Toho recently commented on the ongoing relevance of My Hero Academia as it prepares to enter its seventh season, acknowledging its role in the success and increased viewership of other franchises such as Jujutsu Kaisen.
In 2016, My Hero Academia played a significant role in driving the recent surge of interest in anime. Building upon the success of One-Punch Man’s debut in 2015, the introduction of Deku and his companions sparked a renewed fascination with anime among the general public.
In recent times, various tectonic properties such as Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen have reached new heights in popularity. According to Toho, these series, along with others, have attracted a significant number of viewers. However, they acknowledge that the absence of Deku and Class 1-A could have resulted in a slight decline in their success.
According to Hiroyasu Matsuoka, CEO of Toho, distributors around the world were eagerly vying for the opportunity to acquire the rights to My Hero Academia. Matsuoka explains in an interview with VIPO that distributors were constantly increasing their offers, even while their previous offers were still being considered. Additionally, the entrance of competing companies into the market also contributed to the rising price, with impressive numbers being offered.
Hiroyasu pointed out that My Hero Academia helped Toho recognize the potential of their franchises to attract a global fanbase, motivating them to pursue new opportunities.
“Despite our strong focus on expanding into international markets, we also recognized the importance of continuing to cater to our domestic audience. Therefore, we made sure not to overlook the current anime craze and utilized our established network to oversee popular titles like Jujutsu Kaisen, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, and The Apothecary Diaries.”
It is exciting to see Megan Thee Stallion attending the Crunchyroll Anime Awards dressed up as a character from Jujutsu Kaisen. The popularity of anime continues to rise on a global scale, with newer series like Solo Leveling achieving great success and classic titles such as The First Slam Dunk and Haikyuu!! proving that there is a strong interest in anime movies as well.
We hope it continues for a long time! Class 1-A will also have double responsibilities this year, as My Hero Academia: You’re Next is set to hit the big screen this summer.
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