We list ten reasons why My Hero Academia is one anime you should be watching.
[dropcap size=small]E[/dropcap]very once in a while, an anime comes along that’s just what you needed to see at a time when you needed to see it the most, and for me, My Hero Academia (or Boku No Hero Academia) is just that.
I’ve never felt more compelled to write about an anime in my life, so after some careful consideration, I’ve compiled a list of 10 reasons why My Hero Academia is worth your time.
Before I begin, here’s a little rundown of what My Hero Academia is all about (without spoiling too much, of course):
The story follows Izuku Midoriya, a middle school student who dreams of one day becoming the greatest hero. In a world in which 80% of the population have superpowers known as Quirks, Izuku was born completely normal with no superpowers to speak of. Undeterred, Izuku decides to pursue his dream anyway and finds himself enrolled into one of the world’s most prestigious hero academies. At its heart, My Hero Academia tells the story of how an ordinary person without any special superpowers can find their own strength, and make their dreams come true in the face of adversity.
Okay, grab a cup of tea and a snack or two, and get yourself ready for some top ten goodness. Let’s get stuck in!
10. The second season is just as good as the first (so far).
There’s no better way to kick things off then by telling you that My Hero Academia is consistently great to watch. The second season began at the beginning of April, and as it currently stands we’re now 5 episodes in. Every single episode has kept me wanting more (just as each episode of the first season did), and I still find myself eagerly awaiting every new episode each week.
Waiting for new episodes got me like:
9. It’s well paced and keeps you invested.
Happily tying into reason 10 in our top ten list, MHA nails its pacing with the perfect blend of suspense and action to keep you invested. The flow keeps everything fresh and interesting, and it doesn’t fall victim to any filler like some other anime shows.
8. It’s packed with humour.
Never discount the laughs. A generous sprinkling of humour throughout the series adds to the viewing experience in the best way possible, making it all the more charming and fun. Several characters won me over with their hilarious antics (I’m looking at you, Iida).
7. But it can also make you cry.
The feels are strong. So so strong. Yes, you will find humour in MHA, but you’ll also find plenty of tears too. Filled with bittersweet moments and inspirational events that strike you square in the chest, this anime has it all. Happy tears, sad tears, fist-pumping tears – you name it. If you’re anything like me, we recommend you have some tissues on standby (better safe than sorry, right?).
6. It’s also got an amazing soundtrack.
The soundtrack composed by Yuki Hayashi is its own character. The music marries soft and uplighting with badass rock guitar riffs perfectly. In short, the soundtrack to My Hero Academia is like adding the most epic icing onto what is already one delectably good cake. Just listen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n47FDtSrl9w
5. It has killer animation.
MHA is so well animated that you won’t ever want to tear your eyes away from the screen. The bold lines, vibrant colours and slick sequences are all done so superbly, it truly makes each and every episode a feast for the eyes. You’re sure to find yourself captivated by what you’re seeing plenty of times throughout the series.
4. And epic fight sequences.
The fight sequences are always a highlight if they pop up in an episode, and that’s largely thanks to the (aforementioned) stylish animation. There are so many fight sequences that will stay in your mind long after the episode is over, and they’re truly the best kind. Whether it’s a full-scale battle or a test of strength, every single fight has been suspenseful and engaging, and when coupled with a song plucked from the amazing soundtrack, they are truly a sight to behold.
3. It has a whole host of interesting, fleshed-out characters.
The diverse range of characters and their array of different Quirks are at the heart of why this anime is so good. Beyond our protagonist Izuku Midoriya, we meet a host of characters that all have their own story arcs, which adds a lot of dimension to the supporting cast. From All Might to Todoroki, and Eraser Head to Uraraka, each and every character will pique your interest. Simply put: the character design is magnificent.
2. It’s based on the amazing manga series by Kōhei Horikoshi.
Where there’s a good anime, there’s almost always a good manga. When I started watching MHA, I immediately ran out and bought the first two volumes of the manga, and it is easily one of the best I’ve read in a long time. After the first three chapters, I could already tell it would make its way into my top five manga titles, and for me, that’s the best praise I could ever give it. Whilst it might not be to everyone’s tastes, I love Horikoshi’s art style. Sure, it can be goofy and exaggerated at times (which I find charming), but it’s not afraid to hit you hard with some darker moments, and Horikoshi’s use of bold lining makes it feel as though every moment is jumping off the page. The pace of the storytelling in each volume so far makes it a real page-turner, and I found myself flying through the chapters and thoroughly enjoying every second of it.
Phew, you still with me? Good. If you’ve stuck around for reason number 1 then you’re in for a treat, because this is the best reason of all.
(Fanfare music)
1. It’s inspiring.
Izuku is constantly surrounded by others telling him he’ll never make it as a hero without a Quirk, but he keeps moving forward against all the odds and fights to make his dreams come true. I’m getting emotional just thinking about how admirable Izuku’s drive to succeed is.
I had reached a crossroads in my life when I stumbled upon this anime. At a time when I had convinced myself it was no longer worth trying because I would never amount to anything, Izuku taught me that if I believe hard enough in both my dreams and in myself, I can make it too. It’s saccharine and cliche, I know, but I don’t care, because My Hero Academia helped me have more faith in myself, and that’s not something you come by every day. In the simplest of terms, MHA pushed me to try harder.
Okay, sure, you might not have the same personal experience as me, but regardless of what’s going on in your own life, this anime has one heck of an uplifting story that will leave you feeling like you can do anything if you put your mind to it.
We all need a little inspiration sometimes, and I truly hope this anime helps you as much as it helped me.
Honourable mentions:
Great voice acting – I watched MHA in Japanese with English subtitles, so I can only vouch for the incredible Japanese voice cast, but I’ve heard only good things about the English dubbed version.
Great OPs and Outros – The openings and outros to both the first and second seasons are fantastic. They capture the spirit of the anime perfectly and I never want to skip past them.
If this has convinced you to give My Hero Academia a go (yay), you can watch both seasons on Crunchyroll or Funimation*
*This article was in no way sponsored by or affiliated with either site, we’re just directing you to the best place to stream MHA (plus, I think both sites are pretty rad).
Source: MY LOVE FOR MY HERO ACADEMIA.
