High Heels for Battle

The Lack of Criticism on Other Series Shows the Controversy Is About the Character’s Age Rather Than Functionality

Female characters often wear high heels during fights in some animes, like Nami and Robin from One Piece, Yor from Spy x Family, and 2B from Nier: Automata. Even in the popular game Bayonetta, the character Cereza uses her heels as weapons, as she uses them to carry guns. However, the reason these characters don’t spark controversy about their footwear and, instead, they seem feminine and fashionable, is because they aren’t underage.

Boruto’s fans debate about the heels issue because it reflects objectification of the characters, pre-time skip, when they were 12-year-old girls. And while the style was maintained for Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, the characters are still in adolescence. Ikemoto may draw heels for his taste and as a fashion statement that he believes doesn't limit the characters, but because of what's considered age-appropriate, the theme will probably remain as a point of criticism for Boruto.

Source: UzuRepo.