My Hero Academia's Most Underutilized Characters

Summary

Many side characters in My Hero Academia lack development due to the focus on the main personalities.
Characters like Ojiro, Koda, and Sato are underutilized and fade into the background.
Class 1-B, including Nejire Hado, exemplifies underutilization and wasted potential.

Although introducing numerous characters in an anime helps create a richer universe, there’s a significant downside to consider. Over time, as some characters gain prominence while others do not, many of these secondary characters tend to recede into the background.

It is a common complaint among fans that character-centric stories, such as “My Hero Academia,” tend to have a significant number of characters, which can result in many of them being overshadowed as the story’s intensity increases. This was inevitable given the large cast of characters introduced in the series.

8. Mashirao Ojiro

Martial Arts Hero: Tailman

Debut: What I Can Do for Now (Episode 5 of My Hero Academia)

In the storyline, Ojiro’s superpower seems quite modest compared to others, leading one to ponder whether he truly belongs in the top-tier Class 1-A. It’s surprising that a character with some fighting abilities and an additional tail could make it into such a prestigious class.

It’s clear why conflicts involving this particular character are not particularly engaging, leading him to be more of a secondary figure in subsequent episodes. Compared to the array of intriguing abilities found among Class 1-A students, Ojiro falls short in terms of interest.

7. Koji Koda

Petting Hero: Anima

Debut: What I Can Do for Now (Episode 5 of My Hero Academia)

In the world of “My Hero Academia”, Koji doesn’t particularly stand out with anything other than his distinct appearance. Despite having a Quirk that could have made him an exceptional hero, he seldom gets the chance to showcase his abilities throughout the series.

Discussing with animals and giving orders can lead to exciting scenes, but unfortunately, Koji didn’t reach his full potential. Instead, other characters stepped into the spotlight and turned out to be crucial elements in the narrative.

6. Rikido Sato

Sweets Hero: Sugarman

Debut: What I Can Do for Now (Episode 5 of My Hero Academia)

In order to boost his power and strength in battle, Sato requires a supplement of sugar. This special trait sets him apart as an extraordinary hero, one who might have engaged in some humorous skirmishes, yet fate had other plans for him.

Rather than taking center stage, this candy-loving student has mostly played a supporting role in the series, with few opportunities to stand out. Like many of his fellow Class 1-A students, he often takes a back burner to the more prominent future heroes.

5. Mezo Shoji

Tentacle Hero: Tentacole

Debut: Start Line (Episode 4 of My Hero Academia)

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but be captivated by Shoji and his extraordinary six arms, coupled with unmatched close-quarter combat abilities. Yet, despite his immense potential, he often finds himself overshadowed in Class 1-A, leaving me eagerly awaiting more moments that truly showcase his prowess on the battlefield.

Rather than actively participating, Shoji mostly engages in minor skirmishes that seldom gain recognition for his contributions. Compared to other significant characters in the series, he receives less focus, finding himself overshadowed more frequently than not.

4. Hanta Sero

Taping Hero: Cellophane

Debut: What I Can Do for Now (Episode 5 of My Hero Academia)

In “My Hero Academia”, unique traits like Sero’s Tape ability often prove to be quite beneficial, demonstrating how seemingly ordinary Quirks can become incredibly useful in the right context. For instance, Sero’s ability to stick to surfaces like tape, can play a crucial role as support and even restrain opponents during combat.

Yet, he scarcely demonstrates the extent of his Quirk’s advancement, as he only receives a brief moment in the limelight before other My Hero Academia heroes steal the scene.

3. Sekijiro Kan

Blood Hero: Vlad King

Debut: In Each of Our Hearts (Episode 13 of My Hero Academia)

The teacher for Class 1-B should be strong independently, but too little use of technology negatively affects Vlad King. The ability to control blood, as a unique power (Quirk), has great potential and could have been used inventively in various scenarios.

Rather than shining brightly, Vlad King is more of a character who underperforms and doesn’t frequently display his power over blood. As a result, he tends to be easily overlooked and symbolizes the insignificance of Class 1-B in comparison to their peers.

2. Nejire Hado

Wonder Hero: Nejire Chan

Debut: A Season for Encounters (Episode 62 of My Hero Academia)

Regarding the three prominent members of U.A. Academy – Lemillion, Suneater, and Nejire – it’s quite unfair that Nejire isn’t used more often. Her unique ability enables her to generate potent spiral shockwaves by drawing upon her strength.

Although these shocks move slowly and leave Nejire Chan feeling depleted, it doesn’t diminish the capability of her Quirk. On the contrary, when compared to her peers, Nejire Chan seems significantly less utilized and serves as an illustration of unrealized potential.

1. The Entirety Of Class 1-B

Equally Irrelevant, Barring A Few Exceptions

Debut: Roaring Sports Festival (Episode 15 of My Hero Academia)

It’s possible that some students from Class 1-B have had their moments to excel, but it can’t be ignored that many of them contribute very little, if anything at all, to the overall storyline. In other words, the narrative wouldn’t significantly change without these students present.

The sole purpose behind their existence seems to be enhancing the reputation of Class 1-A, with the key member from this class, Hitoshi Shinso, being moved to Class 2-A. This shift results in an already underrepresented rival class receiving even less focus and is populated by some of the least beneficial heroes throughout the series.

2025-04-23 02:36

My Hero Academia’s Most Underutilized Characters