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As with most modern series, Naruto is supported by a massive marketing machine that ensures a host of merchandise, books and computer games are available.  However, unlike many series the popularity of Naruto in America has led to some American merchandise being produced too.  This means that there is tonnes available and it's easier than ever to find!
 



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Art Books:
  So far there has only really been one true Naruto art book released.  The book, pictured to the left, does feature lashings of Masashi Kishimoto's superb colour artwork though.  There are a number of databooks and anime guides available too.  Click to see a larger image.
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Statues & Figures:
  Huge amounts of figures, gashapon and statues are available for Naruto, and with the popularity as high as ever more are released all the time.  The quality varies depending on cost, and it is interesting that some are being produced by US companies.  Click to see a larger image.
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Soundtracks:  In Japan there are usually shelves full of soundtrack albums available for every series, so Naruto is actually pretty unusual in that it only has a few.  The original soundtrack to the left is probably the best, at least until the Hurricane Chronicles one comes out!
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Gaara of the Desert

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Computer Games:
  Naruto's transition to anime and game form tied in nicely with the rise of the Sony PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube, so quite a few high quality games have come out.  Generally beat-em-ups and role playing games (RPGs), Naruto has graced the GameCube, PS2, Sony PSP, Nintendo DS and GameBoy Advance in the last few years.  More games are on their way for the next gen consoles, and a couple have even made their way to the UK in the form of Naruto Ultimate Ninja and Naruto Uzumaki Chronicle on the PS2.  Click to see a larger image.
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Obligatory Odd Merchandise!

Rubber Kunai:  For the ninja who isn't allowed sharp objects comes... the rubber kunai.  Yes, these traditional ninja throwing knives are remade in non-lethal rubber, which either makes them the feudal crowd control weapon of choice (they're a lot more stylish than rubber bullets too), or an expensive and still relatively dangerous toy.  If you value your windows giving lumps of rubber that look like throwing knives to overenthusiastic kids is probably not a good idea.  The only other reason to have them is as a cosplay accessory, and as most cosplayers don't do the same thing twice, you'd probably only use them once...
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Availability & Prices:

Artbooks:  The Uzumaki Naruto Illustration artbook is only available in Japan at the moment, but it looks like it's getting a US release in October 2007.  There are a few databooks - which contain some anime stills and promotional art - and game guides available in Japan as well, and a couple have been released in America.  The popularity of the series does mean that all the artbooks are pretty easy to get hold of online, and several specialist retailers carry them.  Good places to look include Anime On Line and Otaku UK, as well as large import shops like Forbidden Planet or Sheffield Space Centre.

Expect to pay around £25 for the Japanese artbook and databooks and about £10-£15 for the American databooks and game guides.  You can order the forthcoming English language Naruto artbook from bookshops and the ISBN code - an international cataloguing code given to all books on publication - is the best tool to help them find it on their systems.  Here's the ISBN-10 code for the book:

The Art of Naruto: Uzumaki (English Language Version): 1-42151-407-9

Figures & States:  Statues and figures are very easy to get hold of from specialist retailers and there are a huge variety available, ranging from the 3" 'gashapon' style figures costing around £3-£4 right through to limited edition statues costing up to £100.  Your best bet for Naruto figures is either specialist toy retailers like Tokyotoys or local comic shops like Forbidden Planet, who are usually able to order them in if they don't already stock them.  Auction sites like eBay* can also be good places to look, as long as you're careful and avoid fakes.  The size, style and quality of the figures varies wildly from cheap and nasty to stunning but hideously expensive, however, there is something available to suit every taste and pocket.  Keep an eye on specialist toy sites - like Tokyotoys and Gensen Figure - to see the wide range available and to keep on top of the latest lines.

Soundtracks:  There's only about eight Naruto CDs available, but all of them can easily be bought from online import retailers such as Otaku UK, Anime On Line, YesAsia and CD Japan.  As far as we are aware you can currently buy three Naruto anime series soundtracks, three movie soundtracks and a couple of CDs of the opening and ending themes.  These imported CDs vary in price depending on the number of discs, but will generally set you back around £20-£30 each.  Some specialist Sci-Fi shops, such as Sheffield Space Centre, also stock them for about the same price.

Computer Games:  An advantage Naruto has over many series is that it's quite recent, so all the games released have been on recent consoles and all are still available.  The two PlayStation 2 games that have been released in the UK - Naruto Ultimate Ninja and Naruto Uzumaki Chronicle - can be picked up for about £25 each from pretty much any shop that sells games.  The Japanese games on the PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS and Nintendo GameCube are easy to get hold of through import game retailers like CD Japan and YesAsia , as well as the ever-present eBay*.  The games that have been released in America are likely to come out over here, but if you can't wait Amazon and eBay* are good places to look.  Prices vary depending on the system, but expect to pay between £25 and £45.

Cosplay Items:  There has been an unusually high number of 'cosplay' (see glossary) accessories and clothing released for Naruto.  Ninja headbands, plastic and rubber replica weaponry, Konoha Chuunin jackets, even Naruto's bizarre night cap are quite widely available in the likes of Forbidden Planet and from online shops like Tokyotoys, Otaku UK and Anime On Line are good bets, as is eBay*.  Prices vary, but expect to pay between £10 and £30 for most of the accessories and £30+ for the clothes.

*Auction sites can be rife with unscrupulous individuals who will knowingly sell you pirated goods.  Although the risk with figures and VHS tapes is minimal due to the small market and difficulty of manufacturing (in the case of figures and statues), DVD and CD pirating has rocketed in recent years.  To minimise the risk of being ripped off make sure you check Digital Anime's excellent Piracy FAQ.
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