Forget Dragon Ball, Naruto's Creator Just Revealed The Anime's True Inspiration

Image By Joshua Fox Published Jul 19, 2026, 12:30 PM EDT Joshua Edward Ryan Fox is a freelance writer for Screen Rant with a passion for pop culture. Joshua grew up in Connecticut where he developed an appreciation for writing and entertainment and has earned a Master's degree in professional writing and technical writing. His writing has been quoted by both the anime streaming site Crunchyroll and the anime YouTuber Gigguk. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Dragon Ball has served as the inspiration for countless anime and manga, and one of the most notable and most obvious is undoubtedly Naruto. Not only does Naruto greatly resemble Goku as a hyperactive, dimwitted kid with blonde hair, a big appetite, and an incredibly kind heart, but the wider world of Naruto is always alive with fantasy and a feeling of adventure, albeit not as whimsical as Dragon Ball, and the overlap between them is impossible to deny. The influence Dragon Ball had on Naruto and Masashi Kishimoto in general can’t be denied, and sure enough, it’s something Kishimoto has spoken about time and time again in the decades since Naruto was first published. However, it’s just been revealed that there’s another story that was just as influential on Naruto’s development, if not more, and in retrospect, it’s nowhere near as surprising as a person would think. How Spider-Man Helped Create Naruto’s Story (We’re Serious) As big an influence as Dragon Ball was on Naruto, something that might have been equally important was, of all stories, Spider-Man. To build hype for the new Spider-Man movie, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Disney+ released a documentary on the history and legacy of Spider-Man titled Generations: The Evolution of Spider-Man, which included creators discussing how Spider-Man inspired them. Surprisingly, Masashi Kishimoto was part of the documentary, and he said he loved Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man and was inspired by it to write villains with genuine reasons for being evil. Back when my wife and I were dating, when she was still my girlfriend, the very first movie we saw on a date was Spider-Man. It left a huge impression on me. With Spider-Man, I once analyzed in my own way what makes it so interesting. Parker is Parker, and having a double life as Peter Parker and Spider-Man, the anguish of that is something I find really appealing about Spider-Man. Also, the duality of the villains. And so in Naruto, in my own work too, the enemies aren't just evil from the start, they are carrying something that makes them that way. It's something I consciously try to portray as well. Masashi Kishimoto talking about Spider-Man in Generations: The Evolution of Spider-Man Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man would have shortly preceded the debut of the Akatsuki, and while some of them are evil simply for the sake of being evil, members like Itachi, Pain, and Obito are all given sympathetic motivations and well-developed arcs that make it easy to understand why they’re evil, which, in turn, makes them great villains for the story. The Akatsuki are even structured as the sort of gathering of supervillains Spider-Man would have to fight to save the world, so the similarities are even harder to deny. The Akatsuki aren’t the only villains to fit the Spider-Man mold, of course; Gaara and Kimimaro, the pre-timeskip villains with the most development, also conform to that idea, and Sasuke’s journey as an anti-villain throughout the post-timeskip era arguably captures the idea even better than the Akatsuki. These ideas aren’t technically unique to Spider-Man, but they’re still a major hallmark of the franchise, and it’s clear that Naruto got a lot out of that to craft some truly amazing villains and characters in general. Spider-Man’s Relationship With Naruto Embodies Everything Great About The Franchise It’s easy to see how Spider-Man influenced Naruto’s writing when looking at the Akatsuki and other Naruto villains, and that, of course, is nothing new for the franchise. For decades, fans around the world have been drawn to Spider-Man not just for its fun stories and action, but for how great a character Peter Parker is, with his struggles to balance his personal life with the responsibilities of being Spider-Man always making him feel relatable and genuinely fun. There’s never been a superhero more influential and impactful than Spider-Man, and Naruto is just one of many examples to follow suit. Friendly Neighborhood Assessment · MCU Era Tom Holland'sSpider-Man Trivia 🏠Homecoming2017 ✈️Far From Home2019 🌌No Way Home2021 😈VillainsSinister… 