Relatable High School Heroes In My Hero Academia

School is back in session, and though some may be dreading long days and heavy workloads, there is something about the new school year that feels somewhat refreshing. It is like a blank slate and a time to meet new people who share similar passions. Being in an educational setting can inspire us to really show what we’re made of, which is why My Hero Academia is the perfect show to motivate students to keep on pushing on.

What Is My Hero Academia About?

Whether an avid fan or just a casual one, there is a huge chance that anime fans have heard of My Hero Academia. Taking the world by storm upon the anime’s release back in 2016, the acclaimed series has become one of the top must-watch anime, with four action-packed seasons and a fifth to come, along with two films and nearly thirty volumes of the manga. Cosplayers have donned their best hero costumes while saturating anime and comic conventions everywhere. The hype is indefinitely real, but what elements of this series make it so great?

The start of the series gives the audience some background on the current world that the characters are living in, which is current modern-day, but with one difference. In this reality, humans are born with special abilities called “quirks”, which are essentially superpowers.

The number of quirks people are born with is endless, and not just limited to the typical abilities we see in most superhero and comic-based TV shows. Not only do we get to see things like flying and super strength, but other types of unique quirks that are awesome in their own right. Think more along the lines of the mutants of Marvel’s own X-Men.

As society learned to adjust to this change, world governments began to integrate it into the culture, making it possible for quirk users to serve their country by using their powers for good. Quirk users who use their powers for the good of their nation were dubbed as heroes and could make a career out of becoming a “pro hero.” Quirk users who were less noble and used their powers for wrongdoing were dubbed as villains.

Eventually, schools that were made specifically for aspiring heroes began to emerge, offering different courses that would assist young heroes-in-training reach their goals to become professionals in the field. The series follows eager soon-to-be high schooler Izuku Midoriya, whose ultimate dream is to become a great hero, much like his idol and number one hero, All Might. There is only one problem — Midoriya was born without a quirk.

The Endearing Journey Of A Young Boy’s Dream

We follow Midoriya on his difficult journey to achieve his dreams, despite being born without a quirk. As the only quirkless student in his class, Midoriya was constantly subjected to bullying, particularly by his overly confident childhood friend Bakugo. Though discouraged by not being born with a quirk, Midoriya still keeps a positive outlook on life, despite being constantly told that he cannot be a hero without one. He still tightly holds onto his dreams of becoming a hero and, eventually meets the hero he has worshipped for years: All Might.

Though he is thrilled about meeting his hero, Midoriya did not receive the response he was expecting after confessing his dreams of becoming a quirkless hero. All Might tells him to have practical dreams, and that he can’t be a hero without a quirk, much like what everyone around him had told him his entire life. Regardless, Midoriya’s spirit isn’t one that could easily be snuffed out. After a terrifying turn of events in which Midoriya comes face to face with a villain who attacks his friend, he decides to act rather than run.

Though Midoriya lacks a quirk, he makes up for it by using basic strategies he learned from observing pro heroes over the years. These strategies are enough to hold off the villain long enough for the pros to step in. After watching Midoriya run headfirst to save his friend, All Might is moved by his tenacity and brave heart. He decides to seek Midoriya out and take him on as a protégé, telling him that with a lot of training and hard work, he too could become a hero. Shortly after, through a stroke of luck, Midoriya miraculously gains a quirk.

He was able to enroll at UA, the prestigious school known for training the greatest pro heroes, including All Might himself. As the series progresses, Midoriya is faced with the challenges of possessing a new quirk that his body can barely handle. Not to mention, he immediately throws himself into All Might’s rigorous physical training. Midoriya works through blood, sweat, and tears to get into his dream school alone, but this is just the beginning of the difficult road ahead for the hero in training. Struggling to control his quirk, Midoriya takes on not only school life, but the forces of evil brewing within his city as well.

He bonds with his classmates of homeroom 1-A as they learn, study, and train together; all with goals to become the greatest heroes that they can be. As each arc passes, we watch a timid and emotional Midoriya slowly transform into a strong-willed and passionate soul. He fearlessly takes on the hero name Deku, which was once a nickname used to berate him, and is steadily learning not only how to control his newfound abilities, but finding his own identity as well.

