This was the biggest show for kids in my generation. The ninja run, re-enacting shinobi jutsus (super-powers), and all modern anime tropes started here. To this day, Naruto’s massive success still continues, with a TV show about his son (Boruto) airing to audiences globally. What makes Naruto express masculinity is through men’s approach to their goals vs. women’s approach
Naruto’s gender problem can be seen immediately within the first three episodes. The show revolves around Team 7, a young group of shinobi set out to bring peace to the land of Konoha. The team leader is Kakashi, a strong man with a sad past, and his three students, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura.
While Naruto is a powerful young boy with limitless potential, and Sasuke is a child prodigy, Sakura is completely useless. She can’t fight, and as a medical ninja she cannot heal anybody even if her life depended on it. While she gets more respect in the sequel show Shippuuden, she is still an eye sore to the squad. She is the embodiment of women in anime.
There are other female characters in Naruto that are powerful, but because Sakura is a main character, she should have more respectability. The other characters learn amazing abilities while all she learns is new ways to cry for help.
Similar to DBZ, the male characters are also driven by their goals. Naruto wants to become Hokage (leader) of the Village Hidden in the Leaf. Watching his whole family being murdered at a young age, Sasuke wants to avenge them by getting revenge on the one person who killed them all, his brother Itachi. While all the males have a goal to achieve, all the female characters are more than happy to support them.
Oppositional Example: There are two women in power in Naruto (two out of the five are Kage’s) one of those women is Tsunade. She is an extremely powerful Kunoichi who can not only use amazing medical skills, but can command an entire army while fighting with her own immense strength. The only problem is that she is exploited in the show sexually. It seems there was one thing important to signify.
The show’s denotational meaning is for people to pursue their dreams and stick by their friends. But it definitely appeals to a male audience because of its lack of inclusivity to female characters.
Signs and Semiotics in Anime 