10 Best Anime Similar To My Hero Academia You Can Watch Right Now
Over the last decade, My Hero Academia (MHA) has cemented itself as one of the most beloved shonen anime out there. Heart, humour, action, and characters you can’t help but root for—it’s got all the makings of a fan favourite series. But as all great journeys must come to an end, Deku and his friends approaching their graduation day is a bittersweet moment for fans everywhere.
On one hand, there’s the excitement of watching your favourite characters’ epic story arcs come to a close, and on the other, there’s the same nervousness as the characters themselves about figuring out what comes next! Sure, Deku and Bakugo have great things lying ahead after graduation, but what about you? What will you watch next?
Whether it’s finding what to watch in between the weekly episodic drops, or finding a new fandom worthy of your time, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a guide to 10 best anime that capture the same mix of heart, action, and unforgettable characters as My Hero Academia.
In a world where everyone uses magic to prove their worth, Mash Burnedead, a magicless young man works hard to prove his metal relying on brawn over brain. Both Mashle: Magic and Muscles and My Hero Academia center around underdog heroes, but Mashle trades My Hero Academia’s class ensembles and emotional grounding for a more gag driven approach that parodies typical shonen tropes you’d find in hero-focused series, much like One Punch Man does.Mashle: Magic and Muscles is a good pick for fans who enjoy gag heavy shonen that balance comedy with action like One Punch Man or The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. But if you’re looking for an anime with deep emotional arcs or ensemble driven narratives like My Hero Academia, you’ll be better served with shows such as Assassination Classroom, Black Clover, or Mob Psycho 100. As a newer series with just two seasons and a heavier focus on humour, Mashle is fun and entertaining but it’s still missing the emotional grounding of My Hero Academia, and is yet to earn the same level of fan devotion and widespread recognition as some of the other entries on this list.
An anime about a human boy trying to fit into a school full of demons is exactly what you should follow up My Hero Academia with. Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun is a light-hearted, funny anime with the same school backdrop as My Hero Academia. But instead of the tense rivalries, and high-stakes battles, the show leans more into comedy with quirky classmates and wholesome character growth, a lot like Little Witch Academia. Iruma-Kun is the perfect choice for fans of Saturday morning cartoons and slice-of-life anime like Spy x Family and KonoSuba. It’s colourful, light-hearted, filled with goofy humour, and the demons are cartoonish and silly unlike the scary ones in Demon Slayer, making it a suitable pick for younger viewers as well. That said, older fans will still appreciate Iruma Kun for its easy going humour, charming characters, and strong underdog themes.
Other than also having ‘Academia’ in its title, this series shares a lot in common with My Hero Academia. In fact, in another world Akko and Deku could be best friends. Little Witch Academia follows Akko, a powerless girl who dreams of becoming a witch. Much like Deku, she gains her abilities by chance and trains at the academy in hopes of one day matching up to her idol. But unlike My Hero Academia’s darker, action-heavy tone, Little Witch Academia, leans into whimsy, light-hearted humour, and magical fantasy, sitting somewhere in between Iruma Kun’s goofy school antics and Black Clover’s magic driven rivalries. It’s a great pick for fans of light-hearted, fantasy-based anime or anyone looking for a funny, kid-friendly show. But if you’re looking for something more high-stakes and intense like My Hero Academia, you’ll enjoy Black Clover or Demon Slayer a lot more.
While Haikyuu!! doesn’t have any heroes or end of the world battle sequences, it does still share a lot in common with My Hero Academia. Both shows center around an underdog teenage boy as the main protagonist who, despite all odds, manages to rise through the ranks to achieve greatness in their chosen field. Just like My Hero Academia, Haikyuu!! is widely regarded as one of the best anime in its category. Haikyuu!! is perfect for fans of underdog stories, teamwork-driven narratives, and high-energy, character-focused competition. Viewers who loved the hero victories in My Hero Academia will have plenty to cheer for in Haikyuu’s courtside battles. If you enjoy sports anime like Kuroko’s Basketball and Ace of the Diamond, you’ll love Haikyuu!! for its intense matches, teamwork-driven arcs, and underdog storylines.
In terms of heroics, One Punch Man is the complete opposite of My Hero Academia. There’s no underdog hero training hard to become the greatest saviour of the planet, it’s just Saitama—a dead-panned skinny balled guy in a yellow superhero suit who can defeat anyone with a single punch. One Punch Man is a great pick for anyone who enjoys parody anime like Mashle: Magic and Muscles. Written by ONE, the creator of Mob Psycho 100, the show carries his signature wit, over-the-top action, and subversion of classic shonen tropes.Given the show’s occasional crude humour and comic violence, it’s not as kid-friendly as My Hero Academia or Little Witch Academia; in fact it’s best suited for older teens and adults. But all in all, it’s a solid choice for anyone who’s in the mood for something hero-centric and funny, if you’re looking for something more emotionally grounded, and ensemble driven like My Hero Academia then check out the next entry on this list, Fairy Tail.
