My Hero Academia is one of the most popular anime series when it comes to animated superhero stories. Creator Kohei Horikoshi’s acclaimed anime series has a different approach to storytelling and character development. The franchise continues to rise with the release of its fourth film, My Hero Academia: You’re NextThe creator’s thoughts on this have helped fans to better understand the theme of the series.
Horikoshi’s humble nature and dedication to his work are evident in his discussions of the series’ international acclaim, his inspirations, and the importance of portraying heroes’ flaws when the world is full of heroes and villains with superpowers.
The true nature of heroism according to Kohei Horikoshi
Kohei Horikoshi’s answers in an exclusive interview with ComicBook were very humble when asked how he felt about his series being so popular worldwide. He honestly admitted that his main goal when he started drawing the manga was not to appeal to the global audience. Instead, his focus was just to enjoy his creative process.
When I started drawing this manga, I didn’t necessarily have overseas readers in mind and my attitude was more like, “As long as I enjoy drawing, that’s all that matters.”
During the interview, he also revealed an unexpected source of inspiration for his idea of heroism. His inspiration came not from his traditional shonen tropes, but from a scene in Spider Man 2.
He describes what it means to be a hero:
“What is a hero?” A hero is a person who helps ordinary people and ordinary people who help them. I think that is the answer to the question and there is nothing more to it.
His understanding of heroism helped him develop a vision of a heroic society. The interpretation of this works in two ways, with both heroes and humans contributing to heroic deeds, highlighting the nature of human connection and mutual support.
Shaping character flaws through Kohei Horikoshi’s personal experiences
Horikoshi’s acceptance of his personal experiences that influenced MHAThe development of was the most revealed part of the exclusive interview. When his second serial story was cancelled, he thought he would never enjoy drawing manga again. He put all his energy into encouraging people who are heartbroken by their past actions through his series.
The story developed in this direction based on my experiences, but I’m sure everyone has experienced a situation they regret. It could be that my theme was relatable to many readers, but I really developed the story based on my feelings without forcing anything, so I also didn’t consciously choose to portray the characters’ flaws.
His wish to My Hero Academia world is not born out of his conscious decision to portray character flaws, but rather from his natural drive to motivate others. The approach to casting these complex storylines and flawed characters has earned the series worldwide acclaim.
As My Hero Academia As fans eagerly await the release of the fourth film, Horikoshi has made a significant contribution to the series’ continued success. His personal experiences and genuine love for his work have created a world in which everyone can find inspiration.
My Hero Academia can be viewed on Crunchyroll.
