Real reason the arms are held backwards when a character in anime is running incredibly fast! Running animation at impossible speeds can be achieved with 2-4 drawings, commonly used by directors like Tex Avery or Hanna-Barbera in Western animation. But that speed does not allow enough time for the arms to move in tandem and still be visually readable to the viewer. This is also true for small characters like Jerry Mouse whose shorter limbs had to move at faster speeds. So to fix this, they would animate the arms held outstretched in front of the character. Same principle is being applied here with arms held backwards. Also keeps limbs away from the face for important acting moments or dialogue. This has been your bonus fact! :)

Kakashi wore his make so that people couldn’t see his nose bleed while he read his books

I know it was filler, but that one arc where they had to guard a runner on his super important race explains it too. Ninjas have special training that makes them superhuman and run fast. The runner guy doesn't have any secret ninja training, so he runs the same way as normal people do. I believe there's even a line where mention how surprising it is for this guy to be running so fast without being a ninja.

This has already been confirmed by a real life ninja that this type of running is actually legit, the only difference being, the speed. It was more of a high paced jog rather than sprint, combined with not flinging the arms around, it was really effective when having to sustain the same pace and conserve their stamina over a long period of time, getting from point a to point b not in the fastest way but with as little rests as possible

*Shikimaru running* Him: What a drag

Theory suggestion: the science behind a double jump

I think this running method will be more common on Venus, as the atmosphere is 96 times denser there, so drag is a significant factor even at normal running speeds.

I feel like the ACTUAL reason they run this way is because it's easier to animate. Canonically though, they run so fast that the drag probably pushes their arms back instead of them doing it on purpose. It is true that running this way at high speeds is more aerodynamic but it's the drag pushing their arms into that position.

The real reason they run with their hands backwards: it’s just easier to animate

*Imagine in parallel universe Usain Bolt actually Naruto Run to get those world record*

I just thought the reason why they did that was because they were running so fast they couldn't pump their arms because of the wind force.

Real Ninjas have already explained the run (ninja reacts to naruto) and how / why it’s used and that’s it’s a very real run. He does say it’s exaggerated but it’s deft real and according to the ninja effective for the assumed reason. The ninja explains that it isn’t faster but allows them to run longer distances

Intro: Is slightly different Everyone: Theory mode activated

A wise man once said “what a drag”

"You can wear a mask for a few darn months" me in may 2021 :(

“You can wear a mask for a few months” I wish it was only a few months :(

Basically, the naruto run is the best run. We are just not good enough for it.

Running normally: *exists* Matpat: What a drag

I wish there was someone who had been taught to run like that since they were a little kid. Getting posture and everything right, getting taught to run this way their whole life and at 18- 20 or sth, like young adult, ttey make a comparison: regular runner vs naruto runner. I dont think anything is impissible

When Mathew Patrick never knew that Sonic ran that way 10 years earlier I kinda felt bad for him

MatPat: “Naruto run is the best run!” Area 51 Raiders and every kid who Naruto ran: They called us mad men.

The person who did the Naruto run : they called me a mad man

My friends and I have been doing the naruto run for years that’s how we run 😂

I always thought they run with loose arms so they dont break momentum when they need to use their hands for something else like throwing pointy objects or making magic hand symbols or whatever.

There's another reason for moving one's arms while running; the muscle groups that swing the arms are connected to the ones that expand and contract the rib cage while breathing. This in turn means moving the arms increases the amount of air taken in while running. Anime characters don't breath. Not animating the arms saves hours of animation time per second of finished animation. Man hours spent animating a run cycle is expensive, thus why they save as many frames of animation as possible for a run cycle by drawing this type of run cycle instead of a traditional one.

All Naruto Characters: Naruto runs Choji and Chocho: Im just gonna pretend that isn't a thing

As someone who used the Naruto run on every running related thing that they make us students do in class(even when I'm being chased by someone). I can say that this is the best and fastest run.

Film theory: for every mile per hour the drag quadruples. Shikamaru: that is such a drag.

So is Naruto running effective? Answer: If you run twice as fast as a race car then yes!

Fun fact: the run was originally made to decrease the amount of animation required to run.

