My Hero Academia Characters Who Never Grew Up

This list contains spoilers for the My Hero Academia anime

Almost every child in the universe of My Hero Academia dreams of someday becoming a professional hero. But as Deku learns during his grueling journey, it takes more than just having a powerful ability and physical strength to truly be called a protector of society. It also demands assuming the heavy responsibilities that come with the role. Consequently, many individuals will develop and grow as they ascend through the hero hierarchy, and this is true for most villains too, who will begin to view the world from a completely different perspective once they embark on their criminal activities.

Although it’s true that most characters in “My Hero Academia” have grown up, there are some who remain childlike in their attitudes or actions, either by choice or due to past traumas. These characters, despite appearing mature in the main storyline, may never have fully matured, and this article will delve deeper into these immature heroes and villains.

6. Dabi

Dabi’s Troubled Childhood Has Haunted Him All His Life

First Appearance: Episode 31
Quirk: Blueflame

It’s possible that Dabi turned to villainy due to being overlooked by his father, Endeavor, during his childhood. Endeavor aspired to have a child who could wield both the Fire and Ice Quirks, which he and his wife possessed, but it seemed that Toya struggled to control the two effectively, especially since his Blueflames often caused injury to himself whenever used.

Consequentially, Endeavor focused more on shaping his other children into his ideal prodigies, while his own son often felt neglected. A tragic incident involving Toya nearly causing self-inflicted severe burns to seek his father’s attention marked the beginning of Dabi’s transformation into a vengeful villain. Ever since he adopted this role, Dabi has been consumed by bitterness from his past, and his life as an adult has been overshadowed by it.

5. Mineta

If Any Class 1-A Student Has Some Growing Up To Do, It’s Mineta

First Appearance: Episode 5
Quirk: Pop Off

It’s surprising that Mineta was able to attend UA Academy, given he lacks the typical heroic qualities that society admires. Instead of being brave and courageous, Mineta is a coward who usually chooses to flee from danger rather than confront it head-on. Despite his Pop Off Quirk coming in handy at times, Mineta’s timid personality makes him more of a hindrance during battles than a helpful team member.

He’s also infamous for his lewd behavior, which not just the female students of Class 1-A find bothersome, but even the male students as well, who often have to intervene. It’s clear that Mineta needs a lot of personal development, and it remains to be seen if fans will ever witness a more mature portrayal of this character in the future. The passage suggests that he has much room for growth.

4. Overhaul

The Sadistic Mafia Member Never Grew Out Of His Immature Ideology

First Appearance: Episode 62
Quirk: Overhaul

In a bid to project an image of a cunningly malevolent antagonist, Overhaul often gives off an impression that he possesses a profound understanding of the world compared to others. However, beneath this sophisticated facade lies a holdover from his childhood, an unsophisticated ideology he picked up as a boy in an orphanage. One day, he stumbled upon a book advocating a decades-old theory suggesting Quirks were analogous to a virus. Despite the lack of evidence supporting it, the young Overhaul embraced this notion wholeheartedly. This is why the enigmatic villain insists on wearing an enormous plague doctor mask, symbolizing his distaste for those he labels as ‘hero-infected’.

Despite his simplistic ideology, Overhaul managed to gather a formidable army due to the immense power bestowed upon him by his destructive Quirk. Consequently, this empowered him to inflict significant pain and misery on others, motivated solely by self-interest.

3. Mirko

The Spunky Mirko Refuses To Be A Grumpy Old Pro-Hero

First Appearance: Episode 82
Quirk: Rabbit

In my view as an avid fan, most heroes by their professional phase tend to adopt a more mature and responsible demeanor to create a positive impact on spectators. However, Mirko bucked the trend! Whenever she graces our screens, she’s always headfirst into combat-irrespective of how formidable her adversaries might be. This youthful exuberance for brawling, as clearly shown in the Vigilantes spin-off series, which captures her at a younger age, is what propelled Mirko to the status of such a notorious hero!

At times, Mirko’s exuberance might lead her into challenging situations, like the one where she lost some limbs during the final war due to being overly emotional. Nevertheless, it’s evident that her youthful energy and lack of maturity bring joy to other Pro Heroes, serving as a morale booster in grim circumstances.

2. Kurogiri

Kurogiri, Or Oboro, Never Had The Chance To Grow Up With His Friends

First Appearance: Episode 107
Quirk: Warp Gate (Previously Cloud)

Instead of many characters on this list finding maturity mainly in a psychological aspect, Kurogiri stands out as an exception. Initially, Kurogiri was Oboro, a young boy who shared camaraderie with Aizawa and Present Mic while they were all students learning to become heroes. Despite Oboro’s promising future, tragedy struck when he was tragically buried under debris during a mission. It seemed that Aizawa had been informed of Oboro’s death.

Following the event, Oboro was abducted by All For One and compelled to transform into a Nomu named Kurogiri, who subsequently served as Shigaraki’s personal butler within the League of Villains. Consequently, Oboro missed out on the opportunity to mature and experience life with his close companions, and instead was converted into a battle machine whose primary function was to serve the villainous alliance. Beneath the shadowy veneer, it is unfortunate that the young man never had the chance to evolve into a full-fledged hero alongside his cherished friends.

1. Shigaraki

The Events On That Tragic Day Are At The Core Of Shigaraki’s Character

First Appearance: Episode 5
Quirk: Decay / All For One

In the anime “My Hero Academia,” nearly every villain has a unique backstory that explains their descent into villainy, but Shigaraki’s might be the most heart-wrenchingly tragic. His father deserted him at a young age because his mother didn’t want him to be targeted by All For One, leaving him vulnerable to abuse whenever he showed an inclination towards heroism. This longstanding torment eventually culminated when Shigaraki inadvertently activated his Decay Quirk as a child, which resulted in the tragic and unintentional death of his entire family.

In the Final War, Shigaraki confesses his end objective: annihilating everything and everyone around him, a consequence of the traumatic experiences he endured as a child. Although he’s grown stronger since then, Shigaraki’s mentality has remained unchanged since that tragic day. Once Deku comprehends this, it becomes clear to him that if redemption for Shigarki is possible, it lies in helping him heal from the deep-seated agony he’s been carrying for years.

2025-09-07 20:35