My Hero Academiahas become one of the most beloved shonen anime series in the entire world, and itowes its success to its well-written, dynamic characters.Plenty of superhero stories exist, both within anime and other genres, but few have the level of charm and popularityMy Hero Academiahas achieved over the past decade.
My Hero Academia’scharacter development is undeniably its strong suit, but contrary to what some may believe,the series' villains are why the anime has received so much praise, not the heroes. The heroes, like All Might, are admirable beacons of hope and power indeed, but three villains in particular outshine even him, with their incredibly complex character arcs.
Shigaraki, Dabi, and Toga Are My Hero Academia’s Best Villains by Far
These Characters Both Capture the Audience’s Attention and Point Out Troubling Problems in Hero Society
Thethree best villains inMy Hero AcademiaareShigaraki Tomura, Toga Himiko, and Toya Todoroki,known asDabi. Each of these villains ismuch deeper than the average anime villain,with tragic backstories that explain their actions, complicated motives, and uniquely memorable personalities. Although they are evildoers, Shigaraki, Toga, and Dabi all garner some level of sympathy from viewers, because in one way or another, the world has turned its back on all three of them, leaving them to form the League of Villains out of pure desperation to be accepted somewhere and a desire to seek revenge.
As X user@shiggisshotpoints out, these villainous characters provide opportunities for the heroes to shine, giving them a reason to do their jobs. Without villains, there would be no need for heroes at all, and a symbol like All Might would never have to exist. Further than this though,My Hero Academia’svillains are compelling characters on their own, making the series not just more entertaining, butemotionally impactful by highlighting flaws in hero society, namely, how those with certain dangerous or uncontrollable Quirks are often treated poorly in comparison to those with more respected Quirks, like Bakugo, for example.
Shigaraki Was Failed by Heroes, Leading Him To Develop a Grudge
His Traumatic Backstory of Loss and Pain Makes Him a Sympathetic Villain
Shigaraki is a better villainthan even All For One, the man who effectively turned him from Tenko Shimura to Shigaraki Tomura. All For One manipulated the vulnerable man into lashing out at hero society and serving as a pawn in his evil schemes, makingShigaraki a far more complicated character than the purely self-motivated All For One. Shigaraki lost everyone when his Quirk malfunctioned, and the heroes ultimately failed him by leaving him alone to deal with the tragedy himself. He grew to despise all heroes, and understandably so, because he felt he could no longer depend on them the way he once had.
My Hero Academia’s Shigaraki Has Officially Surpassed All for One
The student is now the master, as Shigaraki proves he has outgrown All for One with a single, decisive sentence that shut the villain’s plans down.
Not only was Shigaraki the victim of All For One’s control, he also understandably hated heroes because of his horrifically negative experience with them.Even Deku began to have sympathy for Tomura,seeing the scared, abandoned little boy inside of him that felt failed by the people he looked up to the most. Shigaraki’s arc makes it abundantly clear that hero society is very flawed, because people like him slip through the cracks and are left to fend for themselves, while heroes like All Might and Endeavor become major celebrities and are praised for their efforts every day.
Dabi’s Understandable Quest for Revenge Makes Him an Interesting Character
His Heartbreaking Past With His Family Reveals Why He Turned To Villainy
Dabi’s arc is equally as well-written as Tomura’s, making him one of the most intriguing villains in anime, but his backstory is very different from Shigaraki’s. His father, Endeavor, was abusive, ignoring Dabi in favor of his talented younger brother, Shoto. This neglectcaused Toya’s Quirk to accidentally burn his entire body, giving him scars he never healed from, both mental and physical. Not only did Dabi feel outcast from society, he felt like an unwanted and forgotten stranger within his own family, so he dedicated his life to making Endeavor and Shoto pay for how they ruined everything for him.
Dabi’s Final Fate in My Hero Academia Proves One Sad Truth, Endeavor Can Never Be Redeemed
Toya’s horrifying fate after the war proves that Endeavor’s penance will never be enough to make up for all the damage he caused.
By the end ofMy Hero Academia,Dabi did have somewhat of a redemption arc and forgave his brother, Shoto, buthe stillnever received the happy ending he deserved.His injuries were so severe he could not recover from them, and his death serves as a painful reminder to his family of the consequences of Endeavor’s maltreatment. Dabi’s hatred of heroes is also reasonable, because of the way his father treated him and his family. Although society may have praised heroes as infallible, Dabi saw firsthand that that was not true, adding an important perspective to the story.
Toga Was Failed by Everyone Around Her, Causing Her To Die Needlessly
Her Story Highlights the Need for More Resources for Those With Uncontrollable, Societally Frowned Upon Quirks
Finally, Toga’s story is one of the most saddening in the series, because she was also failed at every turn by the adults in her life. Her Quirk, Transform, which involved the use of blood, frightened people, and so she desperately attempted to hide it for many years in an attempt to fit in. When she snapped one day and could no longer ignore her ability, her friends and family left her behind, and she joined the League of Villains with nowhere left to turn. The conclusion of Toga’s story, although heartbreaking, is powerful, becauseshe displayed heroism during her final moments.
My Hero Academia Somehow Made Himiko Toga Even More Depressing
In chapter 341 of My Hero Academia, Himiko Toga explores her tragic past in the most heartbreaking way imaginable, but with no mention of Ochako.
Toga gave up her life to save Ochaco, the one character who took the time to get to know her and understand her pain. Had someone intervened and attempted to help Toga sooner, she may not have had to lose her life needlessly. Toga’s death, like other villains' deaths, revealed how important it was for hero society to reach out to those who had strayed down the wrong path like she did. The one positive difference that came out of her loss wasOchaco’s honorable decision to start an organization that would support children like Togaand give them community.
These Villains Are Not Just Great Characters, They Teach Crucial Lessons
The Unfortunate Pain They Suffered Led To Needed Change Within Hero Society
What all three of these villains have in common is a deeply meaningful story arc. They are interesting characters already, with unforgettable visual designs and distinctive Quirks, but even more significant than that,their stories teach powerful, oftentimes painful, lessons.These villains may have caused a lot of harm during their lives, but they also inadvertently caused necessary change, such as the development of organizations to help others suffering as a result of their Quirks.My Hero Academia’svillainswill always be some of anime’s best, andShigaraki, Dabi, and Togahave the most memorable and important arcs of the bunch.
