Why the My Hero Academia anime doesn’t need to fix the series’ ending, explained

The ongoing 7th season of My Hero Academia has recently aired its 15th episode, receiving critical acclaim from fans globally. Viewers were especially pleased to see the anime’s adaptation of the Final War arc from the manga stay faithful to the original story.

Conversely, the My Hero Academia manga, which concluded in August 2024, received backlash from a significant portion of the fanbase on social media. Many were dissatisfied with the conclusion of the anime and Deku’s character development as written by mangaka Kohei Horikoshi. As a result, fans have shifted their focus to the ongoing anime series, which still has enough source material for another season after season 7’s finale.

As a result, fans have voiced their desire for the My Hero Academia anime to “fix”the original ending of the manga. Although it is not completely out of the realm of possibility for the anime to make minor alterations to the ending, fans should pause and reevaluate their wish, as the manga’s conclusion is not as flawed as it may seem.

Reasons for Keeping the Original Ending of the My Hero Academia Manga

Despite high expectations, the current 7th season of the My Hero Academia anime has managed to surpass them all. Studio Bones has received widespread praise from fans across the globe for staying true to the manga’s Final War arc and delivering the much-anticipated final battles in an exceptional manner.

However, up until recently, the final chapters of the My Hero Academia manga were heavily criticized by a large portion of fans. They voiced their disappointment with Kohei Horikoshi’s ending to the series.

Despite being considered one of, if not the most popular, anime series of the new generation, My Hero Academia faced immense pressure to deliver a satisfying conclusion. With such high expectations from fans, it was nearly impossible to please everyone.

Deku as seen in the My Hero Academia anime (image via Bones)

Despite its popularity, the ending of My Hero Academia has received criticism from fans for its rushed pacing and the resolution of Deku’s character arc. Many were disappointed with the revelation that he had given up his One For All Quirk and chosen to become a teacher rather than a hero. Furthermore, there has been speculation among fans about whether or not Deku and his main love interest, Ochako Uraraka, ever became a couple.

To make matters worse, the epilogue revealed that Deku’s former classmates from U.A. High, now professional heroes, were unable to find time to maintain contact with him. Despite his triumph over two of the most notorious villains in the world, Deku was left behind and forgotten by his friends. This aspect did not sit well with the fans.

Despite My Hero Academia’s immense popularity and influence as one of the top Shonen series, there were fans who resorted to harshly criticizing Deku’s character and Horikoshi’s writing on social media. They argued that the ending of the series was poorly written and possibly one of the weakest conclusions in the history of the animanga industry.

Many fans want the My Hero Academia anime to change the manga's ending (image via Bones) — Many fans want the My Hero Academia anime to change the manga’s ending (image via Bones)

Fans have voiced their wish for the My Hero Academia anime to potentially enhance or “rectify”the manga’s conclusion. They have contended that it is not unusual for animation studios to incorporate original material into an anime.

As seen in the Naruto: Shippuden anime, Studio Pierrot made significant improvements to the pacing and dialogue in the final battle between Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha. These changes greatly enhanced the quality of the showdown, surpassing the way it was portrayed in the manga.

An additional instance could involve MAPPA Studios making modifications to the finale of Attack on Titan. The incorporation of new dialogues in the concluding discussion between Eren Yeager and Armin Artlert, along with the introduction of an extended epilogue scene, effectively aided in connecting the story to the buildup in the narration.

Generally, when an anime studio modifies the conclusion of a manga adaptation, the alterations are usually minimal. These changes often involve enhancing the flow of certain scenes and incorporating additional dialogue between characters to improve understanding. It is uncommon for a studio to deviate entirely from the original manga and alter its ending without the approval of the mangaka, although there have been a few rare instances of this occurring.

Upon reflection of the My Hero Academia finale, there is no need to make any significant alterations. While the anime could certainly benefit from minor adjustments, such as improving the pacing of the final chapters and further developing certain character resolutions, it is unnecessary for Studio Bones to make any major changes.

Despite the disapproval of the majority of the fanbase, there are those who argue that Deku’s character arc in the series was realistically portrayed. They point out that it is not uncommon for individuals to become teachers after losing their abilities and drifting apart from their high school friends in real life.

Horikoshi’s decision to give the main character of his series a realistic ending is undeniably a daring move. It may not be the typical ending that fans of Shonen fantasy series would expect, but it should be respected that a mangaka has the creative freedom to conclude their story in their own way. It is unrealistic to expect them to cater to every single fan’s desires, and they should not have to compromise their artistic vision for the sake of pleasing everyone.

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