10 Anime to Watch If You Like My Hero Academia

The seventh season finale of “My Hero Academia” wrapped up in October of last year, leaving fans eager for Season 8, due later this year. However, with Season 8 confirmed as the series’ conclusion, viewers are finding it tough to accept that they may never again follow Deku’s journey. This show offered more than just action: it delved into intense training sequences, friendships teetering on the edge of camaraderie and lethal confrontations, and a world where heroism transcends simple physical combat.

In a similar vein, not many anime portray the determination of an aspiring hero as compellingly as “My Hero Academia.” Yet, it’s certainly not alone in exploring the theme of demonstrating your worth when the stakes are high. Ranging from “Mob Psycho,” where a peaceful psychic grapples with the fear of losing control over his feelings, to “One-Punch Man,” chronicling the adventures of the strongest hero who remains unacknowledged, here are ten anime that will satisfy your craving for stories reminiscent of “My Hero Academia.” If you’re drawn to tales of the underdog, breathtaking fights, and characters who keep getting back up after being knocked down, delve deeper into these recommendations.

One-Punch Man

If “MHA” revolves around advancing positions, “One-Punch Man” explores the consequences when you accidentally overreach and create a gaping hole in what should have remained intact. Saitama, Earth’s strongest bald hero (apologies to Krillin), can easily end any skirmish with a single punch. However, rather than receiving recognition, he faces indifference, underestimation, and is often tasked with handling minor league villains who fail to comprehend their own inevitable downfall.

Despite its humorous concept, OPM delves deeply into the intricacies of a hero society, a facet that fans of MHA will appreciate. It encompasses the hierarchy within the Hero Association, the battles for recognition, and the complex politics surrounding professional heroes. To add to this, Saitama’s relationship with Genos resembles Midoriya and All Might, but picture All Might as a disinterested office worker and Midoriya as a cyborg with a penchant for violence.

Katekyo Hitman Reborn!

Initially, Tsuna is like a regular person with little talent, self-assurance, or qualifications for mafia affairs. However, Reborn, a miniature assassin infant, enters the scene, determined to transform Tsuna into a future mafia leader using unpredictability and hardship.

If you enjoy seeing Midoriya go through challenging training routines, then you’re bound to appreciate Tsuna’s transformation as well. The rivalries are just as gripping, with Hibari exhibiting strong resemblances to Bakugo but in a more subdued manner. And when Tsuna fully unleashes his inner tough guy? Fans couldn’t have been more satisfied.

The God of High School

In a world where the stakes are higher and the combatants more formidable, the U.A. Sports Festival of MHA transforms into The God of High School. As an observer, I find myself witnessing Jin Mori, a prodigious martial artist, already possessing skills that seem almost supernatural. However, when he steps into a tournament where deities and demons engage in fierce battles, he comes to understand that his true power remains largely untapped.

Similar to Midoriya, Mori often faces stronger adversaries who outmatch him, forcing him to test his limits. Unlike U.A., which operates under certain rules, this tournament is designed for the ultimate challenge – pitting the winner against beings capable of summoning actual deities. Prepare for intense rivalries, extravagant action sequences, and a protagonist as tenacious as MHA‘s hero, who simply won’t give up when knocked down.

Assassination Classroom

Class 3-E at Kunugigaoka Junior High School is often seen as a place for “underachievers.” However, what makes them unique is their extraordinary teacher – meet Koro-sensei, a fast-moving, yellow, tentacled assassination target with a Mach 20 speed. This unconventional mentor could very well be the best guide this group of outcasts will ever encounter.

This series has a knack for tugging at your heartstrings when you least anticipate it.

Mob Psycho 100

Picture Midoriya constantly possessing the full strength of One For All (and beyond), similar to Mob, an extraordinarily powerful psychic character. Unlike many who crave power or pursue grand aspirations, Mob simply desires a simple, ordinary life. However, maintaining a normal existence becomes challenging given his god-like psychic abilities, as they inadvertently draw every eccentric individual within a 10-mile range towards him.

Similar to how Midoriya maintains a strong bond with his mentor All Might, Mob also boasts a mentor-like figure in Reigen. Unlike All Might who possesses extraordinary powers, Reigen is devoid of superpowers and relies on charm, luck, and deceit. Despite being a con artist, the wisdom imparted by Reigen resonates deeply, emphasizing that true greatness lies not in raw power but in how it’s utilized. If you’re captivated by the blend of intense battles and emotional scenes in MHA, Mob Psycho 100 will deliver a powerful punch to your emotions.

Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun

In a rather unlucky turn of events, Iruma finds himself the most amiable child imaginable – an unfortunate circumstance given he’s been sold to a demon and must navigate a school where many see him as a meal. However, instead of resorting to fear or aggression, Iruma chooses a unique approach: winning over even the fiercest demons with his charming demeanor, hoping they’ll stand by his side.

Just like Midoriya, Iruma transforms from ordinary to extraordinary—not through raw strength, but by learning, evolving, and astonishing everyone with his hidden potential. His mentor, Sullivan, exudes a strong resemblance to All Might (if All Might were a loving grandfather who indulged Midoriya excessively). In contrast, Asmodeus initially appears as an arrogant powerhouse, but eventually becomes Iruma’s strongest advocate as the series gears up for its fourth season.

Tokyo ESP

In Tokyo, ordinary people all of a sudden develop extraordinary psychic powers, plunging the city into turmoil. With no established institutions for honing these abilities or guidance on their use, some individuals decide to take justice into their own hands as vigilantes, while others succumb to evil tendencies and become villains. Amidst this chaos stands Rinka—an average girl yearning for a tranquil life, but instead finds herself with the power to pass through walls, thrusting her unwillingly into the midst of the fray.

If “My Hero Academia” removed the institution of U.A. High School and allowed quirks to run unchecked without any supervision, you’d find a series similar to “Tokyo ESP.” Just like how Pro Heroes struggle to maintain order in a society dominated by quirks, the government grapples with control—while Rinka, who is initially resistant, becomes an unlikely hero. She serves as a character analogous to Midoriya, but with even greater reluctance and absolutely no support system.

Zetman

Jin Kanzaki deviates from the typical shonen protagonist archetype. Instead of the common desire to become the strongest hero, we find him as a man gifted with the power to transform into a terrifying entity called Zet. His role is to eliminate rogue creatures known as Players, but his challenge lies in a society that isn’t fond of someone who resembles a final boss.

If MHA focuses on cultivating abilities, Zetman centers around enduring them. While Midoriya possesses All Might as his guide, Jin lacks anyone – no mentors or organized hero system. Instead, he’s left with raw, untamed power and a world that dreads him.

His character resembles that of Shigaraki and Stain more closely, as he grapples with the question of whether heroism is truly valuable when one is constantly viewed as a monster. This “My Hero Academia” theme is submerged into a darker, harsher, and unyielding environment. If you’re drawn to the concept of “greater power leading to a deeper existential dilemma,” then “Zetman” might be the show for you.

Fairy Tail

If you’ve found yourself enthralled by the intense battles and unbreakable bonds seen in “My Hero Academia,” then prepare for another dose of excitement with “Fairy Tail.” Step into the world of Fiore, where magic isn’t just a tool but a way of life, powering everything from mundane tasks to large-scale conflicts. At the epicenter of this magical madness lies Fairy Tail – the wildest, most chaotic, and undeniably endearing guild in town.

Instead of merely being another action-filled shonen series, it’s a heartfelt tale focusing on found family and defending one’s own. At the helm is Natsu Dragneel, a fiery force with an unwavering devotion to his comrades. Similar to Class 1-A, the members of Fairy Tail don’t gain power due to some prophecy; they earn every bit of strength through blood, sweat, and friendships so strong that even the most ruthless villains might rethink their paths. If you were captivated by the intense rivalries, emotional twists, and underdog stories in MHA, then prepare to find a new home with Fairy Tail. It offers more magic, more chaos, and significantly more destruction.

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

Initially, Simon is a shy, self-questioning child, much like Midoriya before he mastered the art of punching without injuring himself. However, his life takes a dramatic turn with the arrival of Kamina – an eccentric, unyielding mentor who vehemently rejects anything less than extraordinary greatness. If All Might’s speeches sent shivers down your spine, then the radical, “impossible-is-just-a-mindset” philosophy of Kamina will leave you trembling to your very core.

Instead, let me rephrase: Unlike My Hero Academia (MHA), which maintains a realistic approach with its hero training, Gurren Lagann discards logic entirely before shattering windows with mecha rockets into space. The “Plus Ultra” spirit found in MHA is taken to extreme heights as Simon doesn’t merely surpass his boundaries; instead, he annihilates them. If you’re a fan of intense emotional moments, jaw-dropping fights, and the kind of enthusiasm that makes you feel like overturning tables and setting out to conquer galaxies, Gurren Lagann is the show for you.

2025-04-03 22:14