Bro said wear your mask for a month but it ended up being over a year 💀

I love the editing on these shows

So you’re saying the flash could have beaten reverse flash already if he new to Naruto run😂😂😂

Next theory: how many calories is a ninja burning when running at those speeds and just how much ramen would Naruto have to eat regain the lost calories 😂

I always though the logic behind the Naruto run being faster/more efficient was the nearly horizontal posture. The arms serving much like we think tails helped the larger bipedal dinosaurs when running, by providing balance. But the main thing being the posture and the forward leaning of the body, so that instead of being a "run" (which I defined as forward motion driven almost entirely by the limbs of the person running) it was more of a controlled forward fall. That way gravity does most of the work for you as far as momentum, and your own legs function like attitude thrusters on Sci-Fi space shuttles, providing direction without even needing to do much in the way of forward thrust.

Killua does the naruto run in early-mid Chimera Ant Arc

“The weird kid in class that chooses to run this way” Meanwhile my entire gym class: *naruto running*

Kakashi also wore a mask and didn’t die like his friends

I'm kinda curious at what running speed/wind speed Naruto running would start being better. But I guess there's not really a formula for how much energy you need doing either one

I always figured that the arms thing was so they could more safely hold knives while they were running.

You. Had. So. Many. Chances. At. Adding. A. Clip. Of. Shikamaaru. Saying. “What a drag.”

If Usain Bolt ran like Naruto wouldn’t everyone think that Naruto running is better?

I am really happy you said the " Naruto " run is the best because its technically not the Naruto run its more the sonic run since 1993 in sonic cd or sonic adventure in 1998 just before Naruto in 1999

I can always count on matpat to play the unnerving intro right as I enter my garage

You all should remember something the anime Bakuman said, *"Everything is possible in anime"*

"I just thought it looked cool" - Masashi Kishimoto, probably

Fun Fact: Sonic Is The First One To Use That Specific Run Back In 1991's Sonic The Hedgehog CD In Which Sonic Can Run Similar To That By Pulling Off A Peel Out Which Can Be Achieved By Holding Up Then Pressing Jump And You Get A Speed Boost When You Let Go Of The Up Button, Or Going At A High Speed. Sonic Was The First One To "Naruto" Run Making It The Sonic Run.

So, I tried this (I had to) and, while I was in constant fear of falling on my face, it did feel a bit faster. The "falling forward" feeling makes it "feel" faster but I'm not sure it actually is.

"strange kid in gym class who chooses to run this way" I can't help but feel personally attacked

0:40 "sweet balance of comedy and action" And filler. Lots and lots of filler.

This makes sense when I race my friends sometimes I crouch down and I am way faster than normal

I feel like I'm a middle aged mom looking at every corner of the internet searching for the answer I want

Supporting the theory, we only se the NARUTO run in effective use when there is a fight or a mission that requires high speed. Whenever the characters run in their free time (like the time Naruto ran from Sakura, in between the haku and the exam ark) they run in a normal, upright fashion.

So you’re telling me.. that if the Flash naruto runs, he’ll run even faster??

The reason why they run like that is because they are leaning forward so when they do that the gravity is doing the Most work and is king of faster

mattpatt: you can wear a pask for a few month. little did he know

"Today we justify you! Strange kid who decided to run that way" Me: hey ... thank you?

So this is why the Naruto run didn't work during the raid at Area 51

The “Naruto” Run is historically accurate in some cases. It’s over-exaggerated but you can find plenty of sources where many warrior classes didn’t swing their arms when running because they sprinted while holding their arms straight to keep from hitting their weapon mounted at their sides.

nice theory as always! btw can you make a theory about "the devil is a part timer" anime? anything.. watch it, its hilariously wonderful anime.. you can make a theory about the main character salary or how strong he can get with the concept of fears.. since the season 2 is coming this year, it may be a good time to make a theory about it

Mat: hello internet - Everyone: here we go again

matpat: were here to justify you, strange kid in gym class me:h-h-how does he know?

Burritos dad is cool he really needs his own show

I will say, that my 2 year old came to the conclusion that the Naruto run was the best way to run, independent of the tv show, which he has never seen. He has been observed running normally as well, but definitely prefers the Naruto run. His speed when taking this stance is absolutely unparalleled when he sees me with his toothbrush in my hand around his bed time.

