My Hero Academia

A specific “guilty-pleasure binge” would not describe my relationship with my favorite television shows. First of all, my personal relationship with TV has changed drastically since the Coronavirus pandemic began. I think a lot of us can remember a time when there was nothing left to do. Your house had been cleaned at least a dozen times. You’ve tried all of the new meal recipes you could manage without starting a kitchen fire. You’ve video chat all of your friends and family so much you didn’t care to see their faces for another minute; it was only a reminder of how you couldn’t be with them. So, as the biggest streaming platforms report, we all began to binge watch any and everything that could help us escape for even a moment. I won’t go over the stats because this article is about my guilty pleasure- not the Top 10 rankings on Netflix.

Introducing my favorite guilty pleasure show of all time, My Hero Academia! The story of a young want-to-be hero on his journey to becoming the greatest hero on Earth. Really wholesome if you ask me. This is an anime, a Japanese series developed from the manga “My Hero Academia.” From the start of the first episode I was hooked to this world filled with incredible beings capable of so much, be it good or evil. More than that, I was enamored with the character Izuku Midoriya and his defiance of the odds stacked against him. You see, Izuku reminds me a lot of myself in my youth. From a young age I realized that achieving my dreams would be a difficult task, seemingly impossible. Like him, I am still on my way in that journey. The tenacity that he displays in his quest to become the best hero on Earth is admirable at best, and embarrassing at worst. Here’s a short montage of Midoriya (green/black spiky hair) and his mom crying dramatically in a way that only a good anime can make you feel for and cringe at.

Writing an article about an anime you may or may not ever watch while avoiding spoilers is hard so it’s about time to write about why this anime has come to be so close to my heart. Izuku is a studious kid, with big dreams and little support to achieve them. That is until the hero he idolizes most, All Might, takes him under his wing. He trains him, encourages him, and acknowledges Izuku’s flaws kindly. He reminds me a lot of a mentor I had in my high school years who had encouraged me to write. To pursue my dream of becoming an author even if it was for short stories or poems. Izuku has the courage to be himself and to strive for greatness in ways that I aspire to replicate. Through all of the trials he faces (and there are many) he remembers where he came from. He remembers why he wants to be a hero, and it reminds me of why I want to be a writer. I’ll admit this piece is rushed because I’m currently binge-watching My Hero for the 3rd time since 2019. However, as my mentor once told me, “It’s better to write something than to do nothing.”

I wouldn’t say I’m particularly guilty about this pleasure, only on the days when I avoid my responsibilities in order to watch one more episode. To watch nearly 200 hours of anime in less than a week is something I can think of as an accomplishment! To do it repeatedly... in the same year... I believe it’s time to admit I have a problem.

There are so many characters on this show that I’ve grown to know and love. Friends and enemies alike that each have their own endearing characteristics! Epic battles waiting to be seen! However, you’ll have to join me on this binge to learn more about this amazing world 🌍 that I can only wish to be a part of. Thank you for reading! Please leave a comment if you decide to watch My Hero 👍🏽 To those that have already watched... Go Beyond! Plus Ultra!