Honestly, most anime movies feel like filler. You know the drill. A random villain appears, the main cast gets a flashy new move that is never mentioned again in the show, and by the end, everything resets to the status quo. It’s predictable. But My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising felt different from the jump. When it hit theaters, the buzz wasn't just about the animation—which was incredible, thanks to Studio Bones—but about the fact that Kohei Horikoshi, the series creator, admitted he used an ending he originally planned for the entire manga.
That’s a huge deal.
It changes how you watch the film. You aren't just seeing a side quest; you're seeing a glimpse of what could have been the grand finale for Izuku Midoriya and Katsuki Bakugo. Set on the peaceful Nabu Island, the story follows Class 1-A as they run their own hero agency without any pro heroes around to bail them out. No All Might. No Aizawa. Just teenagers trying to do the right thing until a villain named Nine shows up to ruin everything.
Nine isn't just some guy with a grudge. He’s basically a prototype for Tomura Shigaraki, possessing multiple quirks and a god complex that makes him genuinely terrifying. The stakes feel earned because the kids are isolated. If they lose, the island is gone.
The Dual Successor Concept in My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising
The core of this movie is the relationship between Deku and Bakugo. It’s complicated. If you've followed the series, you know their rivalry is the heartbeat of the narrative, moving from childhood bullying to a begrudging, respectful competition. My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising pushes this to the absolute limit.
The climax involves a moment that sent shockwaves through the fandom: Deku sharing One For All with Bakugo.
Technically, this shouldn't even be possible without a long transfer process, but the movie plays with the idea of "miracles" and the sheer willpower of the two leads. It’s a controversial narrative choice. Some fans felt it cheapened the uniqueness of One For All, while others saw it as the ultimate culmination of their character arcs. To see two characters who have spent years clashing finally breathe in sync and fight as a single unit is nothing short of cathartic.
The animation during this sequence? Unreal. Director Kenji Nagasaki and the team at Bones went all out. You see the sparks of the Quirk flying, the terrain disintegrating, and the sheer physical toll it takes on their bodies. It’s loud, it’s messy, and it’s beautiful.
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Why Nabu Island Was the Perfect Setting
Most Shonen movies take place in a generic city or a high-tech facility. Putting Class 1-A on Nabu Island was a stroke of genius. It forced them to do "real" hero work. We’re talking about finding lost children, helping elderly citizens with their groceries, and patrolling quiet beaches.
This grounded the characters.
It reminded us that being a hero isn't always about punching a giant monster in the face. It’s about community. When Nine arrives with his crew—Chimera, Slice, and Mummy—the contrast between the peaceful island life and the brutal violence of the villains is jarring. It makes you care about the civilians, specifically the two kids, Mahoro and Katsuma, who become the emotional anchors of the film.
Nine: The Villain Who Almost Won
Nine is a fascinating antagonist because he represents the "Survival of the Fittest" ideology taken to its logical, most violent extreme. He has a quirk that allows him to steal and store up to nine different powers, but his body is failing him. He’s a glass cannon. He needs a cell activation quirk to heal himself, which is why he targets young Katsuma on the island.
He’s scary.
Unlike many movie villains who are just "evil for the sake of being evil," Nine has a clear, albeit twisted, vision for the world. He wants a meritocracy of power. If you’re strong, you rule. If you’re weak, you serve. This directly opposes everything Deku stands for, making their clash ideological as much as physical.
The fight choreography against Nine is some of the best in the franchise. It’s not just Deku and Bakugo; the entire class gets a moment to shine. Tokoyami’s Dark Shadow, Todoroki’s ice walls, and even Iida’s speed are utilized in a coordinated tactical assault that feels like a real team effort.
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Dealing with the Canon Confusion
Is My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising canon? This is the question that keeps fans up at night. The short answer is: sort of.
