NarutoLoading: Turn Minecraft Loading Screens Into Custom Video Experiences
Few things feel more static than staring at the same dirt background while Minecraft loads. NarutoLoading changes that entirely. This client-side add-on replaces the vanilla loading screens, dirt backgrounds, and title panorama with your own videos and audio, so every launch feels like a small cinematic event. If you have ever wanted your favorite clip, intro, or meme to greet you before the world appears, this is the mod that makes it happen.
What NarutoLoading Actually Does
At its core, NarutoLoading swaps out three things: the loading screen, the dirt background, and the title panorama. Instead of static textures, you get video playback with synchronized audio. The mod also goes a step further by letting you construct actual video screens inside your world, turning a survival base or a creative build into a functional cinema.
This dual purpose is what separates it from simple texture packs. You are not just reskinning a menu; you are adding a media playback layer to Minecraft itself.
Supported Versions and Loaders
NarutoLoading is built for modern Minecraft releases and is distributed as a Fabric mod. It relies on Fabric Loader and Fabric API, so you will need both installed before the add-on will run. The mod targets recent 1.20.x and 1.21.x versions, and the in-world screen feature works best on versions from 2.2.0 onward, where the old 16:9 aspect ratio restriction was removed. If you are on an older build, check the version list carefully before you download NarutoLoading.
Setting Up the Environment
FFmpeg and Yt-dlp
Video playback and URL-based sources depend on two external tools: FFmpeg and Yt-dlp. You need to download them manually and place them into your Minecraft instance directory. The folder names matter:
- ffmpeg or ffmpeg-win, ffmpeg-linux, ffmpeg-mac depending on your operating system
- yt-dlp for the Yt-dlp binary
NarutoLoading auto-detects the executables from these directories. If you prefer, you can instead edit narutoloading.json and set ffmpegExePath, ffprobeExePath, and ytdlpExePath to point directly at the files. Remember that the Yt-dlp feature stays locked until you enable enableUrlForSourceSelection in the same config file.
Single Video and Audio
For a single custom loading video, drop your video and audio files into the config directory of your game. Then open narutoloading.json and set videoFileName and audioFileName to match. Launch the game and the new loading screen plays automatically.
Multiple Sources
If you want variety, create a folder called narutoloading-sources inside your config directory. Add sub-directories with any names you like, and inside each one place a video file named video and an audio file named audio. NarutoLoading will treat each sub-directory as a separate source you can roll through.
For players who dislike manual folder juggling, the foxygame.net launcher offers a smoother route: it can install NarutoLoading in one click and keep the add-on updated automatically whenever a new Minecraft version drops, so your video screens never break after a patch.
In-Game Controls and Source Selection
The mod adds a small set of hotkeys that only function outside a world, on the title screen and menus:
- F12 reloads the current video
- Shift + F12 rolls a random source from the narutoloading-sources directory
- Ctrl + F12 opens the source selection GUI
- Shift + Right Mouse clears text in a focused edit box inside the GUI
These controls make it easy to preview different intros without restarting the game.
Building In-World Video Screens
This is where NarutoLoading becomes a building tool. Screens are constructed from Displayer blocks or Item Frames. You can use any aspect ratio and any size you want, since the 16:9 and 9:16 limits were dropped in version 2.2.0. The minimum valid screen is 2x2, meaning at least four Displayers or Item Frames. The only real ceiling is Minecraft's build height limit.
To build one, outline the border of your screen with Displayers or Item Frames, keeping the structure at least 2x2. When the frame is finished, sneak and right click the two bottom corners. NarutoLoading detects the whole screen from those two points. Right click any border displayer to open the in-world settings GUI and adjust playback.
Commands for Large Screens
For huge builds, raise your render and simulation distance first, ideally to 32 or higher. Then use these commands:
- /gamerule commandModificationBlockLimit 9999999
- /fill ~ ~ ~-400 ~ ~449 ~399 narutoloading:displayer
This fills a massive wall of Displayer blocks in one go, which saves an enormous amount of manual placing.
Final Thoughts
NarutoLoading is one of those mods that quietly changes how you experience Minecraft. The loading screen stops being dead time and becomes a showcase, while the in-world screen feature opens up creative possibilities for cinemas, advertisements, and animated builds. Install Fabric, sort out FFmpeg and Yt-dlp, and you are ready to learn how to install and configure a far more personal Minecraft.