Summary
A beautifully animated and well-written extension of the original television series and manga of the same name.
Here is our review of the 2023 Netflix anime film Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King, which does not contain spoilers.
Netflix has done wonders with the anime section on its streaming service. Black Clover is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yuki Tabata.
It premiered in 2017 and ran until 2021. The anime had 170 episodes, and funnily enough, the series ended in the middle of an important story arc. As of now, no one has commented about returning the series for one more season to close off the arc, which would benefit the long-running series.
Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King is a movie that Netflix wanted to bring to their platform to appease the fans. The animation is gorgeous, and it follows suit of the stories within the manga and television series. It makes sense for Netflix to take on an anime that made an impact and has a fanbase to drive more people to watch it.
Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King Review and Plot Summary
Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King has a world where magic is everything. Asta is a boy who was born with no magic. He aims to become the “Wizard King”,” which is a pretty big feat if he doesn’t have any magic. He wants to overcome adversity, prove his power, and keep his oath to his friends.
Like any other hero’s journey, Asta ventures out of the Clover Kingdom and plans to battle Yuno, his long-time foe. On this journey, he faces obstacles, which almost play out like demons from his past life. In this very Charles Dickens-esque story, Asta faces the ghosts of his past in the form of Conrad Leto, a former Wizard King.
With him, Leto brings the most feared Wizard Kings. By doing this, the former Wizard Kings prepare Asta for his journey ahead and what would become of him if he took on the mantle.
The more Asta learns about the Wizard Kings and what they have done in their past, the more he understands what the role entails. He is conflicted about what he wants for his kingdom and what has been done in the past. He doesn’t understand why former kings governed the way they did and became destroyers of the realm. Asta is a strong lead character, as audiences can connect with his struggles and what he wants to do for his kingdom.
Now as Asta is dealing with all of this, Conrad Leto has become quite powerful. He is an advanced wizard who is wise beyond Asta’s grade. He is a compelling villain and counters Asta nicely in this film.
Is Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King good or bad?
The film does feel generic at times, but it’s the animation that stands out above the rest. It is good if you are a fan of the television series and the manga.
It does it justice while crafting a fairly interesting good versus evil storyline with morally grey ideologies that float about.
Is Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King worth watching?
If you’ve been a fan of the anime series, then this film is a treat. The animation continues to stun and get better over time, and that’s exactly what happens here.
Netflix did a great job with the story, visually showing the characters at their peak power.
What did you think of the 2023 Netflix anime film Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King? Comment below.
