Key conclusions
- My Hero Academia Season 5 lacked high stakes and felt like a build-up to Season 6.
- Season 4 had amazing action sequences, but suffered from limitations in animation.
- Season 2 impressed fans with Midoriya's clever use of his power and iconic moments like his fight with Todaroki.
My Hero Academy is one of the most hyped anime, its latest season is as always exciting for fans. Manga fans were well aware of the significance of the arc that would be covered in the anime, which turned out to be an absolute joy to witness firsthand.
Although every season My Hero Academy was pretty brilliant in its own right, there's no denying that some parts are simply better than others for a number of reasons. Despite the fact that fans have their favorites in every season My Hero Academy has episodes and arcs of varying quality that can be ranked based on how enjoyable and memorable they are. So there you go the best MHA seasons.
Updated October 1, 2024 by Mark Sammut: My Hero Academia Season 7 is almost complete with only two episodes left to release. While this is not yet complete, enough content has been published to rank the course properly. Where does the 2024 entry come in? The best seasons of My Hero Academia?
7 Season 5
MyAnimeList: 7.36
Air dates |
March 27, 2021 – September 25, 2021 |
---|---|
Number of series |
25 |
Story arcs |
|
Studio |
Bones |
The fifth season My Hero Academy it was a lot of fun to watch in its own right; however, it lacked the high stakes that fans have become accustomed to over the past few seasons. While the League of Villains started out as serious villains with massive powers, the pace did pick up, but this arc came too late and was accompanied by a bunch of irrelevant storylines and story beats.
Of course, as with anything My Hero Academy season, the anime was still filled with gorgeous animation and great revelations. Watching Deku control a completely different power in the form of Blackwhip was a great time, and this plot thread will pay off in Season 6. Ultimately, Season 5 feels very much like a set-up for its successor, specifically the Meta Liberation Army arc, which is pretty much the entire basis for Season 6's Paranormal Liberation War arc.
6 Season 4
MyAnimeList: 7.87
Air dates |
October 12, 2019 – April 4, 2020 |
---|---|
Number of series |
25 |
Story arcs |
|
Studio |
Bones |
Season 4 has some of the My Hero AcademyTop scores, with the mission to rescue Eri being the highlight of an action-packed season filled to the brim with amazing animations and action sequences. However, in Season 4, the show's production begins to show some of its limitations, leading to some of the most notable fights in the manga, which suffer from either poor artistic choices, overproduction of segments, or both.
Notable examples of this include the slideshow fight after Miryo loses his powers, and the complete lack of sound when Midoriya unwittingly uses 100% of his power to save Eri. The former takes out a lot of the emotion that comes from Miryo's valiant effort to save Eri against all odds, while the latter is just a confusing resolution where the audience doesn't know what's going on until Midoriya tells the whole chain of events.
5 Season 7 (Episodes 1–19)
MyAnimeList: 7.90
Air dates |
May 4, 2024 – |
---|---|
Number of series |
21 |
Story arcs |
|
Studio |
Bones |
Season 7 has two more episodes left, but enough content has been released to make an opinion. If the last two episodes change the position of the season, the article will be updated accordingly.
Just as Season 4 struggled to live up to its immediate predecessor, Season 7 faced an uphill battle to be a worthy follow-up to its predecessor. While The Final War is exciting in a vacuum, the impact of the Final War Arc is somewhat offset by the existence of the Paranormal Liberation War Arc, a similar but more chaotic and intense storyline. Ideally, they should be seen as one complete saga rather than separate battles, but they're separated by three short arcs that slow things down. More importantly, Season 7 doesn't feel fresh compared to the 2022 release.
To be clear, My Hero Academy Season 7 is still interesting. The Stars and Stripes arc kicked things off on an epic note, instantly pitting everyone against one another (in Shigaraki's body) against America's main character. Even though this fight only lasts about two episodes, it is one of the best in the anime as both characters immediately go in for the kill. The only thing holding this arc back from pure greatness is that Star Trek is a secondary character in the grand scheme of things.
