My Hero Academia

My Hero Academia

Company type	Manga series
Industry	Entertainment, Publishing
Founded	July 2014 (2014-07)
Founder	Kōhei Horikoshi
Headquarters	Japan
Products	Manga volumes, anime series, spin-off manga, light novels, theatrical productions, merchandise, video games, animated films, OVAs

My Hero Academia is a Japanese manga created by Kōhei Horikoshi, which was serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump from July 2014 until August 2024, collected into 42 volumes. The narrative is set in a society where superhuman abilities known as "Quirks" are widespread. It centers on Izuku Midoriya, who is born without a Quirk but dreams of becoming a superhero. He inherits the Quirk of the leading hero All Might and gains admission to an elite high school dedicated to training heroes.

The franchise extends beyond the main series, including spin-off manga such as My Hero Academia: Smash!!, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, and My Hero Academia: Team-Up Missions. Additionally, it encompasses light novels, theatrical productions, merchandise, and video games. The anime adaptation produced by Bones debuted in April 2016 and has released seven seasons as of October 2024, with an eighth and final season planned for October 2025. The series also boasts four feature-length animated films—My Hero Academia: Two Heroes, My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising, My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission, and My Hero Academia: You're Next—alongside ten original video animations (OVAs). A live-action adaptation is currently being developed by Legendary Entertainment.

From a commercial standpoint, My Hero Academia has achieved significant success, frequently appearing on the best-seller lists of The New York Times. By April 2024, the combined circulation of the main series and its spin-offs surpassed 100 million copies, placing it among the top-selling manga franchises ever. Critics have lauded its artwork, character development, narrative depth, dynamic action sequences, and its incorporation of Western superhero comic elements. The anime has received acclaim for its high-quality animation, musical score, pacing, action choreography, and voice performances in both Japanese and English versions. The manga has garnered accolades such as the Sugoi Japan Award and the Harvey Award for Best Manga and is recognized as one of the most influential series of the 2010s; the anime has earned comparable honors.

Setting

The story of My Hero Academia unfolds in a world where approximately 80% of people possess superpowers called , which differ widely and can be passed down genetically. Among these powered individuals, some choose to become Heroes, working alongside law enforcement to protect civilians and capture criminals who misuse their Quirks—referred to as Villains. Leading Heroes achieve celebrity status and are ranked based on popularity, although newcomers can rapidly ascend through the ranks.

In earlier times, those who operated without official authorization were known as . Due to regulations enforced by the , students who engaged in vigilante activities are barred from becoming licensed heroes. Although vigilantism is illegal, it occupies a morally gray area within society. The Commission previously employed vigilantes for undercover missions but has since shifted its recruitment efforts toward officially sanctioned Pro Heroes. Unlike Pro Heroes who have corporate backing and wear distinct costumes, vigilantes lack such support and typically wear everyday clothing.

There are two primary internship pathways toward becoming Pro Heroes: Hero Agency Internships involve students accompanying Pro Heroes without legal recognition; meanwhile, Hero Work-Study programs become available once students pass the Provisional Hero License Exam. Those participating in Work-Study serve as licensed assistants during emergencies, gaining practical experience and increasing their chances of securing full-time hero positions.

Plot

Izuku "Deku" Midoriya aspires to become a Hero despite being born without a Quirk and enduring harassment from his childhood companion Katsuki "Kacchan" Bakugo. After risking himself to rescue Bakugo from a villain, Midoriya is selected by his hero All Might to inherit the Quirk known as "One For All," which accumulates power to be passed down. All Might, weakened by his rival All For One, entrusts Midoriya with this formidable ability. Subsequently, Midoriya enrolls at U.A. High School, joining Class 1-A alongside Bakugo and Ochaco Uraraka. Their class soon confronts threats from the League of Villains, led by Tomura Shigaraki, the protégé of All For One.

Together with Shoto Todoroki and Tenya Ida, Midoriya defeats the villain Stain, whose radical beliefs inspire new recruits like Dabi, Himiko Toga, and Twice to join the League. When Bakugo is abducted by the villains, All Might spearheads a rescue operation. During this conflict, All For One reveals himself but is ultimately subdued and incarcerated; All Might retires after expending the last of One For All's energy.

Midoriya then apprentices under Sir Nighteye, All Might’s former sidekick. Following Nighteye’s death during a strike against the Shie Hassaikai yakuza faction, Midoriya trains under Endeavor—Shoto Todoroki’s father and Japan’s new leading hero. Throughout this period, Midoriya unlocks the Quirks of previous One For All bearers.

The League of Villains merges with the Meta Liberation Army to establish the Paranormal Liberation Front. As heroes train to counter this threat, Twice is killed by Hawks, though most villains evade capture. Shigaraki inherits All For One’s Quirk during these events. Public confidence in heroes wanes when Dabi exposes himself as Endeavor’s abused son amidst widespread devastation. The mass breakout of thousands of villains plunges Japan into turmoil. In response, Midoriya departs U.A. to pursue All For One but risks severe physical harm; his classmates intervene while U.A. transforms into a refuge amid civil unrest.

Classmate Yuga Aoyama reveals himself as an infiltrator for All For One but cleverly uses this position to dismantle the Paranormal Liberation Front by scattering its members nationwide. The remaining villains are defeated; Toga sacrifices herself to save Uraraka after reciprocating her compassion, while the Todoroki family subdues Dabi before his final assault. During a confrontation involving heroes including armored All Might, Bakugo kills All For One after delaying tactics. Shigaraki escapes control, prompting Midoriya to transfer One For All to him in order to weaken him internally. Although All For One briefly regains influence over Shigaraki, reinforcements arrive to defeat him decisively before Midoriya delivers the final blow.

Eight years later, Midoriya has lost access to One For All’s power and serves as an instructor at U.A., while his former classmates continue their careers as professional heroes. Supported by his peers, he receives a powered suit from All Might and resumes active hero duties alongside teaching responsibilities. Midoriya begins a romantic relationship with Uraraka and attains the rank of Number Four among heroes.

Development

Following the cancellation of his earlier series Barrage after two volumes, writer Kōhei Horikoshi revisited a one-shot he had published in Akamaru Jump called , which ultimately served as the foundation for My Hero Academia. Horikoshi drew creative influence from American cinema and comic franchises including Spider-Man, Star Wars, and X-Men. He acknowledges Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto as a significant inspiration, especially regarding his approach to illustrating hands. Additional influences cited by Horikoshi encompass Dragon Ball, Ultraman, Kamen Rider, as well as kaiju series such as Gamera and Godzilla, which he has mentioned in various interviews.

