: Directed by Atsushi Wakabayashi, the episode used an expressive "Sakuga" style. Instead of rigid, "on-model" drawings, it prioritized extreme fluid motion and "squash-and-stretch" physics to convey raw power and chaos.
: To stop the beast, Pain uses his ultimate jutsu, "Planetary Devastation," creating a massive sphere of rock in the sky to trap Naruto. Naruto (Dub) Episode 167
: Over time, many critics and animators have defended the episode as a masterpiece of creative direction, arguing it captures the "unhinged" nature of the Tailed Beast better than standard animation ever could. Key Story Beats : Directed by Atsushi Wakabayashi, the episode used