All For One: Why My Hero Academia’s Villain Steals the Show!

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Summary

  • All For One evolves as a top-tier villain, showcasing depth and menacing presence throughout the series.
  • All For One’s character design and voice acting enhance his villainous aura, making him unforgettable and chilling.
  • All For One’s role in society’s collapse adds complexity, positioning him as a malevolent force in the series’ final arc.
Title My Hero Academia Final Season
Director Naomi Nakayama, Kenji Nagasaki (Chief Director)
Studio Bones
Premiere Date 2025

This discussion might reveal small spoilers from seasons 1 to 7 of My Hero Academia, which you can currently watch on Crunchyroll.

In many long-running shonen stories, the quality of the final battles often determines their success or failure. These battles are usually against formidable opponents who pose nearly insurmountable challenges for our heroes. For instance, “My Hero Academia” boasts a diverse roster of memorable villains, but All For One, the main antagonist, has consistently improved as the series has progressed.

Initially appearing late in Season 1 as just a chilling voice over a computer, All For One has predominantly been imprisoned throughout the series. Despite being locked up in a maximum security facility, he’s managed to manipulate events leading to the societal collapse that unfolded in seasons 6 and 7. To add to this, his escape from prison is also worth noting.

All For One’s Undeniable Aura

Throughout the initial phases of the series, the objectives of All For One remain veiled; they’re hinted at but seldom explicitly stated. This strategy works effectively for several reasons. Firstly, All For One’s narrative initially appears to be concluded. He is the vanquished adversary from a tale that we, as viewers, are only acquainted with through the narratives shared by the secondary characters or directly from All Might. However, this tactic also succeeds primarily because All For One is an indelible character.

Since day one of Season 1, it takes a while for him to step into the limelight as a key player in the story, yet his influence remains palpable; before we come to understand him, we must first be struck by his aura of dread. The Kamino incident from Season 3 serves as an excellent illustration of this strategy. All For One’s character isn’t just imposing, but his presence is operatic in its haunting grandeur. His appearance may seem ordinary, but the way he presents himself makes him stand out like a colossus amidst the crowd in any given scene.

A Demon Lord in “Human” Form

The mask or respirator is the final touch that perfectly finishes off his costume, striking a balance between dapper and demonic. Regardless, All For One captures the eerie body horror theme of “My Hero Academia”, with a face completely charred, leaving only a mouth to express his perpetual grin. Fortunately, even before he set foot on stage, his voice was captivating.

Akio Otsuka and John Swasey, in their respective languages, both contribute a gritty, aged, and maliciously amused vibe to All For One’s character. Otsuka’s portrayal is particularly noteworthy as it frequently seems like he’s about to burst into laughter at even the tiniest hindrances that cross his path. In Season 7, when it was time for All For One’s body to recover and regain youth, the astute decision was made to cast Hiroshi Kamiya, another versatile actor with a spellbinding voice, who could match Otsuka’s impact.

All For One’s Violent Legacy

The fact that All For One poses a threat isn’t solely due to what makes him an outstanding villain. While it’s true he can swipe quirks and pass them on, the “All For One” quirk is primarily a story device. Given the diverse group of heroes we see, it makes sense for a villain to have an extensive collection of quirks. However, what truly sets All For One apart as a villain, and what draws us into his villainy, is his ability to manipulate people’s minds.

Previously, it was noted that he had been severely injured once, with significant consequences. A pivotal moment in the story – All Might searching for someone to pass on One For All – would never have occurred if All For One hadn’t inflicted such severe harm upon him. Furthermore, he transformed Tomura Shigaraki, a key adversary, into a tool meant to destroy society, making his fate all the more heartbreaking due to his connection to All Might’s former mentor. To make matters worse, All For One also transformed Endeavor’s son, Toya, into the villain Dabi. The results of these actions serve as intricately designed sources of torment for our heroes.

A Broken Society’s Final Boss

From the gripping Hero Killer arc in Season 2, “My Hero Academia” has become a captivating exploration of societal flaws alongside the glorification of heroism. Many villains resonate deeply because of the wounds inflicted by a society that let them down, but All For One stands apart. He is an evil mastermind, a sadistic force who may not be the sole architect of society’s decay, yet he seizes every opportunity to drive the world towards its precipice.

One perspective on crafting villains suggests that they should be subtly relatable or compassionate to enhance their humanity and create intricate moral dilemmas for the audience. This method is undeniably effective, but it’s not the sole means of adding complexity to a villain. In some cases, evil can simply be malevolent, as exemplified by All For One who embodies a traditional final boss archetype while still presenting a touch of nuance.

The Moment All For One Became The True Final Boss

The depth of his intention isn’t just a result of the overall situation; even at the beginning of the Final War, All For One’s scheme was apparent enough. In essence, it was about world conquest, as common and self-centered a goal as plots come. However, it’s the way he expresses his ambition that sets him apart. All For One yearns to stand as the supreme demon, not for any material gain from ruling, but because such a position would allow him to reside rent-free in the thoughts of everyone beneath him.

In the vast tapestry of our globe, teeming with countless unique cultures and beliefs, there’s one action that universally sours relationships and tarnishes reputations – it’s a behavior that hinders people from realizing the dreams they envision for themselves. Consequently, I am determined to prevent such outcomes worldwide.

In my critique of Episode 150, I drew a parallel between the objectives of All For One and the impact of trauma on individuals. When we experience hardships, whether they’re large or small, it becomes challenging to envision a brighter tomorrow as our minds are stuck in the current moment. An individual grappling with trauma can feel like they’ve lost control over their life’s narrative, and this sense of powerlessness is the type of fear that All For One aims to instill worldwide. This form of villainy seems particularly relevant today, given the numerous uncertainties about our future in this era.

The primary reason All For One stands out as an exceptional villain in the series focused on generations and progressing toward a better future is because his ideology directly contradicts such a pure vision. This contrast will make the forthcoming fight even more significant when “My Hero Academia” resumes its final season later this year.

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2025-02-18 17:54