10 My Hero Academia Characters Who Deserved Better Writing

This series boasts incredibly well-developed character ideas, especially for a modern action story. The world’s unique power system, ‘Quirks,’ instantly makes each hero and villain visually interesting and gives them a distinct identity. Even smaller roles feel meaningful because their powers reveal so much about who they are. However, with such a large cast, some characters unfortunately don’t receive the in-depth development their initial introductions suggest.

Many characters in My Hero Academia start with compelling potential – intriguing abilities, difficult pasts, or strong thematic relevance – but their development often feels incomplete. Some are simplified to a single defining characteristic, while others retain a dedicated fanbase who recognize the richer story possibilities that exist beneath the surface. These characters have everything needed to become significant and complex, but the series doesn’t fully explore their potential.

Nejire Had Big Three Status Without Big Three Writing

Nejire Hado is a remarkably powerful student, ranking among the very best at U.A. High alongside Mirio Togata and Tamaki Amajiki. This level of skill usually comes with significant character development, but Nejire doesn’t receive as much focus as her peers. Mirio’s story revolves around self-sacrifice and losing his abilities, while Tamaki struggles with confidence and anxiety. Nejire, unfortunately, doesn’t get a similarly developed storyline.

The story doesn’t delve much into what being powerful feels like for her. While she’s usually presented as happy and inquisitive, that doesn’t quite fit a student body president at U.A. High. She demonstrates her strength in battles, but lacks the same depth of emotional complexity as the other members of the Big Three.

Inasa Was Too Memorable to Disappear After One Arc

Inasa Yoarashi really stood out during the Hero License Exam. His Whirlwind Quirk is incredibly strong, he has ambitious goals as a hero, and his rivalry with Shoto Todoroki fuels his desire to compete with the U.A. students. Many viewers felt he had the potential to be more than just a supporting character, making his limited screen time a letdown.

Inasa represents a fresh perspective, both in terms of his school’s atmosphere and his approach to heroism. He challenges Shoto, particularly regarding the Todoroki family’s often-distant public persona, and makes Shoto consider the lasting impact of Endeavor’s harsh methods on others. This interaction had the potential to be a significant turning point for Shoto, but unfortunately, Inasa’s presence diminishes quickly after the hero license exam concludes.

Shoji’s Discrimination Arc Came Too Late

Shoji from My Hero Academia has a really compelling backstory, but the series doesn’t fully delve into it until later on. Because of his unique appearance, he’s perfectly positioned to explore important issues about how society treats people who look different – issues like fear, prejudice, and even violence. It’s a powerful concept, and Shoji is a great character to represent it.

The hero’s decision to persevere despite facing harsh treatment reveals his inner strength, but this crucial part of his backstory isn’t explored enough. By the time the story reaches the final conflict, which centers on mutant discrimination, it feels rushed and underdeveloped. We needed to see smaller, earlier scenes showing Shoji’s experiences and how they affected him.

Momo’s Intelligence Should Have Made Her a Bigger Player

Momo Yaoyorozu possesses a remarkable ability called Creation, which lets her produce nearly any inanimate object, provided she knows how it’s made. This power should make her a highly versatile and formidable hero. While the story recognizes her potential, it doesn’t consistently showcase it effectively.

Momo’s strongest scenes often just hint at her potential, instead of fully showcasing how valuable she is. She has the intelligence to solve problems that brute force can’t, and she should get more opportunities to be the one who saves the day with her smarts. While supporting her teammates is a good role for her sometimes, Momo deserves more moments where her intelligence is the clear key to success.

Ochaco’s Story Kept Shrinking Around Her Feelings for Deku

Ochaco Uraraka’s dream in My Hero Academia is refreshingly down-to-earth: she wants to become a hero to help her family financially. This relatable and practical motivation gives her a strong foundation as she enters the world of heroism. Plus, her unique ability, or Quirk, is incredibly versatile, particularly useful for rescue missions and teamwork.

The problem is that Ochaco’s story increasingly revolves around Deku. While her connection to Toga provides interesting emotional depth, her initial drive and personal idea of what it means to be a hero become less focused as the story goes on. She still has important scenes, but she really deserved a complete story arc that was entirely her own.

Mina Had the Personality of a Star and the Arc of a Side Note

Mina Ashido has all the qualities of a fan-favorite character. Her striking design, powerful Acid Quirk, and energetic personality instantly liven up Class 1-A. She feels like a natural leader and emotional support for her classmates, especially Kirishima, whom she inspires to become a stronger hero by stepping up when others hesitate.

While Mina is a strong character, the story often focuses on her relationship with Kirishima rather than giving her a fully developed storyline of her own. She has impactful moments, particularly during the fight with Gigantomachia, but these don’t quite add up to a substantial arc. Ultimately, the series tends to portray her as a cheerful supporting character rather than a central figure with her own goals and development.

Spinner’s Villain Arc Was a Good Idea but Needed More Time

Spinner initially seems like a reserved member of the League of Villains, but there’s a surprising depth to his character. He’s a solitary fan of Stain, desperately seeking purpose and a reason to feel his life has value. This sets him apart from many other villains. Furthermore, his mutated appearance ties into a key social theme explored in My Hero Academia.

Spinner’s story could have powerfully illustrated how society’s narrow definition of heroism can inadvertently create villains by overlooking those who don’t fit the mold. However, the narrative doesn’t fully develop his character before using him to represent a broader conflict. While his eventual impact is strong, a more consistent focus on him earlier would have made it even more compelling.

Iida Looked Like a Main Character Until the Story Moved On

At the beginning of My Hero Academia, Tenya Iida quickly establishes himself as a key character. He’s a funny, sincere, and incredibly dedicated student who takes the idea of heroism very seriously. Many viewers initially thought he would be one of the series’ central heroes, and the Stain Arc only deepened his story. When his brother is hurt, Iida’s desire for revenge leads him down a difficult path.

This situation creates a powerful internal struggle for the character, forcing him to confront the line between what’s right and getting even. Sadly, his importance in the story diminishes after this. While Iida continues to be courageous and helpful, he doesn’t receive much in-depth emotional exploration again. He settles into roles like the reliable friend, quick responder in fights, and class leader, but the plot doesn’t create significant new challenges specifically for him.

Lady Nagant Was Too Fascinating for Such a Short Arc

Lady Nagant used to be a hero, but now she works for the Hero Public Safety Commission, handling their difficult and often unpleasant tasks. Eventually, the pressure of this work becomes too much for her. Her story reveals that the problems with the hero world in My Hero Academia aren’t just caused by villains; they also stem from the secrets heroes keep to maintain a positive public image.

Nagant is a really significant character because she shows the harsh realities Deku is trying to fix. However, her story feels rushed. She arrives, confronts Deku, shares important information, and then fades from the main plot too quickly. Given her background, she should have had a more lasting impact on the story.

Shoto’s Family Drama Was Great, but His Own Voice Got Buried

Deku’s complex background – including divided abilities, past trauma, personal ambitions, and resentment towards his father – provides rich story potential. Initially, his narrative focuses on whether he controls his own power or if it belongs to the father who caused his family pain. This struggle comes to a head during the Sports Festival, where Deku helps Shoto embrace his fire abilities, leading to a significant emotional turning point.

The Todoroki family’s complicated history is a compelling element of the story, particularly with Dabi’s involvement. However, as the focus expands to the whole family, Shoto’s individual journey sometimes gets lost. The weight of the family’s trauma often overshadows his personal struggles. While Shoto has impactful scenes, his unique perspective could have been more prominent. His growth and goals would have been better served with more development independent of his family’s issues.

2026-05-24 02:41