Anime fans have something else to celebrate during the New Year holiday
The Year of the Ox opens with a bang, as popular manga series Naruto hits the big screen.
Naruto Shippuden 2: Bonds, the second in the Naruto Shippuden series and the fifth Naruto film in all, has taken more than 1.1 billion yen (HK$95.5 million) at the Japanese box office since its release.
The story begins as the town of Konoha comes under threat from the mysterious Sora-nin, or 'sky people'. These shinobi, or ninjas, are there to take their revenge on the city that once tried to destroy their home.
Meanwhile, Shinno, a brilliant doctor, and his apprentice Amaru arrive in Konoha looking for help, as Amaru's home country is also under attack from the Sora-nin, who are searching for the ancient ruins of their city.
The series' eponymous hero Naruto is sent to help Amaru's people. But along the way he runs into Sasuke, his former best friend who became a follower of the villainous Orochimaru. A showdown between the two is inevitable, but will good or evil triumph?
The movie title, Bonds, describes the supposedly unbreakable ties between families and friends. But it's partly ironic, given the current status of the friendship between Naruto and Sasuke.