Kohei Horikoshi's My Hero Academia is a property that came around at the perfect time and is able to effortlessly indulge in both tropes from shonen storytelling as well as superhero cinema. My Hero Academia chronicles the inspirational journey of Izuku "Deku" Midoriya as he gradually evolves into society's Number One Pro Hero. This process hasn't been easy for Midoriya, and My Hero Academia has changed in important ways over time as the burgeoning hero matures and grows stronger.
My Hero Academia has produced more than 100 episodes and three feature films, all while it continues to dominate the shonen genre. Horikoshi's signature series certainly deserves its popularity and accolades, but it's also guilty of cribbing from other series and anime staples.
10 The Protagonist Begins With No Powers
An overpowered protagonist is a common area of concern in many anime series. Plenty of programs set up their hero to be so overpowered that there's never a real sense of danger during the action. The opposite extreme is also true where an anime begins with a mundane figure who doesn't possess any special abilities until they suddenly experience some freak accident.
My Hero Academia's main character, Midoriya, is obsessed with Pro Heroes, but he's one of the few individuals who's born without a Quirk. This could develop into a compelling arc, but it's not long until Midoriya doesn't just gain his own Quirk, but he inherits one of the most valuable ones in existence.
9 There's A Familial Connection Between The Major Villain And Hero
One of the most common storytelling tropes in sprawling sagas is the surprise reveal that the villain and hero don't just share some kind of connection together, but that they're actually flesh and blood family.
Many top heroes and villains come and go in My Hero Academia, but the series has shown that the villain All For One, as well as the bearer of One For All, are largely responsible for the state of Quirks in the world. It's devastating to learn that the original One For All bearer was All For One's younger brother, which only intensifies his plan to acquire this prestigious power.
8 A Mentor Figure Is On Borrowed Time With Declining Health
A popular rite of passage for many anime heroes is to witness their older mentor figure meet their end, usually right after they've properly taught their pupil everything that they know. A major factor in All Might's decision to pass his One For All Quirk over to Midoriya is that its continued use puts too much of a physical strain on his body.
A lifetime of this has All Might exceptionally frail, which he needs to keep secret from the general public. All Might hasn't shuffled off the mortal coil yet, but the ticking clock that accompanies his dwindling health is a classic anime trope.
7 The Former Bully Becomes The Hero's Greatest Ally
Anime series love friendly rivalries just as much as they do the vicious ones that end in death. The main characters in My Hero Academia begin the series at a young age, and many of these children still have a lot of growing up to do. Izuku Midoriya and Katsuki Bakugo are currently best friends, but the origins of their relationship begin with the latter ruthlessly bullying the former during their youth.
Midoriya is reluctant to extend an olive branch, but Bakugo slowly gets over himself, apologizes for his childish bullying, and now has Midoriya's back more than any other character.
6 Multiple Training And Tournament Arcs Are Present
Battle shonen series revolve around climactic fight sequences and a tournament or training arc becomes an easy way to deliver non-stop action without needing to get lost in exposition or adventures. Admittedly, My Hero Academia embraces this structural device a little too often, and there are copious competitions and training exercises throughout the show's five seasons.
The Sports Festival and the Joint Training Exercise are the most egregious examples of this, where My Hero Academia's narrative reaches a complete standstill while everyone shows off their talents.
5 Controversial Heroes And Villains Experience Redemption
The best anime characters are the ones who are neither purely good nor evil and instead occupy complicated shades of grey. Anime loves a satisfying redemption arc, and it's common for shonen series to rehabilitate former threats into trusted allies.
My Hero Academia is no stranger to this trope, and many characters – both heroes and villains – have received lengthy redemption. The most prominent of these is the arc that Endeavor experiences as he atones for his past sins. However, there are also individuals like Gentle Criminal who are eager to improve upon themselves and turn over a new leaf.
4 The Protagonist Stumbles Upon New Plateaus Of Power and Transformation
There is such a wide range of Quirks on display in My Hero Academia that the anime usually has its bases covered without individuals discovering evolutions of their Quirk or greater transformations that they can experience. Nevertheless, My Hero Academia has embraced the idea that Midoriya has the capacity for multiple Quirks, some of which become activated during particular milestones or personal breakthroughs.
This growth isn't exactly the same as an evolution or transformation, but these surprise bursts of power are presented in a comparable fashion. Deku is only able to accomplish his current victories because of the improved Quirk system that he's acquired.
3 A Villain Tries To Disrupt The Status Quo Through Powerful Ideals
The most evocative villains are the ones who can influence the minds of the masses with eloquent speeches and sensible ideologies rather than brute strength and deadly abilities. My Hero Academia presents its society as an informed group of people, but one that's still highly suggestible to influence.
Hero Killer: Stain nearly causes a revolution with the incendiary messages that he preaches about what makes up a true hero. The same dangerous philosophies are preached by Flect Turn in the World Heroes' Mission movie, too. It's all too common for a persuasive villain with a silver tongue to capture the ear of the public.
2 A Hero Sacrifices Their Powers For The Greater Good
Mirio "Lemillion" Togata is a member of the Big Three and someone who Sir Nighteye views as a more worthy successor to All Might's Quirk than Midoriya. Midoriya and Togata become close friends while they intern together and get emotionally invested in rescuing Eri from Overhaul.
Togata proves that he's a genuine hero when he leaps into harm's way to save Eri, which is a gesture that costs him his Quirk in the process. Togata's Permeation Quirk is eventually restored, but there's a lengthy period of self-discovery where he learns how to fight crime without his usual powers. It's a very standard way to inflate the stakes in any story that involves superpowers.
1 An Evil Force Takes Over A Character And Uses Them As A Powerful Host
A lot of the time, an anime series' success is dependent upon the effectiveness of its major villain. Various antagonists rise to power in My Hero Academia, but the anime continually teases the ascension of Tomura Shigaraki into an ultimate evil.
Shigaraki's trajectory as a villain intentionally runs parallel to Midoriya's own growth as a hero. Shigaraki has a painful past, but the latest events of the manga have turned him into a puppet for All For One. All For One co-opts Shigaraki as a worthy host for him to continue to carry out his evil and change the world.