The term “Hero” is defined in many ways. In the most realistic approach, a hero is someone who saves the world with the power of love and courage. In the deeper perspective of fantasy, a hero is someone who has supernatural ability and possesses unbelievable strength to fight violence and preserve justice in society. A hero does not only exist on screen as those series and films you love to watch. There are heroes in the real world, and anybody can truly become one if he puts the dream into action.

The anime My Hero Academia explores the journey of young students towards becoming the toughest hero. Despite the typical “superhero” concept and supernatural stuff, the well-crafted narrative is something that touches the heart of the audience as it shows the struggles of these young heroes from dreaming to fighting actual villains. With their young age, they have learned a lot from their experience and have been able to acknowledge their weaknesses to become the best one. Their hardship and perseverance are truly exceptional that motivate every anime fan towards the brightest side of life.

Do you wanna become a hero like these youngsters? Like Deku, Shoto or Kacchan? Or do you wanna be as strong as the number one All Might? Here are inspiring thoughts for you to ponder upon:

Being a hero isn’t a talent by nature, but it is one’s will.

You were born powerless regardless where you came from. You were born with zero potential no matter how your parents had wanted you to be. But one thing is for sure that as you grow up, you will become the best version of yourself by doing an action. Your skills and your knowledge of something are the results of your own experience. You make a lot of mistakes, but they serve as a framework to become a better individual. You have weaknesses, but they are the good elements that build up your strength. To simply put it, being the best is the result of your own action, not the outcome of what the world had wanted you to be.

Izuku “Deku” Midoriya, the protagonist of My Hero Academia, is a hero wannabe who was born with no quirk, that means, he doesn’t have any special abilities as people are born with special talents in the world where supernatural things are part of norms in modern society. People around him do not believe he does have what it takes to become a hero. Despite how the society views him as an all-for-nothing young boy, he keeps on dreaming. He idolizes an iconic hero known as All Might, and it is what keeps him motivated. Deku deeply emphasizes that there are no boundaries of capacity for transformation. Everything is nurtured with great determination.

To become a hero means to do a voluntary service.

Heroes aren’t professionals in the simplest sense. They are special human beings regardless of their educational attainment or academic performance. Their endless effort in society isn’t paid off, but they get happiness and contentment in life by making peace and prosperity in society. They fight violence and preserve justice. Their selfless action is one of the most precious things that is truly admirable. Meddling when you don’t need to is the essence of being a hero.

With his determination and perseverance, Deku learns to exert his own effort to accomplish something challenging as a part of his training to become a hero. He would sweat out intensively, but he realizes that the important thing is the result he gains from his effort without getting something in return. He feels contented of what he has accomplished, and that’s what keeps him inspired to be the best as All Might.

The success of a hero isn’t measured by the number of villains he has defeated but the selfless action to save humanity.

You often watch different types of heroes on screen and you see these archetype villains. From hundreds to thousands of tough enemies, there is always a strong hero to eliminate those forces of evils. Being a hero doesn’t always mean being able to defeat a large number of villains because it isn’t about a public exhibition that bystanders in the corners love to watch. It isn’t about being the star of the night for defeating those tough villains because quantity isn’t the name of the game. Being a hero is a humanitarian act. Saving humanity amidst of a blood-soaked battlefield defines the real essence of being a hero, and the world will surely remember your name.

Deku isn’t the type of hero who always wants to fight and win a battle. He also cares for the people around him and doesn’t leave anyone in danger although risking his life is the only option. This is in contrast to his childhood friend and rival at the same time, Katsuki Bakugou, who is much egotistical by nature and wants to surpass anyone who might be stronger than him – Deku for example. Nevertheless, both of them serve as foils to one another as they influence and learn from each other to realize the real essence of being a hero.

Start with the basics to develop depth of learning.

Don’t fret if you see how others have progressed with their skills and talents. You just have to acknowledge their capabilities. There is always a room for improvement. There is no such thing as being perfect in learning process, but there is a developmental stage where a person starts with “zero” until he learns to improve himself. This is achieved when one has acknowledged his own mistakes and has learned to overcome his fears. One should strive not to become a perfect hero, but a hero that everyone admires by his imperfection as it serves as an inspiration that even a powerless individual can become a well-developed being.

Recognize your own flesh and blood.

The best version of who you really are comes from within. You don’t have to become a clone of someone who has more strength than you do. You need to acknowledge your own capabilities because the world believes in you. Recognizing your own flesh and blood also means recognizing yourself. You have your own means to become stronger and achieve a better sense of individuality.

Shoto Todoroki learns to unleash his hidden quirk by recognizing his innate ability, the power of fire which he inherited from his father, Endeavor. Though Shoto holds a deep loathe towards his father from his harsh upbringing, at the end, he learns to rely on his fire power in combat. All thanks to the genuine words of Deku for allowing the young Todoroki to reveal his hidden expertise.

Have you watched this iconic shounen series? Did you learn something from the show aside from its heroic route? Let me hear your thoughts.

Go beyond! Plus Ultra!