Hitoshi Koike, the editor overseeing My Hero Academia, remarked that while Horikoshi possessed a broad story concept early on, he discarded numerous ideas throughout the development phase. The creation of the initial three chapters took longer than usual for a new serialization, with Koike collaborating closely with Horikoshi on character designs while finalizing storyboards. Despite some uncertainty about character roles, Koike remained enthusiastic about the cast.

Kengo Monji, who joined as a second editor, noted that Horikoshi initially faced challenges in chapter writing but eventually succeeded in merging traditional Japanese manga aesthetics with the "heroes" theme, thereby attracting a wide readership. Monji also commended Horikoshi’s unique cartoon-like artistic style.

Conclusion

Horikoshi originally envisioned My Hero Academia as a shorter work compared to One Piece, aiming for a succinct manga series. By April 2021, he admitted that the story had grown beyond his initial expectations but was still progressing toward his planned conclusion. At Jump Festa '22 in December 2021, he indicated that if development proceeded smoothly, the manga might finish within a year, while hinting at major plot developments involving Katsuki Bakugo. Upon the release of volume 34, Horikoshi shared that although he had a clear endpoint in mind, adapting to changes became increasingly difficult as the narrative approached its finale.

In October 2022, Horikoshi adjusted his schedule, acknowledging that the final arc would require more time than previously anticipated. Nevertheless, by December 2022 he reaffirmed that the series’ ending was "very close." At Jump Festa 2023, he reiterated this sentiment but mentioned there were still many story elements to explore beyond current battles, jokingly proposing a "Dogeza Festival" if the manga extended past that event.

In June 2024, Shueisha announced via Weekly Shōnen Jump that chapter 424 marked the beginning of the manga’s "epilogue." Horikoshi explained that unlike conventional endings focused solely on defeating villains, this phase would revisit themes related to the title and further develop the story. Later that month, it was confirmed that after a decade-long run, the series would conclude on August 5, 2024. Horikoshi expressed deep appreciation to fans for their support throughout the journey of bringing Deku and other characters to life over ten years.

Anime adaptation

Producer Wakana Okamura of My Hero Academia, who had previously worked with animation studio Bones on Blood Blockade Battlefront, selected Bones to adapt the manga due to their reputation for delivering "high-quality production" and their extensive international and domestic reach. The production team—including character designer Yoshihiko Umakoshi—were avid fans of the source material. Director Kenji Nagasaki emphasized establishing a solid foundation for the series, while screenwriter Yōsuke Kuroda, also a fan beforehand, accepted his role promptly.

The main voice cast announced by Weekly Shōnen Jump featured Daiki Yamashita as Izuku Midoriya, Kenta Miyake portraying All Might, Nobuhiko Okamoto as Katsuki Bakugō, Ayane Sakura voicing Ochaco Uraraka, Kaito Ishikawa as Tenya Iida, Aoi Yūki playing Tsuyu Asui, Ryō Hirohashi as Minoru Mineta, Marina Inoue as Momo Yaoyorozu, and Yoshimasa Hosoya as Fumikage Tokoyami. In February 2016, additional cast members including Tasuku Hatanaka, Toshiki Masuda, and Yuki Kaji joined to voice Denki Kaminari, Eijirō Kirishima, and Shōto Todoroki respectively. English dub actors Justin Briner (Izuku) and Christopher Sabat (All Might) noted that while dubbing was consistent throughout production, it presented challenges due to limited access to story details at times.

During season two’s production, Umakoshi praised Horikoshi’s character designs for their adaptability to animation. He emphasized simplifying dialogue to facilitate fluid character motion and carefully assigning key animation tasks to skilled artists in order to enhance fight sequences such as Todoroki versus Izuku. The anime received enthusiastic acclaim from both manga enthusiasts and Japanese audiences alike.

Looking forward, Umakoshi expressed eagerness to animate further developments in relationships among Deku, All Might, and Bakugo. Unlike anime series with continuous year-round production like Naruto or One Piece, My Hero Academia follows a batch production model. Despite this approach, production schedules allowed nearly uninterrupted work transitioning from season one into season two.

Themes and analysis

Kōhei Horikoshi has expressed that the core theme he explores is the essence of what defines a hero. He has also conveyed an interest in narratives with tragic conclusions and horror elements, although he finds these genres demanding due to the emotional depth required. To balance this, he often incorporates lighter, more humorous characters such as Fat Gum to sustain the overall tone.

The storyline primarily delves into concepts like heroism’s true nature, resilience, unwavering resolve, and the significance of camaraderie and collaboration. Horikoshi envisioned a universe where anyone, irrespective of their origins or abilities, has the potential to become a hero. This perspective highlights that even those lacking superpowers can impact the world through persistence and effort. Consequently, heroes in the series are depicted as driven and passionate individuals rather than arrogant figures. The plot follows Izuku Midoriya, who admires heroes despite their commercialization and regulation, finding authentic motivation in their deeds.

My Hero Academia is acclaimed for its uplifting depiction of heroes. Critics observe that while contemporary media frequently challenges heroic ideals, this series retains a hopeful outlook reminiscent of classic comic book eras, standing in contrast to the more complex or critical portrayals common in recent Western and Japanese works.

Manga

Created by Kōhei Horikoshi, My Hero Academia began its run in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump on July 7, 2014, concluding after ten years on August 5, 2024. Shueisha collected the chapters into 42 volumes, released between November 4, 2014, and December 4, 2024; the final volume features an additional 38 pages of new material following the original conclusion.

The English-language release in North America is managed by Viz Media, which issued the first volume on August 4, 2015. Viz Media also offered simultaneous digital publication alongside the Japanese release through its Weekly Shonen Jump magazine and website. Since January 2019, Shueisha has provided official English simulpubs via its Manga Plus platform.

Spin-offs

There are three spin-off manga series associated with the main title. The first, My Hero Academia: Smash!!, authored by Hirofumi Neda, is a comedic series serialized on the Shōnen Jump+ digital platform from November 2015 to November 2017 and compiled into five volumes. The second spin-off, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, a prequel written by Hideyuki Furuhashi with artwork by Betten Court, ran from August 2016 until May 2022, collected in 15 volumes. The third spin-off titled My Hero Academia: Team-Up Missions, created by Yōkō Akiyama and featuring side stories, began serialization in Saikyō Jump in August 2019 and concluded in January 2025. All three spin-offs have been licensed for North American release by Viz Media.

