my hero academia anime

Anime Like My Hero Academia

After the sudden appearance of super powers, or “quirks,” now 80 percent of humanity has some kind of power. With some Quirk users turning to crime, it gave rise to super heroes that help the police keep the peace.

Since he was a child, Izuku Midoriya has idolized super heroes, especially the symbol of peace, All Might, but he is devastated to learn that he won’t manifest a Quirk himself. Still, he studies super heroes and is determined to become one.

After a chance encounter with All Might, Midoriya learns that there still may be a chance for him to be a hero after all.

There are a lot of superheroes in anime, but My Hero Academia showed that anime can do Western superheroes as fun, interesting, and even as drama as Marvel and DC can. If you are looking for more anime recommendations like My Hero Academia, head on down below.

Anime Like My Hero Academia

For Fans of Superheroes

one punch man anime

One Punch Man

In order to pursue his childhood dream, the ordinary and unimpressive Saitama trained so hard that his hair fell out. However, his hard work paid off. Now it only takes one punch to defeat most villains in the city.

Unfortunately, beating opponents in one punch is actually pretty boring, but that all changes when a cyborg named Genos, wanting to be his disciple, suggests that they join the Hero Association together.

Similarities Between My Hero Academia and One Punch Man

  • Both series feature Western-style superheroes
  • Both series feature heroes as celebrities
  • Both series follow what is, was, or will be the most powerful hero in the generation
  • Both heroes have their powers focused on physical might
  • Both series do big, energetic, flashy action in an addicting way
  • Both series start more comedic, but get deeper into drama as they go on

Differences Between My Hero Academia and One Punch Man

  • One Punch Man has the main character start the series as overpowered while My Hero Academia is very focused on training him up
  • One Punch Man follows the mentor mentoring a newer hero while My Hero Academia has Deku as the mentored student
  • One Punch Man often gets it humor from the main character’s deadpan apathy while Deku is optimistic and eager
shy anime

Shy

Just when the world was on the brink of another apocalyptic war, superheroes appeared throughout the world. Gifted with magnificent powers, they exist to serve and protect the citizens of their nation.

Shy is Japan’s hero who is gifted with super strength. However, her personality is definitely not part of her superhero abilities. Timid and anxious, Shy questions her abilities as a hero, particularly after one of her rescues still resulted in a girl being injured.

However, when she meets this girl again as one of her new classmates, Shy begins to summon the strength to back up her desire to protect people.

Similarities Between My Hero Academia and Shy

  • Both series follow Western-style superheroes
  • Both series feature heroes as celebrities
  • Both series follow superheroes that are new and very unsure or unused to their own powers
  • Anxiety, thy name is… both of these main characters
  • Both series place a huge emphasis on character drama and growth for the heroes

Differences Between My Hero Academia and Shy

  • Shy features a female main character whose powers are more ambiguous than Deku’s
  • The heroes in Shy have seemingly extraterrestrial origins compared to the evolution-based quirks in My Hero Academia
  • There aren’t many heroes in Shy, only a small handful. As such, even a high school girl can be a professional hero
tiger and bunny anime

Tiger and Bunny

In Stern Bild City, there exist those with NEXT powers who can use them for good or evil. A TV channel called Hero TV showcases heroes as they chase down evildoers and earn Hero Points.

Enter, Kotetsu T. Kaburagi, or “Wild Tiger,” a veteran hero, but his performance has been on the downswing. In order to do better, he pairs up with a new hero, Barnaby Brooks Jr., or “Bunny,” but they mix about as well as oil and water.

Similarities Between My Hero Academia and Tiger and Bunny

  • Both series follow Western-style superheroes
  • Both series are about heroes that defend the public
  • Both series feature heroes as celebrities and are corporatized
  • Both series feature a contentious main relationship (Tiger and Bunny, Deku and Bakugo)

Differences Between My Hero Academia and Tiger and Bunny

  • Tiger and Bunny follows the lives of professional heroes
  • While My Hero Academia mostly follows student hero character drama, Tiger and Bunny explores more adult hero character drama problems
  • Tiger and Bunny doesn’t go quite as big with the action as most heroes lack the flashier powers of My Hero Academia
talentless nana anime

Talentless Nana

Earth has been assaulted by monsters that have come to be known as the “enemy of humanity.” To combat this, secluded schools were formed to train children with extraordinary powers to fight back.

