Beginning its 10-year run in 2014, Kōhei Horikoshi’s My Hero Academia manga quickly took the world by storm, earning its place among some of the most popular shonen titles of all time. Drawing on Western superhero tropes, the story takes place in a world where superpowers (Quirks) are commonplace, to the point that those without them are in the minority.
One such person is teenager Izuku ‘Deku’ Midoriya. His drive to become a hero catches the eye of his idol, All Might, thus beginning a gruelling journey at a top hero academy in which he learns to wield All Might’s unique Quirk. With multiple TV and film versions to dig into, here’s how to watch all of My Hero Academia in order of release.
My Hero Academia (2016-present)
The My Hero Academia manga concluded in 2024, and the main TV anime is due to begin its final season in October 2025. As far as serialised anime adaptations go, My Hero Academia is a faithful representation of its source material, featuring fantastically dynamic animation from Studio Bones and a brilliant voice cast well-matched to the series’ quirky characters.
At around 160 episodes and counting, too, it’s totally binge-worthy without the intimidating length of something like One Piece. If you’re looking to find your footing with the franchise, this is the best place to start.
My Hero Academia OVAs (2016-present)
Though not essential, completionists might be interested in checking out the My Hero Academia OVAs (Original Video Animation) that accompany the TV anime and some of the films. These special episodes amount to ten (so far), starting with 2016’s Save! Rescue Training and going up to the most recent in A Piece of Cake.
If you want to be selective, the most ‘plot relevant’ OVAs to watch are All Might: Rising (2018), a prequel vignette providing more insight into the flagship Pro Hero’s past, released with the My Hero Academia: Two Heroes movie, while Departure (2022) and A Piece Of Cake (2025) similarly make for nice little stage-setters before the films My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission and My Hero Academia: You’re Next, respectively.
My Hero Academia: Two Heroes (2018)
The first My Hero Academia movie provides a bit of All Might backstory as well as a glimpse into what Deku and his 1-A classmates get up to during summer break. That break turns out to be an eventful one when a terrorist called Wolfram infiltrates the security system of a technologically advanced floating city that the students have been sent to.
In a self-contained environment away from their adult teachers, Two Heroes is a great showcase of the kids’ training up to that point. In addition, it sets the stage for All Might’s reduced role going forward.
My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (2019)
My Academia: Heroes Rising is the most summery of the My Hero Academia ‘summer break’ films. When Class 1-A is shipped off to an idyllic island to complete a safety work programme, their schedule of odd jobs for the islanders is interrupted when a villain called Nine—capable of possessing multiple Quirks—attacks.
The film is notable for building on Deku and his rival Katsuki Bakugo’s push-and-pull relationship, leading to a shocking act of desperation on Deku’s part in its dramatic finale, irrevocably impacting their dynamic going forward.
My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission (2021)
The third My Hero Academia film escalates the franchise’s stakes to a global level, with Deku and his classmates tapped for an international mission to take down a terrorist cult called Humarise, who believe that the increasing number of Quirks in the world will spell humanity’s doom.
This larger scope comes somewhat at the expense of smaller character moments that the previous two films excel at, but World Heroes’ Mission does well to solidify the series’ emerging powerhouse trio, Deku, Bakugo, and the moody, ‘half-hot, half-cold’ Shoto Todoroki.
My Hero Academia: You’re Next (2024)
Unlike the previous three films that can be seen as standalone entries, You’re Next follows directly on from the third season of the TV anime, dealing with the fallout of its central conflict, as well as All Might’s decisive battle against the franchise’s overarching villain, All For One.
This gives rise to You’re Next’s Big Bad, a self-styled dark reflection of All Might’s status as the Symbol of Peace, creating an intimately personal adversary for his protege Deku. As a demonstration of Deku’s myriad abilities at this point, what the fourth My Hero Academia film lacks in characterisation and plot, it makes up for as an action-packed spectacle.
My Hero Academia: Vigilantes (2025-present)
The first of a handful of manga spinoffs to receive an anime adaptation, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes focuses on the fringe heroes and villains of the My Hero Academia world beyond its academies and Pro Hero system.
Set a few years before the events of the main story, Vigilantes’ main protagonist is Koichi Haimawari, an unlicensed hero who tries to make a positive difference despite having a less-than-enviable Quirk. Cameos from the original series are cute additions, but Vigilantes shines in its own right by offering a fresh perspective on a familiar world.
'My Hero Academia' Detailed Watch Order
- My Hero Academia Season 1
- Save! Rescue Training (OVA)
- My Hero Academia Season 2
- Training of the Dead (OVA)
- My Hero Academia: Two Heroes (2018)
- My Hero Academia Season 3
- All Might Rising (OVA)
- My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (2019)
- My Hero Academia Season 4
- Make It! Do-or-Die Survival Training, Part 1 (OVA)
- Make It! Do-or-Die Survival Training, Part 2 (OVA)
- My Hero Academia Season 5
- My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission (2021)
- Departure (OVA)
- My Hero Academia Season 6
- HLB <Hero League Baseball> (OVA)
- Laugh! As If You Are in Hell (OVA)
- UA Heroes Battle (OVA)
- My Hero Academia Season 7
- My Hero Academia: You’re Next (2024)
- A Piece of Cake (OVA)
- My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Season 1
Where To Watch 'My Hero Academia' Movies And Shows Online
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