Welcome, readers, as we mark the start of a new arc with this week’s episode of My Hero Academia! This time around, we’re still seeing the ramifications of the Shie Hassaikai arc ripple out into our heroes and their actions, we touch base with a few previously neglected fan-favorites, and we see some sinister happenings brewing within the League.
1. New opening theme!
One of the best parts of having a new arc in anime means a new opening theme and opening sequence. This might sound trivial, but they ultimately set up the tone of the story arc to come. This one’s also super fun, too! It’s called Star Maker by KANA-BOON, and it’s much more teenaged, casual and fun feeling than the last opening. With this, we already get a sense that the whole class of 1-A, not just the ones involved in the last arc, will be getting some much-needed downtime and quieter character development.
The visuals are a lot of fun in this sequence, with bright, candy-like coloring throughout and a very modern Japanese chic with abstract colors on white backgrounds circling around emotional character shots. It ties in well with the more personal theme that the song presents.
2. The pros in action
Once we really kick into the episode, we start to see just how far the Hassaikai fight and the League’s interception of Overhaul have echoed up the chain of command. The veteran hero and trainer of All Might, Gran Torino, is sent on a mission to follow up on claims that the League’s resident teleporter, Kurogiri, has been spotted in the mountains multiple times. The show cleverly rationalizes the fact that even though the character is a teleporter, having that many sightings of him feel like enough to warrant a search.
Torino spots him soon enough and tries to capture him, and the combination of sound and animation used to display Torino’s powers feels better than ever: every move feels like a gunshot, with well-timed oral and visual kineticism. However, we quickly find out that there’s another, a hidden disciple of All For One here: the kaiju-looking superhuman Gigantomachia, who promptly brings the pain.
3. Mirio’s recovery
We start to see everyone recovered at this stage (appropriately by Recovery Girl) and resuming the status quo once again, although there are still some major differences that will be a little harder to fix. We see this directly when Izuku visits Mirio, who’s had not only his quirk and powers stripped away but had his mentor die in a hospital bed before his eyes barely days ago. He, more than anyone, has the right to be emotional, yet Mirio is as chipper and positive as ever, saying that especially with his dying message, Nighteye would have wanted him to be happy.
Whilst I feel like the message here is kind of neglecting the fact that it’s okay for people to grieve and process emotions without putting on a happy face, it’s nice to show that Mirio is able to put the past behind him so efficiently and get on with his life. This also has a positive reaction on Izuku, who is still processing everything that has happened, but seeing that even Mirio can manage to be happy gives him a ray of positivity that is hard not to appreciate.
4. A warm reception
This is another moment that I’m slightly mixed on but the show displays it with such positivity, you can’t help but love it. When Izuku and the rest of the team involved with the mission, everyone starts to bombard the gang with questions and condolences. Although it’s all done with good intentions, you can’t help but feel for the gang and wish that they could just get some rest and downtime.
Funnily enough, the show recognizes this for a moment, with Iida remembering how Izuku broke down in the canteen some time ago, and suggest that it might be better for everyone to leave Izuku and the others alone to process everything. Unfortunately, this is dashed away pretty quickly by Iida himself, but I do respect that the show included that scene to some extent.
Continued below5. The boys are back in town
What I definitely can get behind is having the spotlight once again on my favorite slow-learners, Bakugo and Todoroki. The two are building themselves up to taking the provisional hero exam once again. With this new-found focus, they are much more likable characters that still have their most recognizable traits on board: Bakugo’s incredibly short temper, and Todoroki’s reserved speech and subtle ego. We get a great pairing for the two as the teachers to accompany them are none other than all Might himself and the ever-delightful Present Mic, who greets the two students with the perfect amount of condescending tone in “You’re late, bad boys!”. We also see an aside of All Might talking to Gran Torino, who reveals that they barely managed to escape Gigantomachia and still capture Kurogiri with some injuries in tow, showing just how dangerous this newcomer is.
The two boys arrive at the exam and meet up again with the rival school from last time, Shiketsu High. It’s a fun re-introduction to these characters, but the real meat of the story is that we see the examiners are (checks notes)… sinister-ly upping the challenge on the exam this time. Mysterious!
What did you guys think of this latest episode? Do you love that old characters are back? Are you happy with how the Hassaikai arc ended? Let loose in the comments!