However, that is an elaborate lie.

The truth is that these super powered children are the threat to humanity and one powerless girl has been sent to their school to kill them off.

Similarities Between My Hero Academia and Talentless Nana

  • Both series feature superpowered individuals
  • Both feature a main character that is or was a powerless person
  • Both series take place in a school designed to help these children hone their powers

Differences Between My Hero Academia and Talentless Nana

  • Talentless Nana twists the set up by being about these children being huge threats to humanity, so the main character’s job is to actually kill them
  • The main character is a powerless assassin in Talentless Nana, but features top tier skills in manipulation and telling lies
  • Talentless Nana is darker, less comedic, and has smaller scale action than My Hero Academia

For Fans of Powerless Among Super Powerful

mashle anime

Mashle – Muscles and Magic

When a person is born, they bear a distinctive mark on their face that denotes that they have magical abilities. To maintain the magical integrity of the world, those without the mark are swiftly exterminated.

Mash Burnedead was born without a mark or magical ability, but he was taken in by one weak mage and raised away from society in the forest. While he lacks magical skills, Mash has honed his physical strength to superhuman levels by working out everyday.

When Mash was discovered in the forest and his peaceful life was upended, he decides to go to magic school to become a Divine Visionary, a person that the whole world recognizes for their supreme skills, in order to protect his family.

However, while being magic-less in a magic school seems like a pretty indomitable obstacle, Mash’s muscles are capable of feats that seem just like magic.

Similarities Between My Hero Academia and Mashle

  • Both series feature powerless main characters in a world where everyone else has powers
  • The main characters go to a school where they are meant to learn to control their abilities
  • Graduating that school on top means a prestigious future
  • Both series feature main characters with impressive physical abilities
  • Both series enjoy over-the-top action

Differences Between My Hero Academia and Mashle

  • Mashle is about being non-magical in a world of mages
  • Mash has workout-honed physical abilities that makes his feats seem like magic while Deku got powers from eating some hair
  • Mashle is definitely more focused on comedy if it isn’t time for action while My Hero Academia offers more character drama
  • Mash is comically dense and deadpan while Deku is more aware of the feelings of others and energetically passionate
black clover swords and sorcery anime

Black Clover

After being abandoned at the same church, Asta and Yuno grew up together. Together they also grew up aiming for the same title – The Wizard King, the strongest wizard in the kingdom.

However, it soon became apparent that while Yuno has skill with magic, Asta couldn’t use it at all. This all changed when they were attacked and Asta was given a strange grimoire that granted him the ability to nullify magic.

Similarities Between My Hero Academia and Black Clover

  • Both series feature main characters without powers in a world of people who all seem to have powers
  • Both main characters are aiming for the top spot in society (Symbol of Peace, Wizard King)
  • Both main characters dedicate themselves to training physically
  • Both powerless main characters get powers and start their climb to the top
  • The main character has a contentious rival they grew up with that is more naturally talented than them
  • Both series are big action shounen anime that balance battles with comedy and character drama well

Differences Between My Hero Academia and Black Clover

  • Black Clover is about mages while My Hero Academia is about superheroes
  • Black Clover is about joining the Magic Knights, the military for the kingdom, while My Hero Academia is about going to school
  • Asta is more scrappy and confrontational than Deku. Asta essentially has a toned down Bakugo attitude, but without the pride
welcome to demon school iruma anime

Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun

Iruma Suzuki has had a tough life. His parents are irresponsible, so he must work to earn money to take care of himself. One day, he discovers that his parents have sold him to the demon, Sullivan.

Afraid at first, he relaxes when he discovers that the demon merely wants a grandchild. As Sullivan is the headmaster of the demon school Babyls, he enrolls Iruma.

However, Iruma soon discovers that as the grandchild of Sullivan, he is now expected to take the throne of Demon King.

