A new My Hero Academia story officially releases in 2 weeks

It’s difficult enough to end a manga or anime on a satisfying note, but doing it more than once is a spectacular feat. Some stories are meant to be told over and over, like Hideaki Anno’s Neon Genesis Evangelion, which is getting a brand-new Yoko Taro treatment despite ending four different times.

Others, like My Hero Academia, ended its anime adaptation on a pitch-perfect note but got the opportunity to round things off with the special episode “More.” This second ending helped tie up loose ends, provided additional details about the fates of some characters, and allowed fans to say goodbye to the beloved shonen series one last time.

This, however, isn’t the end for the My Hero Academia franchise. Apart from “More,” the series’ 10th anniversary celebration this year is also treating fans to the anime short, I am a hero too. The short adapts the bonus chapter from My Hero Academia: Ultra Age: The Final Fan Book, which is the third (and final) franchise data book by manga author Kohei Horikoshi.

Here’s what you need to know before I am a hero too officially drops on streaming platforms on Aug. 3.

What is the plot of My Hero Academia: I Am A Hero Too?

I am a hero too centers on Eri, the granddaughter of the Shie Hassaikai’s boss, whom Izuku Midoriya, aka Deku, saves in the fourth season of My Hero Academia. Eri’s backstory is rather tragic: she’s subjected to brutal experimentation by Overhaul and becomes the target of his obsessions due to her Quirk, Rewind.

An incredibly rare and powerful ability, Rewind grants the user the power to reverse a living being’s body back to a previous state. Overhaul uses Eri’s blood to create the Quirk-Destroying Drug, which can wipe out someone’s Quirk almost instantly. After Deku and Mirio Togata (aka Lemillion) rescue Eri during the Shie Hassaikai Arc, she is granted protection by U.A. High School, where she gradually learns to control her ability and live a relatively happier life.

In I am a hero too, Eri is now a high school student who dreams of being a musician and is currently under Kyoka Jiro’s mentorship. To thank all the heroes who’ve helped her find her footing, she invites them to her debut street performance. Although the short isn’t aimed at offering in-depth context for Eri’s path forward, it provides much-needed emotional closure for a character who made a significant mark on Deku and his friends.

Why I Am A Hero Too is a significant addition to My Hero Academia

Image: Toho

The adaptation of “More” can be justified on several fronts. Rather than ending the series with the immediate aftermath of the Final War, “More” jumps ahead eight years to give us a snapshot of various now-adult characters. The special episode’s optimistic tone also gives new meaning to the sacrifices made by Class 1-A, along with the hard-earned nature of peace.

Studio Bones also gets to flex its knack for animating visuals that don’t need to rely on spectacle for emotional resonance. The tender shot of Deku and Ochaco Uraraka grabbing each other’s hands in this special epilogue is just one example of what makes this second ending feel so moving and effective.

In comparison, I am a hero too might not feel as relevant to the central story, but this Eri-focused short is meant to accomplish more than just bringing her arc full-circle. The source material itself is barely five pages long, so it’s essentially a brief but sweet window into the normalcy that Eri was denied all her life before Deku rescued her.

The short is an affirmation of Eri’s autonomy and a chance for her to pay homage to “Hero Too,” the track composed and performed by the students of Class 1-A during the U.A. School Festival Arc in season 4. I am a hero too also allows Eri to thank the heroes who have helped her realize her dreams while underlining how far she has come since her tragic introduction in the anime.

My Hero Academia: I am a hero too will be available to stream on Aug. 3.