Even people who have never seen the series know thatNarutois one of the greatest anime series of all time. As one of the Big Three (alongsideBleachandOne Piece),it’s no wonder that a lot of other series draw inspiration from such a top-tier series. Whether it wanted to or not,Narutoset the standard for shōnen anime.Naruto’samazing story-telling, gripping fights, and wonderful characters became what other series could only possibly hope to be.
Now thatNarutois over, it’s time for the next wave of shōnen anime. Two of the biggest sinceNarutohas ended areBlack CloverandMy Hero Academia.The three series have a lot in common with each other, but that shouldn’t come as a surprise because they each occupy the same space in anime. They all want to be spectacular series based on action, but somehow,one of the series doesn’t get the same respect as the other two.
Naruto Set The Standard For A Lot Of Shōnen Anime
As One Of The Greatest Anime Of All Time, It’s Easy To See Why
Narutowill forever be one of thebest anime series of all time. FromNarutotoNaruto: Shippuden,the franchise never dropped off in quality. Following Naruto from his days as a village outcast to the strongest ninja in it is one of the best journeys any anime fan can go on.
Without even trying,Narutobecame a staple of shōnen.One ninja set the standard for every series that would follow it. LikeDragon Ball Z, Narutois so much bigger than anyone would have ever guessed. It will be one of the first series that comes to mind when anyone thinks about the shōnen genre.
Naruto’s Best Villain Was Never Really Evil, And That’s Why They’re the Greatest
There are plenty of great villains in Naruto, but none stand above this one, which is ironic because he was never evil in the first place.
Naruto’ssuccess set pretty high expectations for every series that was set to come after. After well over 700 episodes, bothNarutoandNaruto:Shippudenshowed just how good action can be, and fans might have subconsciously compared future shōnen series toNaruto,for better or worse.
Black Clover Gets Called A Naruto Clone
The Comparisons Are There, But It Feels Like An Unfair Accusation
Black Cloverhas quickly become one of thebest shōnen anime, especially for people who are just getting into the genre. The story is straightforward, the characters are diverse in their personalities and lovable through their quirks, and the fights stand among some of the best in the art farm.
The story centers around Asta, a magic-less person in a world that values magic above everything. Just because he can’t use magic doesn’t mean that he’s useless, however, as his lack of magical ability actually becomes a strong suit later in the series.
Despite Its Hiatus, Black Clover Still Reigns as One of Netflix’s Biggest Anime
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Asta eventually uses Anti-Magic, one ofthe strongest magic types inBlack Clover.He goes from being one of the weakest characters in the series through hard work, determination, and help from a few people who see his potential and appreciate him for who he is.
These aspects of Asta draw a few obvious comparisons to Naruto. They both go from outcasts to heroes, always find room for forgiveness, and forge truly deep bonds. Still, because of these comparisons,Black Cloveris often referred to as a “Naruto Clone”.It’s a frustrating and unfair comparison for a series that does its own thing.
My Hero Academia Does The Same Things Black Clover Does
If Black Clover Is Getting Called A Clone, My Hero Academia Should Too
My Hero Academiadoes a lot of the same things thatBlack Cloverdoes, but nobody calls it aNarutoclone. The story ofMy Hero Academiais a little more complicated thanBlack Clover,but it’s just as good. It’s set around Izuku Midoriya, a Quirk-less character in a world that values Quirks above everything else.
Like Asta, Midoriya then gets one ofthe strongest Quirks inMy Hero Academiaand works incredibly hard to make it his own. He’s another loud, passionate, determined character not willing to give up on people, and he doesn’t care whether they’re his ally or his enemy.
The comparisons betweenBlack CloverandMy Hero Academiaare more than obvious, and they don’t just stop with their main characters. Both series share a ton in common and have a few similarities withNarutoas well. Since they both follow in the footsteps of one of the genre’s greatest entries, why doesBlack Cloverreceive all the hatred?
Neither Series Should Be Called A Naruto Clone
While They Take Inspiration From Naruto, It’s Hard Not To
Neither series deserves to be called aNarutoclone. That’s like saying that all energy attacks are basically likeDragon Ball Z’s,because the Kamehameha is the most famous attack in anime.It’s a short-sighted, weak comparison that doesn’t hold weightwhen looked at for even a second.
Both shows draw inspiration fromNaruto,sure, but that’s only because of how greatNarutowas in the first place. When a painter sees an incredible work of art, he’s inspired to create something as well. That doesn’t make him a copycat or a clone, but someone with a mutual love for the medium at hand.
My Hero Academia’s Critics Have Called It Predictable, But The 10 Most Shocking Plot Twists Prove Otherwise
My Hero Academia is filled with shocking moments that fans never could have anticipated, and these are ten of the most surprising.
The comparisons between the three series don’t make any one series worse. Each series does its own thing: one revolves around ninjas, the other around Magic Knights, and the third around superheroes. They’re all set in their own worlds with their own problems, and that’s what makes them all great.
Black Clover Shouldn’t Get The Hate It Gets
If Black Clover Is A Naruto Clone, Why Isn’t My Hero Academia?
Black Clovershouldn’t get the hate it receives. It’s one ofthe most popular anime serieson MyAnimeList.com for a reason: it’s good.Black Cloverhas amassed a huge group of fans who can’t wait for its return, and Asta is a big reason why.
Sure, he’s loud, hard-headed, and a bit too eager to forgive his enemies, but so is Goku. Goku has let the enemy slip through his fingers on purpose more times than anyone can count, and if it weren’t for Vegeta, Whis, and the Dragon Balls, his friends and family would be dead.
Every hero has their own flaws, which is why it isn’t fair to just consider Asta a Naruto clone just because their flaws are similar.My Hero Academiais at its peak in the anime, and it hasn’t received any of the hate thatBlack Cloverhas for doing the exact same things.
It’s good thatMy Hero Academiaisn’t getting any hate. It doesn’t deserve to, and hopefully,people will soon see thatBlack Clovernever deserved any hate in the first place.
