Black Clover is underestimated by way too many people. In fact, it rarely ever makes it to the recommendations list for anime fans. But at the same time, it is a hidden champion. A comfort Shonen which uses a tried and tested formula.
But underestimating Black Clover needs to stop now. The series has stood the test of time, and is still one of the most-watched franchises. In the past few years, many new hit anime have debuted, but Yuki Tabata’s creation has held its spot.
Black Clover makes it to the top 5 most-watched anime list of Netflix in 2024
Pascal J. Bonnet, the EMEA Director of Films/TV Sles and Licensing for Viz Media, recently uploaded a report on LinkedIn. The report consists of Netflix’s most watched anime TV series (by hours) for the second half of 2024. And to everyone’s surprise, Black Clover is on the fifth spot after Naruto, One Piece, Demon Slayer and Pokemon.
Thus, it is one of the most-watched anime globally, with a massive appeal to both Japanese and international audiences. It has 138 million hours watched and is tied with Hunter x Hunter. The #1 spot is claimed by Naruto with 330 million hours of watchtime.
Both Naruto and One Piece are the Big Three of the Shonen anime world, thus their spots as #1 and #2 are inevitable. Meanwhile, the hype surrounding Demon Slayer as well as its upcoming movies has pushed it to the third spot. But Black Clover is an underrated anime with only 170 episodes, making its engagement a surprise.
Additionally, the Black Clover anime has been on hiatus since 2021 with only a single movie released in 2023. When compared to its rivals, Black Clover‘s feat seems next to impossible.
Studio Pierrot made its biggest fumble with Black Clover
The achievement of Black Clover seems even more astonishing when one is faced with the fact that the anime is fraught with inconsistencies. Sure, the series has its own high points and some of the episodes have inconceivably good animation. But the same is not true for the entire series.
Studio Pierrot did not always give Black Clover the treatment it deserves. The series is filled with inconsistent animation, especially towards the beginning. Some scenes are low-quality and seem visibly rushed. The action sequences are wonky at best and characters often look whacky. From rough visuals, and jerky movements to disfigured characters, the Black Clover anime has suffered enough.
In the end, there is no telling when the hiatus of the series will end. It was left at a cliffhanger, and fans are frustrated because the anime was just entering its best arc. Had Studio Pierrot treated the series better or begun working on its fifth season, Black Clover might have conquered an even better spot for itself.
Black Clover anime is available to stream on Crunchyroll.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
