One of the comparisons thatBlack Clovercan’t help but draw is toNaruto, butBlack Cloverwas actually a major evolution ofNaruto’s core concepts. As one of shōnen’sBig Three,Naruto’s influence is everywhere. It established several archetypes and concepts that today’s shōnen constantly find themselves building on. While it’s clear thatBlack Cloverdefinitely obtained a lot of influence fromNaruto, it’s often left out howBlack Cloverevolved many of the systems in ways that would become hallmarks of modern shōnen.
Black Cloveris an innovative series in its own right, with many beloved fans eagerly awaitingits fifth season. Following the story of Asta and Yuno, orphan brothers from a run-down village intending to become Wizard King,Black Cloverplaces Asta at the center ofa long tale of growth, perseverance, and camaraderie.
It’s not justNarutothat it borrows from either. It openly broadcasts shōnen adoration, and it has no issues building on shōnen tropes.Black Clovertweaks these tropes in a way that is fundamentally interesting and influential all on its own.
Black CloverNever CopiedNaruto(And It’s Wrong To Say It Did)
Fans Misunderstand The Importance Of Seemingly Minor Changes
Asta is often the first point of comparison between the two series, sharing a surface-level similarity with Naruto. Both are rambunctious and feisty orphan protagonists with an indomitable will and, in the anime adaptations, even similar voices. Both also seal a certain kind of power and have aspirations of being recognized in their societies. This is more or less where the similarities stop, and even if one digs into them,they’re also not worth much.
To start with, if defiance, a singular aptitude, a major aspiration one has to prove oneself to obtain, and constant exposure to trials in the way of becoming the greatest is what makes a character a Naruto clone, thenmost of the lead characters in written history could be Naruto clones. Walter White or Odysseus could even be considered a Naruto clone. That’s absurd for obvious reasons, but viewers don’t always apply the same kind of discrimination to Asta and Naruto since they’re both battle shōnen clearly in dialogue with one another.
The same would apply to other parts ofBlack Clover. If the Magic Knights are like the Shinobi because they protect a region and have some sort of procedure before being allowed to work under them, then the armies on either side of the demilitarized zone dividing South Korea and North Korea are, in fact, two armies of Shinobi clones in a cold standoff. The list could go on. This approach oversimplifies the very important distinctions between the series, andthe ways thatBlack Cloverhas always beenproudof its influences- and proud to add something to them.
From the very first episode,Black Cloversets itself apart fromNaruto. The village of Hage is a great example, and it provides a stark contrast toNaruto’s Konoha. Early on, Hage is shown to be a village that isrun-down, poor, and largely forgottenby the leaders of the Clover Kingdom in the Capitol.
Where Naruto’s childhood was based on individual poverty that is largely unmentioned by everybody else (he’s disliked because he’s anajinchuriki, not because he’s poor), the structural poverty that pervades the Clover Kingdom isessential to both Asta and Yuno’s desire to becoming Wizard King. While Naruto initially wants to become Hokage for recognition, Asta and Yuno want to be Wizard King in order to give back to the underserved village that raised them. In this sense,Black ClovertakesNaruto’s premisebut fixes its crucial mistake with worldbuilding.
Class, lineage, and aptitude are major driving forces inBlack Clover, unlikeNaruto.Narutodepicts a world where the majority of conflicts arebetweenHidden Villages and countries, or with rogue groups like Akatsuki who want to challenge the Kage system entirely.Black Cloverflips this on its head. While it somewhat simplifies the overarching antagonistic forces, it goes into much more detail on strifewithinthe Clover Kingdom and its socio-political order.
Black CloverIs One Of The First “Modern Shonen” Thanks ToNaruto’s Influence
Many Changes InBlack CloverWould Be Followed By Today’s Anime
When it comes to identifying many of the features that might define modern shōnen,analyzing the relationship betweenBlack CloverandNarutoprovides a great starting point. The aforementioned difference in world-building somewhat foreshadows the tendency toward darker themes and greater worldly realism with the advent of series likeAttack On Titan.It also depicts howconflicts become more about broad forces of good and evil(forAttack On Titan, first humans vs. Titans, then Eldians vs. Marleyans) which are used as a backdrop to show the cruelty of the world itself.
