Short answer: Because the fans think it's the best anime ever, and half the time if I ask then what other anime they've watched, they say none. It's popular, which means many people like it, and here's why hating something popular works, because if something's popular it's expected to be very good. In the world of western anime fans this is how we discover new things, recommendations. Which means Naruto is being more highly regarded than many better things, also partly because most of the fans will never/never need to move on to another anime, because it's really long.
Also, the fans with this mentality are twelve, and from having moderated a chatroom based on a website for viewing Naruto episodes, I can tell you that apparently none of these fans want to watch, they just want to ask what episode a certian fight happens or to constantly ask if certain characters ever get together. They ask for spoilers so they don't have to watch it.
Long answer: It has got good fight scenes, but at my current age certain things make me cringe, and if I recommened it to someone I always have to warn them that the first season sucks.
Most people hate the characters, and even when I did watch Naruto a lot I didn't like any of the main characters very much. Some characters are cool, but unfortunately the show isn't about them.
People aren't waiting for the next plot point so much as they are begging for the inevitable fight between a main character and the new enemy. I've even written some rules for watching Naruto.
It's a bit predictable.
These rules are true for how far I've gotten into Shippuden.
1. Sasuke gets a new power every fight.
2. Hardly anyone except enemies die in the first series.
3. In Shippuden, everyone dies.
4. All gingers or redheads always at least start off evil, and will die.
Also, the show is stupidly long, and seems to compete with DBZ in stalling before a fight's completion, by padding it with flashbacks. Eventually you get into FLASHCEPTION.
Also, the fans with this mentality are twelve, and from having moderated a chatroom based on a website for viewing Naruto episodes, I can tell you that apparently none of these fans want to watch, they just want to ask what episode a certian fight happens or to constantly ask if certain characters ever get together. They ask for spoilers so they don't have to watch it.
Long answer: It has got good fight scenes, but at my current age certain things make me cringe, and if I recommened it to someone I always have to warn them that the first season sucks.
Most people hate the characters, and even when I did watch Naruto a lot I didn't like any of the main characters very much. Some characters are cool, but unfortunately the show isn't about them.
People aren't waiting for the next plot point so much as they are begging for the inevitable fight between a main character and the new enemy. I've even written some rules for watching Naruto.
It's a bit predictable.
These rules are true for how far I've gotten into Shippuden.
1. Sasuke gets a new power every fight.
2. Hardly anyone except enemies die in the first series.
3. In Shippuden, everyone dies.
4. All gingers or redheads always at least start off evil, and will die.
Also, the show is stupidly long, and seems to compete with DBZ in stalling before a fight's completion, by padding it with flashbacks. Eventually you get into FLASHCEPTION.