Black Clover is one of the most popular modern-generation manga and anime. The manga was first serialized in February 2015 and since then, has gathered millions of followers worldwide. In 2023, it was reported that Yuki Tabata’s magnum opus had sold more than 19 million copies worldwide. During an interview, Tabata mentioned getting inspired by Kentaro Miura’s Berserk.
Berserk was not the only thing that inspired him. Other great franchises inspired Black Clover and its narrative. It helped the mangaka project a European side to his creations, especially since the backgrounds and character names are similar to Europeans. He considered them an essential aspect of his work.
Yuki Tabata Was Influenced By Popular Franchises
Yuki Tabata earned worldwide fame after Black Clover’s release. The anime began with a typical Shonen story but soon started to add unique elements and twists to the narrative. Licht and Zagred’s introduction expanded the universe to elves and demons, and the story became more enticing. Fans could easily identify subtle Hollywood and European references in the anime. The magic was similar to that of Harry Potter, and the elves and demons were taken from The Lord of the Rings franchise.
During an interview with Le Point, Tabata mentioned about getting influenced by the fantasy genre. He said,
“It’s a genre that I love in cinema and in manga. I really like Dragon Quest: Dai’s Quest, The Lord of the Rings, Guillermo Del Toro’s cinema as well as Harry Potter. To render this European side in Black Clover, I do research with photo books for the settings and the universes. Documenting myself to draw weapons, clothes, buildings is an essential aspect of my work.”
All of his inspirations are quite visible in Black Clover. Most of these franchises have a common thing, which is beginning at a light-hearted pace but suddenly taking a dark turn as the series progresses. On top of that, fans are always left speechless with the plot twists. It is fair to say that Yuki Tabata studied these franchises well and implemented their qualities in his masterpiece.
Black Clover Is Nearing Its End
It has been more than nine years since Black Clover began. Currently, the manga is headed to its conclusion, with the final war taking place between the Lucius Zogratis and the wizard society. The manga went on a hiatus after August 2023 since it was shifting from Weekly Shonen Jump to Giga Jump. It resumed in December 2023 with chapter 369. The latest chapter featured the fight between Noelle Silva and her mother, Acier Silva.
Even though the manga is in its final saga, it might take a few more months before wrapping up. On the other hand, the anime went into a hiatus in 2021 after episode 170 premiered. The franchise released a movie in 2023 named Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King. The fans are eagerly waiting for the anime’s return and want to see who ends up as the Wizard King, Asta, or Yuno.
Black Clover is currently available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
