Since it was released in 2016, My Hero Academia has spawned manga, light novel spin-offs, and inspired films based on the franchise. Most of all, Kohei Horikoshi's story has inspired people around the globe to chase their dreams no matter how improbable they are. The tale of Izuku Midoriya is uplifting and fans are excited about where his journey toward heroism will lead.
Not only has My Hero Academia touched so many lives, but it has also broken a lot of new ground for anime storytelling. Often-used stereotypes are turned on their heads, and non-main characters are prominently featured to enhance the story. My Hero Academia has done many groundbreaking things for how anime stories are told thanks to its inventive writing and worldwide popularity.
10 Female Villains Have More Depth
Female anime villains have solidified their niches as being almost exclusively femme fatales who use their wiles to their advantage. While it is not always the case, it is often enough that many anime fans would be hard-pressed to think of ten female villains who are not romantically driven or overly sexualized.
My Hero Academia steers (mostly) clear from the female villain cliché to bring two compelling and nuanced female evildoers center stage. Himiko Toga is a vicious villain whose thirst for blood makes her a terrifying enemy. Although she still manipulates people by seducing them or teasing them about their love lives, there is more to her than simple seduction. Additionally, Lady Nagant is a one-of-a-kind character whose motivations run deeper than villainy. My Hero Academia proves that females can be just as complex as their male counterparts.
9 The Hero Isn't Special
Many fantasy shonen heroes are born with inherent powers. They have a spark of something special inside of them that makes them uniquely qualified to become the "chosen one" and save the world. This is not the case for My Hero Academia's Izuku Midoriya.
Midoriya was born without any superpowers or special talents. By all accounts, he is simply a small, meek young man with a big dream. He only gets his powers after he is spotted recklessly trying to save his classmate without any help. Yet, even then, he does not master it right away. Numerous shonen heroes have to hone their skills, but not quite to the degree that Midoriya has to.
8 Everyone Has Powers
My Hero Academia is unique for making most of the world's inhabitants have superpowers called Quirks. This means that those without Quirks are the outsiders, rather than the opposite circumstance that is found in a lot of shows. It is not only a refreshing change but also sets the stage for the Midoriya's entire story.
Not only is he bullied for not having a Quirk, but he is determined to become a Pro Hero without one. Fortunately, that turns out not to be the case for him, but it does put Hero Society into a whole new perspective for fans to contemplate and enjoy.
7 The Hero Doesn't Always Win
Izuku Midoriya is not like a lot of shonen protagonists. Although it has become less of an occurrence now, Midoriya has not always won every fight. He seems to fair pretty well against most of the villains now, but Midoriya has been known to lose to his classmates in tournaments and practices—especially when it comes to Katsuki Bakugo.
While most shonen would have the protagonist always at the top of the winner's circle, My Hero Academia makes a point of showing how much farther Midoriya has to go to be on par with his friends. He may be an incredibly adept fighter now, but Midoriya did not get there on pure talent alone.
6 The School Bully Isn't The Villain
A tried and true anime villain—especially in a high school anime—is the school bully. These characters are typically jealous of the main character for something petty and mercilessly antagonize the protagonist until the bully gets their comeuppance. However, that is not true of My Hero Academia.
Katsuki Bakugo begins the story ruthlessly terrorizing Midoriya for not having a Quirk. However, the more Izuku proves that he is a worthy competitor to be a Pro Hero, the more Bakugo begins to question his actions, as well as his own failings. This story is a rare anime where the bully has a lot of great development and even changes to become one of the protagonist's main defenders.
5 Villains Are Sympathetic
In a surprising take on villainy, many of the My Hero Academia enemies are given backstories and philosophies that are hard to completely dismiss. The things that make them great villains are that their ideas are not entirely unfounded or unpopular.
On the contrary, the fact that their goals and dreams are so relatable is the one thing that makes them all the more terrifying. There may be countless petty villains, but the significant ones make it hard for audiences to forget them, as the villains can seem completely rational and sympathetic at times
4 Comic Book Art Style
One of the most unique things about My Hero Academia is its art style. When it debuted, its Western comic book appearance set it apart from other shows. The stylized designs perfectly matched the superhero story it was telling.
Additionally, as the whole human race is born with superpowers, many characters have singular designs that cannot be found in other anime. Plus, each person's hero costume has a logical reason and a story to it, not just an aesthetic. Everything about the show's look and the characters' appearances were carefully created to set this "chosen one" story apart from the rest.
3 Heroes Aren't Always Moral
In countless superhero shows, the heroes are portrayed as beacons of morality. Almost everyone loves them or roots for them. Yet, My Hero Academia shows the darker side of being a Pro Hero. Endeavor is a shining example of having a relatively good outward public image with far too many skeletons in the closet.
Although Endeavor does a great job of keeping villains at bay, his home life is a mess. Additionally, Hawks comes under fire after Twice's murder. Though it is not the only show to portray troublesome heroes, it is one of the first to delve so deeply into the topic.
2 Lasting Injuries
With superhero shows, fans often have to suspend their disbelief when it comes to heroes' injuries. Especially in serialized anime, superheroes have to be fit enough to fight in each episode that follows. This means that seemingly devastating injuries are completely healed the next day. However, that is not always the case in My Hero Academia.
Unlike other stories before it, My Hero Academia puts its heroes through the wringer. Any injuries they sustain are lasting—unless Recovery Girl is nearby. In fact, an abdominal injury is what sets the events of the show in motion, as All Might is no longer fit to be the hero he once was. Though most of the heroes pull through and are eventually fine, there are some lasting consequences for injuries in the show.
1 Aging Heroes
A story element that My Hero Academia offers that a lot of superhero shows do not is what happens to heroes when they retire. All Might—formerly known as the greatest hero of all time and the Symbol of Peace—is seen coming to terms with his now copious amounts of free time.
Fans watch as All Might struggles with putting the satisfaction of saving people behind to focus on teaching the next generation. However, his mind is often clouded by what he believes are good intentions, when they are holding Midoriya and the others back. All Might's struggle to feel needed is a great storyline that is best displayed in this anime.