The fifth season of "My Hero Academia" will begin airing in April 2021! This fifth season introduces a diverse cast of characters, and Jump has even conducted a popularity poll. These polls are held to commemorate anniversaries, so there have been six so far. We'll be highlighting some of the most popular characters from those six polls and analyzing the secrets behind their popularity!
Popular Character #1: Katsuki Bakugo
A childhood friend of the main character, Izuku, he's both a troublemaker and an honor student. Since the first popularity poll, Bakugo has ranked 3rd → 1st → 1st → 1st → 1st → 1st, making him by far the most popular character in My Hero Academia. He has a rough personality and is a bully, and is hardly what you'd expect from a hero, but his talents are top class in both individuality and sense. Because of this, there was a chance that he would be targeted by villains and end up like Sasuke. However, as the story progresses, he becomes a good rival and understanding friend to Izuku, and a good comrade in arms. I think it's this change in his personality and his relationship with the protagonist that has resonated with people!
Popular Character #2: Izuku Midoriya
The protagonist of My Hero Academia. A formerly quirkless boy who aspires to be a hero. He's worthy of the title of protagonist, ranking 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 2nd, and 2nd in popularity polls. Born without a quirk in an era when anyone can use one, Izuku's life changes dramatically when he meets the legendary hero, All Might. Above all, he's a major protagonist, and he appears frequently. His continued fighting despite his body being completely worn out is incredibly heartwarming. It's a story about a protagonist who goes from having nothing to becoming a hero, so it's no surprise that he's so popular!
Popular Character #3: Shoto Todoroki
A genius student in Class 1-A at U.A., Shoto Todoroki's combat abilities rival those of Bakugo. He's ranked 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 2nd, 3rd, and 3rd in popularity polls. He possesses an incredibly powerful Quirk that combines the powers of both ice and fire, and he, Bakugo, and Midoriya have dominated the top three for six years. These three characters' popularity is unwavering. In addition to his strength, his story also highlights the dark side of My Hero Academia, including his feud with his father, Endeavor, and his reconciliation with him, as well as his flawed heroism. Perhaps these aspects of his story resonate with viewers.
Popular Character #4: Kirishima Eijiro
A tough, passionate student from U.A. 1A. He's the class's mood-maker, characterized by his spiky red hair. His rankings in popularity polls have been 15th, 5th, 4th, 5th, 4th, and 6th, and since the second poll, he's ranked behind the top three. The reason for his popularity is likely due to his proactive involvement with Bakugo, who had a difficult personality, from the beginning of his studies, and his significant role in Bakugo's kidnapping. His past, which was not originally a tough, manly character, lacked confidence and courage, and he also had an inferiority complex, making him relatable.
Popular Character #5: Aizawa Shota
He is the homeroom teacher of Class 1-A at U.A. He is an ultra-rationalist who hates wasteful activities. His hero name is Eraser Head, and he is known only to those in the know, but this is a rational decision that allows him to make the most of his Quirk, Eraser Head. He ranked 9th, 4th, 6th, 11th, 7th, and 5th in popularity polls. As the protagonists' homeroom teacher, he often appears on screen, taking the brunt of villain attacks. He's a strict teacher who won't hesitate to expel untalented students, but he also has the authority to reinstate them, all rational decisions designed to encourage his students' growth. His seemingly lenient side may be the secret to his popularity.
Popular Character #6: Iida Tenya
The earnest class president of Class 1-A at U.A. Her popularity has risen every year, from 8th to 8th to 5th to 9th to 5th to 4th, demonstrating her high level of popularity. She's ranked 4th in the most recent poll. Her flashy and cool Quirk, Engine, and her presence as a leader in the class are a highlight. And the episode in which she inherits her hero name from her brother, who retired from heroism after a battle with a villain, is both heartbreaking and moving!
Popular Character #7: Ochako Uraraka
She's the heroine of My Hero Academia. She's often involved with Deku due to the entrance exams, and her bright side is her energetic nature. Her popularity poll rankings are 4th, 10th, 9th, 12th, 8th, and 16th. You might think that's a low ranking for a heroine, but perhaps the other characters' strong personalities have overshadowed her. Still, it's quite rare for a character to consistently rank within the top 10. While My Hero Academia's popularity polls tend to see a lot of fluctuation, she's still in a solid position, coming in at 16th in the most recent poll... Uravity! Don't underestimate her presence!
Popular Character #8: Momo Yaoyorozu
A young lady who is the brains behind Class 1-A at U.A. He has a Quirk that allows him to do anything, but it also puts a lot of strain on him. His rankings in popularity polls are 11th, 13th, 14th, 7th, 10th, and 12th. He is the second most popular female character after Ochako, and has even outranked her twice. In fact, his exploits are more prominent than those of the heroines, and his Yaoyoropai may be the secret to his popularity.
Popular Character #9: All Might
The comic-book-style No. 1 hero who has become a living legend in the series. My Hero Academia began when All Might and Izuku met, and he has continued to train the next generation of heroes. His ranking in popularity polls has steadily declined from 5th to 6th to 7th to 10th to 13th to 14th. Even before the series began, All Might, the strongest hero, was physically ill and forced to retire from the spotlight. However, his determination has been firmly passed down to Izuku and Bakugo.
Popular Character #10: Hawks
The youngest hero in history to enter the top 10. He has an elusive personality and is actually a confederate with the League of Villains. However, he was actually working as a double agent at the request of the Public Security Bureau. He has consistently maintained high rankings since his first appearance in the popularity poll, going from 4th to 11th to 7th place since the fourth poll. He takes on shady jobs that average heroes can't handle, yet still maintains his heroic convictions. This is perhaps what makes him so popular.
[My Hero Academia] Popular Characters Summary
Here's a summary of the popular characters appearing in My Hero Academia! My Hero Academia is home to a plethora of unique characters, and I believe some will become even more popular depending on their future performance! The top three characters are particularly impressive, and they've never finished lower than third place. It's exciting to see a new character emerge who can topple their stronghold!