Similarities Between My Hero Academia and Welcome to Demon School, Iruma

  • Both series feature main characters without abilities going to a school for people with magnificent abilities
  • Both series enjoy a lot of school life competitions and friendship-forging
  • Both series move on to grander action plots
  • Both main characters are likable dorks

Differences Between My Hero Academia and Welcome to Demon School, Iruma

  • My Hero Academia is about superheroes while Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun is about the supernatural
  • Iruma never quite gets a huge infusion of power like Deku does
  • Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun remains rather light and comedic throughout while My Hero Academia gets progressively darker
  • The action in Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun is kept more basic. Not every series gets that big Studio Bones My Hero Academia budget, after all
little witch academia anime

Little Witch Academia

Although Atsuko is an ordinary girl, she became enamored by witches and magic by a magic show she saw as a kid hosted by a witch named Shiny Chariot.

Now, she has aspires to be a witch, taking the first step by joining a renowned academy for witches called Luna Nova Academy.

Although she faces hardship as a first generation witch and fan of Shiny Chariot, whom many consider a fraud, she and her two friends do their best each new day.

Similarities Between My Hero Academia and Little Witch Academia

  • Both series are about once-powerless main characters gaining powers and going to school to hone them
  • Both main characters a lovable dorks and are eager to learn
  • Both main characters have a hero in that world they look up to and were inspired by
  • Both series start off light and comical then get progressively more dark and dire
  • Both main characters unravel the machinations of a larger villain that was lurking in the world
  • Both series have a fluid, energetic art and animation style that make them an absolute treasure to watch

Differences Between My Hero Academia and Little Witch Academia

  • Little Witch Academia is about female witches while My Hero Academia is about superheroes
  • Developing a quirk after a certain point was unheard of in My Hero Academia while gaining magic as a non-mage seems easier in Little Witch Academia
  • My Hero Academia has more rivalry and inter-character drama while Little Witch Academia is more about wholesome friendship

For Fans of Controlling Magnificent Power

katekyo hitman reborn anime

Katekyo Hitman Reborn

Clumsy and talentless, Tsunayoshi Sawada, dubbed “Loser Tsuna” by his class, is the personification of failure. However, this loser’s boring life takes a new turn when he encounters Reborn, a baby and a hitman from the strongest Mafia family in Italy.

Reborn has been sent to whip this middle school loser into shape because he is the heir to the Vongola Mafia Family. However, as heir, he now faces a constant onslaught of rivals that Reborn needs to help him learn to take down.

Similarities Between My Hero Academia and Katekyo Hitman Reborn

  • Both series follow normal boys who one day get powers they can barely control
  • Both series feature these boys trained by a world famous, incredibly strong mentor at school
  • Both series are more light-hearted action shounen anime with no shortage of fights

Differences Between My Hero Academia and Katekyo Hitman Reborn

  • Katekyo Hitman Reborn is about superpowered mafia families while My Hero Academia is about superheroes
  • The main character can’t activate his power on his own in Reborn while Deku’s body simply isn’t used to it
  • All Might is a hero while Reborn is a hitman
  • Katekyo Hitman Reborn is, overall, a lot sillier than My Hero Academia which moves into dark plots and character drama
mob psycho 100 anime

Mob Psycho 100

Kageyama Shigeo, otherwise known as Mob, is a young psychic with a wide range of blossoming abilities. Despite having this incredible power, he just wants to become friends with Tsubomi, a girl in his class.

Due to negative reactions to his psychic abilities in the past, he now tries to keep them in check. In an effort to learn to better control his abilities, Mob becomes the apprentice to Reigen Arataka, who claims to be a psychic, but is actually a con artist that exploits Mob’s very real powers for money.

Similarities Between My Hero Academia and Mob Psycho 100

  • Both are light-hearted shounen action anime that bring their animation budgets to bear when it is time for serious action
  • Both series feature main characters trying to control overwhelming power
  • Both series feature those main characters trained and assisted by an adult mentor

Differences Between My Hero Academia and Mob Psycho 100

  • Mob Psycho is a supernatural anime about psychics while My Hero Academia is about superheroes
  • Mob Psycho features more comedy and slice of life moments than My Hero Academia that is often moving to the next battle
  • Mob is a deadpan character while Deku is optimistic and energetic
  • Mob doesn’t actually want to be a wildly powerful psychic while Deku definitely wants to be a hero
naruto anime

Naruto

Orphaned at a young age and ostracized by his village due to the nine-tailed fox demon that was sealed within him at birth, Naruto aims for the top. His dream is to eventually become the leader of his village, the Hokage.

However, first he must actually become a ninja and gain strength enough to rise to this pinnacle.