The franchise’s films have been adapted into single-volume manga editions by Homesha. Numerous one-shot spin-offs tied to movies and prominent characters have been produced; these are often distributed as exclusive bonuses at Japanese theatrical screenings before being released in English by Viz Media. Key examples include:

• Everyone Is Surely Someone's Hero (2018), a brief 15-page story focusing on Melissa Shield.
• No. 0 All Might: Rising (2018), a prequel exploring All Might’s background related to the first film.
• Deku & Bakugo: Rising (2019), a two-chapter narrative covering Izuku Midoriya and Katsuki Bakugo’s middle school experiences.
• League of Villains: Undercover (2019), a prequel linked to the second film centered on the villain Nine.
• Endeavor's Mission (2021), focusing on Endeavor and his trainees during Hero Work-Studies.
• No. XXX Hawks: Soothe (2021), a prequel connected to the third film spotlighting Hawks and Endeavor Agency trainees.
• Connect to the Day (2024), set prior to the Final War arc featuring Class 1-A on a mission.
• A Piece of Cake (2024), serving as a prequel to the fourth film centered around Class 1-A students.

These one-shot stories are typically included in limited-edition manga booklets handed out at film screenings, with print runs reaching up to 1.5 million copies. Many have been translated and published in English by Viz Media, broadening the franchise’s international presence.

Anime

On October 29, 2015, the official website revealed that an anime television adaptation would be produced by Bones. The series was directed by Kenji Nagasaki, scripted by Yōsuke Kuroda, and featured character designs by Yoshihiko Umakoshi. The inaugural season was broadcast from April 3 to June 26, 2016, on JNN networks such as TBS and MBS. Following this, the second season aired between April 1 and September 30, 2017, on NNS affiliates YTV and NTV, with the original staff and cast returning. The third season was shown from April 7 to September 29, 2018.

At the conclusion of the third season, the fourth season was announced and subsequently aired from October 12, 2019, through April 4, 2020. Funimation debuted the English dub during Anime Expo in July 2019. Kenji Nagasaki took on the role of chief director while Masahiro Mukai served as director. The fifth season was broadcast from March 27 to September 25, 2021.

After the fifth season ended, a sixth season was confirmed and premiered on October 1, 2022. This installment ran for two continuous cours until March 25, 2023, covering the manga's "Paranormal Liberation War" and "Dark Hero" story arcs. Following the finale of season six, a seventh season was announced and aired from May 4 to October 12, 2024. Prior to its airing, four "Memories" recap specials were released in April. Naomi Nakayama directed this season.

An eighth and final season was revealed at the end of the seventh season’s finale and is set to premiere on October 4, 2025.

Original video animations

An original video animation (OVA) titled "Save! Rescue Training!" premiered at Jump Festa '16 on November 27, 2016. This OVA was included with the limited edition of the manga’s 13th volume released on April 4, 2017. It was later made available on DVD alongside Black Clover and Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma with their respective manga volumes as announced at Jump Special Anime Festa.

The second OVA, called "Training of the Dead," came bundled with the limited edition of volume 14 of the manga, which was released on June 2, 2017. This episode depicts a joint training exercise involving Izuku’s class and other hero students at U.A. Academy.

A third OVA named "All Might: Rising," adapting the prequel manga to the first film, was released on February 13, 2019. It was packaged with the Blu-ray set of the first movie and has a runtime of two minutes.

The two-part original net animation (ONA) titled "Make It! Do-or-Die Survival Training" premiered on August 16, 2020. The production featured returning staff and cast members from season four and was streamed simultaneously by Funimation alongside its Japanese release.

An OVA inspired by the bonus manga chapter "Departure" accompanied the "Plus Ultra" edition of My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission in Japan.

Two additional OVA episodes titled "HLB <Hero League Baseball>" and "Laugh! As If You Are in Hell" were screened in Japan from June 16 to June 19, 2022. These episodes had their international premiere via Crunchyroll at Anime Expo on July 1 and began worldwide streaming on August 1, 2022.

A special OVA episode called "UA Heroes Battle" debuted with an English dub at New York Comic Con on October 13, 2023. It subsequently screened in Japan from October 20 to October 26. Crunchyroll streamed this episode with both English subtitles and dub starting November 30, 2023.

An OVA based on the bonus manga chapter "A Piece of Cake" was included with the deluxe "Plus Ultra" edition of My Hero Academia: You're Next in Japan.

International distribution

In March 2016, Funimation acquired the international rights for streaming, home video, broadcast, and merchandise distribution. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, Universal Pictures UK was responsible for distributing the first season on behalf of Funimation. The second season’s distribution was managed by Sony Pictures UK, while Manga Entertainment took charge of the seasons that followed. Across Australia and New Zealand, Universal and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment handled the first two seasons, with Madman Anime overseeing distribution from season three onward in collaboration with Funimation.

Funimation revealed on April 19, 2018, that the series would be broadcast on Adult Swim’s Toonami programming block starting May 5, 2018. Medialink secured licensing rights for Southeast Asia, where it aired simultaneously on Animax Asia. In August 2023, Cartoon Network announced plans to begin airing the series in India from September 10, 2023. The show commenced airing on AXS TV in the United States on February 20, 2025, as part of Web3 company Azuki’s Anime.com Hour programming segment.

Soundtrack

The original soundtrack was composed by Yuki Hayashi. The series includes a total of twenty-four theme tracks: twelve opening themes and twelve closing themes. For the first season, the opening song is "The Day" by Porno Graffitti, accompanied by the ending theme "Heroes" by Brian the Sun. In season two’s initial half, "Peace Sign" by Kenshi Yonezu serves as the opening, with "Dakara, Hitori ja nai" by Little Glee Monster as the ending; mid-season transitions introduce "Sora ni Utaeba" by amazarashi and "Datte Atashi no Hīrō" by LiSA as new opening and closing themes respectively. Season three features "Odd Future" by Uverworld as its opening and "Update" by miwa as its ending theme initially, later switching to "Make my story" by Lenny code fiction and "Long Hope Philia" by Masaki Suda.

