Written by: Kevin Berge
They all are trying so hard to look cool. Aren't they cute? (Image Courtesy of: knowyourmeme.com)
No topic is hotter right now than superheroes. Marvel has taken over the market and dominated the most popular cinematic genre. Luckily, the genre has been around long enough that creators are beginning to get creative, adapting and evolving the ideas beyond the typical hero story.
Anime rarely has straight-up focused on superheroes as the genre is a Western creation. However, My Hero Academia came along and managed to breathe fresh life into superheroes so much that it found success all over the world.
What is the simple idea that defines this new take on comic book superheroes? An entire superhero world in constant conflict between heroes and villains with the focus on what morality is formed from such a delicate and simplistic balance.
Anime rarely has straight-up focused on superheroes as the genre is a Western creation. However, My Hero Academia came along and managed to breathe fresh life into superheroes so much that it found success all over the world.
What is the simple idea that defines this new take on comic book superheroes? An entire superhero world in constant conflict between heroes and villains with the focus on what morality is formed from such a delicate and simplistic balance.
Basic Story Set-Up
Izuku Midoriya is just an ordinary kid who loves superheroes. Unfortunately, he lives in a world filled with superheroes where being ordinary is the opposite of the norm. He is one of a mere 20% of the world who is entirely quirkless but has lived his life hoping to become a hero.
After running headlong into a fight with a monster to save his rival Katsuki Bakugo, the No. 1 hero, All Might, choose Midoriya as the inheritor of his quirk, All For One. With this new opportunity, Midoriya heads to U.A. High School to hopefully begin training as a hero.
After running headlong into a fight with a monster to save his rival Katsuki Bakugo, the No. 1 hero, All Might, choose Midoriya as the inheritor of his quirk, All For One. With this new opportunity, Midoriya heads to U.A. High School to hopefully begin training as a hero.
Who chooses to have their costume look like a red skunk? (Image Courtesy of: youtube.com)
Story Arc Analysis
***This is the one section of the review that will contain spoilers. If you have not seen the anime, skip ahead for now to the Impact and Art Style section.***
Becoming a Hero (Episodes 1-4): My Hero Academia starts a bit slow, relative to its length. Midoriya spends a lot of time crying before it is clear how he will become the hero he so desperately wants to be. However, he is a strong lead protagonist, a classic hardworking and driven hero.
When he begins his training with All Might, it truly sells who he is with his lack of Quirk a powerful storytelling tool to separate him from everyone else. Also, All Might is just a great character especially in his damaged non-super state.
The First Week of Learning (Ep 5-8): Here is the heart of the series, the dynamic of Midoriya with his classmates. While the training can vary from episode to episode in how interesting it is, the kids are the best part of the series with their own motivations and clear personalities.
While Midoriya vs. Bakugo is the main focus and makes for a fun training battle, this section also introduces the driven and studious Tenya Iida, the wild and caring Ochako Uraraka, and the prodigy Shoto Todoroki. Not all characters are created equal, but they all have room for stories to be told that make them interesting.
The League of Villains (Ep 9-13): To wrap up the first season, there's a surprise huge threat that emerges, so suddenly that it is truly a shock. This makes for a satisfying close to the season as the kids outwit the lesser bad guys even giving Froppy and the unfortunately one-note Minoru a solid story to tell.
As the threat gets more real and the kids truly puts their lives on the line to hold off villains who look to be long-term rivals for Midoriya, Midoriya, Bakugo, and Todoroki are showcased as the true top heroes in their refusal to stop fighting before the U.A. teachers arrive including All Might to save the day.
Becoming a Hero (Episodes 1-4): My Hero Academia starts a bit slow, relative to its length. Midoriya spends a lot of time crying before it is clear how he will become the hero he so desperately wants to be. However, he is a strong lead protagonist, a classic hardworking and driven hero.
When he begins his training with All Might, it truly sells who he is with his lack of Quirk a powerful storytelling tool to separate him from everyone else. Also, All Might is just a great character especially in his damaged non-super state.
The First Week of Learning (Ep 5-8): Here is the heart of the series, the dynamic of Midoriya with his classmates. While the training can vary from episode to episode in how interesting it is, the kids are the best part of the series with their own motivations and clear personalities.
