While some fans criticized the "Looney Tunes" or "goofy" look of certain frames—such as Pain's face being distorted by wind pressure—many animation enthusiasts now view it as a masterpiece of fluid movement and experimental character acting. Cultural Impact
, titled " Planetary Devastation " (Chibaku Tensei), is widely considered one of the most controversial and visually experimental episodes in the entire series. It depicts the peak of the battle between Naruto Uzumaki (in his Six-Tails form) and Pain . Key Events Naruto Shippuden Episode 167
The episode originally aired in mid-2010 and remains a frequent topic of debate on platforms like Reddit and YouTube regarding whether "style over substance" was the right choice for such a serious moment. While some fans criticized the "Looney Tunes" or
Specific frames, like Pain's distorted face while being hit, became legendary memes within the anime community. Key Events The episode originally aired in mid-2010
The episode featured several legendary animators. Shingo Yamashita handled the first 100 cuts alone (roughly the first seven minutes), while the final two-thirds were animated by Norio Matsumoto , known for his "bombastic action sequences".
To contain the Nine-Tails' power, Pain uses his strongest technique, Chibaku Tensei (Planetary Devastation), creating a massive sphere of rock in the sky to trap Naruto.