Montblanc Naruto Orange: A Fun Anniversary Ink Worth a Look

Introduction

Every so often an ink arrives that is more about fun than formality, and Montblanc Naruto Orange fits that description well. Released to mark 20 years of the Japanese manga series, it is a themed release aimed at collectors and fans as much as everyday writers. It comes in a 50 ml bottle priced at 40 US dollars, alongside a matching rollerball and fountain pen with orange clip and trim.

The Bottle and Packaging

The 50 ml bottle is one of the nicer aspects of the package. The box is attractive enough that it looks right at home on a shelf, and the bottle itself has a thoughtful angled design: the bottom dips down on one side, which means ink naturally collects toward the dip as the bottle empties, so you can use nearly all of it. No complaints here.

First Impressions: Color and Shading

On a swab of mixed media watercolor paper, the ink reads as a deeper orange with noticeable shading. It looks genuinely pretty, and importantly it stays legible. Some early comparisons have suggested it is not identical to Montblanc’s long-discontinued Lucky Orange; chromatography has indicated this one leans slightly more red, and Lucky Orange was recalled as being a bit lighter. Either way, if you never owned Lucky Orange, this is a very appealing orange in its own right.

Writing Performance

Testing was done with a plain Montblanc 146 with a fine nib, since the matching themed pens may not suit everyone. Two characteristics stand out. First, this is a dry ink; paired with a quite fine nib and a notebook that did not get along with it, skipping was more noticeable than usual, though on friendlier paper the fine and extra fine nibs both produce totally legible everyday writing.

Second, flexed writing shows more shading than fine, light-pressure strokes, but the color holds up well either way. The dry flow is worth remembering if your pen already runs dry, as a wetter writer may pair better with it.

Water Resistance and Ink Washes

This is where the ink shows its fun side. A diluted wash produces a genuinely lovely gradient of orange tones that would work beautifully for artistic use. Water resistance, however, is effectively zero. A quick test showed the ink washing away almost immediately, and blotting confirmed it, the ink behaves as if it is extra water soluble.

If you need water-resistant ink for addressing envelopes or documents, look elsewhere. If you want a color for journaling, drawing, or anything safe from spills, that disappearing act is less of a problem and the wash quality is a genuine bonus.

Crust: A heads Up

One practical warning: on opening the bottle, some orange crust was already present on the rim. This is common with orange inks in general, and it will almost certainly happen with this one too. It is not harmful to your pen, it washes away easily, and cleaning is straightforward, but if nib crust annoys you, this ink will test your patience.

Buying Advice

At 40 US dollars for 50 ml, Montblanc Naruto Orange sits in the usual premium ink territory. It makes the most sense for fans of the series, collectors who enjoy themed releases, and writers who want a legible, shaded orange for daily journaling. Skip it if you need water resistance or dislike nib crust. And if you are simply after a good orange and missed Lucky Orange years ago, this is an easy way to enjoy the color again.

Conclusion

Montblanc Naruto Orange is a cheerful, well-behaved anniversary ink with lovely shading, a smart bottle, and one big trade-off: essentially no water resistance and a tendency to crust on the rim. For fans and orange lovers, it is a fun pick. For document writers, it is not. Either way, it is hard not to smile at this color on the page.