Maile Flanagan Has Plenty Of Picks When It Comes To Standout Naruto Moments

When one thinks of anime, several series are sure to come to mind. These probably include "Inuyasha," "Bleach," "Demon Slayer," and, of course, the popular and long-running ninja series, "Naruto." Written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto, the story follows the titular character as he overcomes the loneliness of having the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon sealed in his body, builds platonic and romantic relationships, and becomes the Seventh Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village. Though "Naruto" was almost a completely different anime, the tale fans got was well-received, and the franchise spawned two shows, a handful of movies, video games, and even a spin-off called "Boruto."

Like many other popular anime, "Naruto" received an English dub that started in 2005 and continues with the story of Naruto's son. Having voiced Naruto for so long over countless projects, Maile Flanagan has many fond memories about the series and several moments that hugely impacted her.

When asked in an interview with Crunchyroll if she had any moments or episodes in "Naruto" that stand out the most for her, Maile Flanagan quickly replied, "Of course, there are so many." She is especially fond of Naruto's first fight with Sasuke Uchiha (Yuri Lowenthal). Though it's obvious the two are opponents from the start, the episode is a major turning point for their relationship. It really solidified their rivalry as something much deeper, especially when Sasuke leaves the village and Naruto is desperate to bring him back.

Flanagan also said that the Chunin Exam arc has a special place in her heart, especially since it's the first time Naruto faces off against the terrifying Gaara of the Sand (Liam O'Brien). She was —and continues to be — awed by O'Brien's performance. Because they didn't record together, she "was very aware of what he did in that episode."

Flanagan took on her most emotional performance when Naruto met his parents, Minato Namikaze (Tony Oliver) and Kushina Uzumaki (Laura Bailey). Flanagan revealed that she had recently lost her mother at the time of recording. The scene was challenging, and she is proud of her work, primarily because of how raw and real her execution was. She properly captured the emotion that Naruto felt seeing the parents he had never known. On Reddit, "Naruto" fans have cited that scene as the most emotional one in the series.