In the anime universe, death has always been utilized as a powerful narrative tool, due to its intense emotions and advancing character development. However, “plot armor” is now often used to protect characters from their seemingly inevitable fates, current trends indicate a move away from this cliche. This event was recently witnessed in Kohei Horikoshi’s My Hero Academia, where Bakugo’s survival sparked debate about the integrity of storytelling in modern anime.
Fans of My Hero Academia have been gripped by the current storylines, wondering what would happen to Bakugo. The series’ creator, Kohei Horikoshi, has created a realistic universe with high stakes and real-life consequences. However, in an unexpected turn of events, the survival of Bakugo has sparked a heated discussion about plot armor and its effects.
The Debatable “Plot Armor” of My Hero Academia
with an original artwork, Kohei Horikoshi illustrated in season 7 of My Hero Academia original artwork, the manga artist highlighted an important moment of Bakugo Katsuki’s death. Bakugo encountered a tragic fate in seventh season as he was killed by Tomura Shiragaki. As an integral character of the show, the anime-only fans still can’t come with terms with his departure.
Throughout the My Hero Academia series, Bakugo is known for his fiery nature and amazing combat skills and he has encountered many potentially fatal circumstances. After all, it didn’t look like he would survive the last events, and Horikoshi had carefully prepared the groundwork for an unfortunate but significant ending.
Fans were anticipating a moment that might change the course of the series forever, and there was a visible narrative tension. In a sudden twist of events, using Kamihara Shinya’s quirk and efforts, Bakugo’s character is saved and he comes back to life.
The series has never held back when presenting the brutal truths of a world where heroes and villains rule. With this most recent example of plot armor, though, some have begun to wonder if the show is starting to put fan service ahead of story fidelity.
This particular debate emerged as a heated discussion among fans. While some fans are feeling relief over Bakugo’s return, it also raises questions about the story’s integrity, emerging comments like,
No one dies in anime anymore.
While some fans expressed their relief and joy, having grown attached to the character. However, the other felt cheated, arguing that the decision undermined the story’s credibility and emotional weight.
Balancing Storytelling with Plot Armor
The challenge for any creator is to balance fan expectations with the demands of good storytelling. In the case of My Hero Academia, Horikoshi faces the difficult task of keeping his audience emotionally invested while maintaining the story’s believability.
A wider tendency in anime is the ongoing negotiation of the line between character survival and narrative authenticity, which is reflected in the discussion around plot armor in My Hero Academia. Although Bakugo’s survival has caused debate, it also shows the intense emotional attachment that fans have to the show. Fans will surely continue to watch with bated breath, curious to see how Horikoshi handles these tricky situations.
In the end, a story’s actual impact is determined by its deeper relevance rather than just how easily it can take the reader by surprise. With all of its plot armor and all, My Hero Academia will never fail to amaze its viewers, whether it is through grief or victory.
You can watch My Hero Academia on Crunchyroll.
