Review of Black Clover

Black Clover, by any objective measure, is not a perfect anime. The animation can be shoddy, it suffers from a slow start, and other anime have better stories. That said, for the right type of person, Black Clover can be absolutely perfect. It was for me, which is why I rank Black Clover a solid 10 out of 10. Let's get the common criticisms out of the way first. Yes, the animation in Black Clover can be less than stellar at times. You can immediately point out which episodes were poorly animated. Thus, if you're the type of person who requires that their anime beat top quality animation at all points during its story, you may be disappointed. In my mind, however, Black Clover makes up for this at its big moments. The big fights are animated fantastically, to the degree that you often can't believe you're watching the same anime. It's not at Demon Slayer Entertainment District Arc level, but when it's good, it's good.

Another common criticism is that Black Clover can be "generic." Some people see this as a criticism, but I see it as a strength. Black Clover does not try to be something that it is not. It KNOWS that it is a shonen anime, and uses shonen tropes perfectly. In other words, its generic-ness is its strength. Black Clover is able to draw on all the interesting aspects of the shonen genre while presenting an interesting story. It plays on shonen tropes by having its characters be self-aware of their status as heroes. And because Black Clover isn't trying to be anything more than a shonen, it's able to be exactly what it sets out to be.

Now let's get to the good stuff. Black Clover far surpasses other animes when it comes to character interactions and development. Over the course of the anime, you really come to feel like you *know* the characters. They are all distinct and have interesting personalities, and they have relationships with each other that all stem from their own uniqueness. At times, Black Clover can feel like your favorite slice of life or sitcom. You gain enjoyment just by watching the characters be themselves. You begin to love the little inside jokes that some characters have with each other, and you genuinely feel the team camaraderie between the Magic Knights and, especially, the Black Bulls.

Many people look over this aspect of Black Clover, but it's what makes the anime so great. Because of the excellent characters, even filler episodes feel valuable. You get to spend time watching your favorite characters deepen their bonds with one another, and because of this, the big moments in the show feel bigger. You feel more excited when Asta accomplishes something because you know what he's gone through to get where he is. You understand his struggle, and sympathize with him. You *want* him to succeed.

Black Clover ignites the same fire in me that watching Dragon Ball as a child did. It's insanely hype: the emotional moments land, and the fights have you sitting at the edge of your chair. The show is simultaneously funny, charming, heartbreaking, and exciting. If that sounds like something you'd be interested in, watch Black Clover. I guarantee you'll enjoy it.