Why My Hero Academia’s School Festival Arc is Considered the Weakest

My Hero Academia has cultivated a passionate following, yet it has also faced its share of criticism. While some critiques are warranted, others fall short. Amidst these discussions, certain story arcs shine, whereas others, like the School Festival arc, leave much to be desired due to a series of shortcomings.

This particular arc has its defenders, but it stands as a low point in the series primarily because it fails to advance the overarching plot. Furthermore, it neglects to give adequate attention to pivotal characters who significantly impact the narrative.

Notably, this arc serves largely as filler material for the manga, aside from the minor involvement of Gentle Criminal and La Brava in the concluding battle.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for the series.

Analyzing the Shortcomings of the School Festival Arc

Gentle Criminal and La Brava as depicted in the anime (Image via Bones).

Foremost among the issues plaguing the School Festival arc is its failure to meaningfully progress the overall storyline. The focus remains primarily on orchestrating a festival for the various departments at UA and ensuring that Eri finds joy after the traumatic experiences inflicted by Overhaul. Although Eri’s smile serves as a touching moment in her character arc, the overall plot drags on and may be seen as little more than glorified filler.

While narrative tension and action are fundamental to storytelling, this arc notably lacks substantial development for the main characters. Deku does experience a minor growth during his confrontation with Gentle Criminal, yet the empathy he displays feels repetitive and lacks novel undertones. Conversely, Kyoka Jiro, a character with a significant following, remains sidelined and fails to play a critical role in both this arc and the broader narrative.

Additional Concerns Within the Narrative

Promotional image for the School Festival arc in the anime (Image via Bones).

Furthermore, the timing of this arc raises questions, particularly given that My Hero Academia had recently traversed darker storylines, such as Stain’s attacks, the high-stakes Kamino battle, and the harrowing Overhaul saga. Introducing a school festival at this juncture feels anticlimactic and diminishes the overall impact of the narrative.

While Gentle Criminal and La Brava are celebrated as standout figures in this arc, serving as the only elements that echo into the final confrontation, their presence does not compensate for the overall lack of significance. In fact, the School Festival arc could be excised entirely without substantial repercussions to the manga’s progression.

Concluding Remarks

In the grand tapestry of My Hero Academia, the series showcases significant highs juxtaposed with notable lows, the School Festival arc being a prime example of the latter. Despite its potential, this arc ultimately falls short of enhancing the series, offering little in terms of depth or plot advancement.