My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising
Synopsis — from MyAnimeList
Izuku "Deku'' Midoriya and his fellow students in Class 1-A of UA High's hero course have been chosen to participate in a safety program on Nabu Island. To further improve their skills and gain experience in more ordinary heroics, the students aid the kind citizens with small services and everyday chores. With the low crime rate in the quiet community, all seems well and good, but the rise of a new villain threatens to put the students' courage to the test and challenge their capabilities as heroes. A merciless villain by the name of Nine is in search of a certain "quirk" needed to fulfill his diabolical plan—creating a society where only those with the strongest quirks reign supreme. As his attack on Nabu Island endangers the lives of the residents, securing the citizens becomes the first priority for Class 1-A; defeating Nine along with his wicked accomplices is also imperative. A straightforward strategy is formulated until a young boy named Katsuma Shimano, whom Deku had befriended, suddenly requires particular protection. Concerned for the boy's wellbeing, Deku and his classmates must now devise a plan to ensure Katsuma's safety at all costs. With Nine wreaking havoc to find the catalyst for his ill-intended schemes and the heroes desperate to defend Katsuma from harm, will Deku and his friends be able to come out victorious, or will they find themselves unable to escape a hopeless situation?
Audience Consensus
Audience reception is notably polarized, with many praising the exceptional animation, action, and the development of Class 1-A, especially the Deku-Bakugo dynamic. However, a significant portion of viewers found the plot predictable, the villain uninspired, and the ending's resolution nonsensical and detrimental to the established canon, leading to a strong division between those who enjoyed the spectacle and those critical of the narrative shortcomings.
Strengths
- Visually stunning animation, especially during fight sequences.
- Effective inclusion and utilization of the entire Class 1-A, giving many characters moments to shine.
- Strong character development and emotional resonance, particularly between Deku and Bakugo.
- The camaraderie and teamwork displayed by Class 1-A are highlights.
- Exciting and action-packed sequences, particularly the final battle.
Weaknesses
- The plot is highly predictable and formulaic, adhering to common shonen tropes.
- The main villain is unoriginal, often described as a generic All-for-One clone with weak motivations.
- The movie's climax and resolutions are often seen as illogical, contrived, and consequence-free, undermining the established power system and character arcs.
- The film's events have no lasting impact on the main series' canon, making it feel like glorified, albeit well-animated, filler.
- Concerns about animation budget being diverted from the main anime series, potentially affecting its quality.