Similarities Between My Hero Academia and Naruto

  • Both series are shounen action anime with large casts and many episodes
  • Both series feature main characters with tremendous power inside them that they have to learn to harness
  • Both series feature main characters that are aiming for the top spot in society (Symbol of Peace, Hokage)
  • Both series do comedy, drama, and action, but go extra big when it is time for action
  • Both series feature a contentious rival for the main character who has more natural talent

Differences Between My Hero Academia and Naruto

  • My Hero Academia is about superheroes while Naruto is about ninjas
  • Naruto was shunned due to what is inside him while Deku was simply a normal kid
  • Naruto doesn’t have a mentor experienced with his unique powers like Deku does

For Fans of Hype-Inducing Shounen

Yuuji staring at the camera as his friends follow behind him from Jujutsu Kaisen

Jujutsu Kaisen

In order to gain more power, demons search for fragments of the legendary demon Sukuna to consume them.

One day, Yuuji Itadori, who just lost his grandfather, learns of this as he saves his school friends from being consumed by demons after they break the seal on one of the body parts of Sukuna that was at their school.

In order to stand a chance, he eats it, revealing himself as a rare vessel that can utilize and control the curse of Sukuna, meaning when he dies, Sukuna’s curse dies with him.

Similarities Between My Hero Academia and Jujutsu Kaisen

  • Both are shounen action anime that define beautifully animated, flashy action sequences
  • Both main characters start as powerless and perfectly normal
  • Both series about main characters that eat a piece of a person’s body and get powers from that event (Eats hairs, eats a finger)
  • Both main characters gain a mentor and join a special organization or school
  • Both series love their deeply emotional character drama

Differences Between My Hero Academia and Jujutsu Kaisen

  • Jujutsu Kaisen is about fighting supernatural demons while My Hero Academia is about superheroes
  • While My Hero Academia does get darker, Jujutsu Kaisen was dark from the start
  • Jujtusu Kaisen isn’t as school-focused
fire force anime

Fire Force

A phenomenon has started overtaking mankind – one where people spontaneously combust and turn into destructive fire demons called Infernals.

To fight these demons, special fire forces were established full of those with dedication and powers to control fire.

This is the story of Fire Force 8 and their newest recruit – Shinra, who aims to become a hero and discover the truth behind the Infernals.

Similarities Between My Hero Academia and Fire Force

  • Both are shounen action anime where you can see the big animation budget. Both series in particular also have great sound design
  • Both series follow groups of individuals in charge of protecting the public with their power
  • Both series enjoy their creative character designs
  • Both series uncover intrigue leading to the bigger villains

Differences Between My Hero Academia and Fire Force

  • Fire Force is essentially “Oops, all Bakugos and Endeavors” since anyone with powers has only fire-based powers
  • Thanks almost exclusively to a single character, Fire Force has more perverted comedy
  • The main character always had his power in Fire Force unlike Deku who had to get it by eating some hair
demon slayer anime

Demon Slayer

After the death of his father, Tanjirou has taken up the role of the man of the home, supporting his mother and five siblings. However, after selling charcoal in town, he returns to tragedy.

All his family was brutally slaughtered, save for one of his sisters. Unfortunately, she has been attacked by a demon and mingled their blood, turning her into a demon as well.

However, she still shows signs of humanity, thrusting Tanjirou onto a quest to find a way to change his sister back and preserve what is left of his family.

Similarities Between My Hero Academia and Demon Slayer

  • Both series are action shounen that are always moving towards the next fight
  • Both series feature powerless main characters gaining and honing powers
  • Both series feature lovable main characters that are oozing with empathy for others
  • Both series enjoy crafting sympathetic enemies
  • Both series are the top tier of animation and cinematography when it comes to the action scenes
  • The big villain is sort of the alpha and omega of their world in both series

Differences Between My Hero Academia and Demon Slayer

  • Demon Slayer is set in a fictional version of Taisho Era Japan while My Hero Academia is fictional, but modern-set
  • Demon Slayer really emphasizes the darkness of the various events while My Hero Academia is , if not lighter, than more energetic about things
  • Theoretically, anyone could use the sword and breathing techniques with enough training in Demon Slayer while quirks are exclusive to the person in My Hero Academia

Do you have more anime recommendations like My Hero Academia? Let fans know in the comments section below.

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