My Hero Academia is a story about growth. It is the gradual upliftment of a character from a nobody to somebody. The story was a decade-long journey of not just one character but every single person introduced, no matter how minor or major they may be. It wasn’t the best conclusion but it was a conclusion nonetheless.
Kohei Horikoshi faced an unfortunate amount of backlash because of how things ended with Deku. The ending was an unsatisfactory outcome that had fans enraged left and right. While the mangaka had a certain vision he wanted to execute, it wasn’t something that coincided with what his fans wanted. The dismay and disappointment were inevitable yet his vision spoke volumes.
My Hero Academia Redefines a Hero
Kohei Horikoshi, during his interview with Viz Media, talked about what it means to be a hero. The term hero is subjective in nature. A hero can be anyone to those who seek one. It can be a savior or a trendsetter. There is no in-between. Growth comes from understanding what makes the perfect hero.
Initially, heroes were those on a different level from me—like Oda-sensei or fictional characters like Goku from Dragon Ball.
It is human nature to look at heroes as those who stand above everyone else. They have an aura that is beyond compare that makes everyone around them cheer. For a fan of superheroes, this concept was even more black and white and simply laid out. However, the more one comes to grow, the more this image also begins to change.
For Horikoshi, he saw big characters like Goku to be a heroes. He pointed at Eiichiro Oda, the mastermind behind One Piece to be a hero. Heroes are those who can achieve the unachievable and leave their mark on the world in unusual ways. That isn’t always the case.
To Be a Hero
The more one grows, the more it may dawn upon every one that ordinary people can be heroes too. One doesn’t have to be omnipotent and present to be a hero. Heroes are those who help people climb the tiny steps when they themselves cannot. Everyone can be a hero without a cape or a cowl.
I began to appreciate those people nearby who offer support, which ties into the current story of My Hero Academia. My appreciation has been growing toward the people who extend a helping hand or offer encouragement. For example, Imamura-san, my editor, has been a huge supporter. I’ve grown to see these everyday helpers like him as heroes too. So now, I think anyone can be a hero, including those who support me closely.
The more one grows, the bigger picture becomes visible. It wasn’t as if Kohei Horikoshi had completely stopped seeing Eiichiro Oda as a hero, it was more so that he understood what more could be a hero than a person put on a pedestal.
Pedestals create unrealistic expectations and for the most part, these heroes have to live up to many of those. Making one’s heroes more realistic could turn things around not only for the people but also for the dreams that they wish to achieve. Being a hero doesn’t mean touching the sky, it simply means not slipping out even when it rains.
My Hero Academia is available to watch on Crunchyroll.
