Some of the characters that we’ve seen through the series have deeply impacted us in ways we never thought possible, to the point where it’s more than justified to see the success of Boku No Hero. So to share this passion with every other fan, let’s check in on some of the best characters from BNHA. Keep in mind that I’ll be leaving out characters that haven’t been as impactful to the series, so we can truly get a ranking of the best-of-the-best. Also, bear in mind that this list is going to piss some people off – I’m aware of that. So let’s see how much we can agree to disagree!
20. Minoru Mineta
I think I speak for most My Hero Academia fans when I say that, out of all the characters in Midoriya’s class, Mineta is the worst. This dude is nothing but a young Master Roshi with a weird superpower, who lacks all of the flow that the old Kame Senin had back in the early days of Dragon Ball. I mean, even this guy’s quirk sucks. All he does is throw balls out of his hair, which sticks to other stuff and allow him to… erm… do stuff? He sucks. He’s only had one influential appearance in the series and the rest of his showings have been him perving on the class’ girls. If you like him, apologies in advance (er, kinda in advance).
19. Koji Koda
I felt bad for Koda because he’s actually the nicest dude out of the bunch. But let’s face it: his quirk is terrible and his bland personality makes him one of the least influential characters of the show. He can talk to animals, and I’m pretty sure that he’ll become relevant at some point down the line. But as far as I’m concerned, Koji Koda has been one of the most underwhelming characters so far. Thankfully, beating the “bad” standards of Mineta was difficult. So Koda managed to keep himself afloat on my list and stay away from the last spot. A win in my book.
18. Momo Yaoyorozu
Do I even have to go into detail as to why Yaoyorozu is one of the worst characters in the series? Her ability requires her to be semi-naked most of the time, which tells you the type of audience that this character is aimed for. I’ve never been a fan of the whole “anime girl” culture that goes around these shows, but I do let it slip when the characters are good enough. Shamefully, Momo isn’t a good character at all. Her ability is cool and it has proven to be useful at some points… but she’s nowhere near the great character that she could’ve been if she was written more like a hero and less like a sex symbol.
17. All for One (So Far)
Considering this dude is touted as being the baddie of all baddies, one would think he would have a much more influential role in the series, right? All for One has not delivered, in my opinion. In fact, it’s his pupil Shigaraki who has taken the lead role in the series. I would assume that All for One would take a more influential role at some point, but only time will tell. As things stand, I would much rather see more of Shigaraki and less of All for One.
16. Ojiro
Ojiro and his tail are so boring that I simply cannot like them too much. In a world where people shoot fire, ice, have super strength and super speed, having a tail is nothing more than a boring quirk that doesn’t add much to the series. Add to that the guy’s bland personality and you have a recipe for a “meh” character. Notable, but meh.
15. Ochako Uraraka
Ochako walks on the line between “characters I do not like” and “acceptable characters” of the series. She isn’t as likable as others, but she does contribute more than one would think. From this point onwards I’ll stop my bitching and we’ll be taking a look at the best characters of MHA – Ochako is the line between the good and the bad. Not sure how to feel about that one…
14. Tsuyu Asui
Asui might not be the most interesting character, but her role and personality put her up there with the main cast in terms of interesting abilities. She could be better, but she could be way worse as well.
13. Fumikage Tokoyami
Tokoyami has one of the best quirks out there. And watching him struggling to control it makes it an even more interesting one to see. I think Tokoyami is, out of all the “non-relevant” characters out there, one of the best in the series. And it comes as no surprise that he’s a fan favorite.
12. Twice
Twice might not be one of the main villains of the series. But his quirk definitely puts him up there with the best. He truly shows how some quirks can be detrimental to people, even when they’re useful. As much of a bad guy as he is, he’s definitely one of the best characters in the series. Even if not one of the main ones.
11. Tenya Iida
Iida is that dude that wants everyone to behave in class and keeps the class together through thick and thin. He might not be the strongest or the most useful character out there. But his personality has made him into one of my favorites in the series. Besides, the way he developed his friendship with Midoriya is just awesome. I absolutely love him as a character.