The first half of season four uses "Polaris" by Blue Encount for its opening and "Kōkai no Uta" by Sayuri as its closing theme; subsequently, it changes to "Starmarker" by Kana-Boon and "Shout Baby" by Ryokuōshoku Shakai. Insert songs such as "Each Goal" and "Hero too," performed by Chrissy Costanza portraying Kyoka Jiro, also feature in this season. Season five opens with "No.1" performed by Dish and concludes episodes with "Ashiato" by the Peggies, later transitioning to "Merry-Go-Round" by Man with a Mission and closing with "Uso ja Nai" by Soshi Sakiyama.

Season six presents opening themes including "Hitamuki" by Super Beaver, followed later by "Bokurano" from Eve, while its ending themes are "Sketch" by Kiro Akiyama and subsequently "Kitakaze" performed by Six Lounge. For the first nine episodes of season seven, the opening is "Tagatame" by TK from Ling Tosite Sigure, paired with the ending theme "Tsubomi" from Omoinotake; these are later replaced with opening track "Curtain Call" sung by Yuuri and closing song "Rokutōsei" performed by Zarame.

Supporting the franchise’s musical identity are several concert events: My Hero Academia Official Live Concert held in Manhattan (November 2021), My Hero Academia Special Film Concert at Arena Tachikawa Tachihi (November 2023), and the two-day ANI-ROCK FES. 2024 My Hero Academia PLUS ULTRA LIVE hosted at Yokohama Arena (February 2024).

Light novels

The light novel series My Hero Academia: School Briefs (僕のヒーローアカデミア 雄英白書), authored by Anri Yoshi, was published by Shueisha under the Jump J-Books label. This series centers on the daily school experiences of Izuku Midoriya and his peers at U.A. High School. The inaugural volume debuted on April 4, 2016, and as of October 2021, six volumes have been released. Viz Media holds the English-language publishing rights for North America.

Additionally, light novels adapting the four anime feature films were published on August 3, 2018; December 20, 2019; August 6, 2021; and August 2, 2024, all written by Anri Yoshi.

Anime

An original anime movie set after the manga’s "Final Exam" arc was announced in December 2017. Titled My Hero Academia: Two Heroes, it premiered at Anime Expo in Los Angeles on July 5, 2018, before its Japanese release on August 3, 2018. The film featured the original anime staff and voice cast. Globally, it earned over $33 million and concluded its U.S. theatrical run with $5.8 million, placing it as the tenth highest-grossing animated film domestically at that time.

The second installment, My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising, was revealed on March 23, 2019. It premiered in Japan on December 20, 2019, adapting the manga’s "Meta Liberation Army" storyline and incorporating elements initially intended by creator Kōhei Horikoshi as the series finale. Its North American debut occurred on February 26, 2020. The film grossed $30 million worldwide and outperformed its predecessor’s domestic box office during its ninth weekend.

Announced on November 29, 2020, the third film saw the return of the original staff and cast. Titled My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission as unveiled during the first episode of season five, it premiered in Japan on August 6, 2021, followed by a North American release on October 29, 2021. The movie earned over $47 million worldwide and ranked as Japan’s tenth highest-grossing domestic film in 2021.

The fourth film was announced on August 6, 2023, taking place after the manga’s "U.A. Traitor" arc. Named My Hero Academia: You're Next, it was released in Japan on August 2, 2024, with U.S. screenings beginning October 11, 2024. Surpassing World Heroes' Mission with over $32 million globally during its tenth weekend, it became the highest-grossing entry in the franchise and ranked tenth among domestic films in Japan for 2024.

Live-action

In October 2018, Legendary Entertainment secured rights to develop a live-action version of the series. By August 2021, Shinsuke Sato was confirmed as director with Alex Garcia and Jay Ashenfelter producing the adaptation; Ryosuke Yoritomi represented Shueisha for the project. Toho is responsible for distribution within Japan. On December 12, 2022, Netflix acquired global distribution rights while Joby Harold was announced as screenwriter.

Console games

A video game inspired by the anime was announced in November 2015. Developed by Dimps and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, it launched for Nintendo 3DS exclusively in Japan on May 19, 2016.

The franchise also features four titles developed by Byking and published through Bandai Namco Entertainment. The first game released on October 26, 2018—available for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Windows, and Xbox One—sold over half a million copies worldwide by January 2019. Its sequel arrived globally on March 12, 2020 across the same platforms.

The third entry is a free-to-play battle royale titled , which launched on September 28, 2023 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. A fourth game serving as a follow-up to One's Justice 2, named My Hero Academia: All's Justice, is planned for release on PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S.

Mobile games

On both iOS and Android platforms, three mobile titles have been introduced. My Hero Academia: The Strongest Hero made its debut in North America and other English-speaking territories in May 2021, followed by another release in February 2022.

Crossovers

Playable characters such as Izuku Midoriya, All Might, Katsuki Bakugo, and Shoto Todoroki appeared in the 2018 fighting game Jump Force. Furthermore, popular figures including Midoriya, Bakugo, Ochaco Uraraka, All Might, Todoroki, Eijiro Kirishima, Mina Ashido, and members of the League of Villains were available as purchasable skins in Fortnite, featuring abilities like "Deku's Smash" and "Todoroki's Ice Wall".

In December 2023, the beta version of My Hero Academia Battlegrounds, a Roblox game developed by Gamefam alongside Crunchyroll and Toho, was launched. Izuku and Katsuki were part of the playable roster during the January 2024 collaboration event with Granblue Fantasy. From October 17 to 30, 2024, an Overwatch 2 crossover event took place, showcasing character skins including Tracer as Deku and Reinhardt as All Might.

Stage plays

The stage adaptation My Hero Academia: The "Ultra" Stage was first revealed in 2018 and performed in April 2019. Directed by Tsuneyasu Motoyoshi, written by Hideyuki Nishimori, choreographed by Umebō, with music composed by Shunsuke Wada, the cast featured Shin Tamura portraying Izuku Midoriya and Ryōta Kobayashi as Katsuki Bakugo.

A follow-up production titled My Hero Academia: The "Ultra" Stage: A True Hero was planned for March–April 2020 with returning actors and crew. However, its initial run was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and rescheduled for July 2020 under the name A True Hero Plus Stage Ver.. Further delays caused by infections among staff postponed the play until it finally took place in December 2021.

Announced in December 2021, the third installment called My Hero Academia The "Ultra" Stage: The Symbol of Peace was slated for April–May 2022 but experienced postponements following an injury to one of the actors during performances.

