My Hero Academia by Kohei Horikoshi has been an exemplary work in the superhero genre. Now that Netflix has shouldered the mantle of adapting this masterpiece into a brand-new live-action movie, I firmly believe My Hero Academia can revive the superhero genre in Hollywood, which is currently suffering despite the success of Deadpool & Wolverine (review). So, here are my reasons why MHA can rekindle the love for superheroes among moviegoers.
Spoilers Warning: This article includes spoilers for the story and characters of My Hero Academia. So, we recommend you to read or watch the MHA series beforehand in order to avoid ruining your intended experience.
The Ongoing Superhero Fatigue
Alright, first we need to talk about the superhero fatigue among the audience. There is a growing disinterest among audiences when it comes to superhero movies and TV shows in the 2020s. This is primarily due to the overabundance of movies with similar plots, rehashed tropes, and half-baked VFX and production issues. Thus, the superhero genre turned into a tiring genre and has reached its saturation point already. It is currently being oversaturated in the name of franchises, and Marvel is trying to rekindle that interest by bringing back RDJ as Doctor Doom.
To counter this fatigue, My Hero Academia has all the elements that a studio needs to restore the superhero genre’s freshness and interest among moviegoers. By perfectly utilizing the potential of My Hero Academia, the staff can bring the best out of the manga for the live-action adaptation. It has a unique perspective and narratives about superheroes which we have discussed more below.
Perfect Story to Flesh Out a Superhero Franchise
My Hero Academia is a tailor-made series that can be expanded into a multi-part franchise. The series is packed with unique narratives, a large number of characters with unique backstories, and more. Thus, you can see how MHA has greater superhero lore with incredible world-building.
All these factors can wisely contribute to building MHA as a wonderful franchise. With its strong source material, Netflix can keep churning out all the stories as sequels, spin-offs, and much more, keeping the fans entertained.
Unparalleled Action Sequences
My Hero Academia features some of the best action sequences you can witness in the Shonen genre. The animanga series is renowned for its exhilarating and spectacular fight sequences. The superhero powers are known as quirks in MHA, and there is a wide variety of them here.
Thus, it opens up the possibilities for the production team to get creative and craft eye-catching action scenes that will be remembered for centuries. The live-action movie can make effective use of advanced CGI and VFX in tandem with skillful action choreography to bring those action scenes to the big screens.
A Superhero Story That Will Resonate with Everyone
My Hero Academia focuses on the life story of Izuku Midoriya, aka Deku. Although not born with superpowers, he finally gets the chance to become a superhero after meeting with the most well-known superhero, All Might. So, in the eyes of Izuku, we are set to explore a world dominated by superheroes and villains lurking beneath to take over them.
Horikoshi sensei has also masterfully built an incredible world where superheroes thrive with an astonishing quirk system. There are so many fascinating aspects of this world that only continue to surprise fans with each chapter.
MHA is predominantly known as an American superhero-esque series set in Japan. Therefore, with the live-action adaptation, My Hero Academia can captivate the hearts of the Western audience with its refreshing take on superheroes.
A Multitude of Prodigious Characters
The biggest highlight of MHA has always been its remarkable characters who never fail to impress us. Kohei Horikoshi successfully managed to distinguish his characters from the other superheroes with a masterclass in characterization. As this is a coming-of-age story, we get to see the characters struggling to make their way through life while slowly flourishing into world-class superheroes over time.
Be it superheroes or villains, Horikoshi sensei excels in establishing them with fantastic backstories and impeccable character arcs that will thoroughly hold one’s attention without fail.
These are the reasons why MHA is being celebrated as one of the greatest superhero tales and now that the MHA manga has ended, it is the right time to put on the cape and let My Hero Academia do its thing. That said, are you excited about the My Hero Academia live-action movie? Let us know in the comments section below.
Ajith Kumar