The Positive Message On Never Giving Up Without A Fight

My Hero Academia is inspiring not only to young audiences but to older fans as well. Watching an average boy, who is consistently told that he cannot achieve his dreams, never give up is endearing to watch and is the constant drive of the show. Deku endures emotional, physical, and psychological hardships to reach his goals; and though sometimes difficult to watch, it is inspiring to fans on a somewhat relatable level.

As Deku and Class 1-A grow, fans get to see them overcome emotional obstacles. Deku is constantly battling the doubt within himself due to years of being told that he could not achieve his dreams, as well as bearing the burden of living up to his potential. Because of this, Deku also struggles to find his own identity. Deku not only has to confront his self-worth issues but face the physical limitations of his newfound quirk as well.

The more Deku learns about his quirk, the more difficult honing it becomes. He is constantly getting caught in the crossfire of villainous attacks which forces him to fight, sometimes resulting in serious injury as he constantly pushes his body to the limit. Despite these shortcomings, Deku endures through the pain to save those in need, determined to become the hero that he aspires to be. Deku’s drive to become a hero pushes him forward, and even in the face of imminent danger, it is not hard to see that he has the true heart of a hero. Despite not yet reaching his full potential, Deku never runs from a fight and is always the first to act, no matter how difficult the obstacle may seem.

His bravery and kind-hearted soul are unmatched, and his positive endurance begins to inspire his fellow classmates and teachers alike. Deku’s journey gives the anime a feel-good vibe whenever he manages to do the impossible and succeed. Fans can’t help but cheer the valiant Deku on as he takes down villains with his iconic “SMASH!”. It gives a feeling of hope and pushes fans to reach for their goals, no matter how tough the obstacles in between may seem.

The Family That Is Class 1-A

My Hero Academia latches onto the hearts of many, primarily because of its lovable and inspiring characters. Class 1-A is no exception, as this is the homeroom class where Deku and his gifted classmates spend the majority of their time together. Despite there being twenty students in the class, each character is unique in their own right. From the hot-headed Katsuki Bakugo to quirky frog hero Tsuyu Asui (who prefers that her friends only call her Tsu), each student is charming and memorable in their own way.

Though the show focuses more on certain characters a little more than others, the students of Class 1-A are far from being simple background characters. Everyone is working towards the same goal at UA, even if they each have different reasons for doing so. Everyone in Class 1-A gets a chance to shine and connect with fans of all kinds. There is something about Class 1-A that makes them lovable and unlike the rest of the classes at UA, and that is that they are more of a family rather than just a class. They consistently encourage and look out for one another even though they all strive for the same goal and are technically rivals as well.

The quirky high schoolers grow on fans with their lovable personalities and styles, but they are also lovable for another reason as well. Just as Deku has personal struggles when it comes to achieving his goal, so do many others in Class-1A. Every student comes from a different background and tells a different story, yet they all share the same goal. My Hero Academia reflects on certain topics such as self-worth, abuse, family issues, and seeking validation, which are relatable issues to a number of teen viewers and even adults alike. Watching these characters power through and overcome their struggles encourages fans to hold on and keep fighting, even if it seems impossible.

Though the young heroes-in-training are faced with taxing physical training to hone their quirks at UA, they are still average high school students. Quirks aside, UA is still a high school where teens go to not only train in honing their abilities but to get an education as well. The students of UA still do typical things like elect a class president and struggle with English and Math classes.

In some ways, Class 1-A was forced to grow up a little too quickly, but fans still get to see the realistic side of being an average teen. Class 1-A still does things like hang out at the mall together, have study groups, and participate in the highly anticipated school festival. We watch as characters struggle with normal issues like growing up, having crushes, and dealing with parental relationships, whether good or bad. My Hero Academia is action-packed with rarely dull moments, so it is somewhat calming to watch the beloved high school heroes have some normal downtime after an intense arc.

Why My Hero Academia Continues To Capture Fans

My Hero Academia stands out from the rest with its seamless integration of both eastern and western comic cultures, and it gives the audience a refreshing twist from a typical shonen anime. The series could be easily compared to the cult classic anime Naruto in a sense that two protagonists share similar goals and face difficult trials to achieve their ultimate dream.

Not only is the series action-packed and full of quirky and lovable characters, but it packs an emotional punch that brings the audience back to reality, just a little bit. My Hero Academia shows the hardships of trying to achieve a difficult goal while also dealing with adolescent life as it happens, and that is something that everyone can relate to.