My Hero Academia, known as “Boku no Hero Academia” in Japanese, is heading into its seventh anime season in 2024. Since its inception in July 2014, the manga has reached over 400 chapters and is now in its final story. starting with chapter 343. starting February 2022. This means that the series is almost a decade old.
Over its run, My Hero Academia has become a major media franchise. He has released three animated feature films and nine OVAs.
The series has also spawned several video games, guest appearances in popular games like Fortnite, spin-off manga stories, and even stage plays.
The popularity of the manga is evident from its impressive sales figures. More than 85 million copies have been sold, making it the 25th best-selling manga of all time, surpassing sales of well-known series such as “Fullmetal Alchemist” and “Berserk.”
However, as with any long-running story, the excitement and interest around My Hero Academia has fluctuated over the years.
While it hasn't faced the same level of division as “Attack on Titan,” nor has it received the near-universal acclaim of “Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood,” it's clear that something has caused My Hero Academia's popularity to decline in recent times.
The rise of My Hero Academia in the Shonen genre
2014 was an era of significant transformations for various media, including anime and manga.
Streaming platforms like Amazon Prime were starting to challenge Netflix and Hulu, while long-running games like Destiny were released.
At the same time, several anime series, such as “Kill la Kill,” and decade-old mangas such as “Naruto” were concluding their stories.
In July 2014, the My Hero Academia manga debuted and quickly gained recognition. It received numerous recommendations and praise from esteemed manga artists such as Eiichiro Oda, the creator of “One Piece,” and Masashi Kishimoto, the mind behind “Naruto.”
The initial print run of the first volume sold out almost immediately, indicating its immense popularity from the beginning.
The manga earned critical acclaim for its dynamic storytelling, expressive protagonists, and the refreshing sense of hope it conveyed in each chapter.
In a manga landscape where series like “Attack on Titan,” “Berserk” and others tried to emulate the dark and gritty tone of “Puella Magi Madoka Magica,” “My Hero Academia” offered a breath of fresh air with its optimistic tone and narrative. edifying.
Additionally, many readers found that the manga handled tonal shifts better than the anime adaptation. As the series progressed, the manga delved into darker themes, increased violence, and adopted a grittier, dirtier aesthetic.
However, it managed to maintain an underlying sense of optimism even in its darkest moments, which contributed to its enduring appeal.
The Evolution of My Hero Academia Fandom, From Anime Adaptation to Enduring Community
As is common with anime that amass a large following over time, My Hero Academia amassed a huge fanbase upon the release of its animated adaptation.
Cosplays, fan art and anime music videos (AMVs) flooded conventions and the Internet, mirroring the fervent creative expressions seen in the fan bases of other iconic series like “Naruto.”
To this day, millions of people remain captivated by the world of My Hero Academia. The series maintains a substantial presence at conventions, in online communities such as Tumblr, Twitter, and Reddit, and in art circles such as DeviantArt.
Unlike other long-running shonen anime like “Naruto” or “Bleach,” My Hero Academia has not seen a significant decline in its fanbase over its nearly decade-long run.
While some fans may have shown excessive enthusiasm throughout the life of the series, this is a trait shared by anime fans across the board.
It would be an oversimplification to suggest that fandom can ruin shows for people, whether through toxicity or enthusiasm, since it's a matter of perspective.
Often, people who engage in such behavior represent a small minority of fans, whose presence is amplified by social media.
This phenomenon has occurred with numerous fan bases over the years as anime series progress or as more people interact with them by watching or creating derivative works.
Every fanbase has its share of problematic individuals, but no fandom can be considered “the worst,” nor can any other fandom be considered “the best,” as most fans quietly enjoy the show without creating noise in the crowds. social networks.
My Hero Academia evolved the Shonen genre
One of the key factors behind the success and widespread popularity of My Hero Academia is its role in the new wave of shonen anime that stood apart from its predecessors.
Along with series like “Hunter x Hunter,” “JoJo's Bizarre Adventure,” and “Black Clover,” “My Hero Academia” was one of many new shonen titles that broke the conventional mold.