The fourth adaptation, My Hero Academia: The "Ultra" Stage: The Best Hero, was unveiled at Jump Festa '23 and ran from April through May 2023.

Art and guidebooks

Shueisha has published two art books and three official guidebooks related to My Hero Academia. The first art book titled My Hero Academia: Official Character Guide Ultra Archive Art Book was released on May 7, 2016. The earliest guidebook, My Hero Academia: Ultra Archive - The Official Character Guide, came out on May 2, 2016. Supporting the anime series, the second guidebook named My Hero Academia: Ultimate Animation – The Official Book Guide was issued on September 4, 2017. The third guidebook, called My Hero Academia: Ultra Analysis – The Official Character Guide, was published on October 4, 2019. The second art book titled My Hero Academia: Official Illustration Collection Ultra Artworks launched on June 4, 2025.

Other media

A drama CD accompanied the limited edition of the seventh manga volume before the anime aired. Kōhei Horikoshi contributed the original story and oversaw the project while Yōsuke Kuroda—also a writer for the anime—penned the script. In July 2017, an interactive puzzle event named "Heroes Dead End Program" was organized.

To enhance brand exposure, various exhibitions have been held including a series at Tokyo's Ikebukuro Sunshine City in 2018; a 2021 art exhibit titled "My Hero Academia Drawing Smash" across Tokyo and Osaka; and themed animation exhibitions focusing on "Heroes vs. Villains" throughout Japan in 2023. From December 2023 to March 2024, the "My Hero Academia Ultra Animation Exhibition" took place in Tokyo and Osaka. Additionally, a tenth-anniversary art exhibition is planned at Creative Museum Tokyo from June to August 2025.

Between March and August 2024, Universal Studios Japan hosted "My Hero Academia The Real 4-D," a three-dimensional attraction featuring special effects and an original storyline involving main characters. In celebration of the manga's tenth anniversary, a live-action short film titled "Succession" premiered on YTV Animation’s YouTube channel in April 2024, portraying two brothers growing up alongside the series.

To commemorate ten years since its inception, a global fan poll called "World Best Hero" launched in August 2024 with promotional advertising placed in the International edition of The New York Times. This marked Shueisha’s inaugural worldwide character popularity contest for a manga series. Voting remained open until September 30, culminating with a statue designed by Horikoshi awarded to the winner in December.

A fanbook named My Hero Academia: Final Fan Book Ultra Age was released on May 2, 2025. It includes comprehensive character profiles, detailed settings descriptions, quirks explanations, special moves breakdowns, interviews with editors, a Q&A session with Horikoshi himself, plus an exclusive one-shot manga chapter.

Popularity

My Hero Academia secured the second position in Honya Club's 2015 poll titled "Nationwide Bookstore Employees' Recommended Comics." The series has been a recurring presence on the Da Vinci "Book of the Year" rankings by Media Factory, placing 26th in 2015, 22nd in 2016, 16th in 2018, 37th in 2019, 41st in 2020, 34th in 2021, 22nd in 2022, and climbing to 19th in 2024. On Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi!, it achieved fifth place among male readers in 2016. In TV Asahi’s Manga Sōsenkyo poll conducted in 2021 with participation from 150,000 voters, it ranked sixteenth. A survey by Line Research that same year revealed it was the second favorite manga among Japanese high school boys.

The series takes clear cues from superhero comics, which is reflected in its character designs. Its widespread acclaim led to promotional tie-ins with Marvel Studios films such as Avengers: Infinity War and Captain America: Brave New World. Prior to the anime adaptation’s debut, Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto lauded Kōhei Horikoshi’s work and anticipated its global appeal. Similarly, One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda offered his commendations. Upon conclusion of the manga, numerous industry figures and voice actors extended their congratulations to Horikoshi.

In Japan, My Hero Academia was ranked as the fourth best anime during the second quarter of 2017 according to Charapedia. Since the release of its second season, the anime has consistently remained within the top ten rankings and has garnered strong television ratings within the Kantō region. The opening theme for season two, "Peace Sign," accumulated 48.6 million views on YouTube throughout 2017. In the United States, it was identified as the second most "in-demand" television title during a recent sixty-day span in 2020 by Observer. Furthermore, Crunchyroll reported it as the fourth most-viewed anime worldwide across multiple territories that same year. The premiere of its fifth season set a new record on MyAnimeList for highest viewership at debut, surpassing several other leading franchises.

The premiere episode of season six earned a television rating of 3.9%, placing it fourth among anime broadcasts and outperforming notable series such as One Piece and Spy × Family within Japan. By its fifth episode, viewership had grown to over three million, exceeding numbers from the initial broadcast. By December 2022, it was ranked fifth among the month’s most-watched anime titles in Japan. The finale of season six attracted an average audience exceeding two million viewers.

Characters from My Hero Academia enjoy significant popularity within cosplay communities. According to a Cosplayers Archive poll for Q3 2017 in Japan, the series ranked ninth in cosplay popularity. Globally, Zavvi identified it as the leading franchise among Instagram cosplayers with more than 2.3 million posts—surpassing major franchises such as DC Comics, Marvel, Disney, and Star Wars. Izuku Midoriya, Shoto Todoroki, and Katsuki Bakugo were each ranked among the top ten most frequently cosplayed characters worldwide.

Between 2018 and 2021, Tumblr’s Year in Review consistently placed My Hero Academia at the forefront of its Top Anime & Manga Shows category while also featuring its characters prominently within Top Anime & Manga Characters lists. It secured fifth place overall on Tumblr’s Top 10 list in 2018 and remained within the top twenty through to 2021. On Twitter Japan’s Trend Awards for 2021, it ranked seventeenth based on trending topics.

In April 2024, analyst Miles Atherton recognized My Hero Academia as the leading animated superhero series or franchise when measured by social media engagement. Garnering approximately 4.7 million interactions over the preceding month, it was the second most-discussed series globally—outperforming shows like X-Men '97, Invincible, and KonoSuba—despite its seventh season not yet having aired.

Sales

Since its initial manga release, My Hero Academia has achieved remarkable commercial success. The debut volume secured the seventh spot on the weekly Oricon manga rankings in 2014, selling 71,575 copies and quickly selling out its first print run. Following volumes consistently maintained top ten positions, with the fifth volume reaching sales of 279,414 copies by August 2015.

