My Hero Academiahas taken the world of shōnen by storm. It’s an amazing, genuine series that features some of the best characters and fights in modern anime. The story is set around Izuku Midoriya, a Quirkless Boy in a world filled with Quirks. Everything changes when he acquires One For All, the second-strongest Quirk in existence. His story is a straightforward one that tells the tale of a good person who just wants to protect his friends and the world around him.
WhileMy Hero Academiadoes a great job of separating itself from the competition, there are a few shows out there that are worthy of comparison. To be a goodMy Hero Academiacomparison, a show doesn’t necessarily need to be about superheroes and high schools, but it should beabout a protagonist defying the odds to do what’s right.
Animated By MAPPA, Based on the Manga By Gege Akutaki
Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisenis a Japanese anime and manga series created by Gege Akutami. The story is set in a world where Cursed Spirits, born from negative human emotions, prey on humanity. It follows high school student Yuji Itadori as he becomes entangled in the world of Jujutsu Sorcery after swallowing a cursed talisman—Ryomen Sukuna’s finger—and becomes the host for one of the most powerful curses. Yuji joins the Tokyo Metropolitan Magic Technical College to learn how to combat curses while searching for the remaining fingers of Sukuna to exorcise him permanently.
Jujutsu Kaisenshares a few key traits withMy Hero Academia.Both shows are centered on high school students, the protagonist has two main people he travels with for most of the show, and importantly, neither Deku nor Yuji are the strongest characters in their series. They’re two humble kids who got thrown into a situation way beyond their control, but even when things get dark, they’re also two of the most determined characters in anime.
10 Smartest Jujutsu Kaisen Characters, Ranked
Though Jujutsu Kaisen features a variety of wise characters, some stand out for their ability to make the most of any situation they’re presented with
Jujutsu Kaisenismuchdarker and more brutalthanMy Hero Academia.WhileMy Hero Academiawill kill off an important character or two per season, not many people surviveJujutsu Kaisen.It’s a bleak series that never gets brighter. While there are plenty of humorous moments throughout both shows, there theme is their biggest difference.BothJujutsu KaisenandMy Hero Academiahave some of the best-animated fights in anime, however, makingJujutsu Kaisena great watch for fans ofMy Hero Academia.
Hunter X Hunter
Hunter × Hunteris a Japanese manga and anime franchise created by Yoshihiro Togashi. The story follows Gon Freecss, a boy who discovers his father is a legendary Hunter, and embarks on a journey to become one himself. Along the way, he encounters friends and foes in a world filled with martial arts, adventure, and paranormal elements. The franchise spans manga, multiple anime adaptations, films, OVAs, and video games.
Hunter x Hunteris botha cult classic and a classic in general.It’s an amazing series centered around Gon Freeccs and his adventures. Gon and Deku have a lot in common. They’re both characters raised by a single woman, they aspire to be the best they can be, and they’re always willing to sacrifice themselves for their friends if they need to. Deku and Gon are also two of the youngest strong characters in their respective series,rising up the ranks quicker than most in their position.
15 Best Hunter x Hunter Episodes
The 2011 anime adaptation of Hunter x Hunter has excellent storytelling, but some episodes are so memorable that they define the series as a whole.
Hunter x Hunteris a much bigger series thanMy Hero Academia.WhileMy Hero Academiapretty much takes place entirely at school,Hunter x Hunterspans the world. It covers different clans from different continents, covert groups like the Phantom Troupe, and mysterious families like the Zoldyck family.
Haikyuu!!
Cast
Haikyuu!! is a Japanese anime series based on the manga by Haruichi Furudate that follows Shoyo Hinata, a high school student determined to become a top volleyball player despite his short stature. Through resilience and teamwork, Hinata joins Karasuno High’s volleyball team and forms a dynamic partnership with former rival Tobio Kageyama. The series highlights their journey to national tournaments, emphasizing themes of perseverance and sportsmanship.
