One of the comparisons that Black Clover definitely obtained a lot of influence from Naruto, it's often left out how Black Clover evolved many of the systems in ways that would become hallmarks of modern shōnen.

Black Clover is an innovative series in its own right, with many beloved fans eagerly awaiting its fifth season. Following the story of Asta and Yuno, orphan brothers from a run-down village intending to become Wizard King, Black Clover places Asta at the center of a long tale of growth, perseverance, and camaraderie.

It's not just Naruto that it borrows from either. It openly broadcasts shōnen adoration, and it has no issues building on shōnen tropes. Black Clover tweaks these tropes in a way that is fundamentally interesting and influential all on its own.

Black Clover Never Copied Naruto (And It's Wrong To Say It Did)

Fans Misunderstand The Importance Of Seemingly Minor Changes

Asta is often the first point of comparison between the two series, sharing a surface-level similarity with Naruto. Both are rambunctious and feisty orphan protagonists with an indomitable will and, in the anime adaptations, even similar voices. Both also seal a certain kind of power and have aspirations of being recognized in their societies. This is more or less where the similarities stop, and even if one digs into them, they're also not worth much.

To start with, if defiance, a singular aptitude, a major aspiration one has to prove oneself to obtain, and constant exposure to trials in the way of becoming the greatest is what makes a character a Naruto clone, then most of the lead characters in written history could be Naruto clones. Walter White or Odysseus could even be considered a Naruto clone. That's absurd for obvious reasons, but viewers don't always apply the same kind of discrimination to Asta and Naruto since they're both battle shōnen clearly in dialogue with one another.

The same would apply to other parts of Black Clover. If the Magic Knights are like the Shinobi because they protect a region and have some sort of procedure before being allowed to work under them, then the armies on either side of the demilitarized zone dividing South Korea and North Korea are, in fact, two armies of Shinobi clones in a cold standoff. The list could go on. This approach oversimplifies the very important distinctions between the series, and the ways that Black Clover has always been proud of its influences - and proud to add something to them.

From the very first episode, Black Clover sets itself apart from Naruto. The village of Hage is a great example, and it provides a stark contrast to Naruto's Konoha. Early on, Hage is shown to be a village that is run-down, poor, and largely forgotten by the leaders of the Clover Kingdom in the Capitol.

Where Naruto's childhood was based on individual poverty that is largely unmentioned by everybody else (he's disliked because he's an ajinchuriki, not because he's poor), the structural poverty that pervades the Clover Kingdom is essential to both Asta and Yuno's desire to becoming Wizard King. While Naruto initially wants to become Hokage for recognition, Asta and Yuno want to be Wizard King in order to give back to the underserved village that raised them. In this sense, Black Clover takes Naruto's premise but fixes its crucial mistake with worldbuilding.

Class, lineage, and aptitude are major driving forces in Black Clover, unlike Naruto. Naruto depicts a world where the majority of conflicts are between Hidden Villages and countries, or with rogue groups like Akatsuki who want to challenge the Kage system entirely. Black Clover flips this on its head. While it somewhat simplifies the overarching antagonistic forces, it goes into much more detail on strife within the Clover Kingdom and its socio-political order.

Black Clover Is One Of The First "Modern Shonen" Thanks To Naruto's Influence

Many Changes In Black Clover Would Be Followed By Today's Anime

When it comes to identifying many of the features that might define modern shōnen, analyzing the relationship between Black Clover and Naruto provides a great starting point. The aforementioned difference in world-building somewhat foreshadows the tendency toward darker themes and greater worldly realism with the advent of series like Attack On Titan. It also depicts how conflicts become more about broad forces of good and evil (for Attack On Titan, first humans vs. Titans, then Eldians vs. Marleyans) which are used as a backdrop to show the cruelty of the world itself.

This is further exemplified in Asta's anti-magic mechanic. Anti-magic allows for the compelling premise that Asta, far from Naruto's immense chakra bed, doesn't have the same magical ability as most in the Clover Kingdom - the justification for his own mistreatment and determination. In general, with Naruto and other series like JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Hunter x Hunter (for the most part), Dragon Ball, and more, antagonists and malevolent forces typically pull from the same kind of energy as the "good guys."

By contrast, "modern shonen" tend to show more intricacy. Asta's anti-magic foils the magical system in Black Clover. Demon Slayer's Nezuko is a demon who has to demonstrate her benevolence. Jujutsu Kaisen's Yuji lacks an innate technique, and his power is largely superhuman strength and martial arts prowess, especially early on. Any ability to manipulate cursed energy comes from Sukuna, a distinctly evil force. Many of today's shōnen show good energy against bad energy, or like in Jujutsu Kaisen, they complicate the fact that powers are based on the same type of energy for heroes and villains alike.

This change is also what makes Naruto's buff from Kurama so different from Asta's demon powers. Speaking of which, Black Clover was also one of the first to have a character be threatened with execution specifically because they embody a risky, evil power. Asta, Nezuko, and Yuji are all examples again, as is Gabimaru from Hell's Paradise. All the aforementioned series both build out the hatred of Naruto for being Kurama's seal while dramatically raising the stakes.

There's also been a tendency to portray more convoluted rivalries, when they're there at all. Whether it's Naruto and Sasuke, Gon and Killua, or Goku and Vegeta, rivalries tend to start out clearly defined by characters with opposing ideals. By contrast, Asta and Yuno start out as the best of friends, and one of the most emotional parts of the show is watching as they grow apart. As the dynamic changes, it also becomes less prominent. All of Shippuden is based around Naruto and Sasuke, but for a big part of Black Clover, it's easy to forget that Yuno exists.

In other words, where rivalries used to be the default, they're now becoming less frequent, less defined, and more complex where they are found. Demon Slayer has no real rivalry to speak of; Jujutsu Kaisen's Yuji and Megumi have a interesting relationship that's hardly even a rivalry to begin with. In fact, Jujutsu Kaisen even flips the rivalry dynamic, as Mahito declares Yuji a rival because of his possession of Sukuna, and Sukuna himself is more of a rival to Yuji than anybody else.

These are only a handful of ways that Black Clover was an early herald of so many shifts that would fill modern shōnen. Not every contemporary shōnen is going to implement these elements. Rivalries are crucial to Haikyu!!. This also goes in reverse: many older shōnen might anticipate the ideas that make modern shōnen what it is, like the realism, dark draw, and mechanical subversions in Hunter x Hunter's Chimera Ant arc. The inclusion of these elements does not make a series inherently better or worse, but it does reflect what today's anime fans clearly want to see.

To sum up, Black Clover improved on many aspects of Naruto so that those aspects would better meet the demands and expectations of shōnen today. From subverting unified power systems like chakra to developing a darker and more lifelike world, Black Clover anticipated many of the changes that would define what are considered today's best anime. It's developments like these that definitively make Black Clover an underappreciated shōnen - and which make it unfair to call it a copycat.