This is further exemplified in Asta’s anti-magic mechanic. Anti-magic allows for the compelling premise that Asta, far from Naruto’s immense chakra bed, doesn’t have the same magical ability as most in the Clover Kingdom -the justification for his own mistreatment and determination. In general, withNarutoand other series likeJoJo’sBizarre Adventure,Hunter x Hunter(for the most part),Dragon Ball, and more, antagonists and malevolent forces typically pull from the same kind of energy as the “good guys.”
By contrast, “modern shonen” tend to show more intricacy. Asta’s anti-magic foils the magical system inBlack Clover. Demon Slayer’s Nezuko is a demon who has to demonstrate her benevolence.Jujutsu Kaisen’s Yuji lacks an innate technique, and his power is largely superhuman strength and martial arts prowess, especially early on. Any ability to manipulate cursed energy comes from Sukuna, a distinctly evil force. Many of today’s shōnen showgood energyagainstbad energy, or like inJujutsu Kaisen,they complicate the fact that powers are based on the same type of energy for heroes and villains alike.
This change is also what makes Naruto’s buff from Kurama so different from Asta’s demon powers. Speaking of which,Black Cloverwas also one of the firstto have a character be threatened with execution specifically because they embody a risky, evil power. Asta, Nezuko, and Yuji are all examples again, as is Gabimaru fromHell’s Paradise. All the aforementioned series both build out the hatred of Naruto for being Kurama’s seal while dramatically raising the stakes.
There’s also been atendency to portray more convoluted rivalries, when they’re there at all. Whether it’s Naruto and Sasuke, Gon and Killua, or Goku and Vegeta, rivalries tend to start out clearly defined by characters with opposing ideals. By contrast, Asta and Yuno start out as the best of friends, and one of the most emotional parts of the show is watching as they grow apart. As the dynamic changes, it also becomes less prominent. All ofShippudenis based around Naruto and Sasuke, but for a big part ofBlack Clover, it’s easy to forget that Yuno exists.
In other words, where rivalries used to be the default,they’re now becoming less frequent, less defined, and more complex where they are found.Demon Slayerhas no real rivalry to speak of;Jujutsu Kaisen’s Yuji and Megumi have a interesting relationship that’s hardly even a rivalry to begin with. In fact,Jujutsu Kaiseneven flips the rivalry dynamic, as Mahito declares Yuji a rival because of his possession of Sukuna, and Sukuna himself is more of a rival to Yuji than anybody else.
These are only a handful of ways thatBlack Cloverwas an early herald of so many shifts that would fill modern shōnen. Not every contemporary shōnen is going to implement these elements. Rivalries are crucial toHaikyu!!. This also goes in reverse: many older shōnen might anticipate the ideas that make modern shōnen what it is, like the realism, dark draw, and mechanical subversions inHunter x Hunter’s Chimera Ant arc. The inclusion of these elements does not make a seriesinherentlybetter or worse, but itdoesreflect what today’s anime fans clearly want to see.
To sum up,Black Cloverimproved on many aspects ofNarutoso that those aspects would better meet the demands and expectations of shōnen today. From subverting unified power systems like chakra to developing a darker and more lifelike world,Black Cloveranticipated many of the changes that would define what are considered today’s best anime. It’s developments like these thatdefinitively makeBlack Cloveran underappreciated shōnen- and which make it unfair to call it a copycat.
Black Clover
Cast
Black Clover, released in 2017, follows orphans Asta and Yuno who aspire to become the Wizard King in a world where magic is paramount. Despite Asta’s lack of powers, their journey unfolds as they receive their grimoires and embark on individual paths towards their ultimate goal.
Naruto
Naruto is an action-adventure anime series based on the manga series created by Masashi Kishimoto. The titular Naruto Uzumaki is a fearsome Nine-Tailed Fox Spirit sealed inside him, which once wreaked havoc on his village. Shunned by his community yet determined to earn their respect, Naruto dreams of becoming the greatest ninja, the Hokage. This series follows his journey through the Ninja Academy as he continues to train and grow, hoping to prove himself to his peers- and himself.
