Yūki Tabata’s manga and anime series Black Clover is known for its magical power system and its intricate story. Even though the series became popular, its criticism never stopped following. His confession during an interview sparked intensive discussion among the anime community. It came at a time when Black Clover’s position was under scrutiny among the ‘New Gen Big 3’ of Shonen anime.
Tabata’s acknowledgment undoubtedly put Black Clover in a tight position to achieve the same acclaim level as its Shonen tropes. His contemporary series like Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen have been commended for their character development. But his series has often been blamed for its lack of character growth.
The Pitfalls of Static Characters in Yūki Tabata’s Series
Yūki Tabata‘s compliance with the genre convention has been pointed out as a pitfall for the series. In an interview at Jump Festa 2019 via Viz, Tabata remarked that his lack of significant character growth may possibly be hampering the series. This stands in contrast to other popular Shonen tropes where the active growth of the character is seen.
I think making sure the characters are easy to remember is important. Like giving them traits that make it easy for the reader to remember them.
His approach risks turning the character into a farce. He could define only a couple of traits that consistently continue throughout the series. This alienated viewers who longed for more delicate character arcs.
Tabata’s approach seems to give a vibe of an unforgettable impression that may leave an enduring mark. But it comes with a fault that though they are recognizable they don’t paint a growth or in personal development. It makes them look dull as the audiences are engaged more with a vibrant and lively character.
Yūki Tabata’s Approach May Deprive Black Clover of its Title
Tabata’s dedication has been dwelled with his character design and character personality. He perhaps has unintentionally stunted the narrative structure. He also said “They don’t change too much. I do get more used to drawing them, so the parts that change is that I’m able to draw them easier.” Thus, the characters abstained from transforming from the day they were introduced.
His approach to Black Clover remains rigid. Other ‘New Gen Big 3’, Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer have carefully subverted the already established Shonen notion for their series growth. In contrast, he doesn’t deviate from the traditional character models. It seems to be lagging behind due to its conventional approaches.
As the series continues to evolve, Tabata may come over his approach to artistic development. His disclosure of the character design strikes a reminder for the emerging mangaka. Freedom should be given in evolving the character throughout the series.
Black Clover anime is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.
