Why Black Clover Season 5 Can’t Match Jujutsu Kaisen’s Popularity: The Impact of Asta

With the anticipated release of Black Clover season 5, the anime is poised to challenge the dominance of Jujutsu Kaisen. While there are several factors that could support this claim, the sequel may struggle due to its narrative which predominantly revolves around Asta. In contrast, Jujutsu Kaisen has successfully developed its characters, granting them substantial depth and screen time, which has contributed to its acclaim.

Additionally, the MAPPA-produced series has excelled in detailing its power scaling, offering a more comprehensive understanding compared to the approach taken by Studio Pierrot in Black Clover.

Disclaimer: The viewpoints presented in this article are solely those of the author.

Will Black Clover Season 5 Ever Match Up to Jujutsu Kaisen?

The main protagonist trio in the anime (Image via MAPPA) — The main protagonist trio in the series (Image via MAPPA)

Jujutsu Kaisen, which is adapted from the manga created by Gege Akutami, has aired two seasons animated by Studio MAPPA. Meanwhile, Black Clover, based on Yuki Tabata’s manga, has completed four seasons under Studio Pierrot but has yet to see a renewal for its fifth season, despite the fourth installment concluding almost five years ago.

Fans of Black Clover remain hopeful for its revival, aspiring for it to achieve a level of recognition similar to that of Jujutsu Kaisen. While Studio Pierrot has the potential to rise to the top, it faces challenges due to the narrative being primarily focused on Asta, the main character’s development.

Conversely, Jujutsu Kaisen not only showcases its lead but also invests in the development of secondary characters, enriching the overall story.

Asta from the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot) — Asta in the series (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Black Clover revolves around Asta, a young boy with no magical abilities, determined to rise through the ranks to become the Wizard King. In contrast, Jujutsu Kaisen follows Itadori Yuji as he navigates cursed energy while honoring his grandfather’s last wishes by aiding others.

While Black Clover’s storyline remains consistent, Jujutsu Kaisen highlights various characters and delves into their backstories, sometimes independent of the protagonist’s journey. From Megumi and Nobara’s intricate lives to Gojo’s burdens as the mightiest sorcerer and Mahito’s cruel intentions, the MAPPA series presents a rich tapestry of narratives.

The Dark Triad in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot) — The Dark Triad in Black Clover (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Black Clover’s upcoming season will culminate the Spade Kingdom Raid Arc, featuring an alliance between the Clover and Heart Kingdom Magic Knights as they confront the Dark Triad, the primary antagonists. Although this arc appears to spotlight the villains, the central narrative will still focus on Asta’s mastery of his anti-magic abilities and his bond with the devil, Liebe.

This emphasis on Asta’s journey may explain why the renewal of Black Clover season 5 might not reach the heights achieved by the MAPPA series.

Concluding Thoughts

Beyond Asta, Black Clover has managed to shine a light on Yuno, but this does little to alter the fact that numerous supporting characters remain largely overlooked throughout the series.

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