If you’re looking for something as colourful and fun as My Hero Academia, you should check out Fairy Tail. The anime series stars a full crew of magical characters led by Natsu, a fiery young mage who along with his friends takes on dangerous missions, battles dark forces, and forms unbreakable bonds of friendship.Fairy Tail swaps Haikyuu!! and Little Witch Academia’s indoor school setting for a sprawling guild-based adventure like One Piece and Dragon Ball Z. If you enjoy shows packed with over-the-top battles, world-threatening stakes, and a strong ensemble, then Fairy Tail will check all the boxes for you. Plus, with nine seasons, you won’t have to worry about running out anytime soon. Please keep in mind that the battles can tend to get a little intense and violent at times, so it’s best suited for teens and up, rather than very young kids.
We’re in hardcore shonen territory here with Demon Slayer. Like My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer is an underdog story at heart. Tanjiro starts out as a normal boy with no powers and then trains himself to become a Demon Slayer to avenge his family and hopefully save his sister. Where it differs is in tone and stakes, Demon Slayer amps up the violence and emotion, with higher death counts, more intense battle sequences, and a heavier emotional core. With all the deaths, decapitations, and blood spatter, it’s safe to say that Demon Slayer is definitely not for kids or the faint hearted. But if you’re a fan of shonen anime then it’s hard to find a show that’s as visually stunning and beautifully animated as Demon Slayer. One of the main reasons why Demon Slayer ranks so high on our list is because, like My Hero Academia, it’s a modern shonen powerhouse that’s managed to achieve the same level of mainstream fandom as age-old classics like Naruto, Bleach, and Dragon Ball Z.
If you’re looking for something strikingly similar to My Hero Academia, then Black Clover is right up your alley. Asta, a young magic-less orphan boy with a dream of becoming the Wizard King, gets a chance to turn his dream into reality with the help of a mysterious grimoire. Black Clover shares a lot of DNA with My Hero Academia, both series are set in a competitive academy setting, with an ensemble cast of classmates, and long arcs that explore friendship, rivalry, and perseverance. Where Deku has Bakugo, Asta has Yuno, his best friend, rival and constant measuring stick. That said, the show leans harder into the fantasy side of things with spells, grimoires, and medieval kingdoms. Also it’s notorious for Asta’s constant yelling, which fans either grow to love or simply can’t stand. All in all it’s a great pick for anyone who loves My Hero Academia’s training arcs, friendly rivalries, and intense battles, but wants something more fantasy and magic driven.
If you’re looking for something a little less cute and a lot more deadly then check out Assassination Classroom. This series follows a group of misfit students as they set out on a mission to stop their rogue professor from destroying the Earth. While the premise is dark, it balances this with quirky humour, inventive action sequences, and surprisingly heartfelt moments, a lot like My Hero Academia in that sense. Assassination Classroom definitely takes a sharp turn from the entries we’ve discussed so far like Mashle, Iruma Kun, and Little Witch Academia. Assassination Classroom leans heavily into darker, more morally-complex humour, and tension driven narrative. All of this combined with the show’s murder heavy plot makes this show more suitable for older teens and adults who enjoy dark comedies and high-stakes action with heart.
Mob, an unassuming middle-schooler, tries his best to live a normal life despite having extremely powerful psychic powers. At face value Mob Psycho 100 might seem like the complete opposite of My Hero Academia, with the show being centered around someone who doesn’t want powers that make him stand out. But when you take a closer look, the show hits almost every note that makes My Hero Academia so beloved: you have your underdog protagonist, a school based ensemble cast, and intense and innovative battles. Made by ONE, Mob Psycho 100 is cut from the same witty, whacky, and over the top cloth as One Punch Man. Studio Bones takes full advantage of Mob’s psychic outbursts to create creative fight sequences that look like live paintings, easily putting Mob Psycho 100 at the top of the charts as one of the most standout anime of recent years in terms of animation and experimental style. It’s no doubt that Mob Psycho 100 is a great pick for fans of My Hero Academia, but it’s also perfect for viewers who enjoy a mix of absurd humour, heartfelt emotional arcs, and visually inventive action like One Punch Man and Mashle: Magic and Muscles.
