, 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
As Naruto's rage reaches its limit, the seal nearly breaks, leading to a fateful meeting with the spirit of the Fourth Hokage within Naruto's subconscious. Production and Animation Style Naruto Shippuden Episode 167
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),
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. Production and Animation Style While some fans criticized
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".
The team utilized "smear frames" and exaggerated physics to convey the raw, god-like power of the combatants.
Specific frames, like Pain's distorted face while being hit, became legendary memes within the anime community.