My Hero Academia Season 7 Episode 19: Comparing Anime and Manga Adaptations

My Hero Academia Season 7 Episode 19 was released on September 29, 2024. The production team of this popular anime series introduced several anime-original scenes after a significant hiatus. Notably, the episode focused heavily on Dabi and his family, omitting other scenes that might fit better in upcoming episodes.

As anticipated, the anime adaptation struggled to capture the same intensity as the original source material, particularly due to the censoring of the Todoroki family’s final confrontation. The episode’s art style and overall background theme detracted from the darker tone of the battle; however, Dabi’s striking character design managed to shift the audience’s attention away from these shortcomings.

Disclaimer: This article contains potential spoilers from My Hero Academia Season 7 Episode 19 and reflects the author’s perspective.

Analyzing My Hero Academia Season 7 Episode 19 Against Its Manga Chapters

My Hero Academia Season 7 Episode 19: All Might and a Throwback to His Glory Days

All for One as seen in the anime (Image via Bones)

My Hero Academia Season 7 Episode 19, titled “I Am Here,”adapts the remainder of Chapter 385 along with Chapters 286-289 and Chapter 390, leading into the final panel that serves as a preview for the next episode. The episode begins with intense scenes from Dabi’s battlefield where the rising temperatures posed a catastrophic threat, potentially scorching parts of Japan.

As the tension escalated, the narrative shifted to Todoroki and Iida, who were at a loss regarding their next steps. Meanwhile, All for One was moving towards TomurAFO, and the heroes’ morale was plummeting. Out of the blue, All Might encouraged Iida to lead Todoroki to face his brother one last time, allowing All for One to confront him alone.

All Might as seen in the anime (Image via Bones)

All Might’s brief but nostalgic speech harkened back to his days as the Symbol of Peace, showing that he was always there in moments of need, particularly during this climactic battle.

Returning to the battlefield, All Might proclaimed his iconic phrase, “I Am HERE,”confronting the villain with the courage that once defined him as the world’s protector. Equipped with various tools, he aimed to distract All for One.

My Hero Academia Season 7 Episode 19: A Reunion of the Todoroki Family

The reunion of the Todoroki family (Image via Bones)

The episode then returned to the Gunga Villa site, where Endeavor learned of Dabi’s impending eruption. Reflecting on how Dabi had suppressed his flames since the battle began, Endeavor reached out to his son, discovering that Dabi had unlocked his mother’s quirk through his near-death experience.

Haunted by guilt, Endeavor made the decision to carry Dabi—his literal ticking time bomb—into the sky in a bid to save Japan from destruction. At that moment, Rei intervened, utilizing her powerful quirk to quell Dabi’s flames. Natsuo and their siblings also joined the scene, expressing regret for their earlier neglect of Dabi.

The part skipped in My Hero Academia season 7 episode 19 (Image via Shueisha) — The part skipped in My Hero Academia Season 7 Episode 19 (Image via Shueisha)

This heart-wrenching family reunion felt somber rather than joyful, as it shattered Dabi from within. For the first time, he was in the limelight, but for all the wrong reasons. Meanwhile, Shoto raced towards the Gunga Site with Iida’s help, only for Iida to stumble and force Shoto to run alone.

Before the battle commenced, the episode skipped over a dialogue between Mr. Compress and a colleague, a scene that may be animated in later episodes. When Shoto finally confronted Dabi, he unleashed a new technique, the Great Glacial Aegir, and candidly admitted that his flames paled in comparison to Toya’s.

The latter part of My Hero Academia Season 7 Episode 19 had the potential to undermine the episode’s overall tone. While the manga depicted the characters as severely injured, the anime softened the portrayal, presenting the Todoroki family as simply exhausted. Dabi, in particular, was visualized as a mere wraith as a consequence of his sacrifices.

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