Story Arcs With The Most Character Development

As the name kind of gives away, My Hero Academia’s story is essentially split into two parts. On the one hand, there are several story arcs dedicated to the academic side of things, where Midoriya and his classmates will partake in tests and exams to enhance their Quirks. Then there’s the hero missions, which tend to be more dangerous and intense, but no matter which of the two a story arc hones in on, there’s always bound to be a good amount of character development thrown in for fans to enjoy.

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The truth is though, throughout the lengthy story of My Hero Academia, there have been several arcs which don’t just feature character development, but that are essentially entirely centered around it. It’s always satisfying for a viewer or reader to see a beloved character grow and mature throughout the adventure, but in the case of My Hero, it’s these arcs specifically that pushed certain members of the cast to the next step in their personal journeys.

8

Provisional License Exam

Deku Finds A New Fighting Style While Ochaco Confronts Her Personal Feelings

Though the Provisional License Exam is usually seen by many fans as one of the less interesting academic-based arcs in the series, it does still do a lot for the heroes in building on their Quirks and personal techniques. For example, this exam encouraged Midoriya to use his legs as well as his fists as part of his fighting style, which is where the Shoot Style comes from. All Might would also show up in this arc after losing his powers, where he ponders whether he will ever truly feel comfortable in his new weakened state.

Ochaco, one of the most popular side characters in the series, experiences her own personal development as she tries to confront her feelings towards Midoriya, leading her to focus more on her hero studies rather than chasing after her friend. Despite only being introduced in this arc, Inasa also receives some development after being able to confront Todoroki one-on-one, realizing that he’s not as rude or dismissive as he once thought.

7

U.A School Festival

Eri Finally Manages To Feel Happy And Jiro Finds Her True Calling

Despite being one of the shorter arcs in the story, the U.A School Festival still packs in a ton of memorable character moments and a lot of development for several key individuals. The person this applies most to is Eri, who, thanks to the fun and vibrant school festival performance, smiles for the first time in the series and finally begins to feel free from the clutches of Overhaul.

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Jiro is also a character who grows a lot in this section of the story. Being pushed by her classmates to be the lead singer of the festival allowed Jirio to realize that being a musician and a hero don’t need to be exclusive, and instead, can compliment one another. Deku also manages to get a little bit of training in this arc to further enhance his proficiency with One For All, which he showcases against Gentle Criminal.

6

U.A Sports Festival

All Of Class 1-A Pushed Themselves To New Heights Due To The Pressure Of The Sports Festival

The U.A Sports Festival is the very first opportunity Class 1-A get to show what they are each truly made of. During this series of intense battles and tricky minigames, many members of the class grow and mature as characters, one of the biggest examples being Todoroki. Not only does the gifted student open up about his relationship with his father, Endeavor, but he also decides to unleash the fire-side of his Quirk after realizing that he doesn’t need to be ashamed of it anymore.

Midoriya similarly receives a fair amount of development in this arc, especially in relation to his Quirk, One For All, which he manages to start getting the hang of thanks to his fights with Todoroki and Shinso. Speaking of Shinso, it was during Midoriya’s fight against him that the latter awakened the Vestiges for the first time, which would become much more relevant in later arcs. Ochaco and Fumikage are two other examples of students who were pushed to greater heights thanks to the sports festival.

5

Overhaul Arc

Deku And Mirio’s Mission To Save Eri Is A Task That Leaves A Lasting Impression On Them

The mission set out before Midoriya, Mirio, and the other involved heroes was pretty simple: rescue a young girl named Eri from a violent abuser who goes by the name ‘Overhaul’. However, once they actually infiltrate Overhaul’s base, things quickly start to go haywire after Mirio loses his Quirk to a drug that Overhaul had manufactured beforehand. Despite being so prideful of how well he mastered his Quirk, Mirio is forced to keep a smile on his face and hold himself together in order to keep Eri in high spirits.

As for Midoriya, his battle with Overhaul’s ultimate form is the first time he ever manages to go 100%, thanks to Eri’s rewind Quirk. This arc also taught Midoriya to be more courageous as a hero, as shown when he directly confronts Overhaul after suspecting that he had been abusing Eri, even though Mirio tried to talk him down. Eijiro also receives tons of development in this arc where he learns how to master his Quirk, alongside Fat Gum.

4

My Villain Academia

This Arc Allowed Every League Of Villains Member To Share The Spotlight

Just as the name of the arc suggests, this part of the story is entirely dedicated to the League of Villains, and as a result, every single one of them receives a good amount of focus and development throughout. Shigaraki, the leader of the group, is at the center of the arc, with his tragic backstory being revealed, and his pessimistic view of the world only growing after he encounters the Meta Liberation Army.

Other members, especially Twice and Toga, are also built upon over this fairly short story arc, with the entire group entering a new phase once the arc finally ends, with all of them finding a new purpose to continue going on as villains in a world full of heroes.

3

Endeavor Agency Arc

Todoroki And Endeavor Finally Share How They Truly Feel Towards One Another

Endeavor is presented as being a pretty horrible father at the beginning of My Hero Academia. Seeing Todoroki as nothing more than a tool to surpass All Might, Endeavor was abusive to not only Todoroki, but also his wife, which, understandably so, made his son hate him with a burning passion. By the time this arc rolls around, Endeavor has become the number one hero, but despite cooling off a little bit, Todoroki’s disdain for him remains firmly intact.

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As a result, a lot of the arc is dedicated to seeing the two confronting one another, with Todoroki struggling to come to terms with his father who seemingly wants to change his ways, while Endeavor tries to wonder whether he can ever be redeemed in the eyes of his family. Hawks is also a character who receives some growth throughout the arc, which would ultimately set up his position for the final war.

2

Hideout Raid Arc

All Might’s Final Stand Sees Midoriya Take Up The Mantle

Up until the Hideout Raid arc, All Might had been presented as an unstoppable force of heroism who could easily deal with any villains thrown his way. Behind the scenes, though, he was also reaching the limit of his powers, and so when he comes face to face with his arch nemesis, All For One, he is forced to use up all he has left to take down the violent mastermind once and for all.

Not only is All Might pushed to the next chapter of his life after this arc upon losing his top spot in society, but he also declares that Midoriya is next up to take the mantle, allowing the young hero to know exactly what is expected of him, and who he must become to keep society safe. There’s also a nice bit of early development for Shigaraki here too, who learns to assume responsibility as a leader after All For One is imprisoned.

1

Paranormal Liberation War Arc

The Majority Of Characters Grow And Mature After Partaking In The Final War

The final arc of the entire series brings every character together to partake in a massive war between heroes and villains, and considering how high-stakes the conflict is, it means everyone involved comes out of it an entirely different person. There are many examples of this, but a few notable ones include Dabi finally having the courage to expose Endeavor, Toga revealing her twisted idea of friendship and love, and Mirko proving her true strength by taking on numerous Nemu at once.

There are even a few surprise appearances from characters who are also gifted with some final development before leaving the series, including the likes of Stain and Overhaul. While this arc is obviously packed full of epic fights and incredible action setpieces, it also does an excellent job of fleshing out many of the characters one final time before the story’s end.