What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedMy Hero Academia
Series · 2016
If you loved My Hero Academia, start with My Hero Academia (Kohei Horikoshi, 2015) — a book from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to My Hero Academia across media.
What hooked you in My Hero Academia was the way it turns the daunting journey of discovering your potential into a shared classroom experience.
Start with the source
Adaptation
My Hero Academia: Two Heroes
Kenji Nagasaki · Film · 2018
Adaptation
My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising
Film · 2019
Books on the same thread
Harry Potter
J.K. Rowling · Book
Explores: coming-of-age, good versus evil, boarding school.
Like My Hero Academia, this story centers on a young protagonist navigating a unique boarding school environment where they must master their emerging abilities to confront a growing evil.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
J. K. Rowling · Book · 1997
Shares a thread with My Hero Academia: Friendship.
If the academic structure of My Hero Academia resonated with you, you will appreciate how this narrative balances magical education with the heavy burden of a young hero's destiny.
Demon Slayer
Koyoharu Gotoge · Book · 2018
Explores: Sibling Bond, Grief, Moral Duty.
This story mirrors the intense moral stakes found in My Hero Academia, focusing on a determined protagonist who transforms his personal grief into a relentless drive to protect others.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Koyoharu Gotouge · Book · 2018
Explores: Sibling bond, Revenge quest, Demon hunting.
Much like the underdog journey in My Hero Academia, this series follows a kindhearted boy who pushes past his limits to master his skills and save those he loves.
Films on the same thread
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Bob Persichetti · Film · 2018
Explores: Mentorship, Legacy, Acceptance of Responsibility.
Fans of My Hero Academia will recognize the familiar coming-of-age struggle of a young hero learning to embrace his new powers while discovering his place within a larger team.
Spider-Man: Homecoming
Jon Watts · Film · 2017
Explores: Mentor-Mentee Relationship, Balancing Superhero Life and Personal Life, High School Drama.
This film perfectly captures the balancing act of My Hero Academia, showing how a teenager manages the pressures of high school life while training to become a professional hero.
Big Hero 6
Don Hall · Film · 2014
Shares 2 threads with My Hero Academia: Friendship, Coming of Age.
Similar to the team dynamics in My Hero Academia, this story highlights how a group of friends unites their individual talents to become heroes capable of overcoming great obstacles.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Film · 2023
Explores: Multiverse, Identity, Destiny vs Free Will.
The emphasis on mentorship and the weight of destiny echoes the core themes of My Hero Academia, challenging the protagonist to define his own path as a hero.
Podcasts on the same thread
Anime Grind
Podcast
Shares a thread with My Hero Academia: Self-Improvement.
If you draw inspiration from the grit shown in My Hero Academia, this podcast helps you apply those same lessons of personal growth and resilience to your daily life.
Wake Up and Win
Podcast
Explores: anime inspiration, personal growth, goal achievement.
This podcast channels the heroic spirit you loved in My Hero Academia, using iconic character journeys to provide the practical motivation needed to awaken your own inner potential.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What order should I watch My Hero Academia and its movies?
You should start with the My Hero Academia television series. After viewing the series, you can watch the films My Hero Academia: Two Heroes and My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising to expand on the story of the high school training academy for heroes.
Is My Hero Academia based on a book?
Yes, My Hero Academia is based on the book series that began in 2015. The television show follows the story of a normal student who is granted a superpower and attends a training academy for heroes after saving a bully from a villain.
Does My Hero Academia have any movie adaptations?
Yes, there are movie adaptations of My Hero Academia. These include My Hero Academia: Two Heroes, released in 2018, and My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising, released in 2019. Both films feature the characters and setting established in the original series and source material.
Should I read the book if I have already watched My Hero Academia?
Reading the 2015 book series is a great way to experience the original material behind My Hero Academia. The books detail the journey of the student who gains a superpower and enrolls in a training academy for heroes after his encounter with a villain.