Haikyu!!is the bestMy Hero Academiacomparison that isn’t a battle shōnen.Hinata and Kageyama’s fights are on the court,however, and they’re just as well animated as the fights inMy Hero Academia.Haikyu!!‘sbest arcsfeature high-flying action, incredible sound design, and some of the best friendships around. Both series place a lot of value on the relationships and bonds created by people. While each of the main characters is strong in their own right, they’re much stronger with the help of the people around them.
While nobody dies inHaikyu!!likeMy Hero Academia,the volleyball series is no stranger to loss.There are not a lot of scenes harder to watch than high school volleyball players who have worked so hard only to fail in the end, losing their final game as they move on to the rest of their lives.
Dragon Ball Z
Dragon Ball Z follows Goku, who lives a peaceful life with his family until the arrival of Raditz, a mysterious warrior claiming to be Goku’s brother. This revelation unveils their true heritage as Saiyans, a formidable warrior race known for conquering planets.
Dragon Ballis closer to a cultural phenomenon than an anime series. Before it spawned a ton of great video games, sequel series like the excitingDragon Ball: Daima, and more, it was a series about Son Goku and his adventures. Like Deku fromMy Hero Academia,Goku has only ever wanted to protect his friends, but he’s a little more willing to fight than Deku is. Goku is also much stronger than Deku within each of their own respective universes, giving him much more responsibility than the high schooler.
Though fans most commonly compare him to Superman,All Might was actually inspired by Goku.
LikeHunter x Hunter,Dragon Ballis much bigger thanMy Hero Academia.Goku’s adventures take him first all over the globe, then all over the galaxy, and eventually, all over the universe. While the scope may be a little different between the two shows, the ideals are the same. Goku andDeku will always fight for their friends, no matter the odds against them.
One-Punch Man
Saitama, a superhero from City Z, faces an existential crisis as he can defeat any opponent with a single punch, leading to a lack of challenge and sheer boredom. His quest for a worthy opponent leads him to meet new friends and enemies and join the Hero Association to gain official recognition while accidentally (and secretly) solving all of the world’s problems with a single punch.
One Punch Manis somehow bothone of the funniest and most exciting animeof the last decade. It stars Saitama as the reluctantly overpowered hero who can literally defeat his enemies with a single punch. He’s bored of his own power pretty easily, creating plenty of funny moments throughout the show. There’s nothing more hysterical than seeing the Deep Sea King give a five-minute speech about power or something, only for Saitama to obliterate him without trying.
One Punch Man’s Creator’s New Monthly Manga Could Be His Best One Yet
ONE’s newest manga series Bug Ego is finally being serialized by Shueisha which could finally give the new work the attention it deserves.
One Punch Manis the best superhero anime comparison toMy Hero Academia.Both shows have a detailed hero ranking system that plays a huge role in the show, feature some of the most entertaining side characters in shōnen, and also have top-tier fights in both the visual and audio departments.One-Punch Manis much less serious thanMy Hero Academia,and it’s easy to see why. When Saitama can beat anyone in a single punch, there’s really nothing to worry about.
Naruto
LikeDragon Ball, Narutohas quickly become an icon of modern shōnen. Naruto’s spiky yellow hair and orange jumpsuit are identifiable a mile away thanks to his and his series’ massive popularity. It’s a great series because ofhow humble Naruto truly is, a direct comparison to Deku fromMy Hero Academia.Both protagonists are high school-aged for most of the series and have more pressure put on them than anyone else in their universe.
10 Strongest Men In Naruto History, Ranked
Naruto Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze are two of the strongest men in all of Naruto, but who’s strong enough to take the number one spot?
Both Deku and Naruto eventually achieve a god-like statusthanks to their powers, with Naruto being a little closer to divinity of the two. As a staple of modern shōnen,Narutois much bigger in scope thanMy Hero Academia.Naruto’s adventures make him fight gods, take him to the moon, and eventually see him become the Hokage of his village.Naruto’sinfluence onMy Hero Academiais clear, so it’s worth checking out for any fan of the latter series.
