As Class 1-A’s representative, My Hero Academia‘s Tenya Iida has strived to remain a stalwart paragon of morality and discipline for his classmates to emulate. He’s had his fair share of ethical struggles, but Iida’s identity as a hero has never been challenged. Iida’s usual impassive expression matches the stoic personality MHA fans have come to appreciate, but before his final design was achieved, he could’ve been easily mistaken for a villain.
Iida’s final look perfectly complements both his personality and his Engine Quirk. His square-rimmed glasses and perpetually stern expression are dead giveaways for Iida’s studious and “strictly-by-the-book” persona. In universe, Iida’s hero costume is described as similar to a racing car’s build. His aerodynamic helmet protects his face from flying debris, while his heavy armor protects him from the G-Force that would otherwise overwhelm him as he races at incredible speeds. His top-heavy design is intentional as well, as it aids with maintaining his balance while maneuvering at high speed.
My Hero Academia‘s Tenya Iida 70zll0v” title=”origin”>Originally Looked Like a Delinquent
In his normal everyday clothes, Iida’s original design is almost indistinguishable from the final one currently portrayed in MHA. The major difference is the obstinate expression that seems to be permanently affixed to his face. Iida’s original sketch leans more toward him being an antagonist student, or at least someone who was always angry. This element of his character was probably transferred to Bakugo Katsuki, who even on his best days has a pretty large chip on his shoulder. Iida’s concept art doesn’t remotely resemble a student who would be entrusted with the responsibility of a class rep, but rather one more likely to be a delinquent.
His hero costume, however, was completely overhauled before reaching its final stages. There was no trace of his protective armor. Instead, he seems to be wearing a tight-fitting bodysuit with a high collar. Horikoshi Kohei’s initial choice of helmet fuels the suggestion that Iida might have been conceptualized as an enemy; it looks truly villainous. The original helmet was reptilian-looking, complete with fangs for a mouthguard and even sharper-looking spikes at the top for a streamlined look. The overall effect is a terrifying one. If this design made the cut, Iida would have surely topped the list of MHA heroes who most looked like villains, if he was a hero at all.
Tenya Iida’s Personality Sometimes Reflects His 70zll0v” title=”origin”>Original Design
Iida’s commitment to his principles and obeying the rules can sometimes manifest as the aggressive personality his beta design teased. Until protagonist Midoriya Izuku got to know him better, he was understandably terrified of Iida based on their first few interactions. Iida loudly reprimanded him in front of all the entrance exam takers and later proceeded to privately scold him for the offense of attempting to distract Uraraka Ochaco before they began their exam. It wasn’t until they became classmates that Deku understood his straightforward manner wasn’t borne of any malice — Iida was just incredibly passionate.
Iida’s passion leading him to villainy was best exemplified by his reaction to Stain’s unintentional provocation. In order to seek revenge for his brother, the normally compliant student defied direct instructions from the Pro Hero he was interning under, so he could hunt down the Hero Killer on his own and kill him. His righteous indignation was warranted of course, but Iida almost paid the ultimate price for allowing his emotions to get the better of him.
Ultimately, Iida’s out-of-character moments in My Hero Academia only further cement his identity as a stickler for rules when he self-reflects. There are no hints of him turning evil that could vindicate sticking with his original concept design.