With more and more anime opting for sweeping seasonal releases instead of weekly schedules, filler episodes are becoming a less common occurrence. This might be just as well, as they have contributed to bloating classic stories that might have otherwise been more concise, ruining some fans' immersive experience. However, filler episodes also have the potential to be great, as evidenced by Kakashi Hatake’s "Anbu" arc in Naruto: Shippuden and Sailor Moon’s "Makai Tree" arc. In the case of more contemporary anime like My Hero Academia, filler episodes might be a necessary evil.

The death of the filler episode can be attributed to the healthier production cycles that more anime are choosing to adopt. Previously, studios needed to churn out new episodes week after week -- a demand that couldn’t be met by the limited supply of manga pages. To prevent the anime from catching up with their source material, studios elected to produce original stories. Some of these ended up being fan favorites, but the consensus on most filler content is that it can be skipped without affecting the overall story.

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My Hero Academia Developed Froppy's Character in Filler Episodes

Selkie and Tsu pursue villains in My Hero Academia

My Hero Academia’s Studio Bones has been quite conservative about creating filler episodes for the superhero shonen sensation. Those released so far mostly deal with the UA students' experiences during their Pro-Hero internships, with Class 1-A’s Tsuyu Asui receiving special attention. The Rainy Season Hero underwent her internships with the anime-original Pro-Hero Selkie, and she received most of her development in those episodes. While Froppy has always been regarded as a cool-under-fire character in her UA drills, her level-headedness was put to the test during her encounter with actual villains.

Froppy teamed up with Selkie once again for the World Heroes Mission tie-in episode, this time showcasing the ins and outs of hero team-up missions. She got to work with her classmate Uraraka Ochaco and the rest of the Ryukyu agency in an official Pro-Hero team-up. In just two filler episodes, Froppy’s persona as a hero was solidified. With similar adventures of their own in filler content, a lot of Class 1-A students would feel more well-rounded, addressing the common critique of the series’ large ensemble cast being underdeveloped.

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Filler Episodes Could Fix My Hero Academia's Pacing Issues

Deku and the former wielders of One For All in My Hero Academia

Based on Season 5’s "My Villain Academia" and Season 6’s "Dark Hero" arcs, an unfortunate trend seems to be developing where the latter halves of My Hero Academia seasons feel rushed in comparison to the first cours. While very little manga content is cut in order to maintain the standard 25-episode run, the speed at which the story picks up feels especially jarring in anime format. The aftermath of the Paranormal Liberation War teased a broken-down hero society that was just beginning to adjust to the new normal. While the societal collapse was evident from the story’s progression, MHA failed to explore the full ramifications of what life under All For One’s rule could entail.

A few filler episodes interspersed between key moments could go a long way in making the series' pacing feel more natural. For example, a mini-arc that explores how Midoriya Izuku practiced with his various One For All Quirks while confronting the bounty hunters sent by All For One would have made his vigilante days more compelling. Rather than simply telling the audience that Deku’s non-stop fights improved his mastery over his various Quirks, showing viewers the entire process would have made his massive power-up seem less contrived. Doing so might have also added an element of urgency to his epic fight with Lady Nagant, as she would have confronted him near the peak of his exhaustion while being described as far superior to the other bounty hunters that attacked Deku.