The Secret Behind All Might's Ever-Present Smile: A Deeper Look into My Hero Academia

All Might, a prominent character in My Hero Academia, is known for his significant role in the first three seasons of the anime, culminating in his intense battle against All For One in the Kamino arc. His unwavering sense of justice, charisma, and selfless acts have solidified his status as one of the most well-crafted characters in the entire series.

What sets All Might apart as an iconic figure in My Hero Academia is his trademark smile, which contributes to his unique appearance. Author Kohei Horikoshi took the effort to provide an explanation for why the Symbol of Hope maintains a constant smile throughout the series.

Explaining why All Might smiles all the time in My Hero Academia

Nana Shimura, the mentor of All Might (Image via Studio Bones)

Prior to becoming the greatest hero in My Hero Academia, Toshinori Yagi, also known as All Might in his hero identity, was Quirkless.

After meeting Nana Shimura, a hero wielding the One For All Quirk, Toshinori was chosen as her successor due to his passion for heroism. Nana became Toshinori's mentor but tragically met her demise at the hands of All For One. All Might considered Nana as a mother figure and her teachings about strength and resilience continue to shape his journey as the Number 1 Hero in the series.

Toshinori took this to heart and continued to embrace it after his trip to the United States to train to become a professional hero. All Might's unwavering ability to smile in any situation has been a source of inspiration for many, especially My Hero Academia's main character, Izuku Midoriya (also known as Deku). He has expressed his desire to become a hero who can rescue others with a smile. This message of optimism and hope is a central theme in Kohei Horikoshi's manga.

All Might's importance in the story

All Might plays a crucial role in the My Hero Academia storyline as a significant mentor and father figure to Deku, imparting the One For All Quirk and guiding him in the ways of heroism. Despite this, there are differing opinions about the Number 1 Hero's involvement in the series following his final battle in Kamino against All For One, where he lost the last of his powers and subsequently retired.

Many believe that All Might should have died in Kamino, as his character seemed to have lost some of his spark and charisma outside of the battlefield. However, other fans argue that his survival was a clever choice by Horikoshi, showing that not every shonen teacher needs to die in battle to pass on their duty to the next generation.

Despite this, All Might is often considered to be one of the most well-crafted characters in the series. Many people have found his personality and strong sense of justice to be charming and compelling. His ability to maintain a smile even in the most dire situations plays a crucial role in the overall narrative.

Editor's P/S

As a hard fan of My Hero Academia, I find All Might to be one of the most compelling and well-crafted characters in the series. His unwavering sense of justice, charisma, and selfless acts have solidified his status as a true hero. His trademark smile, which is explained in the article, adds to his unique appearance and symbolizes his unwavering optimism and hope. All Might's journey from a Quirkless individual to the greatest hero in My Hero Academia is truly inspiring, and his teachings about strength and resilience continue to shape the main character, Deku's, journey as a hero.

However, I do understand the differing opinions regarding All Might's involvement in the series following his final battle in Kamino. Some fans believe that his character should have died in that battle, as it would have added a sense of tragedy and finality to his story. On the other hand, I appreciate Horikoshi's decision to keep All Might alive, as it shows that not every mentor in a shonen series needs to die to pass on their duty. All Might's survival allows him to continue to guide and support Deku and the other heroes, and his presence adds depth and complexity to the overall narrative.