Summary
- My Hero Academia characters' tragic backstories make them emotionally investing.
- Shoto Todoroki faced childhood trauma due to his father's ambitions.
- Tomura Shigaraki's transformation into a villain has a compelling reason.
My Hero Academia is one of the most popular shonen anime around right now, powering towards a dramatic ending where the heroes and villains will put everything on the line in one final battle. The characters in this series are a blast to witness and show a ton of depth when their personalities get to shine.
My Hero Academia: 8 Characters Who Should Have Died
Losing these My Hero Academia characters permanently could have had a pretty substantial impact on the world and the characters.
As any shonen anime fan would attest, a good backstory can go a long way in making a character more memorable than ever. The following characters definitely got the memo in this regard and get fans emotionally invested in them after their tragic and riveting backstory is revealed.
8 Present Mic
His Bond With Oboro Makes This Teacher Surprisingly Riveting
- Debut: Roaring Muscles (Episode 3)
Present Mic seemed like nothing more than yet another teacher who would just guide the students and fade into the background otherwise. However, after Kurogiri's true origins are revealed, fans can't help but feel for Present Mic.
After all, Oboro Shirakumo was one of his closest friends, and seeing him in such a state is very hard for him. It hammers in just how heinous the villains are, who are willing to turn the corpses of fallen comrades into Nomus and pit them in battles against their friends.
7 Shota Aizawa
A Cool-Headed Teacher Who Is Emotionally Affected By Kurogiri
- Debut: What I Can Do for Now (Episode 5)
Shota Aizawa is a cool-headed teacher who guides several aspiring Pro Heroes to become stronger than ever before. However, there's a major moment in the series where he gets pretty emotional.
After the heroes manage to capture Kurogiri, Aizawa and Hizashi see firsthand just how the body of their fallen comrade has been desecrated. It hammers in the friendship this trio shared in the past and why Oboro's friends fight with renewed determination against the villains.
6 Twice
His Quirk Leads To Him Developing A Damaging Split Personality
- Debut: Drive It Home, Iron Fist!!! (Episode 43)
Fans love how My Hero Academia explores the Quirks people have to their fullest extent. After seeing Twice's backstory, it's easy to assume why this character suffered from a split personality.
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It's not until he meets the villains that he manages to contain himself. However, after seeing Himiko on the verge of having her neck snapped, Twice recalls his past and manages to summon an endless stream of copies to tip the scales in the favor of the League of Villains.
5 Izuku Midoriya
Transforms From A Quirkless Boy Into The No. 1 Hero
- Debut: Izuku Midoriya: Origin (Episode 1)
Midoriya grew up with lofty dreams to become a Pro Hero and follow in the footsteps of All Might. However, after being told that he can't develop a Quirk of his own, his dreams are shattered, and he resorts to being a civilian.
However, a chance encounter with All Might changes his future, with Midoriya proving his worth as a hero to his idol. This allows him to become the inheritor of One for All, placing him on the path to becoming a powerful and respected hero.
4 Endeavor
Struggles As Both A Hero And A Father
- Debut: Strategy, Strategy, Strategy (Episode 17)
It's easy to label Endeavor as a power-hungry hero who's jealous of All Might when he's introduced. However, after his rival's retirement, Endeavor's character grows as he takes on the responsibility of becoming the new No. 1 Hero.
His past with his family is also revealed, making it clear that he is far from a perfect father. However, despite his issues, he still tries to make amends and apologize for his past actions.
3 Shoto Todoroki
Experienced A Ton Of Pain As A Child Because Of His Dad
- Debut: What I Can Do for Now (Episode 5)
Shoto is one of the most fascinating characters in My Hero Academia. His past trauma prevents him from using his fiery powers, only for Midoriya to will him into owning his powers for the sake of his duties as a hero.
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Not every character in My Hero Academia gets a chance to shine. These individuals ended up being quickly forgotten.
His childhood was anything but easy, with his traumatized mother accidentally scarring him after seeing his fire powers. His father's one-track goal to have a strong child made Shoto feel like a commodity, so it's nice to see the Todoroki family bond and make amends after facing numerous speed bumps in life.
2 Dabi
Became A Villain After He Was Assumed To Be Dead
- Debut: The Aftermath of Hero Killer: Stain (Episode 31)
The best villains in My Hero Academia boast incredible backstories, and Dabi is no exception. Despite being born with exceptional firepower, his body couldn't handle the heat, causing his father to label him a failure.
This causes him to burst into flames after an emotional meltdown, with All for One taking him under his wing, as everyone assumed he was dead. His return marked a shocking moment for the Todoroki, who wanted to understand what turned their sibling into a monster.
1 Tomura Shigaraki
The Reason For Him Becoming A Villain Is Surprisingly Compelling
- Debut: Bakugo's Start Line (Episode 8)
As heinous as Shigaraki may be, fans can't help but empathize with this character after witnessing his chilling backstory. He was just a simple kid who wanted to understand how his powers worked, only to accidentally kill everyone in his family.
The years of abuse he faced at his father's hands, coupled with his Quirk manifesting at the worst possible time, caused Tomura to break, turning him into the most dreaded villain in My Hero Academia. The sadness behind his evil veneer is something Midoriya sees firsthand, prompting him to try and understand his nemesis instead of just killing him outright.
My Hero Academia
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2016 - 2025-00-00
- Cast
- Daiki Yamashita, Kaito Ishikawa, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Yuki Kaji, Ayane Sakura, Kenta Miyake, Aoi Yuki, Junichi Suwabe, Koki Uchiyama, Tarusuke Shingaki, Seiran Kobayashi, Kenjiro Tsuda, Fumiko Orikasa, Hikaru Midorikawa, Romi Park, Tomoyuki Shimura, Kei Shindo, Minori Chihara, Rie Murakawa, Yasuhiro Mamiya, Seiro Ogino, Masaaki Ihara, Takumu Miyazono, Kosuke Takaguchi, Mitsuki Nakamura
- Seasons
- 8
- Based On
- Manga
- Number of Episodes
- 159
