When looking at the U.S. popularity polls for My Hero Academia (which are separate from the Japanese polls), there are five characters who have managed to secure a spot in the top ten over the course of all five surveys. Throughout the four seasons, these characters have managed to remain consistent fan favorites, and with good reason. Over nearly ninety episodes and two hundred chapters of manga, these heroes strike a chord with fans that no other characters can seem to top.
Izuku Midoriya
It's natural for the main protagonist to get the most screen time and character development on their own. Midoriya is no exception and it's difficult not to admire him as the underdog as he persistently pursues his lifelong dream of being a hero through hard, bitter work. Apart from following a few of the same tropes as the typical shonen protagonist, Midoriya is enough of his own character to make him stand out. He doesn't lean more towards brains or brawn but is, rather, a unique combination of both.
Midoriya's intelligence is something he's developed after spending years analyzing heroes and quirks, allowing him to be more practical and creative in a battle situation compared to most beginners. His exceptional strength is also something he continuously develops. Additionally, he had to earn his quirk and even then he had to train immensely to stand on the same playing field as his peers. His progression from a nervous, easily startled boy to a fully-fledged hero is truly admirable and captivating to watch. An incredibly kind and empathetic character, Midoriya uses this as his motivation to strive towards his goal even in the most difficult of times, never hesitating to put the well-being of others before himself.
Katsuki Bakugo
While, originally, he wasn't very popular, what propelled Bakugo into being a fan favorite is his well-written character development. Bakugo's changes in outlook and attitude flow well with his experiences and growth on his way to becoming a real hero. He's an incredibly complex character, easily misunderstood by fans and other characters, as there is more to him than meets the eye — and Bakugo is determined to keep all that out of sight. Exceptionally smart with a keen battle intuition, Bakugo's combat ability is truly something for his opponents to fear. Bakugo is slowly coming to terms with his past mistakes and bettering himself not just as a hero, but as a person. On his road to redemption, the different layers of this character make him feel more three dimensional. He's not just a teenager who needs to take anger management classes, but a rising star with a promising future and exceptional talent.
Shoto Todoroki
A tremendously talented young hero with an even more tremendous backstory, Todoroki has a tragic past well-suited for the main hero in American cape comics. He starts off the series in the background, but really gets his time to shine in the sports festival. This is where the fans get to hear his origin story and some context to his mysterious personality. Once he starts to work through his internal conflicts, the anger and coldness dissipate, revealing a socially awkward, kind boy learning to carve out and follow his own path.
Todoroki's backstory gives him an edge as the mysterious, overpowered cool guy, but it's hard not to sympathize with him, especially with Endeavor constantly breathing down his neck. His character development is complex and still ongoing as he has years of trauma to work through, but it's uplifting to see him defy his past. Throughout the series, it's hard not to watch in awe as he skillfully uses both sides of his quirk, always promising an epic showdown.
Ochaco Uraraka
Most female leads in shonen anime are used as plot devices to further propel the male protagonist in his journey. Uraraka does play an important role in Midoriya's journey as one of his best friends, but thankfully there is more to her character than just that. Her reason for striving to become a hero is because she wants to help support her parents. The financial struggles her family face are relatable and a completely justified reason to aim for a career that'll secure a livelihood for herself and her parents. This aspect in itself makes her easy to root for.
After fighting Bakugo in the sports festival, Ochaco recognizes her own weaknesses and resolves to become more versatile in her skill set, allowing her to contribute more on the battlefield. This definitely comes in handy as she uses her martial arts techniques to help save the day on numerous occasions. Later, she decides to put aside her feelings for Izuku to completely focus on her own path to becoming a hero, which is an admirable decision as she keeps her end goals close to heart.
All Might
The former number one hero, All Might, was a pillar of peace for a long time, spreading justice and harmony across the nation, though it wasn't just the main characters who felt his influence. He brings to mind the classic comic book hero who embodies what it means to be a hero. Even after years of being such an influential force and his work taking a serious physical toll on his body, he did not retire. Instead, he still chose to fight with whatever time he had left. For as long as he could, he refused to give up and fought against his own deteriorating body, hiding this weakness behind his blinding strength.
All Might's intentions are never anything but good, but his successful career has had some dire consequences and he is chronically in pain as he hacks up blood. He's the best for a reason and is different from most other heroes, standing out in the greatest of ways. Even though the light within him is a dying ember, he truly goes plus ultra to stand triumphant for the people who look up to him. Like the truest of heroes, he risks everything to serve a purpose greater than himself and his influence will live on in many future heroes to come.