While the movies are generally considered standalone adventures, Horikoshi has integrated elements from the films into the manga. For example, Nine makes a tiny cameo in the manga's "Meta Liberation Army" arc, confirming he exists in the main universe. However, the events of the movie are rarely referenced in the TV show. This creates a weird "semi-canon" space. You don't need to watch it to understand the main story, but your experience of the world is definitely richer if you do.
The timeline is also a bit tricky. The movie takes place after the "Pro Hero" arc but before the "Endeavor Agency" arc, which confused some viewers when it first released because it featured power-ups that hadn't appeared in the anime yet.
The Emotional Weight of Sacrifice
There is a scene toward the end where Deku believes he has lost One For All forever. He gave it to Bakugo to save the island, knowing he would go back to being "Quirkless."
It’s heartbreaking.
He stands there, exhausted, looking at his hands, realizing his dream of being the Number One Hero might be over. Even though we, as the audience, know things will probably work out—because the show has several seasons left—the performance by Daiki Yamashita (Deku’s Japanese VA) or Justin Briner (English VA) sells the tragedy perfectly. It’s a testament to the character’s selflessness.
Bakugo, too, shows immense growth. He doesn't take the power out of ego. He takes it because he knows it’s the only way to win. The way he handles the aftermath—waking up with partial amnesia of the event—is a bit of a "reset button" trope, but it works to keep the status quo of the main series intact.
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Production Quality and Music
You can't talk about this movie without mentioning Yuki Hayashi’s score. The track "Might+U" is a masterpiece. It’s used during the most emotional moments of the film and has become an anthem for the series. It’s soulful, soaring, and perfectly captures the feeling of hope in the face of despair.
The visual effects are also a step up from the first movie, Two Heroes. The use of color during the final battle—purples, oranges, and deep blues—creates a psychedelic, high-stakes atmosphere. It’s a sensory overload in the best way possible.
Common Criticisms and Why They (Mostly) Don't Matter
No movie is perfect. Some critics argue that the ending is a "deus ex machina" because One For All stays with Deku due to a "miracle" or because the previous vestiges allowed it. Yeah, it’s a bit of a convenient plot device.
Others feel that the side villains like Slice and Chimera weren't developed enough. They were basically just boss fights for the other students. While true, you have to remember this is a 100-minute movie. You can't give a tragic backstory to every person on screen. What matters is that they provided a credible threat that forced Class 1-A to work together.
The film's pacing is actually quite tight. It spends about 30 minutes on world-building and character interactions before the action kicks into high gear and doesn't stop until the credits roll. It’s an adrenaline shot.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you haven't seen the movie yet, or if you're planning a rewatch, here is how to get the most out of My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising:
- Watch it after Season 4: To avoid spoilers and understand where the characters are emotionally, the best time to watch is right after the Overhaul/School Festival arcs.
- Pay attention to the background: The movie is packed with Easter eggs. Look closely at the "Hero work" montage at the beginning; you'll see small nods to various side characters from the manga.
- Listen to the lyrics of Might+U: The song tells the story of the bond between the characters and the weight of being a hero. It’s not just background noise; it’s a narrative tool.
- Compare it to the manga ending: Once you've finished the manga, go back and watch this movie. It’s fascinating to see how the "original" ending idea was adapted and how it differs from what Horikoshi eventually chose for the final chapter of the series.
- Check out the "Plus Ultra" version: If you can find the Blu-ray or a high-quality stream, the visual fidelity is significantly better than the standard theatrical release, with some cleaned-up animation frames in the final battle.
Basically, this film is a love letter to the fans. It captures the essence of what makes the series great: the idea that anyone can be a hero if they’re willing to put everything on the line for someone else. It’s not just about the "smash"; it’s about the heart behind it.
Even years after its release, it remains a high-water mark for anime films. It didn't just play it safe; it took risks, showed us a version of the ending we never thought we'd see, and gave Bakugo and Deku the team-up they deserved. If you want to see Class 1-A at their absolute best, this is the movie to watch.