Even people who have never seen the series know that Naruto is one of the greatest anime series of all time. As one of the Big Three (alongside Bleach and One 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, Naruto set the standard for shōnen anime. Naruto's amazing story-telling, gripping fights, and wonderful characters became what other series could only possibly hope to be.

Now that Naruto is over, it's time for the next wave of shōnen anime. Two of the biggest since Naruto has ended are My 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

Naruto will forever be one of the best anime series of all time. From Naruto to Naruto: 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, Naruto became a staple of shōnen. One ninja set the standard for every series that would follow it. Like Dragon Ball Z, Naruto is 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 success set pretty high expectations for every series that was set to come after. After well over 700 episodes, both Naruto and Naruto:Shippuden showed just how good action can be, and fans might have subconsciously compared future shōnen series to Naruto, for better or worse.

Black Clover Gets Called A Naruto Clone

The Comparisons Are There, But It Feels Like An Unfair Accusation

Black Clover has quickly become one of the best 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.

Asta eventually uses Anti-Magic, one of Black 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 Clover is 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 Academia does a lot of the same things that Black Clover does, but nobody calls it a Naruto clone. The story of My Hero Academia is a little more complicated than Black 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 of the strongest Quirks in My Hero Academia and works incredibly hard to make it his own. He's another loud, ionate, determined character not willing to give up on people, and he doesn't care whether they're his ally or his enemy.

The comparisons between Black Clover and My Hero Academia are 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 with Naruto as well. Since they both follow in the footsteps of one of the genre's greatest entries, why does Black Clover receive 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 a Naruto clone. That's like saying that all energy attacks are basically like Dragon Ball Z's, because the Kamehameha is the most famous attack in anime. It's a short-sighted, weak comparison that doesn't hold weight when looked at for even a second.

Both shows draw inspiration from Naruto, sure, but that's only because of how great Naruto was 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.

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 Clover shouldn't get the hate it receives. It's one of the most popular anime series on MyAnimeList.com for a reason: it's good. Black Clover has 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 Academia is at its peak in the anime, and it hasn't received any of the hate that Black Clover has for doing the exact same things.

It's good that My Hero Academia isn't getting any hate. It doesn't deserve to, and hopefully, people will soon see that Black Clover never deserved any hate in the first place.