The entire Black Clover fandom gave in to a state of melancholy as the anime aired its last episode in 2021, with the plot nowhere near the finale.
Several reasons behind the cancellation have come up in the past year, from lack of source material to disagreements between the creator and staff. All the while, fans were left in the dark about the series’ future. That is until the 2023 Black Clover anime film was announced.
Several questions like “Will the film serve as the finale?”, “Will it further the plot?” came up, with none the wiser to answer them. The movie was released on Netflix on June 16, and we finally have the answers to all your queries.
When Does Black Clover Movie Take Place? Is It a Continuation?
Netflix has clarified that the 2023 Black Clover movie, Sword of the Wizard King, takes place after season 4 of the anime. It’s best to watch the film after completing all 170 episodes of Black Clover.
The Black Clover movie is not a continuation of the anime’s plot since it adapts a new adventure altogether. The series’ next installments might not incorporate elements from the film either. Thus, the movie is a standalone one that can be treated as an original movie, with both old and new characters.
Is the Black Clover Movie Canon?
No, the Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King movie is not canon to the manga. It has an original story that was never included in the manga and acts as a standalone installment.
Yuki Tabata, the creator of the franchise, is responsible for the original work and character design, but that does not make the movie canon, as it strays from the actual plot. The story might fit into the manga timeline, but its occurrence will not affect the series in the future.
To make it easier for you to understand, think of filler episodes in series like Boruto, where the original plot fits into the timeline but was never there in the manga.
Which Chapters Does the Black Clover Movie Adapt?
The 2023 Black Clover movie does not adapt any chapters from the manga. Instead, it has an original plot and acts as a standalone installment to the franchise.
Episode 170 of Black Clover adapted chapter 270 from the manga. It showed Asta befriending Liebe. Some of the leaks from the movie show Asta in devil union mode with Liebe, so their progression has been carried forward into the film.
This, in turn, confirms that the best time to watch the movie is right after completing all the Black Clover anime episodes and OVAs.
When will Black Clover Anime End/Return?
Now that the Black Clover movie has debuted on Netflix, fans are once again eager to know when the anime will resume. However, there is no confirmation regarding the anime’s continuation.
The main reason behind the cancellation of the anime was the lack of source material. The anime had almost caught up to the manga; thus, an urgent break was needed. Rumors regarding disagreements between Tabata and the anime staff regarding fillers were also rampant.
Back when the anime aired episode 170, the manga was ahead by only 18 chapters. The series wasn’t canceled due to poor ratings but was pushed off. If the Black Clover anime and manga had continued side by side, manga sales would have suffered a devastating blow.
In such a situation, the latest movie was the best move to increase sales and satisfy the audience.
Season 5 of Black Clover has not been announced yet, but it is bound to happen at some point or another. Currently, the manga has received 90+ chapters, and there is enough material for another season, so it’s simply a game of patience.
So don’t lose hope and watch the latest movie for the time being. You can catch the Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King movie exclusively on Netflix.
Tell us how your experience with the film was. Was it an excellent addition? Or would you rather receive the anime’s continuation?
