My Hero Academia: 8 Great Manga Moments That Were Elevated By The Anime

The popular anime series My Hero Academia concluded in December 2025 after nine seasons, allowing fans to see Izuku Midoriya and his companions achieve their dreams of becoming top heroes. With the anime now finished, it’s a good time to look back and compare it to the original manga story.

Both the My Hero Academia manga and anime are exceptional. Kohei Horikoshi’s artwork is gorgeous and full of detail, and the studio Bones created incredibly smooth and exciting animation. However, the anime often improves upon key moments from the manga, thanks to its animation, music, voice acting, and other elements. This happens several times throughout the series, and here are eight of the most famous examples.

United States Of Smash

The Manga’s Most Epic Moment Was Made Even Better In The Anime

Chapter 94 (Manga) Episode 49 (Anime)

For many fans, the scene where All Might uses his signature move, United States of Smash, is what initially drew them into the series. It’s a powerful and memorable moment where Japan’s top hero pushes himself to the absolute limit to defeat his greatest enemy, All for One, and it has become a defining moment for the entire show.

Originally a fan-favorite moment in the manga, this scene became incredibly popular in the anime adaptation. The animation and music were fantastic, but Kenta Miyake’s powerful scream of “United States of Smash!” is what truly makes the scene unforgettable and gives viewers chills.

Deku Vs. Overhaul

Perfectly Conveyed How Powerful Both Fighters Are

Chapter 157 (Manga) Episode 76 (Anime)

Deku, the central character in the series, has been in countless intense fights, but his battle with Overhaul stands out. He finally defeated a truly awful villain, and with help from Eri’s Rewind ability, he was able to use his full One for All power for the first time.

The anime’s portrayal of the fight between Deku and Overhaul was outstanding. It really captured how huge and terrifying Overhaul’s final form was, and how powerful Deku’s Full Cowl technique had become. Watching Deku move with such fluid animation, landing devastating blows that gradually broke down Overhaul, was incredibly satisfying – even more so than reading it in the manga.

Class 1-A’s Concert

A Musical Event Is Not The Same Without Music

Chapter 182 (Manga) Episode 86 (Anime)

The U.A. School Festival Arc was a brilliant move by Horikoshi. It was especially touching after the intensity of the Overhaul Arc, and impressively, he built a whole story around music – something that’s not often done in manga – and it really paid off.

I have to say, Class 1-A’s concert was already a really moving moment in the manga, but it truly shines in the anime adaptation. The animation is gorgeous, with such vibrant colors, but it’s the music that really makes the scene. The song they created, Hero Too, is incredibly catchy and captures the heart of the moment perfectly. It honestly made seeing Eri smile even more impactful and heartwarming.

Endeavor’s Victory Against Hood

The Fateful Moment That Cemented Endeavor As The New #1 Pro Hero

Chapter 190 (Manga) Episode 88 (Anime)

The Pro Hero Arc originally felt like a quick addition to the manga, mainly existing to show how professional heroes responded to All Might’s retirement. But because it concluded the anime’s fifth season, the studio Bones was able to develop it more fully. The fight between Endeavor and the powerful villain, Hood, made for a dramatic season finale.

The fight looked fantastic in the manga, but the anime adaptation was even better, especially thanks to Bones’ incredible animation of fire. The ending was a particularly clever artistic choice: the music cuts out as Endeavor and Hood fall, leaving the outcome unclear. This makes Enji Todoroki’s sudden, triumphant fist pump, accompanied by uplifting music, incredibly powerful and has become one of his most iconic moments in the series.

Star And Stripes’ Final Bout

Proved Why She Was America’s #1 Pro Hero

Chapter 334 (Manga) Episode 140 (Anime)

The fight between Tomura Shigaraki and Star and Stripe is a particularly controversial moment in the My Hero Academia manga. Some fans disliked how Star and Stripe, a character presented as incredibly strong, was quickly defeated. However, the studio Bones chose to use this battle to begin season 7 of the anime, giving it a more prominent focus.

The fight between Shigaraki and Star and Stripes is visually stunning, boasting some of the best artwork from the manga, which the animation studio Bones perfectly brought to life. The animated sequences are truly exceptional, and the impact of Star and Stripes’ powerful attack feels even stronger and more destructive than it did in the original manga. It’s a real treat for both the eyes and ears.

Deku’s Final Punch Against All For One

Turned Episode 167 Into The Highest-Rated Episode Of The Entire Series

Chapter 423 (Manga) Episode 140 (Anime)

The climactic fight between Izuku Midoriya and All For One was a huge moment in the manga. It featured nearly everyone who had shaped Deku’s journey, all working together to help him confront and ultimately defeat the series’ main villain with a powerful final blow. To add to that, even the remnants of Shigaraki’s consciousness assisted from within, ensuring All For One’s defeat.

The anime version of this scene is much better than its original counterpart, and it became the highest-rated episode of the entire series. The combination of the perfect background music (You Say Run), beautiful animation, and outstanding voice acting – especially from Daiki Yamashita, Kenta Miyake, and Aya Kawakami – transformed a cool action sequence into something truly unforgettable. It’s a defining moment for My Hero Academia, perfectly capturing the show’s core themes of heroism, teamwork, sacrifice, and never giving up, even when facing impossible odds.

Uraraka’s Breakdown

An Emotional Scene That Gave Her Story Some Much-Needed Closure

Chapter 429 (Manga) Episode 169 (Anime)

While My Hero Academia is known for its exciting action, the series also deeply explores the emotional struggles of its characters, and Ochaco Uraraka’s breakdown in the Epilogue Arc is a powerful example. Overwhelmed with guilt after Himiko Toga’s death, Uraraka breaks down in tears in front of Deku, and is later comforted by the rest of Class 1-A.

This scene in the manga was emotionally impactful, primarily serving to conclude Uraraka’s character arc and set up her goal of becoming a Quirk Counselor. The anime adaptation made it even better, with more expressive animation of Uraraka’s emotions and a particularly strong vocal performance by Ayane Sakura. The anime also deepened the sense of closeness between Deku and Uraraka, making their interaction feel more personal than it did in the original manga.

The Final Shot

Anime Fans Are A Lot More Satisfied With The Ending Than Manga Readers

Chapter 430 (Manga) Episode 170 (Anime)

The conclusion of the My Hero Academia manga, while well-executed in some ways, sparked a lot of debate. Many manga readers were unhappy with Deku temporarily losing his powers and stepping away from being a hero, only to regain them at the very end with a new suit gifted by All Might and his classmates. However, viewers who only watched the anime were generally more pleased with the ending, largely because the animation studio Bones did an excellent job of bringing it to life.

The last episode beautifully shows that Deku’s life didn’t actually get worse after giving up on becoming a hero – he simply missed being with his friends. While the manga’s final image of Deku jumping into battle in his new suit was cute, it was hard to see everyone clearly. The anime expanded on this moment, creating a dynamic scene where each character gets their moment to shine, and cleverly references the show’s first opening theme. Many fans now consider this to be one of the greatest anime endings ever.

2026-01-28 21:37