The mold in question was previously established by the “Big Three” of “Naruto,” “Bleach,” and “One Piece,” as well as other popular anime like “Dragon Ball.”
This included elements such as entire filler arcs, single fight scenes spanning two or three episodes, multi-episode tournament arcs, and frequent mid-fight flashbacks, among other tropes that had come to typify shonen anime at the time.
While My Hero Academia hasn't completely avoided some of these pitfalls, it was widely considered a turning point for the shonen genre.
Fans no longer had to endure fight sequences that lasted more than an episode or two or endure prolonged periods of filler content that stalled narrative progression.
My Hero Academia earned the nickname “deconstruction anime” for its deconstruction of particular shonen tropes, such as the traditional shonen rival or the depiction of the hero's self-sacrificial tendencies as an inherently positive trait.
Unlike more established and renowned shonen rivals like Sasuke Uchiha or Vegeta, Bakugo, Deku's counterpart, was never depicted as evil, never turned villainous, and abandoned his rivalry with Deku much earlier than expected.
How My Hero Academia Started Losing Enthusiasm
Naturally, like any long-running series, My Hero Academia has experienced fluctuations in popularity.
Similar to how “Attack on Titan's” multi-year hiatus caused many viewers to temporarily forget about the series, the emergence of different shows has led to My Hero Academia taking a back seat for numerous anime fans.
The rise of newer series, some of which fans dare to say are superior, such as “Demon Slayer,” “Jujutsu Kaisen,” “Vinland Saga,” and “Chainsaw Man,” stole the spotlight from My Hero Academia. .
Additionally, there was a general sense of fatigue around superhero media, particularly during 2022 and 2023, although this factor was not as significant as the attention other notable shows attracted.
These new animes arrived with a bang and quickly attracted a significant audience with their captivating action sequences and compelling storytelling that got straight to the point.
It's worth noting that even immensely popular shows aren't immune to the ever-changing tides of hype, as something new and exciting always comes out, such as “Oshi No Ko!”, “Spy x Family,” “Bocchi The Rock!” “Dungeon Meshi”, “Solo Leveling” and many other examples.
Meanwhile, the top 10 entries include the final season of “Attack on Titan,” “Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood,” and the acclaimed “Frieren: Beyond Journey's End,” among other highly regarded series archived on the platform.
Criticisms and controversies around My Hero Academia
So far, My Hero Academia has managed to avoid any major controversies that could significantly undermine its popularity.
Unlike series like “Attack on Titan,” which faced substantial backlash for its divisive ending, or “Seven Deadly Sins” and “One Punch Man,” which experienced notable drops in animation quality during their second seasons, My Hero Academia has navigated its course without encountering any major controversies that could potentially ruin its appeal.
While criticism from fans of all kinds is inevitable for any long-running series, the criticism directed at My Hero Academia hasn't been harsh enough to derail its success.
These criticisms range from the portrayal of female characters to concerns that the final arc drags on too long. These criticisms also extend to broader issues surrounding Japanese work culture and the well-being of mangaka Kohei Horikoshi, who must constantly produce new chapters on a weekly basis, often requiring breaks to maintain a sustainable pace.
These are just a few examples of the criticism My Hero Academia has faced over its decade-long run. Other points of contention include the perception that anime is overrated, Studio Bones' handling of the anime adaptation, and the issue of censorship.
Some fans also initially disliked Bakugo's character, although this feeling tends to dissipate over time.
Despite these various criticisms, there has not been a singular problem or controversy substantial enough to cause a large number of viewers to abandon the series entirely.
Unlike “The Promised Neverland” season 2, which deviated significantly from the source material, the anime adaptation of My Hero Academia has largely remained faithful to the manga, with only minimal changes.
Additionally, unlike “Attack on Titan,” the “My Hero Academia” manga has progressed at a reasonable pace, despite the author's health problems, and does not appear to be rushing toward a controversial or divisive conclusion.
