My Hero Academia is one of very few anime whose season 2 could premiere alongside the much-delayed and highly-anticipated Attack on Titan season 2 without losing even a quarter of its shine. A definite favorite from last year, My Hero Academia has returned and it… is… slow?
Yeah, it’s slow. Half the episode is dedicated to recapping the League of Villains incursion that ended last season, with some time dedicated to how Deku was born without a Quirk, how he received his Quirk from All Might and how All Might’s time is coming to an end. First there’s a flashback narrated by Deku, then a news reporter talks about the attack, then All-Might writes a letter to an old mentor we haven’t even met yet… Enough, man. Attack on Titan got this tiresome recap stuff done in less than half the time.
READ: Should You Watch 'My Hero Academia'? Episode 1 Spring Anime 2016 Review
However, Deku and All Might are more than charismatic and likeable enough that even this recap time is not actually as tiresome as it might otherwise be. Eventually, halfway through the episode, something new is actually set up: the UA sports festival.
The UA Sports Festival is critical to the success of UA students, as the best students are scouted to become a part of the best agencies. Aizawa-sensei, covered in bandages from his hard battle against the League of Villains baddies, explains that this is no ordinary school sports festival: in fact, the Sports Festival is bigger than the Olympics ever were.
The UA Sports Festival set-up also gives us a little time with the colorful student body. Their interactions are funny and cute, all you could ask for in a school setting. We also get a new bit of knowledge about Ochaco, the cute girl with the floating power whom Deku’s kind of into: she wants to become a pro hero to make money so that her parents are able to take it easy.
This was unexpectedly heartwarming for me, and the flashback where tiny baby Ochaco tells her Dad that she wants to work hard in his construction company, only for Dad to gently and lovingly tell her to pursue her own dreams instead, had me all kinds of in my feels. (When Iida stood up shouting “Bravo” in the hallway, I pumped my fist in solidarity.)
All in all, My Hero Academia has not returned with a bang, but it’s still full of all the charm and whimsy of its first season and has set up what looks to be an entertaining arc with some high stakes for our Deku. All Might has made it clear that he expects Deku to shine bright like a diamond; can Deku stand up to the pressure? And this show’s optimism and positivity are definitely a relief after all the gore and despair of Attack on Titan .
You can check out My Hero Academia Season 2 here on Crunchyroll. Glad to have My Hero Academia back? Feel free to let us know in the comments section below.