10. Stain
Would it be fair to say that Stain is the most influential short-lived villain in anime history? I think it wouldn’t. He might’ve been beaten quickly, but we don’t often come across villains that truly stand out from the rest. Or villains that actually have a conviction for doing what they do… other than the classic “haha, bad guys go brrr” that we so often see in most anime. The way Stain is presented, alongside his motivations and the way he fights against the kids, makes him one of the best characters that I’ve ever seen. In BNHA and in any anime.
9. Miro Togata
Ah, Lemillion. Not only is he the strongest student in the school, but also the most admirable one. He sacrificed his powers in order to save Eri. Which only made us love him even more. We’ll see where his story goes (I’m not sure if he’s taken back his powers –not currently reading the manga so give me a break, fellas). In any case, regardless of how things pan out for him, Togata is a fantastic character that earned a spot for himself in all of our hearts.
8. Katsuki Bakugo
Bakugo might seem like an arrogant asshole who no one really likes. To be fair, he does spend a good portion of the series being a bitter dude who does nothing but yell and get pissed at Midoriya for Izuku becoming stronger than him. But he’s another character that has an upper development line that turns him into one of the best in the series. The fact that this quirk is so well integrated into his suit is also another reason why so many people seem to love him.
7. Eijiro Kirishima
There’s just something extremely cool about Kirishima, man. I don’t know what it is, but it’s something between his personality and his quirk that makes him such a cool and loveable character. Watching him develop his skills as the series goes by is extremely satisfying. Not to mention it’s something that he truly deserves. By far one of the best heroes in the Academia!
6. Eri
The first time we see Eri, she gives us a really weird vibe. I’m speaking in plural here because I’m pretty sure we all felt something similar the first time we saw her walking out of that alley towards Midoriya and Togata. As the series go on and you start understanding Eri’s powers more and more, the character just goes on to become a fan-favorite all around. The mission where they all go to rescue her is one of the best action sequences in the series, too. And Eri proves how powerful she is as Midoriya beats his “father” in their duel!
5. Shota Aizawa
Eraserhead’s personality might come as bland at first. But as the series go on, you start noticing more details and appreciating just how fantastic his character is. Aizawa-sensei is the best teacher in the school (as long as you don’t count All Might!). And the way he tries to keep a hold of the class makes his character an interesting one that all fans of the series can truly love.
4. Shoto Todoroki
Todoroki’s relationship with his father turns him into a fantastic yet intriguing character that also has experienced a lot of growth as the series has gone by. The whole interaction between him and his dad all adds together to create an even better character in Todoroki. And his quirks just make him a powerful addition to the “Good Guys” roster in the series, too. His ability to control both fire and ice is truly one of the best in the entire MHA universe. So we wouldn’t expect anything less from Todoroki other than him being an influential character all-around.
3. Tomura Shigaraki
Arguably one of my favorite villains ever, Shigaraki is such a complex and interesting character. I’d argue that he’s going to go down in history as one of the best anime villains of all time, once the series comes to a close. The character design is also extremely interesting here, and makes his evil vibes ever more eerie. Which we can’t help but love. Add to that his fantastic quirk and you have the perfect formula to create one of the most interesting anime villains (or at least one of the best when it comes to the influential anime series out there).
2. Izuku Midoriya
Midoriya starts off the series as an annoying little brat. But his character ark is probably the main reason why the series has been so great. The fact that he’s narrating the story makes it even more interesting. And the way his character changes and matures across MHA keeps us engaged and rooting for the guy to become the next best hero in the world. I think Midoriya is one of those characters that so many anime seem to have, where you hate them at the beginning, but you end up becoming fond of them as time goes by. That was the case for me, at least. But I’m pretty sure you can tell by now that I’m a bit of a hater anyway.
1. All Might
I think this guy is the main reason why so many people love the series. He’s such a likable character. And as a huge DBZ fan myself, he gives me the same positive vibes as Goku. I would still argue that All Might is an even better character than Goku, and he could’ve been far more influential in the world of anime had BNHA come out back when Dragon Ball was huge. In any case, the influence of All Might is not to be underestimated. The guy combines power, character, and decision-making to turn himself into one of the best dudes in the history of anime, hands down. If My Hero Academia keeps the same level of influence once the series ends, and if no one screws up the ending of the series, I expect All Might to become an all-time favorite for years to come.
