Best Anime Like My Hero Academia

My Hero Academia is one of the best shonen anime of the decade. Over the years, this series has gained a lot of popularity among young adults, teens, and even kids. It’s a coming-of-age, action-packed, humoristic, and inspiring anime that focuses on friendship and power.

The plot of My Hero Academia focuses on Izuku Midoriya, aka Deku, a teenager who lives in a world where more than half the population has superpowers, aka “Quirks”. Some people even use their powers to become Superheroes. Since a young age, Izuku always wanted to become a Superhero like his favorite idol, All Might, but unlike his friends and most of the population, Izuku never developed a “Quirk”. However, he isn’t the type to easily give up, and despite being powerless, he will still chase his dream of attending U. A. High School, a school for future Superheroes.

While waiting for the next season, fans might wish to fill the time by checking out some anime similar to My Hero Academia. Thankfully, there are quite a few options.

Updated on January 22, 2024 by Mark Sammut: My Hero Academia is still going strong, and season 7 is set to premiere in May 2024. While Deku’s story prepares to continue, there are several anime like My Hero Academia that can fill the void.

7 Soul Eater

A School For Grim Reapers

Soul Eater is a story set in Death City, where many evils exist and can only be dealt with “Death Scythes”. These “Death Scythes” are humans who can transform part of their bodies into a Demon Weapon. They get trained in a technical academy called Death Weapon Meister Academy. However, to become a Death Scythe, one must collect the 99 evil souls and one witch’s soul, which is exactly what Soul Eater Evans must do if he hopes to achieve his goal.

This anime’s high school plot and ultimate goal to become something more are very similar to MHA, yet the supernatural storyline is very different. Regardless, fans of the superhero genre will still enjoy Soul Eater for several reasons, including its lovable characters, impressive visuals, and focus on teamwork. The anime is not a complete adaptation of the manga, but it is a fun enough watch in its own right.

6 One Punch Man

The (Unknown) Number One Hero

One Punch Man is a story about Saitama, a guy who trained for three years to achieve his lifelong dream of becoming a hero. Although he achieved his goal, his plan backfired when he became so powerful that one punch was enough to destroy his enemies. Saitama, who has become bored with his talent, meets a cyborg named Genos. Genos gives Saitama a new purpose by becoming his disciple. The two of them also embark on a journey to become a member of the Hero Association.

One Punch Man is similar to My Hero Academia because of its superhero concept and the fact that, like Deku, Saitama fights mostly with his fists and both are known for their powerful punches. That said, the shows are hardly identical, which is a positive thing. Saitama is treated like a comedy character for the most part, with his fights typically being laugh-out-loud funny. The anime does touch upon a few serious themes concerning its protagonist, and the second season plays out closer to a conventional action story since Saitama is not quite as present.

5 Little Witch Academia

School For Witches

Little Witch Academia‘s premise is a lot like My Hero Academia. Akko lives in a world where magic and witches exist, but like Deku, she is also one of the rare people to be born without her “powers” or, in this case, without any magic. As a child, she attended a magic show by her favorite idol and witch, Shiny Chariot, and ever since then, she wished to follow in her footsteps. She eventually attends Luna Nova Magical Academy, a prestigious school for future witches despite not having magic.

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Fans of My Hero Academia would love the concept of a “powerless” or “magic-less” character who won’t stop chasing their dreams until they make them a reality should love this lighthearted and comedic anime. Little Witch Academia does have some heavy moments, but they are few and far between; consequently, this pick is primarily for people who want comedy rather than action.

4 Black Clover

Proving Society Wrong

Black Clover is similar to both MHA and Little Witch Academia in terms of their concepts and plots. The story follows Asta and his brother Yuno, who live in the Clover Kingdom, a world where magic exists. Their world is ruled by the Wizard King and nine groups of Magic Knights, who ensure that peace reigns. Asta and Yuno’s dream is to become the next Wizard King of their generation. Like Deku and Akko, Asta is magic-less, unlike his brother, who has the talent to control wind magic. Asta is envious, but like the other protagonists of the same anime genre, he perseveres and finds a way to achieve his goal.

Black Clover is another action-packed anime filled with comedic moments and hardships. Fans of the iconic “weak protagonist who eventually isn’t any more” trope will love this anime. Furthermore, the English voice actor for Deku, Justin Briner, voices a secondary character in this anime called Luck Voltia, which fans may find interesting.

3 Fire Force

Similar Powers

Fire Force is an anime set in Tokyo where a series of spontaneous Human Combustions keeps endangering the lives of civilians by transforming them into violent monsters called “Infernals”. Three generations later, some humans were able to harness that combustion within them and become pyrokinetic (people with fire abilities). Shiran Kusakabe can ignite his feet at will and wishes to use his powers for good by joining The Fire Force.

Fire Force is another anime that focuses on future heroes and their journeys to becoming the best version of themselves. This series resembles My Hero Academia due to Shiran’s similarity with Deku. Both characters utilize the power they have in their feet and legs to defeat their enemies.

2 Welcome To Demon School! Iruma-kun

A Human In Demon’s Clothing

Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun and My Hero Academia tend to be often compared since they both revolve around school settings and feature protagonists who are “gifted” with special abilities while having to keep secrets. In the former’s case, that person is Iruma, a human who is sold to a demon by his parents, forcing him into the Netherworld. Fortunately, his adoptive parent is amazing; unfortunately, Iruma has to pretend to be a demon to attend a school with an anthem that gleefully talks about eating humans.

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Iruma-kun is a great anime for fans of MHA since they complement each other without being extremely similar. While the latter focuses mainly on the larger superhero society, action, and Deku’s growth, the former is primarily concerned with Iruma’s school life, resulting in a far more comedic and low-stress experience. That is not a criticism either as Iruma-kun‘s excels in its banter, particularly among the protagonist and his main two friends.

1 Tiger & Bunny

Commercialized Superheroes

Tiger & Bunny was the definitive superhero anime before My Hero Academia, and it is still among the theme’s strongest stories. The anime envisions an alternate reality where a few people have developed unique powers, leading to the rise of an industry revolving around heroes. These superpowered folks are public figures with sponsors, and they compete in seasonal rankings to determine their value. The eponymous “Bunny” is a new prospect with the potential for greatness, and he is paired up with Wild Tiger, a hero who is approaching the twilight of his career.

Featuring an older roster of characters than typical for an action anime, Tiger & Bunny presents a fascinating take on superhero culture, one that is probably more realistic than most. While their friendship follows a predictable journey, the leads are both complex figures with relatable struggles, despite their unique circumstances; furthermore, the supporting characters are also fantastic. When it comes to anime like MHA, Tiger & Bunny is the most obvious option.

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