Highlights
- Season 7 kicks off the final act with optimism as UA Class 1-A reunites despite looming threats.
- A new race against time commences as heroes scramble to avert catastrophe in the face of danger.
- With a change in director for Season 7, fans remain concerned about how the newest film may impact the TV series.
Warning: The following contains spoilers for My Hero Academia Season 6, now streaming on Crunchyroll.
Last season was a big one for My Hero Academia, between the biggest battle in the series’ history to the grim aftermath that nearly saw Deku fall completely into the pits of darkness. However, while things are still in a state of dismay, Season 7 looks to be kicking off the ending of this franchise with a bit more optimism now that UA Class 1-A is reunited.
Next month, the anime will be eight years old – the newest in a long line of shōnen adaptations from Studio Bones, which itself is celebrating 25 years in the industry. That makes this new season even more special and perhaps sets expectations a bit too high, considering Bones is also putting out a new MHA feature film this coming August.
A New Race Against Time
At the end of Season 6, Deku is reunited with his classmates despite apprehension from the civilians taking refuge at UA, the academy-turned-refugee-shelter. While things appear to calm down, no one has the luxury of resting. After receiving intel from the most unlikely of sources, All Might warns his colleagues that Shigaraki will reach his full power in just three days.
With so much of Japan’s hero population injured, disillusioned, or dead in the aftermath of the Liberation War arc, they have no choice but to request help from abroad. While foreign governments were hesitant to offer their heroes, the U.S.A.’s No. 1 hero, Star and Stripe, leaped to action before her government could give her permission. It seems that, like with last season, MHA is coming out of the gate swinging with another desperate scramble to avert catastrophe.
The Staff Behind Season 7
While there is sure to be more staff info released closer to the premiere, it is mostly the usual suspects present, such as screenwriter Yosuke Kuroda or character designer Yoshihiko Umakoshi. Naturally, Yuki Hayashi, whose music we’ve covered just recently, will return to compose the original score. It has also been announced that TK from Ling Tosite Sigure will perform the opening theme. The director of the season is where things get exciting.
Kenji Nagasaki was the original director of the My Hero Academia anime when it began in 2016, but after Season 3, he stepped back, serving as Chief Director in every season since. In his stead, Masahiro Mukai took over the main directing position, until now that is. Season 7 will be directed by Naomi Nakayama, who directed 2016’s Orange alongside Hiroshi Hamasaki (Steins;Gate). She’s no newcomer to MHA, though, having directed Season 4’s premiere, among other credits.
Will the New Film Impact Season 7?
As has been a common complaint ever since MHA began taking the series to the big screen, many fans are concerned about the newest film negatively impacting the TV series. The movies consistently look great and seem to raise the bar each time, but for all the acclaim they receive, fans frequently point the finger at them when the quality of the TV anime declines. Whether it’s fight scenes or the artwork, some sequences fall short of the emotions evoked by the manga.
To its credit, Bones has done a lot better with this series than what a more traditional approach to adapting shōnen would produce in the current industry. Having a yearly production cycle and dividing it into seasons as opposed to continuous runs was a smart move that has kept the visuals consistent. Unfortunately, that consistency has waned in the years since Season 3. It’s not unfounded to suspect that the movies and Toho’s profit incentives are partially responsible.
Looking on the Bright Side
Such quality concerns have occurred before each time a film accompanied a new season. Yet, just as often, those seasons still delivered unforgettable moments, be it Deku vs Overhaul in Season 4, the villains taking over the show in the latter half of Season 5, or any sequence done by Yutaka Nakamura. Anyone who has stuck with the show this long – and loved it – shouldn’t have much to worry about from the new season.
Still, the concern is understandable, seeing as how My Hero Academiais firmly in the opening rites of its final act. When any story is coming to a grand close, it’s disappointing to receive something that’s just “good,” knowing full well that a non-canon story in theaters is getting something that is likely – judging from the previous films – “excellent.” The last thing any fan wants is for the main story they’ve become so invested in to feel like an afterthought.
My Hero Academia Season 7 Premieres on May 4.
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