Key insights
- There wasn't much at stake in My Hero Academia Season 5 and it felt like a set-up for Season 6.
- Season 4 had amazing action sequences but suffered from animation limitations.
- Season 2 impressed fans with Midoriya's intelligent use of his powers and iconic moments like his fight with Todoroki.
My Hero Academia is one of the most hyped animes ever, with its latest season delighting fans as always. Manga fans were well aware of the importance of the story arc covered in the anime and it has proven to be an absolute joy to witness firsthand.
During every season of My Hero Academia was pretty brilliant in its own right, there's no denying that some parts are just better than others for a variety of reasons. While fans are sure to have their favorites in each season My Hero Academia has episodes and storylines of varying quality that can be ranked based on how entertaining and memorable they are. So, here are the best MHA Seasons.
Updated October 1, 2024 by Mark Sammut: The 7th season of My Hero Academia is almost finished, with only two episodes left. Although not complete, enough content has been published to properly rank the course. Where does the 2024 entry fit? The best seasons of My Hero Academia?
7 Season 5
MyAnimeList: 7.36
Broadcast dates |
March 27, 2021 – September 25, 2021 |
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Number of episodes |
25 |
Storylines |
|
studio |
Bone |
The fifth season of My Hero Academia It was a lot of fun to watch in itself; However, the high stakes that fans had become accustomed to in recent seasons were missing. While the pace quickened and the League of Villains emerged as serious villains with immense powers, this story arc came way too late and followed a series of inconsequential storylines and storylines.
Of course, as is the case with everyone My Hero Academia Season 1, the anime was still chock-full of amazing animation and great reveals. Watching Deku control a completely different power in the form of Blackwhip was a great time, and this storyline would pay off in Season 6. Ultimately, Season 5 largely feels like a set-up for its successor, particularly the meta-Liberation Army arc. Almost all of the groundwork for Season 6's Paranormal Liberation War arc.
6 Season 4
MyAnimeList: 7.87
Broadcast dates |
October 12, 2019 – April 4, 2020 |
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Number of episodes |
25 |
Storylines |
|
studio |
Bone |
Season 4 contains some of these My Hero AcademiaHigh Points of the Film: The mission to rescue Eri is a massive climax in an action-packed season filled to the brim with amazing animation and fight sequences. However, in Season 4, the series' production also shows some of its limitations, causing some of the more notable fights in the manga to suffer from either poor artistic decisions, overproduced segments, or both.
Notable examples of this include the slideshow fight after Mirio loses his powers, and the complete lack of sound when Midoriya unwittingly uses 100% of his powers to save Eri. The former takes away a lot of the emotion that comes from Mirio's valiant efforts to save Eri no matter what, while the latter is just a confusing decision where viewers don't know what's happening until Midoriya narrates the entire chain of events.
5 Season 7 (Episodes 1–19)
MyAnimeList: 7.90
Broadcast dates |
May 4, 2024 – |
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Number of episodes |
21 |
Storylines |
|
studio |
Bone |
Season 7 still has two more episodes to air, but enough content has been released to make a verdict. If the season position changes in the last two episodes, the article will be updated accordingly.
Just as the fourth season struggled to keep up with its immediate predecessor, the seventh season also had to fight hard to be considered a worthy sequel to the previous season. While the Final War Arc is exciting in a vacuum, its impact is somewhat neutralized by the existence of the Paranormal Liberation War Arc, a similar but more chaotic and intense storyline. Ideally they should be viewed as a coherent saga rather than individual battles, but they are divided by three short storylines that slow the pace. More importantly, Season 7 just doesn't feel fresh compared to the 2022 entry.
Just to clarify: My Hero Academia Season 7 is still entertaining. The Star and Stripe arc began epically, with All for One (in Shigaraki's body) immediately facing off against America's greatest hero. Although this fight only lasts about two episodes, it is one of the anime's best, as both characters immediately go for the death. The only thing holding this arc back from sheer greatness is that Star and Stripe is largely a supporting character.