By March 2017, circulation had surpassed 10 million copies, steadily climbing to over 100 million by April 2024 when including spin-off titles. Between 2016 and 2020, the franchise generated approximately ¥16 billion in revenue within Japan.

The series regularly appeared among the highest-selling manga in both annual and semi-annual Japanese charts, with volumes frequently featured on Oricon’s best-seller lists. For example, volume 17 had an initial print of 600,000 copies in 2018, while volume 29 saw a first print run of 680,000 copies in 2021. The concluding volume (42nd) achieved a milestone by selling one million copies in its opening week in December 2024, joining an elite group alongside titles such as Demon Slayer and One Piece. Volume 38 also recorded a notable initial print run of 815,000 copies.

In North America, since its English-language debut in August 2015, My Hero Academia volumes have frequently appeared on The New York Times Manga Best Seller list. The franchise consistently ranked highly on Circana (formerly NPD) BookScan's monthly top adult graphic novels charts and emerged as the best-selling manga series in the US for the year 2020. Numerous volumes placed prominently in yearly top-selling manga lists through 2023.

Data from ICv2 indicates that My Hero Academia was among the top five manga franchises for sales in the US during Q4 of 2021 and continued to maintain strong market performance in subsequent years. By 2022, the first volume alone had more than 1.2 million copies in circulation stateside, with total franchise sales exceeding 10 million copies.

The series also consistently appeared on Publishers Weekly bestseller lists and ranked within Rakuten's Top Digital Manga charts from 2018 through 2023. This ongoing commercial strength underscores its significant market presence and global influence within the manga sector.

Critical reception

Nick Creamer of Anime News Network awarded the first volume a B grade, commending Horikoshi's "consistent and highly polished" artwork for its professionalism and sharpness. He observed that although the plot and characters follow typical shōnen conventions, they still deliver a refreshing and dynamic experience. Isaac Akers from The Fandom Post gave the second volume a B+, praising both character designs and Horikoshi’s skillful execution of concepts, describing it as "a real joy to read." Sean Gaffney of A Case Suitable for Treatment characterized the art as "smooth," particularly effective during action sequences, while also lauding narrative pacing and character development.

Leroy Douresseaux from Comic Book Bin emphasized the series’ successful fusion of humor and drama, favorably comparing it to other superhero-themed works like Tiger & Bunny and One-Punch Man, highlighting its creative approach to superhero storytelling. Manga Bookshelf recognized the first volume’s artwork as a testament to Horikoshi's talent but noted occasional overuse of narration. Michelle Smith from Soliloquy in Blue, reviewing volumes one through nineteen, praised the storyline and main cast but pointed out limited attention given to some female characters despite their varied designs.

The series earned recognition as one of the Best Manga at Comic-Con International in both 2018 and 2019. Barnes & Noble included it among their "Our Favorite Manga of 2018," spotlighting its blend of superhero sincerity with shonen elements alongside Horikoshi’s imaginative creativity—particularly his depiction of abilities resembling "quirks" rather than conventional superpowers. Cold Cobra from Anime UK News ranked it among the best manga of the 2010s, applauding its combination of Japanese shonen action with American superhero influences, memorable characters, and "wonderfully expressive" artwork that enhances grand full-page sequences.

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Outcome	Ref.
2015	1st Next Manga Award	Print Manga	Template:Won
	8th Manga Taishō	Manga Taishō	Template:Draw
	Mandō Kobayashi Manga Award	Manga Grand Prix	Template:Won
2016	40th Kodansha Manga Award	Best Shōnen Manga	Template:Nom
	Da Vinci 16th Annual Book of the Year	Book of the Year	Template:Draw
2017	Japan Expo Awards	Daruma d'Or Manga	Template:Won

|-

| Best Shōnen 
|  
|-
| 3rd Sugoi Japan Award 
| Best Manga 
|  
| style="text-align:center;"|
 
|-
| 44th Angoulême International Comics Festival 
| Best Youth Comic 
|  
| style="text-align:center;"|
 
|-
| 23rd Manga Barcelona#Salón del Manga de Barcelona 
| Best Shōnen Manga 
|  
| style="text-align:center;"|
 
|-
| rowspan="4" align="center"| 2018
| Japan Expo Awards 
| Daruma for Best Shōnen 
|  
| style="text-align:center;"|
 
|-
| 30th Harvey Awards 
| Best Manga 
|  
| style="text-align:center;"|
 
|-
| 24th Salón del Manga de Barcelona 
| Best Shōnen Manga 
|  
| style="text-align:center;"|
 
|-
| Da Vinci 18th Annual Book of the Year 
| Book of the Year 
|  
| style="text-align:center;"|
 
|- 
| align="center"| 2019
| 31st Harvey Awards
| Best Manga
| 
| style="text-align:center;"|

|- 
| align="center"| 2020
| 47th Angoulême International Comics Festival
| Best Youth Comic
| 
| style="text-align:center;"|

|- 
| align="center"| 2022
| Da Vinci 22th Annual Book of the Year
| Book of the Year
| 
| style="text-align:center;"|

|- 
| align="center"| 2024
| Da Vinci 24th Annual Book of the Year
| Book of the Year
| 
| style="text-align:center;"|

|}

Sales

Since its anime debut, My Hero Academia has enjoyed impressive commercial success in Japan. The initial season’s five Blu-ray and DVD volumes consistently appeared on Oricon’s Animation charts, with the first Blu-ray release entering at fifth place and the DVD at fourth, selling 2,184 units. Later volumes sustained top ten rankings, with the fifth volume’s Blu-ray and DVD achieving third and second positions respectively. The second season’s Blu-ray and DVD releases also saw strong sales, with initial sets reaching seventh and fifth places. Volumes from the third season regularly featured in Oricon’s top listings, with Blu-rays climbing as high as third place and DVDs frequently entering the top five.

The opening theme for season two, "Peace Sign" by Kenshi Yonezu, reached number one on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and peaked at second place on Oricon’s Singles Chart. The album Bootleg, which includes "Peace Sign," was the best-selling anime CD on Oricon in 2017 with 241,754 copies sold and maintained its lead in the first half of 2018 with sales of 134,777 copies. Another collection, LiSA BEST: Day, containing the second ending theme "Datte Atashi no Hero" by LiSA, simultaneously secured fifth place on Oricon.