While Midoriya vs. Bakugo is the main focus and makes for a fun training battle, this section also introduces the driven and studious Tenya Iida, the wild and caring Ochako Uraraka, and the prodigy Shoto Todoroki. Not all characters are created equal, but they all have room for stories to be told that make them interesting.
The League of Villains (Ep 9-13): To wrap up the first season, there's a surprise huge threat that emerges, so suddenly that it is truly a shock. This makes for a satisfying close to the season as the kids outwit the lesser bad guys even giving Froppy and the unfortunately one-note Minoru a solid story to tell.
As the threat gets more real and the kids truly puts their lives on the line to hold off villains who look to be long-term rivals for Midoriya, Midoriya, Bakugo, and Todoroki are showcased as the true top heroes in their refusal to stop fighting before the U.A. teachers arrive including All Might to save the day.
Your No. 1 hero, ladies and gentlemen. (Image Courtesy of: lostinanime.com)
Impact and Art Style
This first season of My Hero Academia is fairly short and contained, but it perfectly captures the spirit of this adventure anime. All the characters are quickly established and made memorable with unique Quirks for each person that have interesting flexibility and backstories left unexplored for now.
This is not an anime that will change much in either the superhero genre or its medium, but it is a delightful watch with far more exploration left for many seasons to come. This could end up being one of the best modern anime by the end of its run.
The art has an interesting of the exaggerated features that dominate Western comic books and the sharp spiky looks that are inherent to anime. The blend is perfect for this type of series and especially leads to some solid comedy in the middle of the season.
This is not an anime that will change much in either the superhero genre or its medium, but it is a delightful watch with far more exploration left for many seasons to come. This could end up being one of the best modern anime by the end of its run.
The art has an interesting of the exaggerated features that dominate Western comic books and the sharp spiky looks that are inherent to anime. The blend is perfect for this type of series and especially leads to some solid comedy in the middle of the season.
Sub vs. Dub
My Hero Academia has a Funimation dub and an impressive one at that. While the sub is also strong, I enjoyed the dub enough to wait for it to air. Since this is a recent anime that started airing in 2016, the English sub does come out first, so those starting to watch now could have to wait longer for the dub.
It is actually not that long a wait though, a few weeks at most, which makes it more than worth it. Justin Briner (Rampo Kitan) manages to capture the spirit of Midoriya perfectly without coming off as overly whiny plus it just isn't the same hearing anyone but Christopher Sabat (One Piece) as All Might.
Recommendation: Dub
It is actually not that long a wait though, a few weeks at most, which makes it more than worth it. Justin Briner (Rampo Kitan) manages to capture the spirit of Midoriya perfectly without coming off as overly whiny plus it just isn't the same hearing anyone but Christopher Sabat (One Piece) as All Might.
Recommendation: Dub
And this is your hero. He's super cool and definitely not just adorable. (Image Courtesy of: youtube.com)
Conclusion
My Hero Academia's first season is not all that affecting a first chapter. A mere 13 episodes long, it barely gets off the ground before it is over. Despite this, the introductions alone are enough to make it worth investing in. Midoriya, Bakugo, All Might, even Midoriya's classmates Uraraka and Iida are fascinating characters from the start.
Moreover, this world is beautifully realized with so many hints of deep storytelling to come as well as tales left untold that are going on at their own pace. This superhero landscape has an interesting feel to it that is equally Western and Japanese that makes it unique for anime.
While it needs a full-fledged second season to fully embrace its potential, this opening is a great intro, almost a prequel to what could be great adventures and madness to come. There's heart, excitement, comedy, and fun brimming from My Hero Academia that cannot be ignored.
Moreover, this world is beautifully realized with so many hints of deep storytelling to come as well as tales left untold that are going on at their own pace. This superhero landscape has an interesting feel to it that is equally Western and Japanese that makes it unique for anime.
While it needs a full-fledged second season to fully embrace its potential, this opening is a great intro, almost a prequel to what could be great adventures and madness to come. There's heart, excitement, comedy, and fun brimming from My Hero Academia that cannot be ignored.