My Hero Academia

“Season Two”

Making a follow-up will always be challenging for any creative person, and the second season of My Hero Academia was no different. When the first season came out, it blew everyone else out of the water. It turned the manga series into a household name in the industry, with many fans eager to see what Deku, Bakugo, and the rest would do in the following arcs.

However, doing justice to the source material is always a harrowing ordeal, and with this series, it wasn’t just about doing as well as they did before but to up the ante, which can be seen here. So, this is the review of the second season of My Hero Academia.

This season focuses heavily on the aftermath of the first season. Now the young heroes of the academy are going to be a part of the Sports Festival, an event where they can show off their abilities and get the interest of some of the professional heroes, thus gaining the opportunity to do an internship with them.

However, things become worse as the Hero Killer Stain shows up, leading to a confrontation between a series of villains and the young heroes. This proves to be a harrowing ordeal for all the heroes involved in this battle, indirectly influencing the League of Villains' growing threat, but the season doesn’t end there; they have to face off against their teachers in the final test.

This last situation puts Deku and Bakugo in a tough spot: they must leave their differences aside and work together to succeed in this test, or they are doomed.

One of the key elements when doing a second season, a second arc, a sequel, or what have you, is that the author needs to up the ante. Not necessarily the stakes, but the way the story is written makes the reader or viewer feel that there is a sense of progression and evolution through what is happening. This can be shown through the characters or the world around them changing because of their actions, a crucial aspect of storytelling.

In that regard, the second season of My Hero Academia is a perfect example of how to up the ante for a story logically and excitingly. This is because the structure of an academy is ideal for that: as you are studying, you are constantly “leveling up,” which works as a handy storytelling tool to make progress. This is similar to the tournament arcs in that the progression is straightforward and effective.

The series' significant problem in the first season was the pacing, which has been solved here. This season's pacing is nearly flawless, with every scene not overstaying its welcome and the entire story feeling like something you could binge on a day off. It flows that well. Adding to that, there is a lot of logic to the fact that many fans view this as one of the best seasons in the anime.

Everything good from the previous season has been kept, and the shortcomings have been improved upon, thus making a final product that feels much more compelling and fun. It captures the kind of feel and story that manga author Kōhei Horikoshi conveyed in the source material.

Compared to the first season, Season Two takes a significant leap in storytelling and character development. While the first season introduced us to the world of MHA, the second season delves deeper into this universe. The arcs are more complex, the stakes higher, and the character arcs more nuanced. Season One lays the foundation, and Season Two builds a robust structure.

The character development in this season is exceptional. Deku's progress with One For All, especially his "Full Cowling" development, is a testament to his ongoing evolution. Deku's mind and inherent kindness shine brighter this season as he navigates various challenges. Izuku Midoriya, our beloved protagonist, continues his journey of mastering One For All. His determination to become a worthy successor to All Might remains unwavering.

The students of Class 1-A, including Bakugo, Todoroki, Uraraka, Iida, and others, receive more screen time. Todoroki's troubled past and complex relationship with his father, Endeavor, add depth to his character. Iida, grappling with personal revenge against Stain, matures substantially through his arc. Uraraka, competing passionately in the festival, solidifies her position as a compelling character in her own right.

The second season of My Hero Academia has gotten a lot of plaudits in recent years, which is definitely warranted.

There isn’t much difference in this area compared to the previous season. The voice actors do their jobs exceptionally well, offering the range and charisma that these characters, many of whom are larger than life, require to live up to the expectations of the source material.

The soundtrack, on the other hand, has always been serviceable. Nothing extraordinary to write home about, although the opening has been an improvement compared to the first season, which deserves a lot of praise.

My Hero Academia is not very known for these areas, but it still gets the job done and helps the story flow more quickly.

This was an area where the series made massive improvements. This wasn’t surprising when considering how much of a hit the first season was for Bones Studios, and now they had a lot more budget to take things to a whole new level. This benefits the story and a lot of critical moments, as it does justice to what was shown in the source material.

The animation remains consistently top-notch. From the fluidity of battle sequences in the Sports Festival to the emotional intensity in Todoroki's backstory reveal, Deku's use of the One for All achieves the desired effect on the reader; it feels meaningful, epic, and unforgettable.

The animation succeeds in capturing the manga's energy and spirit. The character designs are vivid, and the Quirks are animated to make them feel unique and compelling. The animation is strong because of larger-than-life tropes that require a sizable production budget. Because of that, this anime was a joy to watch, and Bones Studios deserves a lot of praise for what they did here.

The second season of My Hero Academia was a step in the right direction. It took the series to greater heights, solved many pacing issues, had a lot of variety in character moments, and expanded the world established during the first season. It is also a very digestible season, so this is something that someone could watch on a day off without much problem.