“Naruto: The Lost Story” is an O.V.A. based on the hit “Naruto” series. I’m a big fan of the series and this is a fun addition. Now, this is not one of the big, feature-length films that got released theatrically, this is just a little bonus for the fans. It works really well as it feels structured more like part of the show and does not try to cram to much in.

In this adventure, Naruto and his team are escorting a young man back to the secretive Waterfall Village. However, rogue ninjas have seized control of the village and are demanding that they are given a mysterious item that is the most treasured object in the village. Only Naruto and his friends can save the day.

If you are familiar with the series, you’ll be familiar with the main characters. The film mainly focuses on Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura. Kakashi (Naruto’s teacher) only has a brief appearance. I think the makers were wise not to try and put in too many characters. When you go from a series that methodically fleshes out its characters, it’s sometimes a little overwhelming when you get a ton of new characters introduced in just one movie (and usually only appear in that one movie).

This is pretty short adventure that is basically just double the length of a regular episode. It gives us a nice adventure where the stakes are just high enough to get us invested but are not too ridiculous. Maybe the fancy animation and the big battles of the theatrical movies are more exciting but I found this to work better as an addition to the “Naruto” series. Essentially, I’m just a fan of the “Naruto” franchise in general. If you are like me then “The Lost Story” is worth checking out.