Summary
My Hero Academiais one of the best shonen anime of the decade. Over the years, this series has gained a lot of popularity among young adults, teens, and even kids. It’s a coming-of-age, action-packed, humoristic, and inspiring anime that focuses on friendship and power.
The plot ofMy Hero Academiafocuses on Izuku Midoriya, aka Deku, a teenager who lives in a world where more than half the population has superpowers, aka “Quirks”. Some people even use their powers to become Superheroes. Since a young age, Izuku always wanted to become a Superhero like his favorite idol, All Might, but unlike his friends and most of the population, Izuku never developed a “Quirk”. However, he isn’t the type to easily give up, and despite being powerless, he will still chase his dream of attending U. A. High School, a school for future Superheroes.
While waiting for the next season, fans might wish to fill the time by checking out someanime similar toMy Hero Academia. Thankfully, there are quite a few options.
Updated on June 14, 2025 by Mark Sammut:My Hero Academia is still going strong, and season 7 is set to premiere in May 2024. While Deku’s story prepares to continue, there are severalanime like My Hero Academiathat can fill the void.
Soul Eateris a story set in Death City, where many evils exist and can only be dealt with “Death Scythes”. These “Death Scythes” arehumans who can transform part of their bodies into a Demon Weapon. They get trained in a technical academy called Death Weapon Meister Academy. However, to become a Death Scythe, one must collect the 99 evil souls and one witch’s soul, which is exactly what Soul Eater Evans must do if he hopes to achieve his goal.
This anime’s high school plot and ultimate goal to become something more are very similar toMHA,yet the supernatural storyline is very different. Regardless, fans of the superhero genre will still enjoySoul Eaterfor several reasons, including its lovable characters, impressive visuals, and focus on teamwork. The anime is not a complete adaptation of the manga, but it is a fun enough watch in its own right.
One Punch Manis a story aboutSaitama, a guy who trained for three years to achieve his lifelong dream of becoming a hero. Although he achieved his goal, his plan backfired when he became so powerful that one punch was enough to destroy his enemies. Saitama, who has become bored with his talent, meets a cyborg named Genos. Genos gives Saitama a new purpose by becoming his disciple. The two of them also embark on a journey to become a member of the Hero Association.
One Punch Manissimilar toMy Hero Academiabecause of its superhero concept and the fact that, like Deku, Saitama fights mostly with his fists and both are known for their powerful punches. That said, the shows are hardly identical, which is a positive thing. Saitama is treated like a comedy character for the most part, with his fights typically being laugh-out-loud funny. The anime does touch upon a few serious themes concerning its protagonist, and the second season plays out closer to a conventional action story since Saitama is not quite as present.
Little Witch Academia’s premise is a lot likeMy Hero Academia.Akko lives in a world where magic and witches exist, but like Deku, she is also one of the rare people to be born without her “powers” or, in this case, without any magic. As a child, she attended a magic show by her favorite idol and witch, Shiny Chariot, and ever since then, she wished to follow in her footsteps. She eventually attends Luna Nova Magical Academy, a prestigious school for future witches despite not having magic.
Fans ofMy Hero Academiawould love the concept of a “powerless” or “magic-less” character who won’t stop chasing their dreams until they make them a reality should love this lighthearted and comedic anime.Little Witch Academiadoes have some heavy moments, but they are few and far between; consequently, this pick is primarily for people who want comedy rather than action.
Black Cloveris similar to bothMHAandLittle Witch Academiain terms of their concepts and plots. The story follows Asta and his brother Yuno, who live in the Clover Kingdom, a world where magic exists. Their world is ruled by the Wizard King and nine groups of Magic Knights, who ensure that peace reigns. Asta and Yuno’s dream is to become the next Wizard King of their generation. Like Deku and Akko, Asta is magic-less, unlikehis brother, who has the talent to control wind magic.Asta is envious, but like the other protagonists of the same anime genre, he perseveres and finds a way to achieve his goal.
Black Cloveris another action-packed anime filled with comedic moments and hardships. Fans of the iconic “weak protagonist who eventually isn’t any more” trope will love this anime. Furthermore, the English voice actor for Deku, Justin Briner, voices a secondary character in this anime called Luck Voltia, which fans may find interesting.
Fire Forceis an anime set in Tokyo where a series of spontaneous Human Combustions keeps endangering the lives of civilians by transforming them into violent monsters called “Infernals”. Three generations later, some humans were able to harness that combustion within them and become pyrokinetic (people with fire abilities).Shiran Kusakabe can ignite his feet at willand wishes to use his powers for good by joining The Fire Force.
Fire Forceis another anime that focuses on future heroes and their journeys to becoming the best version of themselves. This series resemblesMy Hero Academiadue to Shiran’s similarity with Deku. Both characters utilize the power they have in their feet and legs to defeat their enemies.
Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kunandMy Hero Academiatend to be often compared since they both revolve around school settings and feature protagonists who are “gifted” with special abilities while having to keep secrets. In the former’s case, that person is Iruma, a human who is sold to a demon by his parents, forcing him into the Netherworld. Fortunately, his adoptive parent is amazing; unfortunately, Iruma has to pretend to be a demon to attend a school with an anthem that gleefully talks about eating humans.
Iruma-kunis agreat anime for fans ofMHAsince they complement each other without being extremely similar. While the latter focuses mainly on the larger superhero society, action, and Deku’s growth, the former is primarily concerned withIruma’s school life, resulting in a far more comedic and low-stress experience. That is not a criticism either asIruma-kun’s excels in its banter, particularly among the protagonist and his main two friends.
Featuring an older roster of characters than typical for an action anime,Tiger & Bunnypresents a fascinating take on superhero culture, one that is probably more realistic than most. While their friendship follows a predictable journey, the leads are both complex figures with relatable struggles, despite their unique circumstances; furthermore, the supporting characters are also fantastic. When it comes toanime likeMHA,Tiger & Bunnyis the most obvious option.