By late 2018, Bootleg remained the highest-selling anime CD album for a consecutive second year, while LiSA BEST: Day was ranked ninth. These robust music sales complement consistent Blu-ray and DVD chart performances, highlighting My Hero Academia's strong commercial footprint across diverse media platforms.

Critical reception

The first season of My Hero Academia holds a perfect 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on ten reviews and an average score of 8.7/10. Alex Osborn from IGN awarded it nine out of ten, commending its dynamic action sequences, engaging plot, and well-developed characters while noting that some villains lacked depth. He praised the character design quality and concluded that the season offers "fantastic action" combined with an emotionally resonant story and relatable protagonists. Osborn described the second season as "truly something special," highlighting its superior animation quality, character growth, and emotional impact as among the finest television offerings he has encountered. Tom Speelman of Polygon lauded the animation style, thrilling action scenes, and extensive cast, drawing favorable parallels to superhero teams like X-Men and thematic similarities to films such as Sky High. Chris Beveridge from The Fandom Post observed that despite its length, the series maintains focus with numerous standout moments.

Nick Creamer of Anime News Network praised both the musical score and action animation but criticized pacing issues and occasional mediocre animation in the first season; he acknowledged notable improvements in season two. Sam Leach singled out episode 49’s intense combat sequences as a storytelling highlight for the series. Marina Garrow from Anime Feminist commended its realistic approach to typical damsel-in-distress scenarios, emphasizing balanced gender portrayals.

Both Japanese and English voice actors received widespread acclaim. Osborn regarded Daiki Yamashita’s Japanese portrayal of Izuku as an ideal fit and praised Justin Briner’s English voice work as excellent. Creamer found major character dubs well-cast despite weaker performances in minor roles. Andy Hanley from UK Anime Network favored the dub cast’s appropriate performances. Speelman noted that both language casts effectively embodied their roles, particularly appreciating voice actors for Izuku and All Might.

The series is frequently cited among the best anime of the 2010s by various outlets. Sage Ashford of Comic Book Resources ranked it fourth for character development and execution of classic shōnen conventions. Paste included it within their top 50 anime ever produced. In 2019, Polygon named it among the decade’s finest anime titles, while Crunchyroll featured it in their "Top 25 best anime of the 2010s." Early in 2020, both IGN and Thrillist recognized it as one of the decade's leading anime series. Additionally, Japan Web Magazine placed it 24th in their "30 Best Anime of All Time."

Accolades

At Crunchyroll's first-ever Anime Awards in 2017, Izuku Midoriya received "Hero of the Year," while the series earned six additional nominations including "Anime of the Year." In December 2017, season two was nominated among the Top 100 Favorites for Anime of the Year at Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2018. The following year at Crunchyroll's Anime Awards, season two won seven out of ten nominated categories: Best Action, Best Animation, Best Opening ("Peace Sign"), Best Girl (Ochaco Uraraka), Best Boy (Shoto Todoroki), Best Villain (Stain), and Best Hero (Izuku Midoriya). Christopher Sabat was honored with the Industry Icon Award for his portrayal of All Might. The show topped Anime News Network’s comprehensive poll for Best Anime in both 2017 and 2018.

In Funimation's Decade of Anime poll, My Hero Academia was declared "Shonen Series of the Decade." Characters Izuku Midoriya and Shoto Todoroki were recognized among "Best Boys of the Decade," while Ochaco Uraraka was named one of five recipients for "Best Girls of the Decade." In 2021, it earned "Most In-Demand Anime Series of 2020" at the Global TV Demand Awards; this success was repeated at the seventh Global Demand Awards in 2025 when it also became a finalist for "Most In-Demand TV Series Worldwide" in 2024. In 2023, alongside Attack on Titan, it was among the first anime nominated for an Astra TV Award for "Best Streaming Animated Series or TV Movie" at the inaugural Astra Creative Arts TV Awards.

Awards and nominations

 Industry Icon Award  Christopher Sabat (as All Might)  Template:Won  rowspan=5 align=center Japan Expo Awards  Daruma d'Or Anime  My Hero Academia Season 2  Template:Nom  Daruma for Best Scenario  Kōhei Horikoshi  Template:Nom  Daruma for Best Adapted Series  Kenji Nagasaki  Template:Won  Daruma for Best Simulcast  My Hero Academia Season 2  Template:Won  Daruma for Best Original Soundtrack  Yuki Hayashi  Template:Nom  align=center 10th CD Shop Awards  Grand Prize  Bootleg (includes "Peace Sign")  Template:Won   align=center 32nd Japan Gold Disc Awards   Best 5 Songs by Download   "Peace Sign" by Kenshi Yonezu   Template:Won   align=center 40th Anime Grand Prix   Best Theme Song   Template:Draw   rowspan=3 align=center 6th BTVA Anime Dub Awards   Best Male Lead   rowspan=2 Justin Briner (as Izuku "Deku" Midoriya)   Template:Nom   Best Male Lead - People's Choice   Template:Won   Best Supporting Male   Jarrod Greene (as Hitoshi Shinso)   Template:Nom   rowspan=3 align=center 8th Newtype Anime Awards   Best Work (TV)   My Hero Academia Season 3   Template:Draw   Best Voice Actor   Yuki Kaji   Template:Draw   Best Studio   Bones   Template:Draw   rowspan=4 align=center Billboard Japan Music Awards   Most Downloaded Songs   "Peace Sign" by Kenshi Yonezu   Template:Draw   Hot Animation (multiple entries)   Various songs by Masaki Suda and Uverworld   Placements from #3 to #10   rowspan=4 align=center IGN Awards   Best Anime Series   My Hero Academia Season 3   Template:Nom   Best Anime Series - People's Choice   Template:Won   Best Anime Episode   Episode 49 – "One For All"   Template:Won   Best Animation   My Hero Academia Season 3   Template:Nom   align=center Japan Record Awards    Album of the Year    Bootleg    Template:Won    rowspan=12 align=center 2019    rowspan=5 align=center 3rd Crunchyroll Anime Awards    Best Antagonist    All For One    Template:Won    Best Boy    Izuku "Deku" Midoriya    Template:Won    Best Animation    My Hero Academia Season 3    Template:Nom    Best VA Performance (English)    Christopher Sabat (as All Might)    Template:Won    Best Fight Scene    All for One vs. All Might    Template:Won    align=center Seiyu Awards    Best Supporting Actor    Kenta Miyake (as All Might)    Template:Won    align=center Billboard Japan Music Awards    Hot Animation    "Peace Sign" by Kenshi Yonezu    Template:Draw    align=center Magnolia Award, Shanghai Television Festival    Best Animation    My Hero Academia Season 3    Template:Nom    align=center Funimation Awards    Shonen Series of the Decade    My Hero Academia    Template:Won    Best Boys of the Decade    Izuku "Deku" Midoriya and Shoto Todoroki    Both Won    Best Girls of the Decade    Ochaco Uraraka    Template:Won    rowspan=7 align=center 2020    Global TV Demand Awards    Most In-Demand Export from Asia    My Hero Academia    Template:Nom    align=center Crunchyroll Anime Awards    Best Antagonist    Overhaul    Template:Nom    rowspan=4 align=center Anime Grand Prix    Grand Prix and character/voice actor placements for Season 4 Top ranks include Deku and Yūki Kaji Billboard Japan Music Awards Hot Animation "Peace Sign" Placements around #17 rowspan=5 align=center 2021 Global TV Demand Awards Most In-Demand Anime Series of 2020 My Hero Academia Won Crunchyroll Anime Awards Multiple nominations and wins including English VA and fight scenes Salón del Manga de Barcelona Best Anime Series in Blu-ray/DVD for Season 4 Won rowspan=8 align=center 2022 Global TV Demand Awards Most In-Demand Anime Series of 2021 Nominee Crunchyroll Anime Awards Nominations including Tomura Shigaraki as antagonist nominee Newtype Anime Awards Multiple top placements for Season 5 including studio and soundtrack Billboard Japan Music Awards Continued placements for theme songs IGN Awards Nominations and wins including People's Choice awards Japan Expo Awards Nominations for soundtrack and ending song rowspan=4 align=center 2023 Global Demand Awards Most In-Demand Anime Series of 2022 Nominee Crunchyroll Anime Awards Arabic VA Performance nomination Japan Expo Awards Daruma for Best Ending nomination Astra Creative Arts TV Awards Nomination for best streaming animated series or TV movie rowspan=3 align=center 2024 Global Demand Awards Most In-Demand Anime Series of 2023 Nominee TikTok Awards Japan Anime of the Year Won Abema Anime Trend Awards Special Award for best final episode, Season 7 Won rowspan=5 align=center 2025 Global Demand Awards Most In-Demand TV Series Worldwide & Most In-Demand Anime Series of 2024 My Hero Academia Won & Nominee respectively Crunchyroll Anime Awards Nominated for best continuing series, Season 7 Japan Expo Awards Nominations for best original soundtrack and best ending song

