Not-so-secret origins...
It would be no lie to say that My Hero Academia is one of the most popular series available right now - the Shonen style heroics that are inherent in a title where most of the population has super-powers is ripe for near-endless stories, and casting the lead as non-powered student (or "quirkless" in the show's lingo) is a master stroke. It's like having a school of super-heroes where Batman has to hold his own against a teenage Superman. It's certainly ripe with possibility, and thus far, Kohei Horikoshi's insanely popular series has delivered in spades. Running in Shuesha's Weekly Shonen Jump since July 2015, the story has jumped from page to screen, spanning 15 volumes so far and 3 television series with a movie to follow.
Previously, on My Hero Academia...
Series one puts in place the groundwork for the premise. Plucky teen Izuku Midoriya, aching to becoming a superhero despite being powerless, follows heroes around taking notes about their abilities and tactics. None are more admired than the Superman of this show, All-Might, the symbol of unbeatable justice. Very early on we find out that All-Might is in fact very badly injured and only has limited access to his once mighty powers, but Izuki's sheer balls at the scene of an attack inspire All-Might into something of a mentor role, and we start our journey to find out how Izuku Midoriya becomes the mightiest hero of all.
By the end of series one, Izuku is enrolled in U.A High School, having been granted the gift of All-Might's "One for All" quirk, by which he gains the mighty hero's strength. He is shown to be a skilled strategist with a cool head, and even though they defeated an attack at the school by a number of villains, there is much to be learned at school and rivalries still linger.
And now...
The second series (part 1) kicks off, and indeed covers from start to finish, the school sports festival. Leading heroes attend to see if any student could be sidekick material, and as such competition is fierce. This "tournament" style format is a very old trope (think Naruto's Chunin exams), so MHA must perform as well as it's students in order to keep things fresh.
With Izuku having only recently inherited his quirk, he's at a supreme disadvantage. Like most Shonen protagonists, his victories are hard fought and won by wit and determination more than skill.
Series 2 has much to do - with a large roster carried over from the previous season, expanding that roster via the tournament with classes other than 1A, there's potential for disaster here. However, the show juggles the character admirably, giving each a chance to shine and ensuring none outstay their welcome.
Each episode is a 20 minute gem - there's no filler here, aided no doubt by a conscious decision to follow the manga even if it means prolonged gaps between each series. Over time this will no doubt ensure that the show becomes something of a classic in it's genre since so many others have given in to impatience and created entire original arcs that are so often weaker than the creator's core material.
On a technicality
On to the technical details - the transfers are very crisp, presenting the animation in the best possible way. However, the designs in the show aren't the most imaginative Japan has to offer, and the animation itself is pretty standard fare. Studio Bones has done a solid job here, but it isn't outstanding in any sense. The audio transfer is excellent, and the subtitles are well-timed and free of errors for those that prefer the authentic experience. I dabbled with the dub, which seemed fine and suitable for watching alongside coding as I often do. However, MHA received my full attention and the subtitles were the way to go for me.
As I understand it, there is an issue with the series as-released in the UK. The first volume was launched as a Special Edition that had a very limited print run and a price-tag of £74.99 for 13 episodes. Now out of print and going for insane money on the second-hand market, you'll be glad that Series 2 starts with a recap episode and a standard edition. With luck we'll see a standard re-release of season 1, otherwise the show could suffer as fans will have to look to streaming services such as Crunchyroll or Funimation to catch up with episodes they can't put on the shelf.
The verdict
MHA is an excellent example of the Shonen style of storytelling so far, the appeal of which is no doubt aided by the Western superhero conceit. The characters are likeable and energetic, but I feel we have a way to go before we really see them at their best. The show has the potential to stay around for some time, and so long as the production qualities stay at this level (though they could do with being a bit higher!) then I can see this becoming one of the true anime classics.
A review copy was supplied for Series 2, my thoughts on Series 1 are based on the episodes available subtitled from Crunchyroll.
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