Despite being one of the biggest Shonen series of the last generation, the popularity of My Hero Academia, along with the emergence of anime streaming services such as Crunchyroll and a significant increase in younger fans, has caused some division within the anime community.
This conflict became especially apparent following a recent tweet attributing Crunchyroll’s triumph exclusively to My Hero Academia. This ignited a contentious debate among long-time enthusiasts, underscoring a widening generation gap. While both factions applaud the greater availability of anime, established fans advocate for acknowledgement of the extensive legacy that paved the path for Crunchyroll’s achievement.
Please note: This article contains minimal spoilers for My Hero Academia.
Generational Divide: My Hero Academia and the Battle for Anime Streaming Supremacy
The Naruto series has held its place as a classic shonen anime since the early 2000s and has established itself as one of the most renowned and impactful anime in the world, alongside Dragon Ball and One Piece.
Despite Naruto’s success, it was not the sole factor that propelled anime to greater levels of popularity. This surge came primarily in the early 2010s, when fresh shonen anime such as Boku no Hero Academia gained a massive following. It quickly established itself as a modern classic among the newer generation of anime enthusiasts.
The origin of the conflict between the Naruto and My Hero Academia fanbases can be traced back to a statement made by a Boku no Hero Academia fan. The user X (@Jussdin_) asserted that My Hero Academia was the primary reason for Crunchyroll’s success as the leading streaming platform for anime.
Following this, fans of Naruto refuted the statement as misleading, specifically referencing Crunchyroll’s own acknowledgement on their website that Naruto played a significant role in their achievements. Both Naruto and Boku no Hero Academia have established themselves as major players in the shonen genre, with their respective fanbases passionately expressing their thoughts on the series.
Reactions from the Anime Community
The My Hero Academia fan’s statement was perceived by Naruto fans as an attempt to downplay the impact of the Naruto series on Crunchyroll’s success and take credit away from it. Another fan referenced Crunchyroll’s own acknowledgement of Naruto’s significant influence.
“Crunchyroll is the house that Naruto built”
Some enthusiasts stated that Naruto was one of the pioneering anime, along with iconic titles like Dragon Ball, that contributed to the growth and popularity of anime streaming. Some fans also noted that Crunchyroll used to promote their platform by featuring Naruto in their titles.
“Crunchyroll’s app was, like, actually named “Crunchyroll – Watch Naruto FREE”on the App Store for years”
Many fans also noted that series such as Dragon Ball were among the earliest anime to have merchandise released internationally. They also pointed out that Dragon Ball gained significant popularity without the use of social media or online distribution platforms, relying solely on anime fan forums.
“They were selling Dragon Ball Z notebooks and folders at CVS in the 90s”
Despite initial disagreement among MHA fans, it was ultimately agreed upon that the newer generation of anime fans were primarily introduced to the fandom through My Hero Academia, potentially influencing their views.
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