‘It’s a Shame’: One Piece Director Says Underrated Anime Deserves ‘The Demon Slayer Treatment’

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An anime director is championing a lesser-known action series that originally aired in the late 2010s. Henry Thurlow, a well-respected animator and the first American director on the popular anime One Piece at Toei Animation, feels this show deserves the same high-quality animation and production values as Demon Slayer.

Eric Thurlow, a veteran of anime like Naruto, Attack on Titan, and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, recently shared his opinion on the 2017 Shonen Jump anime Black Clover. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he admitted his views might be unpopular, but expressed disappointment with how Black Clover was handled compared to Demon Slayer. He believes Black Clover‘s storyline is actually more compelling than Demon Slayer‘s and deserves greater support. Thurlow began watching Black Clover in mid-October, both out of curiosity and to get acquainted with the series for potential future work.

One Piece Director Defends Black Clover Anime, Says It Deserves Demon Slayer-Level Production

When Thurlow complimented Black Clover, he wasn’t trying to criticize Demon Slayer. However, some Demon Slayer fans might interpret it that way, as a frequent point of discussion is its simple storyline. Even industry professionals like Kazuhiko Torishima, a famous editor of Shonen Jump and Dragon Ball, have voiced similar opinions. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Torishima explained that the Demon Slayer manga had potential, but the anime adaptation was what truly made it exceptional, comparing the manga to unroasted coffee beans and the anime to the finished brew.

Thurlow’s comments aren’t really about how amazing Demon Slayer‘s animation is; they’re more of a critique of the inconsistent animation quality in the first season of Black Clover. Black Clover Season 1, which ran almost continuously for 170 episodes from October 2017 to March 2021, often had animation that was simply forgettable rather than impressive.

Recent news shows that the traditional weekly release schedule for anime like Black Clover and Dragon Ball is becoming unsustainable. Creating animation that looks like a movie requires more time, and it’s difficult to achieve with a fast production pace. As series like Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen have demonstrated, high-quality animation is crucial for long-term success and staying relevant globally. If a series can’t maintain that quality, it risks fading into obscurity, as has happened with others.

If Black Clover looked as polished as Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, it could be as popular as other hit Shonen Jump series like Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, or Dandadan. However, fans have been waiting over four years for new episodes, and the move from Weekly Shonen Jump to Jump GIGA (due to the author needing to focus on their health, not because of poor performance) makes it seem like the series is facing bigger problems than it really is.

While Black Clover isn’t usually considered one of the most popular shows in Shonen Jump, it has a loyal and eager fanbase. After nearly five years, new episodes of the anime are now being made, and a short trailer and preview image were shown at Anime Expo 2025. An official release date hasn’t been announced yet.

The story begins with Asta and Yuno, two boys left at a church as babies, in a world where magic reigns supreme. Yuno is naturally gifted with incredible magical power, but Asta is unique – he was born without any magic at all. On their fifteenth birthday, both boys receive a grimoire, a magical book that boosts their powers. Asta’s grimoire is special – it allows him to cancel out and deflect other people’s magic. Though they’re opposites, Asta and Yuno are friendly rivals, determined to achieve the same goal: to become the Wizard King, and they refuse to give up!

You can watch Black Clover on Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Hulu or Disney+. The series is also getting close to its conclusion.

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2025-10-28 23:40