Leaving aside truly gory anime like Attack on Titan, it’s a common misconception among some non-anime viewers that anime is only for children or teenagers. That couldn’t be further from the truth, as adult viewers can often find an increased level of enjoyment in mainstream shows.
One such case is the popular anime My Hero Academia. The shonen series has a lot of fans among the younger anime fanbase, but if it has become so widespread, it is also because it has won over numerous adults. In fact, in some ways, My Hero Academia is better for older members of the anime community.
9 The Adult Characters Of My Hero Academia Can Be More Intriguing Than The Youngsters
My Hero Academia centers on the journey of protagonist Izuku Midoriya as he learns to master his abilities and become a great hero. But some of the adult characters are just as important as Izuku. In fact, it is Izuku’s mentor, All Might, who is the iconic character of the show.
His dispute with All For One is the axis around which the whole series rotates. Adult viewers may very well appreciate the character of Yagi Toshinori more than younger ones. And All Might certainly isn’t an exception to the rule. Other Pro Heroes like Eraserhead and Hawks have their own dedicated fanbase. Some civilians, like Izuku's mother, Inko Midoriya, have also drawn interest. Meanwhile, some viewers enjoy imagining the students of Class 1-A as Pro Heroes in their own right, instead of focusing on their lives at U.A.
8 Adults Find Some Underlining Messages Thought-Provoking
Many young viewers may watch My Hero Academia out of the simple desire to see Izuku persevere in his quest and defeat the League of Villains. However, some adults may find more enjoyment in interpreting the deeper underlining messages.
Some motifs are truly thought-provoking, particularly in the case of the prejudice Izuku has to face while growing up Quirkless. Mutant and "villainous" Quirk users also have similar experiences, and in some ways, this may be a nod to the discrimination many minorities have to suffer from in nowadays society.
7 Adult Viewers Can Be More Discerning When It Comes To Certain Themes
My Hero Academia is interesting, but it’s certainly not perfect. While it does approach problematic themes that are often present in real life, the way certain topics are dealt with in the series may not always appeal to the viewers. Endeavor’s spousal abuse is one such case.
Many fans are dissatisfied with Endeavor’s redemption arc, and this may be particularly prevalent among older viewers. Still, they are discerning enough to process the concept with a critical eye. Similarly, the real implication of Katsuki Bakugou’s bullying of Izuku Midoriya may be better understood by an adult who can grasp the real consequences of long-term abuse.
6 The Gray Morality Of The Show Has Made Villains Particularly Popular
It’s not uncommon for villains to be popular. After all, everybody likes a bad boy. My Hero Academia does a good job in portraying its antagonists, even turning Tomura Shigaraki into its protagonist in the My Villain Academia Arc. All things considered, it stands to reason that numerous members of the League have earned the fans’ interest. Alongside Shigaraki, whose background makes him a truly tragic figure, the villain Dabi has also become very popular due to his connection with Endeavor.
His fellow League of Villains member Twice is also a fan-favorite. While it’s difficult to tell the exact age of the fans of these characters, gray morality does tend to appeal a lot to older viewers, who find the complexity of such characters compelling.
5 Adult Viewers May Enjoy The Comics Inspiration Of The Characters More
Older fans of My Hero Academia certainly don’t have the monopoly over liking All Might, Hawks, and Dabi, but they may process the characters in different ways. Many adult viewers may be more familiar with the comics' inspiration of the heroes and villains created by Kohei Horikoshi. The creator certainly doesn’t hide it, and some Marvel and DC heroes even make slight cameos.
All Might’s similarity with Superman is glaring enough for anyone to notice. The vigilante Knuckleduster has been compared by many to Batman. Present Mic may remind some viewers of Canary or Banshee. All For One has many things in common with Darth Vader. The more experience someone has with these other franchises, the more they will enjoy it.
4 The Creativity Of The Quirks May Be A Breath Of Fresh Air For Adult MHA Fans
It’s not easy to find an original anime. It’s particularly difficult for longtime anime viewers, who have been around long enough to see the same themes get rehashed over and over again. My Hero Academia isn’t completely immune to this tendency as it does include its fair share of shonen tropes.
But at the same time, it is creative enough that it keeps adult viewers interested, providing a breath of fresh air for adult fans who enjoy the genre but are tired of watching the same thing all over again. Certain Quirks like Yaoyorozu Momo’s Creation, Fumikage Tokoyami's Dark Shadow, and Star and Stripe's New Order add a lot to the story and keep viewers intrigued.
3 The Concept Of Quirks Creates A Lot Of Room For Theorizing By Knowledgeable Fans
Part of the enjoyment in any type of media is the lore, and the creativity of the Quirks has another even more interesting effect on the fandom. Viewers who are knowledgeable in the field of genetics have been known to put together complicated theories on where Quirks actually come from, as transmitted through genes.
On a more specific level, some viewers enjoy going into Izuku-like sprees of Quirk analysis, creating theories on how each individual ability works. This is more common among adult viewers, who have a solid basis in biology or even experience in the field of medicine.
2 Later Seasons Of The Series Can Get Pretty Dark
My Hero Academia may not be gory, but it can certainly get violent, particularly in later seasons. Calling it scary would be too much, especially by anime standards. But there are certain sequences that would be at least unpleasant for a younger viewer. One notable example includes the fate of Shigaraki’s family, including the graphic death of his dog, which was pretty shocking.
Some later deaths in the Paranormal Liberation War arc may also prove to be upsetting. It’s certainly not inappropriate for younger viewers but adults may have an easier time with certain events, particularly if they’ve seen bloodier shows in the past.
1 Maturity Gives Fans A Different Perspective Over Ships
Much of the hostility within the My Hero Academia fanbase involves shipping wars among viewers who view their pairings as superior to those of anyone else’s. It’s not exactly a rule, but these fans do tend to be somewhat younger. Maturity tends to give fans a different perspective over ships.
As an adult, a fan often understands that having a personal preference for a pairing doesn’t make someone else’s preference any less valid. It removes the hostility from the equation and allows fans to simply view the anime without making someone feel terrible about their own perceptions.