its both.
at first, when seeing the millions of bright orange ninjas running around, i thought "wow, this show must be THAT good". i
didnt have the opportunity to watch it until it started showing on the cartoon network. so i admit, i made my judgement more on the fans at first than on the show. i didnt like how crazy, obsessive, and i guess "club-like" or seperated they all seemed to be from the rest of the anime/video-game community. so when it did come on tv, i sat down when they were doing a marathon i think around new years eve, and decided to give it a chance.
i'll admit, i like the mythogical references, and i think sasuke is pretty and gaara is darling, but i think thats where my like for it stops. it just seems repetitive and over-done to me.
this isnt at all saying theres anything wrong with naruto or its fans. i do adore the animation and the story's actual base isnt so bad. its just not my style.
i am glad to see youre an anime fan (even if just a naruto one) too.
and to help everyone else out, naruto is an anime. or a "cartoon from japan".