So, you're wondering what happened to Black Clover, right? Did Asta finally become the Wizard King? Did Noelle finally confess her feelings? Well, hold your horses (or should we say, hold your grimoires?) because the anime slammed the brakes at episode 170.
The Great Clover Hiatus: Not a Villain's Plot!
Don't worry, a rogue wizard didn't steal the animators. It wasn't a conspiracy by the Diamond Kingdom, either! The simple truth is, Black Clover needed a little breathing room.
Think of it like this: Imagine you're writing a fanfic. You're so excited that you write, write, WRITE! Suddenly, you realize you're catching up to the original story faster than you can say "Anti-Magic." That's basically what happened to the Black Clover anime.
They were getting dangerously close to the manga. This meant they'd either have to start filling episodes with fluff (and nobody wants that, right?), or just stop for a bit.
From TV Screen to Silver Screen!
But here's the good news! The TV anime took a break so that Black Clover could prepare for a glorious return. And boy, did it return!
Instead of more TV episodes immediately, we got a movie: Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King. Talk about an upgrade! It was like Asta suddenly unlocking a brand-new form!
The movie, released in 2023, covered new material, but didn't continue the main arc from episode 170 directly. This means the animators had a chance to catch their breath and the manga could get further ahead.
The Catch-Up Game: Manga vs. Anime
The relationship between a manga and its anime adaptation is a delicate dance. Think of the manga as the lead dancer setting the pace.
The anime has to follow, but not *too* closely, or they'll step on the manga's toes. It’s like chasing a carrot on a stick, but the carrot is a weekly manga chapter.
Stopping the anime at 170 let the manga get a comfortable lead. This means when the anime *does* come back (and it's heavily hinted that it will!), it can adapt the story with more faithfulness and less… shall we say… creative liberties?
What Now? Patience, Young Magic Knight!
So, what can you do while you wait for the Black Clover anime to return? Well, you could finally learn how to make Mimosa's healing potions (don't actually do that).
You could rewatch the entire series from the beginning and appreciate just how far Asta has come. Or, you could dive headfirst into the manga and see what adventures await.
And most importantly, remember the lessons Black Clover taught us. Never give up, believe in your friends, and never underestimate the power of a good scream! (Asta would be proud.)
A New Series!
Recently, the announcement came. Black Clover will be getting a new anime series. The original is available to stream on Crunchyroll and Hulu.
It will be produced by Sunrise, the studio that made Gundam, and is scheduled to be released on Japanese television in April 2025.
This is a complete surprise to fans, because it will not be a direct sequel, but instead a series of original stories.
