My Hero Academia is a fantastic property, but it's just like most other shonen stories. The narrative follows the journey of a young boy who is slightly different from everyone else. Along the way, he'll make new friends, fight fierce enemies, and be forced to grow up at an alarming pace.

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There's more to a shonen than just that, obviously. But it's that story, that narrative, those moments that make for some of the best parts in any of these animes. It's about the characters, their interactions, seeing them at their worst, their best, and everything in between. So, as a celebration of the coming 4th season, let's take a look back at some of the emotional peaks from MHA, both good and bad.

10 Inspiring: Deku Forcing Todoroki Into Using His Flame

What a battle! the Sports Festival semi-finals Deku Vs Todoroki, frankly, it's probably the best fight so far in the anime, This match is an achievement in animation, storytelling, and cliche subversion all in one. Originally, Shoto Todoroki seemed like he was going to end up as an anti-hero, tragic hero, or some cookie-cutter sad boy thanks to his demeanor.

But, thanks to Deku's insane lack of bodily preservation and Shoto's insatiable need to surpass his scumbag dad, he finally uses his flame! The moment where Shoto finally remembers that he does actually want to be a hero and gives off the awkward yet genuine smile still gives us chills, pun intended.

9 Crushing: Shigaraki's Backstory In Its Entirety

Shigaraki Past

Now, this has only been spoiled in the Manga, so we'll avoid any spoilers for the sake of our anime-only kids, but Shigaraki's backstory has finally been revealed! It was quite the bomb drop at the end of Season 1 to find out that he was the grandson of Nana Shimura, who was the previous holder of One For All before All Might.

However, we never quite knew how he became so twisted and why he was so against hero society originally. Well, now we do, and it's disturbing, shockingly so actually. Usually, the more popular shonen series try not to go too far with psychological trauma and hyperviolence, but not this time.

8 Inspiring: Overcoming Stain & The Synchronized Attack

The debate around Stain, his ideals, and what that means in this Hero-centric society is one of the more interesting questions that MHA poses. In fact, the entire spinoff manga MHA: Vigilantes actually goes into that same issue a fair bit. But, no matter what, at the end of the day, Stain is still a madman and a murderer.

Therefore, the fight between Stain, Ilda, Todoroki, and Deku is both gratifying and tense. Basically, the entire scene is dark and foreboding, with a very real sense that these literal children have their lives on the line. But, when they finally agree on a common goal and use their Quirks in unison, it leads to one of the most satisfying hits in the series.

7 Crushing: Uraraka's Inevitable Loss To Bakugo

The Sports Festival Arc has some of the best fights maybe even in all of shonen history, and why wouldn't it? It's a tournament arc after all. That said, the fight between Bakugo and Uraraka is simply tragic. At this point, Bakugo is still mostly just a foul-mouthed jerk, and Uraraka is a bubbly and adorable hero! So, of course, it made sense that people would want her to win and take Bakugo down a peg.

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Sadly, we all knew she wouldn't, there was just too much of a gap in skill. Watching her run headfirst into explosion after explosion all for the sake of her plan which doesn't even work is just a real tear-jerker. Sure it's nice the Bakugo acknowledges her, but don't even get us started on the phonecall with her parents after.

6 Inspiring: Anytime Madman Deku Shows Up

So this could work as both something inspiring or crushing because Madman Deku is a double-edged sword. Madman Deku is it's a term used on forums and the like as a descriptor for whenever Deku just destroys his own body to some real nasty levels. Probably the best example is in the forest during the Summer Camp Arc, where he's almost completely out of bones to break, yet he beats Muscular, ground-pounds Compress, and even dropkicks Spinner's sword.

Basically, it's just inspiring to see a guy pushing past his limits like that. Especially since most of the time, Deku's bones are ground into a fine paste.

5 Crushing: Bakugo's Pure Self-Hatred

Remember how we said the fight between Deku and Todoroki might be the best in the series? Well, this entry is one of the only other contenders, and it's the all-out-brawl between Deku and Bakugo after the events in Kamino. The animation during this slugfest is top-notch and the voice acting is even more insane.

Whoever does the Japanese voice for Bakugo must have gotten a sore throat after this because the amount of times Bakugo's voice cracks and breaks while screaming is insane. Basically, Bakugo blames himself for All Might's retirement, and we can feel that in every word he says during and even a bit after this fight. It's inspiring to see him grow as a character but boy does it pull at our heartstrings.

4 Inspiring: The United States Of Smash

All Might using United States of Smash in My Hero Academia.

The final torch pass, the end of an era, the loss of the symbol; call it anything you want but at the end of the day, it's just One for All vs All For One. The events of Kamino are where the series really shines as a truly complex story that isn't simply about sappy heroics and feel-good endings.

All For One comes in, literally murders people, and almost kills All Might. The only reason he doesn't is because of the last embers of One For All, and it allows him one final, truly Plus Ultra punch. Let us tell you, hearing the cries of the people watching, feeling the excitement swelling within, and then watching The United States of Smash is one of our favorite moments in anime to date.

3 Crushing: The Story Of Eri, Lumillion, & Nighteye

So this will be the only other entry dedicated to solely to something in the manga, and that's only because it'll be covered in Season 4. The end of Season 3 introduced the Big 3: Mirio, Tamaki, and Nejire. Now, Season 4 will quickly introduce one of All Might's past sidekicks, Nighteye.

The deeply dark and unsettling story that Season 4 plans to cover heavily depends on Nighteye, Deku, Mirio, and a little girl called Eri. While again we won't spoil anything, just know that the events that unfold and how things end is by far the most bittersweet thing to happen in MHA so far.

2 Inspiring: Forget All-Might, It's Dad-Might Now

This covers a couple of different moments, but there' s nothing more heartwarming in My Hero Academia than when All Might becomes Dad Might. Basically, this is whenever the #1 Hero gets overprotective, close, or even just friendly with Deku. Stuff like when All Might offers to share lunch with Deku or the first time when the Pro Hero personally visits Midoriya's house for the dorm program, and especially when he hugs Deku after Kamino.

Deku's dad works overseas and is basically a non-existant character, so to see All Might unintentionally filling that gap in Deku's life is just so sweet.

1 Crushing: Baby Deku's Soul-less Stare

Young Deku crying

Finally, we have the most crushing part of the anime, at least for us, and it happens right in the beginning! Basically, it's the whole part where young Midoriya finds out he is Quirkless. The moment where his eyes are wide and hollow, filled with nothing but abject denial and despair.

When Deku's mom, rather than supporting him and saying "you can still be a hero" chooses to break down and simply apologize to her crying son; well, it's just heartwrenching okay?! This little kid bet his entire identity and life on being a hero, and it was snatched right from under him! Obviously things get better, but it felt like we were watching the first 10 minutes of Disney's Up, all over again!

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