Year	Award	Category	Recipient	Result
2016	IGN Awards	Best Anime Series	My Hero Academia	Template:Nom
		Best Anime Opening	"The Day" by Porno Graffitti	Template:Nom
	Billboard Japan Music Awards	Hot Animation		Template:Draw
2017	1st Crunchyroll Anime Awards	Anime of the Year	My Hero Academia	Template:Nom
		Hero of the Year	Izuku "Deku" Midoriya	Template:Won
		Villain of the Year	Tomura Shigaraki	Template:Nom
		Best Boy	Izuku "Deku" Midoriya	Template:Nom
		Best Girl	Ochaco Uraraka	Template:Nom
		Best Action	My Hero Academia	Template:Nom
		Best Fight Scene	Deku vs. Kacchan	Template:Nom
	Japan Expo Awards	Daruma for Best Simulcast	My Hero Academia	Template:Nom
	12th AnimaniA Awards	Best Online Anime	Template:Draw
	Billboard Japan Music Awards	Hot 100	"Peace Sign" by Kenshi Yonezu	Template:Draw
		Most Downloaded Songs		Template:Draw
		Hot Animation		Template:Draw
	IGN Awards	Anime of the Year	My Hero Academia	Template:Won
		Anime of the Year - People's Choice		Template:Won
	5th BTVA Anime Dub Awards	Best Male Lead	Christopher Sabat as All Might	Template:Nom
		Best Male Lead - People's Choice		Template:Won
		Best Supporting Male	Alex Organ as Shota Aizawa	Template:Nom
		Best Vocal Ensemble	My Hero Academia	Template:Won
		Best Vocal Ensemble - People's Choice		Template:Won
2018	Animedia Character Awards	Coolest	Shoto Todoroki	Template:Won
	2nd Crunchyroll Anime Awards	Anime of the Year	My Hero Academia Season 2	Template:Nom
		Best Action		Template:Won
		Best Hero	Izuku "Deku" Midoriya	Template:Won
		Best Villain	Stain (My Hero Academia)	Template:Won
		Best Boy	Izuku "Deku" Midoriya	Template:Nom
		Shoto Todoroki	Template:Won
		Best Girl	Ochaco Uraraka	Template:Won
		Tsuyu Asui	Template:Nom
		Best Animation	My Hero Academia Season 2	Template:Won
		Best Opening  |"Peace Sign" by Kenshi Yonezu  Template:Won

Censorship

Unit 731 controversy

In early-2020 controversies arose in South Korea and China regarding a character whose name allegedly referenced Unit_731, a notorious Imperial Japanese Army division infamous for conducting vivisection experiments on captured Chinese, Korean, and Russian individuals during wartime. Consequently, digital platforms in China removed episodes featuring this character, prompting a name change to eliminate problematic associations.

Both publisher Shueisha, responsible for releasing Weekly Shōnen Jump, along with manga creator Kōhei Horikoshi issued formal apologies via Twitter addressing concerns over this reference. After removals from streaming services such as bilibili and Tencent, Shueisha pledged to enhance its awareness regarding historical sensitivities. Both publisher and author stressed that any allusion to war crimes was unintended.

The digital edition of Weekly Shōnen Jump updated this character's name to Kyudai Garaki—retaining aspects inspired by Horikoshi’s original choice but avoiding controversial implications.

Potential censorship under Texas legislation

In response to Texas Senate Bill No.20 enacted in early-2025—which criminalizes possession or promotion of visual content deemed obscene, including depictions involving children whether real-life images or animated/AI-generated—the series faced scrutiny due to ambiguous legal definitions. Marcel Green from Screen Rant noted concerns that Texas residents downloading chapter number three hundred sixty-eight from My Hero Academia, which features a “sexualized portrayal” involving an “underage high school student,” could be subject to penalties ranging from six months up to two years imprisonment alongside fines reaching $10,000 under state law.

External links

• at Viz Media