My Hero Academia is one of the most popular anime of the decade and the superhero series is set to celebrate its fifth season this year. There are many modern anime that make a big impression on audiences, but My Hero Academia finds a creative spin on the standard shonen genre tropes.
It’s consistently engaging to watch Izuku Midoriya improve on his journey to become a professional hero, but the anime carefully develops lots of memorable characters. My Hero Academia shows that there are lots of different ways to win a fight and that intelligence is often even more important than a powerful Quirk. My Hero Academia continues to introduce new and amazing characters, but it’s important to recognize the brightest of the bunch.
10 Izuku Midoriya’s Experience Has Made Him A Battle Genius
My Hero Academia explores Izuku Midoriya’s slow development into the number one professional hero, but when the anime begins, he’s a meek child who doesn’t even possess a Quirk. It’s stunning to watch Midoriya refine his skills, come into his own, and takedown bigger opponents. Midoriya may not consider himself to be a genius, but his temperamental Quirk and the dangerous villains that he’s fought have taught him a ton. Midoriya still has a lot to learn and is impulsive, but he also knows how to improvise an attack and get the most out of his Quirk and environment.
9 Years Of Pain Have Turned Shoto Todoroki Into A Remarkable Hero
Shoto Todoroki is a fascinating U.A. High student who has one of the more powerful Quirks, Half-Cold Half-Hot. This contrasting Quirk reflects Todoroki’s painful past and the trauma that his father, Endeavor, has inflicted on him and his family. Todoroki initially avoids the use of the fire component of his Quirk, which causes him to get more creative with his ice skills. Over time, Todoroki becomes more adept with the full capacity of his Quirk and it’s an ability that requires someone to consider the big picture in order to get the most out of it.
8 Mei Hatsume’s Excellent Support Items Reflect Her Vast Intellect
Part of the fun in My Hero Academia is that different students at U.A. High will be drawn towards different streams of heroics. Mei Hatsume, for instance, may not be the strongest in combat, but she’s made a name for herself with her excellent support items and costume upgrades for her peers.
Hatsume’s Zoom Quirk is the perfect skill to help her maximize her materials, yet it also represents a variety of intelligence that’s able to aid heroes in other ways. Hatsume is an important exception that her smarts are used to benefit others more so than herself.
7 Overhaul Is A Master Manipulator & Evil Genius
Kai Chisaki, otherwise known as Overhaul of the Shie Hassaikai organization, is one of the most dangerous villains that Izuku Midoriya or anyone in the series has encountered. Overhaul is ruthless in his mission, but he's also an individual who brilliantly understands how Quirks operate and how to get the most out of them. He uses his own Quirk to fuse together with other villains and absorb their powers as a result. However, he's also able to look at Eri's Rewind Quirk and help synthesize a Quirk-Destroying Drug from out of it, which is no small feat.
6 Shigaraki's Brilliance Has Kept The League Of Villains Afloat
My Hero Academia contains many intimidating and deadly villains, but Tomura Shigaraki has been around from the very beginning and only became more dangerous. Shigaraki's brilliance comes out in his ability to play the long game, biding his time while other villains falter and take his targets out of the way for him. Shigaraki's genius has also led to him being able to evolve his Quirk to an almost overpowering degree. The professional heroes might have taken out all of the villains years ago if Shigaraki weren't around to pull the strings.
5 Tenya Iida Wears His Smarts Like A Badge Of Courage
In a series like My Hero Academia, it’s not uncommon for many characters to fulfill certain genre stereotypes. Tenya Iida is a complex individual, but he also proudly champions himself to be Class 1-A’s bookworm. Iida campaigns to be Class President, which is an honor that he doesn’t abuse.
Iida isn’t always on the front lines in a fight, but his capacity to develop a sound strategy is often integral. Iida is a good reflection of how book smarts can be just as practical as street smarts a lot of the time.
4 Gran Torino Is A Master Mentor With Deceptive Intellect
Gran Torino is an important pro hero that’s older in his years, yet he’s still very much an integral force in the series. My Hero Academia introduces Gran Torino in a way where he’s meant to be underestimated, but he quickly demonstrates why he’s such an important figure. Gran Torino’s intelligence comes out in more subtle ways, but he’s able to effectively train both Midoriya and All Might and help them make significant headway with the One For All Quirk. His input and strategies against the League of Villains and the Shie Hassaikai are also seriously valued.
3 Shota Aizawa’s Quirk & Position Reflect His Keen Observation Skills
My Hero Academia tackles some dangerous territory as it goes on and the growing heroes get out into the real world, but there’s also a good deal of time that’s spent matriculating at U.A. High. Shota Aizawa, otherwise known as Eraser Head, is the homeroom teacher for Class 1-A who frequently demonstrates his skills of perception. Aizawa’s Quirk allows him to disable other people’s Quirks, which requires a strong strategy to pull off. He’s also constantly assessing his students and creating routines for Class 1-A that bring out their potential.
2 All For One Is A Criminal Mastermind That's Been Locked Away
There are plenty of villains in My Hero Academia who have only been able to succeed as well as they have because of the keen intellect that accompanies their Quirks. All For One is the villainous counterpart to All Might and he's actually able to steal other people's Quirks. All For One puts a lot of strategy into just which Quirks he acquires and how to properly combine them together. He wouldn't be half as dangerous as he is if he didn't think everything through from so many different angles and consider every possibility.
1 Sir Nighteye’s Ability To See The Future Is A Blessing & A Curse
Sir Nighteye is an important character that’s introduced in season four of My Hero Academia as an influential new mentor for Midoriya. Nighteye educates both Midoriya and Mirio Togata in substantial ways and the rest of the community acknowledges how his opinion is so respected. Nighteye has earned this respect, but a lot of it also has to do with his Foresight Quirk, which allows him to see the future. This knowledge forces Nighteye to be deeply resourceful in an effort to prepare for what’s to come.