Following Hinata's apparent death in the previous episode, Confession , Naruto loses control, manifesting the Six-Tails.
This episode is famous for its —a term for high-quality, fluid animation—but it polarized fans due to its highly stylized and distorted art.
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". 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.
The team utilized "smear frames" and exaggerated physics to convey the raw, god-like power of the combatants. Following Hinata's apparent death in the previous episode,
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.
Specific frames, like Pain's distorted face while being hit, became legendary memes within the anime community. Shingo Yamashita handled the first 100 cuts alone
, 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