Kohei Horikoshi’s My Hero Academia has quickly grown into one of the most popular shonen series of this generation, and there’s no end in sight to its success. The anime’s fifth season is currently underway with its third feature film dominating the box office over in Japan.

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There’s been tremendous growth and change throughout My Hero Academia since the beginning of the series, all of which makes Izuku “Deku” Midoriya’s journey to becoming the Number One Pro Hero even more exciting. A wide array of powerful heroes and villains have made big waves in My Hero Academia, but it’s also important to consider the broader ways in which the series’ principles and characters have shown change.

10 Death Becomes A Reality In Hero Society

Nighteye looking into Mirio's future

It’s not uncommon for shonen series that begin in bright and cheerful places to gradually mature and broach more serious subject matter. My Hero Academia is set within a dangerous world, but it’s a very bright and positive anime for the most part. Midoriya’s journey becomes more difficult, and he has to eventually acquaint himself with the concept of death and that the heroes that he admires can meet their ends. Death isn’t exploited in My Hero Academia, but it’s definitely felt and becomes more of a reality. Sir Nighteyes’s end is an especially difficult loss.

9 Characters Can Lose Their Quirks

Mirio Gets Hit With Quirk-Erasing Bullet In My Hero Academia

There are many ways to become an important hero in My Hero Academia, but an individual’s Quirk is often the major rubric on which they’re judged. Accordingly, characters have great pride in their powerful abilities, but Quirks later turn into possible liabilities. Overhaul and his evil Shie Hassaikai organization craft Quirk-Erasing Bullets, which valiant heroes like Mirio Togata unfortunately experience. There are also villains like All For One and Nine who have the power to steal others’ Quirks. There’s considerably more suspense in the series once characters start to lose their Quirks, and they’re treated like less permanent traits.

8 The Development Of The Nomu

Anime The 4-Eyed Nomu Attacking Grand Torino MHA

There are various ways that the antagonists in My Hero Academia assert their power, but right at the climax of the show’s first season, there’s a deadly ambush against U.A. High. This encounter makes prominent use of a monstrous juggernaut known as Nomu. Over time, My Hero Academia explains that the Nomu are genetically modified experiments to craft exceptional new villains.

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The Nomu receive steady development to the point where the subtle differences between them all are made clear as well as the tragic realization that traces of the original individual still remain locked away in these Nomu somewhere.

7 Midoriya Acquires Several Quirks

Midoriya's Blackwhip Catching Debris in My Hero Academia

Many shonen series like to focus on an optimistic underdog, which is a role that Izuku Midoriya lovingly embraces. Midoriya begins the series as a passionate boy without any Quirks or superhero abilities. Midoriya’s life changes when All Might bequeaths him with his One For All Quirk, but Midoriya’s proficiency in this area only increases. Midoriya’s development coincides with him acquiring several other Quirks, like Blackwhip and Float, which correspond to the previous One For All bearers. Midoriya’s increasing number of Quirks is a big change that he must learn how to properly handle.

6 The Todoroki Family & Their Relationship With Endeavor

Endeavor sobbing hysterically over Shoto's safety

One of the most fascinating examples of character development throughout My Hero Academia involves the Todoroki family. Shoto Todoroki initially refuses to utilize the fire component of his Half-Cold Half-Hot Quirk power because of its association with his father, Endeavor. My Hero Academia effectively highlights the pain that Endeavor caused his family, which is still very raw for most members of the Todoroki family. Shoto coming to terms with his fire powers, his relationship with his father, as well as the amends that Endeavor takes to redeem himself have all changed in major ways since the series’ start.

5 The League Of Villains Evolves In Size & Scope

Dabi, Shigaraki, and Mr. Compress walking away after defeating Overhaul in My Hero Academia.

My Hero Academia identifies its major antagonists right at the start of the series, but the League of Villains can often feel like a nebulous organization that also faces its own share of mysterious threats. The League of Villains has evolved in a very intimidating manner over the course of My Hero Academia’s fifth season.

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Tomura Shigaraki continually acquires more power and crosses new lines in terms of what he’s willing to do to succeed. The League of Villains’ growth and their relationship with Shie Hassaikai and the Meta Liberation Army continually proves why they’re such a serious threat.

4 Quirks Can Evolve

Anime Red Riot Unbreakable Kirishima Eijiro My Hero Academia

The more time that a hero spends with their Quirks likely means that they’ll become more adept and resourceful with this power. Confidence is an essential skill, but My Hero Academia also shows that Quirks have the ability to evolve and gain new eccentricities if their users properly cultivate their powers. This isn’t as drastic of an advantage as directly gaining a new Quirk, but plenty of previously irrelevant heroes become important again because of the nature of their Quirks’ evolutions. Kirishima and Todoroki are two examples who adopt very different fighting styles after their Quirks develop in new ways.

3 Characters Align With Hero Agencies

Anime My Hero Academia Uraraka Cannon Fire Work Study

My Hero Academia benefits from its school year structure that allows Midoriya and company to ascend at U.A. High while they simultaneously grow into more confident heroes. U.A. High develops many effective trials to push these budding heroes forward, but a large part of their curriculum involves work-study programs that push hero students into the real world through working at various Pro Hero Agencies. It’s very satisfying as students split up and find their callings through different Hero Agencies. Certain heroes like Asui and Uraraka don’t really find their voices until they’re a part of an agency.

2 The Principles Behind One For All & The Understanding Of The Quirk

my hero academia one for all users standing in a line

All Might’s prolific One For All Quirk is put on a pedestal right from the very beginning of My Hero Academia. One For All remains a distant goal that Midoriya works hard to master. Each season chronicles Midoriya’s progress as he’s able to comfortably access a greater percentage of his power without ruining his body. Midoriya’s control and understanding of One For All grow more confident, but he also begins to make contact with the vestiges of former One For All bearers within his subconscious. He’s able to truly connect with his power and its origins.

1 All Might Has Retired & Stepped Out Of The Spotlight

all might tartarus my hero academia

All Might is the face of Pro Heroes when My Hero Academia begins. He’s society’s Number One Pro Hero and someone who’s practically become mass-marketed as the ultimate symbol of peace. All Might lets Midoriya in on a major secret that his health is failing and that his days are ultimately numbered. Midoriya does his best to help All Might with this transition, but it also triggers many other changes in hero society, like who will rise to be the next Number One Pro Hero. All Might’s role continues to change, and it’s helpful that he’s allowed this nuance.

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