Honestly, if you only know Rock Lee from the high-stakes, tear-jerking moments of Naruto Shippuden, you're missing out on the absolute fever dream that is the spinoff. It’s called Naruto SD: Rock Lee no Seishun Full-Power Ninden in Japan, but most of us just know it as the show where Neji Hyuga spends half his screen time cross-dressing and Orochimaru acts like a bumbling Saturday morning cartoon villain.
People often go looking for a Rock Lee and His Ninja Pals episode list because the show's structure is a bit chaotic. It’s not one continuous serious arc. Instead, each of the 51 episodes is usually split into two mini-stories. Think SpongeBob but with more taijutsu and questionable puns.
What’s the Deal With the Episode Format?
The series ran from April 2012 to March 2013. Studio Pierrot handled the animation, but they went with a "Chibi" or "Super Deformed" (SD) style. This wasn't just a visual choice; it set the tone for the entire run. You’ve got Kenji Taira to thank for the source material—he was one of Masashi Kishimoto’s assistants.
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The Rock Lee and His Ninja Pals episode list covers exactly 51 episodes. Every single one is technically filler if you’re a canon purist, but that’s kind of the point. It’s a parody. It exists in a universe where the Akatsuki are more interested in ruining a Halloween festival than collecting Tailed Beasts.
The Essential Rock Lee and His Ninja Pals Episode List (Highlights)
Listing all 51 would be a massive wall of text that nobody wants to scroll through. Instead, let's look at the ones that actually define the series.
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- Episode 1: Rock Lee is a Ninja who Can't Use Ninjutsu / Rock Lee's Rival is Naruto
This sets the stage. We see Lee trying to "eliminate by dispantsification" (yes, really) and competing with Naruto over a voucher for Baumkuchen cake. - Episode 3: A Competition with the Genius Ninja Neji / Tenten's Must-Win Battle
This is where the show really finds its legs. Tenten becomes the "straight man" to Lee and Neji’s insanity. - Episode 13: Student vs. Master! Rock Lee vs. Might Guy
If you want to see the "Smooth Operator Fist," this is your episode. It’s peak Lee/Guy weirdness. - Episode 20: I Want to be Friends with Gaara! / The Rock Lee Impostor Strikes!
Gaara in the main series is terrifying. Gaara in the spinoff is just a guy who Lee desperately wants to hang out with. - Episode 26: My First Summer Snack / Orochimaru is a B-Type Scorpio
The running gag of Orochimaru having a very specific, mundane personality reaches its peak here. - Episode 38: The Akatsuki Organization: Destroyer of... Teamwork?
Deidara and Tobi trying to blend into Konoha is objectively funnier than any fight they had in the Great Ninja War. - Episode 51: The Final Battle / Our Final Mission is S-Ranked!
The series finale actually features a surprisingly well-animated fight between Lee, Naruto, and Sasuke, proving that Pierrot could still flex their "real" ninja muscles when they wanted to.
Is it actually worth watching?
Kinda. It depends on your humor. If you like meta-jokes about how Shino never gets any screen time or how Yamato’s face is terrifying, you’ll love it.
The series frequently breaks the fourth wall. Characters will literally mention that they aren't acting like their "main series" selves. It’s a breath of fresh air after the heavy, depressing tone of the later Shippuden arcs. Plus, Tenten actually gets character development. In the main show, she’s lucky to get five minutes of dialogue; here, she’s the glue holding the entire chaotic mess together.
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Where to stream the full list
As of early 2026, the licensing for the Rock Lee and His Ninja Pals episode list is pretty stable. You can find all 51 episodes on Crunchyroll and Hulu. If you’re in the US, the English dub is surprisingly solid—they kept most of the original voice cast, which makes the weirdness feel more "official." Brian Donovan (Lee) and Steve Staley (Neji) clearly had a blast recording these lines.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're ready to dive in, don't try to binge it like a standard Shonen. The gags can get repetitive if you watch ten in a row.
- Watch the "Akatsuki" episodes first. Episode 38 and 48 are gold.
- Look for the "Road to Ninja" tie-in. Episode 17 is a weird cross-promotion for the movie that is actually quite clever.
- Check out the manga. Kenji Taira’s art in the Springtime of Youth manga has some jokes that didn't make it into the anime due to TV sensors.
Basically, treat this series as a reward for sitting through the 500 episodes of the main show. It's the "after-party" where everyone gets to be a little bit stupid.