I’m writing this days after the airing of My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON ’s last episode. Now that I’ve given it time to marinate, I think I’m ready to talk about it. It’s not often we get a concluding finale to an anime series we love, so it’s a treat when we do. The last concluding anime I watched was Mob Psycho 100 , which brought me so much emotional satisfaction, and I got the same feelings seeing the rest of Class 1-A's story in My Hero Academia ! NOTE: This feature will contain spoilers and will also discuss the last episode. That said, it’s less about breaking down the ending and predicting the future of the franchise and more about what the anime gave us for the past decade, and the legacy it leaves behind. So when you’re ready.. Plus Ultra! A Decade-Long Shared Experience RELATED: 40 My Hero Academia Quotes Worth Remembering For me, My Hero Academia wasn’t just another seasonal anime you streamed and moved on from. It became something myself and fans returned to year after year as life kept changing around it, and us. For many, watching Class 1-A grow up was in sync with their own timelines, as seen in posts made after the latest episode where fans show who they were 10 years ago and who they are now. Along the way, the series brought people together in tangible ways that stretched far beyond just the anime. My Hero Academia didn’t just exist on screen; it lived in conventions, online spaces and the creative work fans built around it for the past decade. I remember going to an anime convention in 2018 and seeing that about half of the cosplays were from the anime, which, at that point, I didn’t even know about! It piqued my curiosity. Like, how does this one title bring such passionate fandom? The show itself wasn’t my entry point; the My Hero Academia fan community was. Growing Up With Class 1-A What made My Hero Academia resonate so deeply for me was its heart. Deku didn’t start as a prodigy or a chosen one with unshakable confidence. He started scared, unsure and painfully aware of his own limitations. That, to me, made him one of the most relatable shonen protagonists of the last decade. His growth wasn’t about suddenly becoming powerful; it was about learning how to carry responsibility without losing empathy. But what truly set My Hero Academia apart was how rarely it treated Deku as the only story worth telling. While he was the emotional anchor, the series consistently made space for the rest of Class 1-A to feel fully realized — not just as side characters, but as people with their own struggles, arcs and moments of quiet growth. Here are a few examples of what I mean. RELATED: How Well Do You Know My Hero Academia? Shoto Todoroki embodied inherited trauma from his father, the slow, uncomfortable process of reclaiming one’s identity from family expectations. His journey wasn’t just about becoming stronger; it was about finding his identity and forging his own path. Katsuki Bakugo , while having the highest level of confidence and strength, showed emotional maturity. His arc wasn’t redemption through kindness, but growth through accountability, self-awareness, and learning how to rely on others. Ochaco Uraraka represented the weight of financial pressure and emotional labor, balancing genuine compassion with the reality of needing to survive in a harsh world. As the series went on, it became more about learning how to love herself and finding the good in others. Tenya Iida represented the pressure of responsibility and the fear of failing the role you believe you’re meant to uphold. As someone who tied his entire identity to rules, order and legacy, his arc explored what happens when rigid ideals collide with grief and anger. Watching Tenya confront revenge, then pull himself back from it, was a powerful message. Yuga Aoyama , for the majority of the series’ run, was displayed as comedic relief, but also had a surprising amount of depth and responsibility. What makes his arc resonate isn’t the betrayal itself, but the realization that drives him back. The moment he understands he was never alone, never disposable, and fully loved by his classmates is one of the best parts of the previous season. RELATED: All Might, the Most Relatable Hero for My 30-Something Self Even All Might himself had time to develop on screen throughout the seasons as the series showed that there was no such thing as a perfect hero. Watching these characters stumble, grow and mature mirrored what many fans were experiencing in their own lives. What About the Villains? RELATED: How My Hero Academia Highlights the Humanity of its Villains That same emotional care was extended to the villains as well. My Hero Academia rarely treated its antagonists as power-hungry obstacles to be defeated and moved on from. Instead, it asked why they ended up there in the first place. Characters like Shigaraki, Dabi and Himiko weren’t born monsters; they were shaped by neglect and cruelty, victims of systems that failed them long before they ever became threats. Their stories didn’t excuse the damage they caused, but they did make it impossible to look away without discomfort, especially the stories that involved established heroes like Endeavor and Nana Shimura. By giving its villains depth, pain and humanity, My Hero Academia blurred the line between hero and enemy. It gave us many moments where we didn’t even know who to root for! The perspectives these characters offered challenged viewers to think about accountability, empathy and, most of all, the cost of a world that only celebrates the number one winners. The Aftermath RELATED: Best My Hero Academia Moments According to Fans Without diving into specifics, the final three episodes feel intentionally reflective rather than explosive. Well, after an extremely explosive entire season anyway (looking at you, Great Explosion Murder God Dynamite). After the final battle, My Hero Academia gives time to focus on resolution and legacy, showing us how the heroes moved on after the dust settled. The timeskip, the quiet moments, and the sense of life continuing for everyone all reinforced the idea that this was never just a story about winning a war, but what happens after it. We see Deku step into a new role, not as the kid chasing a symbol but as someone helping shape the next generation. Not only is this illustrated with him becoming a teacher, but he lends a hand to a kid who resembles his own underdog story. It makes the whole journey feel circular. The Comfort of Closure RELATED: How to Watch All My Hero Academia Arcs in Order (Plus Movies) There’s also something uniquely satisfying about seeing a long-running shonen story actually end. In a genre known for endless arcs, power scaling that seems to never stop, and stories that often feel designed to run forever, My Hero Academia choosing to conclude feels almost refreshing. It didn’t collapse under its own weight; it consistently returned season after season, keeping momentum and trust with its audience. Seeing a conclusion to an ongoing story like this always feels meaningful for me, similar to Mob Psycho 100 , Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood , and even Attack on Titan . Watching My Hero Academia reach a deliberate conclusion doesn’t feel like losing something; it feels like honoring the time we spent with it and trusting that the story knew when it was time to say goodbye. The legacy My Hero Academia leaves behind is already firmly cemented. For many fans, it stands as part of the new generation of shonen hits similar to Naruto , Bleach and ONE PIECE . It’s the kind of anime people will keep recommending to newcomers and revisiting at different stages of life in the way I, as a millennial, would rewatch Yu Yu Hakusho for all the nostalgic memories. The world Kohei Horikoshi built feels too alive to simply close the book on, whether that means continued love for My Hero Academia: Vigilantes or future creatives being inspired by Deku and Class 1-A. No matter the format, expect fans like me to keep showing up through fandom and conversation for many, many years to come. So Plus Ultra! Forever!