The UA Traitor Arc has an interesting premise that unfortunately isn't much. The idea of one of the students passing the information to “All for One” could have been great, but the reveal fell flat due to the reliance on a character who couldn't handle that kind of drama. Treason was also quickly swept under the carpet.
In the end, these two minor arcs were just setting the stage for The Last War, an all-out conflict fought on multiple fronts. Unlike the rather one-sided Paranormal Liberation War, this contest is much more equal, with the heroes taking on the villains. The Shigaraki/All for One battle with Deku eventually takes center stage, but dozens of characters from both sides get their time to shine. The Last War is good with moments of greatness.
4 1 season
MyAnimeList: 7.85
Air dates |
04/03/2016 – 06/26/2016 |
---|---|
Number of series |
13 |
Story arcs |
|
Studio |
Bones |
The first season My Hero Academy was half the length of the show's other seasons, but it only took a few episodes to get fans hooked on the story. Midoriya may not be a very special hero, with his clichéd personality obvious to all, but he's a great focal point for an underdog story that will fulfill the fantasy of power that many viewers look for in most shonen anime.
The introduction of All Might is also very good, motivating Midoriya to push his limits and hone a body worthy of having the One for All. This resulted in Midoriya becoming an extremely powerful glass cannon that became completely ineffective with a single use of his Quirk, and this explosive yet destructive power took center stage during the entrance exams as Midoriya demonstrated his qualities as a hero.
3 Season 2
MyAnimeList: 8.07
Air dates |
April 1, 2017 – September 30, 2017 |
---|---|
Number of series |
25 |
Story arcs |
|
Studio |
Bones |
no wonder My Hero Academy became a star after the strong impression made by the first season. Fans couldn't wait to see how Midoriya and the rest of the 1-A classes would use their powers, and the anime certainly didn't disappoint in that regard. Sure, Midoriya was still a self-destructive maniac, but he found a new and clever way to use his power that wouldn't cripple him in one go.
There are some iconic moments from the show that takes place in the second season, including the amazing fight between Midoriya and Todaroki, which was a real spectacle and delivered in every way. The fact that Midoriya managed to unlock the Full Cowl and control the use of One for All was also very welcome, as the appearance of Gran Torino also slowly revealed All Might's unique and interesting backstory.
2 Season 3
MyAnimeList: 8.00
Air dates |
April 7, 2018 – September 29, 2018 |
---|---|
Number of series |
25 |
Story arcs |
|
Studio |
Bones |
The arcs that took place in season 3 were amazing, fleshing out the backstories of several characters and proving once again why the League of Villains was a group to be feared in the series. Perhaps the biggest reason so many fans hold this season in high regard is because it features the superhero All Might's final battle before his retirement.
His fight against All For One is steeped in emotion, and his final blow essentially serves as a passing of the torch to Midoriya. The students also get to shine in the season's various arcs, with the battle between Midoriya and Bakugo helping the latter's character develop in ways no one could have predicted.
1 Season 6
MyAnimeList: 8.26
Air dates |
October 1, 2022 – March 25, 2023 |
---|---|
Number of series |
25 |
Story arcs |
|
Studio |
Bones |
After two rather unsuccessful seasons, My Hero Academy it is necessary not only to return with a bang, but also to pay for the legwork of the previous arcs. Fortunately, season 6 has greatly revitalized the anime, introducing perhaps the strongest saga yet in the Paranormal Liberation War. As the heroes attempt to cross the villains at their knees, they launch an all-out attack that spirals out of control very quickly, resulting in casualties on both sides and unprecedented collateral damage.
The first half of season 6 presents My Hero Academy at its most insane, consistent and epic. Each episode builds on the last, leading to an exciting and unforgettable denouement. The Dark Hero arc is also pretty good, even if its run depends on the viewer's appreciation for Deku since he's central to almost everything. This storyline also ends on a quieter note, contrasting with the almost non-stop action that preceded it, setting up Season 7 in the process.