🤖MCUAvengers THWIP! LET'S GO → 01 Before getting his own solo film, Tom Holland’s Peter Parker made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut by being recruited by Tony Stark to help in a massive superhero conflict. In which MCU film did Holland first appear as Spider-Man? AAvengers: Age of Ultron BCaptain America: Civil War CSpider-Man: Homecoming DAvengers: Infinity War ✓ Correct! Tom Holland first appeared as Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War (2016), where Tony Stark visits Peter in Queens and recruits him for the airport battle against Team Cap. His quippy, starstruck portrayal instantly won over audiences. ✗ Web miss! The answer is Captain America: Civil War. Holland debuted in the 2016 film before Homecoming (2017). He was recruited by Tony Stark for the iconic airport fight scene, stealing Captain America’s shield with his webs in one of the film’s most memorable moments. NEXT → 02 In Spider-Man: Homecoming, Peter faces a blue-collar salvage contractor who turned to arms dealing after being shut out of the Chitauri cleanup by Damage Control. Using an alien-tech wingsuit, he becomes one of Spider-Man’s most grounded villains. Who is he? AThe Vulture (Adrian Toomes) BThe Shocker (Herman Schultz) CThe Scorpion (Mac Gargan) DThe Tinkerer (Phineas Mason) ✓ Correct! Adrian Toomes, played brilliantly by Michael Keaton, is the Vulture — a working-class father who builds a criminal empire selling alien-derived weapons. The twist that he’s the father of Peter’s date Liz is one of the MCU’s best surprises. ✗ Web miss! The answer is The Vulture (Adrian Toomes). The Shocker and Tinkerer are his henchmen in the film, and Scorpion (Mac Gargan) only briefly appears. Toomes is the main antagonist who personally confronts Peter in the unforgettable car ride scene. NEXT → 03 Tony Stark built Peter a high-tech suit loaded with features Peter didn’t even know about, including an AI assistant that helps him in combat, provides tactical analysis, and even gives dating advice. What name does Peter give this AI? AFriday BEdith CKaren DJocasta ✓ Correct! Peter names his suit’s AI “Karen,” voiced by Jennifer Connelly. She assists him with web shooter modes, reconnaissance, and even his love life. Friday is Tony Stark’s AI, and E.D.I.T.H. is the Stark satellite system that appears in Far From Home. ✗ Web miss! The answer is Karen. Friday is Tony Stark’s personal AI, E.D.I.T.H. is the Stark defense satellite Peter inherits in Far From Home, and Jocasta is an AI from the comics. Karen, voiced by Jennifer Connelly, is Peter’s suit assistant throughout Homecoming. NEXT → 04 In Spider-Man: Far From Home, Peter encounters a seemingly heroic figure who claims to be from an alternate Earth, battling elemental creatures across Europe. In reality, he’s a disgruntled former Stark Industries employee using advanced holographic drones. What is his real name? AWilliam Ginter Riva BAldrich Killian CJustin Hammer DQuentin Beck ✓ Correct! Quentin Beck, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, is Mysterio — a master of illusion who uses Stark Industries’ B.A.R.F. holographic technology and weaponized drones to fabricate the Elementals and pose as a hero. His final act of revenge shapes the entire third film. ✗ Web miss! The answer is Quentin Beck. William Ginter Riva is one of Beck’s team members, Aldrich Killian is the villain of Iron Man 3, and Justin Hammer is from Iron Man 2. Beck is Mysterio, the illusionist who manipulated Peter’s trust across Europe. NEXT → 05 In one of the MCU’s most shocking mid-credits scenes, J. Jonah Jameson broadcasts doctored footage from Mysterio’s final moments that completely upends Peter Parker’s life. What does this broadcast reveal to the entire world? AThat Spider-Man killed Mysterio in cold blood BThat Spider-Man is Peter Parker CThat Spider-Man is a Skrull impersonator DThat Spider-Man commanded the drone attack on London ✓ Correct! Mysterio’s doctored footage, broadcast by J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons reprising his iconic role), exposes Spider-Man’s identity as Peter Parker to the entire world. This revelation drives the entire plot of No Way Home as Peter desperately seeks to undo the damage. ✗ Web miss! The answer is that Spider-Man is Peter Parker. While the footage also frames Spider-Man for the London drone attack, the earth-shattering reveal is Peter’s unmasked identity being broadcast globally by The Daily Bugle’s J. Jonah Jameson. NEXT → 06 With his identity exposed and his loved ones under threat, Peter seeks help from a powerful sorcerer to cast a spell that would make the world forget he is Spider-Man. Peter’s constant modifications to the spell cause it to fracture the multiverse. Which sorcerer casts this spell? AWong BWanda Maximoff CDoctor Strange DKarl Mordo ✓ Correct! Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) casts the memory-wiping spell at Peter’s request, but Peter keeps asking for exceptions — for MJ, Ned, May, and Happy to still remember him. These constant changes corrupt the spell and tear open the multiverse, pulling in villains from other Spider-Man universes. ✗ Web miss! The answer is Doctor Strange. While Wong is the Sorcerer Supreme and actually warns Strange against it, it is Stephen Strange who agrees to cast the spell. Wanda’s multiverse interference occurs in Multiverse of Madness, not here. NEXT → 07 Throughout all three films, Peter’s loyal best friend serves as his “guy in the chair,” helping with tech support and keeping his secret. In No Way Home, this character even discovers he can open magical portals using a Sling Ring. Who is Peter’s best friend? ANed Leeds BFlash Thompson CHarry Osborn DMiles Morales ✓ Correct! Ned Leeds, played by Jacob Batalon, is Peter’s best friend and self-proclaimed “guy in the chair.” He discovers Peter’s secret identity in Homecoming, supports him across all three films, and in No Way Home he accidentally uses Doctor Strange’s Sling Ring to open portals to other Spider-Men. ✗ Web miss! The answer is Ned Leeds. Flash Thompson is Peter’s rival and bully who ironically idolizes Spider-Man. Harry Osborn is Peter’s friend in the Raimi and Webb films but doesn’t appear in Holland’s trilogy. Miles Morales is only hinted at. Ned is the irreplaceable “guy in the chair.” NEXT → 08 At the emotional climax of No Way Home, Peter makes an enormous personal sacrifice to save the multiverse. Doctor Strange completes the spell, and when it takes effect, Peter is left completely alone. What does the final spell do? AIt sends Peter to an alternate universe where no one knows him BIt erases Spider-Man from existence entirely CIt removes Peter’s spider powers permanently DIt makes everyone in every universe forget who Peter Parker is ✓ Correct! The final spell makes every person in every universe forget that Peter Parker exists. MJ, Ned, Happy, the Avengers — everyone. Peter visits MJ at the coffee shop afterward but decides not to re-introduce himself, choosing to protect them. He starts over completely alone, sewing his own suit in a small apartment. ✗ Web miss! The answer is that everyone forgets who Peter Parker is. The spell doesn’t erase Spider-Man — people still know the hero exists — but nobody remembers Peter Parker the person. This devastating sacrifice means MJ, Ned, and even Happy Hogan have no memory of him at all. REVEAL MY SCORE → Assessment Complete Your Spider-Sense Rating / 8 Are you an Avenger — or just a friendly neighborhood bystander? ↻ SWING AGAIN In the almost 30 years since Naruto first debuted, it has become one of the most popular and influential anime franchises in history, and that makes it all the more appropriate that it got there by taking after equally influential franchises like Dragon Ball and, just as importantly, Spider-Man. Even with both franchises being so old, it’s safe to say that Naruto and Spider-Man will continue to influence the world and each other for years to come, and with how amazing they’ve continued to be, that’s nothing but great to see. Movie(s) Spider-Man, Spider-Man Strikes Back, Spider-Man: The Dragon's Challenge, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, Spider-Man: Far from Home, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse TV Show(s) Spider-Man, Spider-Man, Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, Spider-Man: The Animated Series, Spider-Man Unlimited, Spider-Man: The New Animated Series, The Spectacular Spider-Man, Ultimate Spider-Man, Spider-Man, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Spider-Noir Comic The Amazing Spider-Man First Film Spider-Man First TV Show Spider-Man Genres Superhero, Action, Adventure, Science Fiction, Drama, Coming-of-Age Cast Tom Holland, Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, Shameik Moore, Zendaya, Kirsten Dunst, Emma Stone, Marisa Tomei, Rosemary Harris, Sally Field, Jacob Batalon, J.K. Simmons, Willem Dafoe, Alfred Molina, Michael Keaton, Jamie Foxx, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jon Favreau, Tony Revolori, Laura Harrier, Angourie Rice, Benedict Cumberbatch, Nicholas Hammond Director Sam Raimi, Marc Webb, Jon Watts, Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman, Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson Writers Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, Brian Michael Bendis, jonathan hickman, Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller Created by Stan Lee, Steve Ditko