Black Clover serves as a prime example that the "three-episode rule" is situational. In 2017, Pierrot started to adapt Yki Tabata's shonen manga, but the anime initially garnered a lot of criticism. Asta's voice acting and the story's pacing were the biggest sticking points, and they played a part in turning Black Clover into something of a joke. However, the show pressed on and, eventually, found its footing, transforming into one of the best modern battle shonen anime. This turn of events probably did not surprise anyone familiar with the highly-regarded source material, and Tabata's manga is still going strong almost a decade following its debut. Black Clover's Black Bulls are nowadays nearly as iconic as the Straw Hats or Team 7.