Summary
- My Hero Academia: Vigilantes introduces new characters and explores a darker, street-level view of the hero world.
- The spin-off is canon and connects to the main series through key elements and character cameos.
- The talented creative team at BONES FILM is behind the anime adaptation, set to premiere on April 7, 2025.
The entire world seems to be busy talking about My Hero Academia: Vigilantes (the new My Hero Academia spin-off series), and it’s almost like the debut cannot come any closer. But while the wait feels long, the series has dropped a new batch of character trailers that offer a glimpse into this darker, more street-level take on the world of heroes.
My Hero Academia: Vigilantes introduces viewers to a new cast of characters—Koichi Haimawari, Pop☆Step, and Knuckleduster—who operate outside the boundaries of the Pro Hero system. With animation produced by BONES FILM and a talented creative team, the series is shaping up to be an exciting addition to the My Hero Academia saga.
Related
My Hero Academia Final Season Release Date Confirmed
MHA’s final season release date has been revealed. Here’s when fans will get season 8.
What Is My Hero Academia: Vigilantes About?
Set a few years before the events of My Hero Academia, Vigilantes follows the life of Koichi Haimawari, an ordinary young man with an extraordinary desire to help others. Lacking the qualifications to become an official Pro Hero, Koichi takes matters into his own hands, becoming an unlicensed hero (hence the title “Vigilantes”, get it?) known as “The Crawler.” His Quirk, Slide, and Glide, allows him to skate across surfaces with impressive agility—far from a game-changing power like some of the others in the series, but enough to make a difference on the streets of Naruhata.
Koichi’s journey begins when he crosses paths with two other vigilantes: Knuckleduster, a grizzled, Quirk-less mentor with a no-nonsense approach to justice (close enough; welcome back, Batman), and Pop☆Step, an aspiring idol whose acrobatic Quirk allows her to navigate the urban landscape with ease. Together, they form the Naruhata Vigilantes, a scrappy team that takes on petty criminals, drug dealers, and the mysterious Quirk-enhancing drug known as Trigger. Unlike the polished Pro Heroes of My Hero Academia, the vigilantes operate in a legal gray area, constantly balancing their desire to protect the innocent with the risk of arrest—or worse.
Related
The Special My Hero Academia Episodes That Were Only Released in Japan
In 2016 and 2017, MHA released 2 special OVA episodes exclusively for audiences in Japan. But what were they about?
The character trailers do a phenomenal job of setting the tone for each character and what fans can expect from their stories, but there’s going to be a long wait until fans get to see them in action.
Is My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Canon?
The Connection to the Main Series
One of the biggest questions surrounding My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is whether it’s considered canon. Although the manga was not written by series creator Kohei Horikoshi, Horikoshi himself has acknowledged it as part of the broader My Hero Academia universe. In fact, Vigilantes introduces several key elements that later appear in the main series.
Trigger, the Quirk-enhancing drug that plays a major role in both the main anime and manga, made its debut in Vigilantes before being referenced in the core storyline. Additionally, Koichi Haimawari has a cameo in the main series finale, further cementing the spin-off’s connection to the larger narrative. Characters like Shota Aizawa (Eraserhead), Ingenium (Tensei Iida), and even All Might make appearances in Vigilantes, with predictions that the series will dive into their early careers.
Related
My Hero Academia: The Purpose Of Sidekicks, Explained
Sidekicks are an important and underappreciated part of hero society. So what role do they play?
Meet the Creative Team Behind Vigilantes
The anime adaptation of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is in the capable hands of BONES FILM, the same studio responsible for the main My Hero Academia series. The creative team includes several key industry veterans:
- Director: Kenichi Suzuki
- Scriptwriting and Supervision: Yōsuke Kuroda
- Character Design: Takahiko Yoshida
- Music Composition: Yuki Hayashi, Shōgo Yamashiro, and Yuki Furuhashi
Related
My Hero Academia Author Horikoshi Recommends New Manga To Fans
Horikoshi recommends to fans a brand new manga, Ichi The Witch. Here’s where to read it and what it is about.
Release Date and Where to Watch
My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is set to premiere on April 7, 2025, airing on TOKYO MX, BS Nippon TV, and Yomiuri TV. While there is no confirmed international release date yet, it’s likely that major streaming services like Crunchyroll or Netflix will pick up the series. An English dub has not been announced, but given the popularity of My Hero Academia, a dubbed version seems inevitable.
Source: Comic Natalie
