In an era of superhero popularity and the growing acceptance of the stylized anime genre, there are few stories that combine the two genres as seamlessly and colorfully as My hero academy. The decades-long manga has spawned a related anime series with years of fan love and investment and a sixth season set to air this October.
My hero academy did everything right at the right time (even worked in a high school style of storytelling), making it one of the most popular anime in recent memory. After all, this is one of the few anime shows known to the wider pop culture community and not just the anime niche. But My hero academySuccess as a story stems not only from the love of superheroes and the conventions of shounen anime, but also because of the main character: Izuku Midoriya (Yamashita dikes).
One of the very few non-superpowered citizens, Izuku’s dreams of becoming a hero are shattered until he meets his idol All Might (Kenta Miyake), and with his support enters UA, the school of heroes. Just as he is an outcast among the bizarre super-powered people he finds there, Izuku is also very different not only from his fellow heroes, but from his fellow shonen heroes, from the classic Goku and Naruto to the modern-day Eren Jaeger.
Anime exists in many forms, one of which is shonen category; in the most general sense, shonen anime is for boys (usually aged 12–18). As such, shounen anime tends to be filled with imagery and structures that teens and preteen boys will enjoy—for example, drawn-out action sequences that can sometimes span an entire episode (or more). One of the most famous shonen images is the passionate and determined young protagonist. They scream, beat and win.
Modern anime has begun to play with this type of protagonist in new and interesting ways. For example, anime 2019. The Promised Neverland introduced the very first female shonen protagonist. But My hero academy also retains the core elements of your typical shounen protagonist: a boy who is passionate about his interests and almost intimidatingly determined to become stronger, both physically and mentally. The difference between your classic shounen hero and Izuku Midoriya is attitude.
Izuku is by nature and upbringing an extremely sensitive person. This is shown comically in a joke about Izuku crying often and from the bottom of his heart (the sudden, powerful fountain of tears shooting straight into the air can easily be confused with an unknown superpower in itself). Izuku interacts with the world with wide eyes and endlessly talks about his interests. His passion (anything to do with superheroes) is often admired (and amused) by the people around him. This, combined with his tendency to get down to business and protect people even when he doesn’t have the power himself, makes Izuku incredibly likable. Other instances highlight Izuku’s benign attitude, too good for this world, by juxtaposing his behavior and actions with his background character, Katsuki Bakugo (Nobuhiko Okamoto). Although Izuku is clearly the main character (he barely talks about it during the first two episodes), he is an interesting choice.
My hero academy it’s a world full of protagonist-type characters, and there are quite a few who could easily take up the mantle. Shoto Todoroki (English)Yuuki Kaji) is even provided with a traditionally tragic backstory. If this were a typical shonen anime, Bakugou would most likely be the number one choice: he is extremely articulate and eager to get stronger, displaying the scream-worthy aggressive rage not hard to find among shounen protagonists. For years, Bakugou has been ruthlessly intimidating and belittling Izuku, using all sorts of intimidation tactics, from name-calling to physical aggression. These attacks take an emotional toll on Izuku, but he never lets Bakugo stop him from fulfilling his dream; at the same time, Izuku cares about Bakugou’s well-being, even in the bully’s worst moments. This behavior shows Izuku’s heroic qualities even when tears are flowing.
The very existence of Bakugou is one of My hero academythe best qualities. Bakugou is vocal, aggressive, determined, intelligent, and physically imposing. In other words, in any typical shonen anime, Bakugo will be the main character, not someone as sensitive as crybaby Izuku. However, the show chooses to emphasize the worst qualities of Bakugou’s toxicity and aggression in order to contrast those qualities with Izuku. These are very different characters, but they reflect each other. Izuku is the opposite of how a proud, loud and aggressive shonen protagonist can often be perceived.
While this may seem like a critique of toxic masculinity, it’s important to remember that there are different types of masculinity. Bakugou’s behavior causes others to perceive him as a villain (as pointed out by various characters throughout the series), while Izuku, although seemingly gentle at first, usually walks away, earning the respect of others and the title of a true hero. The ability to feel as deeply as Izuku and be honest enough to show that sensitivity in front of others (while still kicking ass like a hero) is a trait rarely seen not only in anime series, but in general. However, Izuku’s bravery is no less masculine than Bakugou’s, just less loud.
Knowing that there are different types of heroes (and not all of them need to scream and blow things up to get stronger or prove their strength) is important when considering the target audience of shounen anime. It’s important that boys know how to deal with their feelings, whether they tend to be louder and more aggressive like Bakugou (who learns to control himself over the course of the show), or they tend to show their vulnerability, like Izuku does (and he also works over not crying so often). There needs to be a balance in terms of portraying masculinity in shounen anime; both Izuku and Bakugou are heroes, even if they deal with fighting differently.
Izuku is definitely a refreshingly sensitive and helpful protagonist. His tendency to cry, rave about his favorite heroes, and be vulnerable with others makes him a positive role model for young male viewers, which is shown through Izuku’s personality and his own determination that strong heroes can also show strong emotions - ones that aren’t simply perceived. as anger, frustration, or obsession, but as a wide range of feelings, all of which (from anger to sadness) are valid. As such, My hero academy showcases many types of masculinity, but the show just wouldn’t be the same without its unique protagonist. The tone of the show matches Izuku’s personality. Its positive and sensitive qualities play a large role in creating My hero academy light and inspiring anime.
My hero academy Season 6 is set to premiere on October 1st and will also be available to watch on Crunchyroll.
Source: Collider