UA Traitor Arc has an interesting premise that unfortunately doesn't amount to much. The idea of one of the students leaking information to All for One could have been great, but the reveal fell through because it depended on a character who couldn't handle that kind of drama. The betrayal was also quickly swept under the carpet.
Ultimately, these two smaller storylines merely set the stage for the Last War, an all-out conflict fought on multiple fronts. Unlike the more one-sided Paranormal Liberation War Arc, this competition is much more even, with the heroes overtaking the villains. Shigaraki/All for One's fight with Deku eventually takes center stage, but dozens of characters on both sides get their time to shine. “The Final War” is good and has great moments.
4 Season 1
MyAnimeList: 7.85
Broadcast dates |
April 3, 2016 – June 26, 2016 |
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Number of episodes |
13 |
Storylines |
|
studio |
Bone |
The first season of My Hero Academia was half the length of the show's other seasons, but it only took a few episodes to get fans hooked on the story. Midoriya may not be much of a protagonist since his stereotypical personality is there for everyone to see, but he's a great focal point for an underdog story that will fulfill the power fantasies many viewers look for in most shonen anime.
The introduction of All Might is also pretty great, motivating Midoriya to push beyond his limits and form a body worthy of housing One for All. This resulted in Midoriya becoming an extremely powerful glass cannon, rendered completely ineffective with a single use of his Quirk. This explosive but damaging force took center stage during the entrance exams as Midoriya demonstrated his qualities as a hero.
3 Season 2
MyAnimeList: 8.07
Broadcast dates |
April 1, 2017 – September 30, 2017 |
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Number of episodes |
25 |
Storylines |
|
studio |
Bone |
It's not surprising My Hero Academia shot to the stars after the first season left a strong impression. Fans couldn't wait to see how Midoriya and the rest of Class 1-A would use their powers, and the anime certainly didn't disappoint in that regard. Sure, Midoriya was still a self-destructive madman, but he found a new and intelligent way to use his power that wouldn't cripple him in a single use.
There are several iconic moments from the series set in the second season, including the incredible fight between Midoriya and Todoroki, which was pure spectacle and delivered in every way. The fact that Midoriya managed to unlock “Full Cowl” and control the use of “One for All” was also very welcome, as the introduction of “Gran Torino” also slowly revealed All Might's unique and interesting backstory brought light.
2 Season 3
MyAnimeList: 8.00
Broadcast dates |
April 7, 2018 – September 29, 2018 |
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Number of episodes |
25 |
Storylines |
|
studio |
Bone |
The storylines that unfolded in Season 3 were amazing, fleshing out the backstories of several characters and proving once again why the League of Villains was a feared group in the series. Perhaps the biggest reason why so many fans rate this season so highly is that it features All Might's final superhero fight before his retirement.
His fight against All For One is full of emotion, and his final blow essentially serves as a passing of the torch to Midoriya. The students also get to shine in the season's various storylines, with the fight between Midoriya and Bakugo helping to develop the latter's character in ways no one could have predicted.
1 Season 6
MyAnimeList: 8.26
Broadcast dates |
October 1, 2022 – March 25, 2023 |
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Number of episodes |
25 |
Storylines |
|
studio |
Bone |
After two rather disappointing seasons My Hero Academia not only had to come back with a bang, but also make the legwork of the previous storylines worth it. Luckily, Season 6 revitalized the anime significantly and delivered arguably its strongest saga in the Paranormal Liberation War. As the heroes attempt to cut the villains off at their knees, they launch a major attack that very quickly spirals out of control, resulting in casualties on both sides and unprecedented collateral damage.
Represents the first half of the sixth season My Hero Academia at its most hectic, momentous and epic. Each episode builds on this and leads to an exciting and unforgettable conclusion. The Dark Hero arc is also pretty good, although its success depends on the viewer's appreciation for Deku, as he is the focus of almost everything. This storyline also ends on a quieter note, contrasting with the almost non-stop action that preceded it, ushering in the seventh season.