One is one of the best, most mysterious mangakas around. He’s the person who wrote the webcomics for bothOne Punch ManandMob Psycho 100,two incredible shows in their own right and both worthy comparisons toMy Hero Academia.Mob fromMob Psychois a quiet kid who keeps to himself for the most part. Because of his insane powers, he’s worried about hurting the people around him,making him a very sweet and responsible young man, just like Deku.
10 Reasons Mob Psycho 100 is the Best Anime in Decades
Mob Psycho 100 isn’t just an incredible anime series, it has many qualities that qualify it for ranking among the best recent anime.
Mob Psycho 100is a much deeper show thanMy Hero Academia.WhileMy Hero Academiaexplores basic themes like justice and doing what’s right,Mob Psychotakes a crack at harder-to-define topics like identity and destiny. They’re both fun shows withprotagonists that are fun to rootfor the entire time, and enough differences to make each show worth watching. The result isone of the best anime series of all time.
Fire Force
Fire Force is set in year 198 of the Solar Era in Tokyo, where special fire brigades combat spontaneous human combustion, transforming people into Infernals. Shinra Kusakabe, nicknamed Devil’s Footprints, joins Special Fire Force Company 8 and investigates a fire that killed his family, amid growing threats from a faction creating Infernals.
While series likeDragon Ball, Naruto,andHunter x Hunterare massive in scope, series likeFire Forceare much closer toMy Hero Academiain terms of size.Fire Forceis set around Shinra Kusakabe, a young man who wants to save people from the horrors of spontaneous human combustion and find out exactly what happened to his family years ago. The series never goes to space, never looks at too many thought-provoking concepts, or does anything too deep, making it a good watch for fans ofMy Hero Academia.
20 Best Fighting Anime of All Time
Whether they feature realistic duels, or magical ones with heightened stakes, these fighting anime offer some of the medium’s most engaging battles.
The fights inFire Forcehave the best sound design in anime. Not only do the fighters in the series wield fire beautifully, but they’re reinforced with so much bass it feels like the screen itself with break.Shinra, like Deku, is an honest characterwho is easy to get behind for the entirety of the series.
Black Cloveris another incredibly simple shōnen anime.Asta, like Deku, was originally magic-less in a world that valued magic above all else. Again, like Deku, Asta never stopped believing in himself and eventually, a great power chose him. Both characters have a ton of similarities. They’re both surrounded by incredible people who get the most out of them, they’re both much stronger than most people would think, and their shared best character trait is their overwhelming loyalty to their friends.
Black CloverandMy Hero Academiaare fairly similar in scope as well.Deku and Asta are just fighting the fights in front of them, and they don’t really need to think about much else. With Yami guiding Asta and All Might guiding Deku, they’re sure to quickly become two of thestrongest characters in anime history.
Demon Slayer
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaibais a wildly popular anime and manga franchise created by Koyoharu Gotouge. Set in Taishō-era Japan, it follows Tanjiro Kamado as he battles demons and seeks a cure for his sister, Nezuko, who was turned into one. The franchise includes a manga, anime TV series, films, video games, and spin-offs. Known for its stunning animation and gripping storyline,Demon Slayeris one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.
Demon Slayeris the best comparison toMy Hero Academia.The shows are similar in scope, feature two characters who aren’t the strongest in their series, and surround their protagonist with plenty of awesome side characters to make the journey more enjoyable. Tanjiro and Deku are honest young men with a lot put on their plate. Deku is the inheritor of One For All, one of thestrongest Quirks in the world, and with great power comes great responsibility.
Tanjiro came home to his family’s slaughter, and his little sister had started to turn into a Demon, setting him on the warpath as well. In battle, there might not be two more determined characters than Deku and Tanjiro. They’re both willing to tear their own bodies to shredsif it means getting a chance at their opponent.
