Yūki Tabata’s Black Clover is one of the most popular Shonen series that has taken the world by storm. The mangaka has done an outstanding job in creating a magically enchanting world that features various spell types and grimoires; it also features humans, elves, dwarves, and so much more.
Despite the long and successful run of the show, it has continued to be a subject of harsh criticism from the fans of other Shonen series, especially from the fans of Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto. The constant point of criticism was how, right off the bat, the similarity with the Shinobi show was apparent, but it did not stop there.
Over the years, fans have dissected the show and each time gave a new point that drew an exact parallel to Kishimoto-san’s stellar work. However, the so-called copy has done several aspects better than the original, which has caused some fans to appreciate its beauty.
Black Clover Gets Backlash from the Naruto Community
The Shonen genre is arguably one of the most renowned anime genres, it is ruled by anime greats like Dragon Ball, One Piece, Naruto, and so many more. However, Yūki Tabata’s Black Clover was quick to make a name for itself as it featured wonderful art with mesmerizing character designs.
The series became a hit, gaining a dedicated fanbase in the otaku community, following the progress of the manga and anime. Unfortunately, the backlash was followed by popularity, with fans criticizing the title for imitating the essence of Masashi Kishimoto’s magnum opus.
The similarities begin with the protagonist itself, where Asta, an isolated boy, aspires to be the Wizard King, just like our boy, Naruto Uzumaki, who wishes to become the Hokage, with the theme of social acceptance being there.
Surprisingly, the allegations do not just end there because a ton of characters, as well as a lot of concepts, are straight from Kishimoto-San’s work. Some even say Yami Sukehiro is the Itachi Uchiha of Black Clover.
However, calling it a copy of one of The Big Three would be wrong. Yūki Tabata’s work is the very definition of having all the successful anime tropes, which is necessary to make the show a big name in the genre.
However, it can be said that much of Black Clover’s popularity can be attributed to the success of Naruto because, even in 2024, the show is immensely appealing to the viewers. Hence, calling one show a copy of the other is a result of it following the success formula of the Shonen series.
When a fan went to Reddit to ask the Black Clover community about the hate received by some fans, the anime and manga community decided to share their thoughts on social media.
The Otaku Community Reacts To The Backlash Received From Naruto Fans
In r/BlackClover, a fan posted that they finished the anime a couple of days ago, where they enjoyed every aspect of the story, but were clueless about the animosity that was present on the internet as some Naruto enthusiasts claimed that Tabata-San has blatantly copied Masashi Kishimoto’s work.
Following the question of the fan, the otaku community was summoned to the Reddit post, where everyone voiced their opinion either for or against the title.
This comparison will steadily increase as more and more series following the same notions and traits are followed. In its righteous way, Black Clover is distinct and unique because art is unique and it’s not just some pale imitation.
Black Clover can be streamed on Crunchyroll.