Film theorists: See's "Naruto run is the best run" Me: *I don't need sleep, I need** *answers*

I remember I actually ran like this during a school run competition. Guess what, I got dead last not to mention embarrassed myself in front of my whole school. One of my friends Never let me forget it til the day he did forgot himself.

it makes you a lot more Aerodynamic when you run like this. also its a natural cause and effect. they dont manually fling their hands back they are just running at such high speeds

For us we don’t have the speed of Naruto and sonic for us. It is normal to move our arms when running for them. They are quite fast so the pressure just pulled their arms back

Plot twist: they run like this because studios don't want to animate their arms

For the record, Kakashi did remove his mask once in the show... Just to reveal another mask underneath it 🙄

"you can wear your mask for a few darn months" -MatPat Me: Yeh a few months

“Than Boruto’s (pronounced incorrectly at that) Dad” I was finna actually leave

Naruto: "Hey Sonic got a new technique for me?" Sonic: "Sure do!"

1:01 his mask doesn’t burn because the jutsu doesn’t come out of his mouth. The fireball jutsu starts at the opening of the hand sign.

"Naruto run is the best run" Sonic:And i took that personal

Just my opinion as a normal guy with no specific knowledge on science and stuff, there's few reasons why ninja use naruto run: 1. They are NOT just runner. During combat scenario, they are combatant that must move without attracting unwanted attention and must have spontaneous body reflex action in the nick of time in term of under enemy ambush. Running using the standard arm swinging method attracts more attention and the balancing by the arm swinging in fact hinder the body to react and move with extreme actions such as jumping backward or sideway in split second, which is crucial to dodging enemies attacks. 2. The naruto run style with arm behind provide lower running posture hence better concealment and less factors to attract enemies attention. 3. The lower centre of balance of the body and the closer distance between their legs with the ground due to the posture enable the ninja to do actions such as jumping, dodging, repositioning their body faster than normal running posture. 4. The arm position behind their body not only for more static arm position during running but also enable ninja to deal with unexpected situation with their hands in a "charged" state. Most tools and weapon they are carrying are keep at their back or waist pouch which is also near the back. When facing enemies attacks or sudden situation, the arm behind can straight away get the tools from their pouch or back and take actions according to the situation such as blocking, deflecting, or throwing stuff in 1 swift motion.

Intro: *starts to get glitchy* Everyone: Somethings wrong I can feel it

“strange kid in gym class who chooses to run this way” I felt that on a personal level LMAO

The intro was just great😜✌️✌️

matpat : makes a video about drag force shikamaru : what a drag!

Why isn't the Flash running like this? Barry: Oh man this evil speedster is too fast for me, what can I do?!? Cisco: Just Naruto run bruh

When my daughter learned to walk, she immediately started running like that, we kinda teased her for it and she stopped, but every once in a while she still does it.

“You can wear a mask for a few darn months”, months huh

Matpat: you can wear mask for a few darn months Few darn months: 1 year

Holy Christ, learning that Sonic Naruto runs is so cursed it literally just chilled me to the bone. I dont play sonic games so i never knew that.

"Strange kid in gym class who chooses to run this way" wait how did you know

If only racecars had hands , they would have done that .

“You can wear your mask for a few darn months.” I wish it was just months……

When the villagers in Animal Crossing New Horizons get what I call the "zoomies," they're doing the Naruto run and it looks adorable.

Me: (sees sponsor) “Oh, hey: I go there.” For people that are interested, FSU also has game design, game dev, software dev, creative writing, game art, entertainment business, and sport broadcasting degree programs among many more. Fantastic university.

4:10 Shikamaru: Drag force? What a drag...

Also, if I was an ninja like naruto i would have an lot of stamina so the stamina reduction wouldn't matter

Matpatt: Kakashi wore a mask for 5 yrs Me : he literally wore a mask his whole life

“Are choosing to run in exactly this form” it’s true, it’s easier to make them a normal running animation

Actually kakashi also wore his mask during his childhood too so more than 5 years.

thank you u jst saved me this got me to tears

MatPat: "Naruto running isn't a personality trait." The comment section: So you have chosen... Death.

Matpat: Naruto Run is the best run Me: Yes. I trained for all my middleschool years in the way of naruto running. This has been known.

Just the way this show started im hooked

so it just sprinting still nice video l under stand the how long it takes to make a video love them keep up the effort