This anime series takes place in a quasi-medieval past where the orphaned twin teenage brothers Asta and Yuno live in the Clover Kingdom. Here, everyone can perform magic using personalized spell books known as Grimoires. Yuno is the more introverted of the pair and possesses a Grimoire with a rare four-leaf clover cover, while Asta is the more aggressive and physically powerful (but less magically talented) brother. The siblings each want to become the Wizard King and they engage in a friendly competitive process termed the Magic Knight exam, but their lowly social status earns scorn from the more affluent candidates. Yuno’s abilities, in particular, arouse jealousy from the nobles in his classes, who cannot fathom how a commoner can be so talented. They also encounter Noelle Silva—a daughter in a wealthy clan—who is eager to further her magic studies. The series feels like a mix of Harry Potter adventures with a slight touch of Tolkien and doses of sometimes heavy social commentary, although the characters are appealing. Presenting the first 12 episodes from the 2017 debut season in a dual-language Blu-ray/DVD Combo set, rated TV-14, extras include select episode commentaries, a cast and crew roundtable discussion, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and "Clover Clips" animated shorts. Recommended. [Note: Black Clover: Season 1, Part 2 is slated for release on Nov. 6.] (P. Hall)
Black Clover: Season 1, Part 1
(2017) 4 discs. 250 min. Blu-ray/DVD Combo: $54.98. Funimation (avail. from most distributors). Volume 33, Issue 6
Black Clover: Season 1, Part 1
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