Top 10 Most Underwhelming My Hero Academia Character Designs, Ranked

Based on Kohei Horikoshi's manga, the anime series My Hero Academia took the world by storm upon its premiere and continues to be among the most popular series in the anime community. Set in a world where people possess superpowers known as "Quirks," My Hero Academia revolves around the protagonist, Izuku Midoriya, a young boy without any powers who aspires to become the number one hero.

Character design holds a significant role in bringing a story to life, as it has the power to captivate the audience and leave a lasting impression. Even if they have only a brief appearance on screen, well-designed characters are memorable due to their striking and unique features.

Ranked from least to most mundane, here are 10 unremarkable character designs from the My Hero Academia series. Despite the show's overall creative brilliance, these characters lack the distinctiveness that distinguishes them from the rest and are often overlooked and forgotten by the audience.

Disclaimer: This article reflects the author's opinion.

Mineta and 9 other most boring character designs in My Hero Academia

10) Slidin Go

Tatsuyuki Tokoname, also known as Slidin Go, is a former pro hero who is now a member of the modern Meta Liberation Army and later the Paranormal Liberation Front. He possesses a tall and strong physique, characterized by well-defined muscles and a rounded head with a wide, square jaw that protrudes.

His black mask covers the top of his head and eyes, and he sports a purple bodysuit accompanied by an emerald-green scarf and gloves. Despite being a minor character in the series, his appearance lacks distinctiveness, making him easily forgettable. In essence, he resembles a typical hero without any captivating features.

9) Sugar Rush

Rikido Sato, a member of Class 1-A at UA High, is a classmate of the main character, Deku. Known as Sugar Rush, both his hero name and quirk reflect his abilities. Unfortunately, Sato often receives minimal attention, possibly due to his lack of unique characteristics.

With an unremarkable design, Sato fails to captivate interest. His appearance includes a well-built physique, spiky dark brown hair, and noticeable lips. Wearing a yellow bodysuit that only reveals his lips and a small portion of his hair, these are the distinguishing features of this character.

8. Cementoss

My Hero Academia's Pro Hero Cementoss (Image via Studio Bones)

Ken Ishiyama, also known as Cementoss, is a Pro Hero and a Modern Literature teacher at UA High School. Cementoss appears as a humanoid figure crafted from cement, with a distinctive gray ponytail and almost closed eyes. Even his body is composed of block-like shapes, maintaining his unique appearance.

His hero costume follows a plain yet functional design, consisting of a sleeveless dark maroon suit adorned with yellow stripes, complemented by matching maroon shorts. However, considering his status as a pro hero and teacher at UA, some may find the cement block aesthetic to be lackluster. It is regrettable, as Cementoss possesses a remarkably useful quirk, which untapped potential to have made him a more intriguing character.

7. Wash

Pro Hero Wash in My Hero Academia (Image via Studio Bones)

Susugu Mitarai, also known as Wash, is ranked as the No. 8 Pro Hero in the popular My Hero Academia franchise. Despite his position, he has limited screen time throughout the series, only becoming more prominent in the Paranormal Liberation War Arc.

In terms of appearance, Wash is essentially a laundry machine with arms and legs, complete with an open lid and a pair of eyes. This design lacks uniqueness, resembling a common household appliance rather than a standout character. It is rather amusing that such a simple and uninteresting design was selected for one of the top 10 heroes.

6. Magne

My Hero Academia villain Magne (Image via Studio Bones)

Kenji Hikiishi, also known as Magne, was once a member of the renowned villain organization, the League of Villains, featured in the popular series My Hero Academia. However, Magne's appearance may not have left a lasting impression on some viewers, as her character design appeared rather unremarkable. She was a transgender woman with a muscular physique, reddish-brown short hair, and noticeably large lips. In addition to her unassuming appearance, her attire was also quite ordinary, making her one of the less striking villains in My Hero Academia.

5. Skeptic

My Hero Academia villain Skeptic (Image via Studio Bones)

Tomoyasu Chikazoku, widely recognized as Skeptic in the My Hero Academia community, holds a prominent position within the contemporary Meta Liberation Army. Subsequently, he attains the role of one of the nine lieutenants within the Paranormal Liberation Front.

Skeptic's portrayal embodies the classic appearance of a villainous hacker - a slender and tall physique, lengthy hair framing his face and concealing his eyes, all combined with an ensemble entirely in black. However, this design, devoid of notable characteristics, fails to captivate and distinguish him amongst the array of My Hero Academia villains.

4. Koji Koda

Koda in My Hero Academia anime (Image via Studio Bones)

This student from UA High's Class 1-A earns a spot on this list due to his unremarkable appearance. Despite being known as Petting Hero: Anima, Koda is a quiet and gentle individual whose design lacks the distinctiveness that fans would typically associate with a hero.

Koda possesses a triangular-shaped head with uneven proportions and a square jaw, giving him a tall and sturdy physique. His hero costume, while functional, lacks the flashy elements commonly found in his classmates' outfits. As a result, he is considered one of the less visually striking characters in the world of My Hero Academia.

3. Fat Gum

Fat Gum in My Hero Academia anime (Image via Studio Bones)

BMI Hero: Fat Gum currently ranks as the No. 58 Pro Hero in the My Hero Academia universe. Sporting a rotund figure with multiple layers of fat, Fat Gum, also known as Taishiro Toyomitsu, resembles a humanoid balloon.

Unfortunately, his appearance isn't helped by his yellow hoodie jacket, which gives the impression of a massive, spherical blob for his upper body. Although his design isn't particularly memorable, it does serve a functional purpose that aligns with the mechanics of his quirk.

2. Daruma Ujiko

Daruma Ujiko in My Hero Academia anime (Image via Studio Bones)

Nomu, the major antagonists in My Hero Academia, are the creation of Kyudai Garaki, also known as Daruma Ujiko. Garaki, who masquerades as a regular doctor at the Jaku General Hospital, is actually closely associated with the series' ultimate antagonist, All for One.

Garaki, a short and stout elderly man with a bald head and a large, bushy mustache, is often seen wearing a lab coat and distinctive goggles. Despite his position as the right-hand man to the strongest antagonist in the series, Ujiko does not exude a strong aura of villainy. In fact, his appearance presents him as just an ordinary, overweight old man, causing him to fade into the background among the numerous forgettable characters.

1. Minoru Mineta

In UA High's class 1-A, Mineta stands out for having the most distinct appearance. Unfortunately, he has gained a negative reputation within the My Hero Academia fanbase, and his appearance does not do him any favors. Mineta is relatively short in stature, with dull-looking big round eyes and purple hair styled into four large ball-shaped clumps.

His hero costume design also adds to his simplistic appearance. The purple outfit features yellow gloves, shoes, and a scarf, all of which contribute to a rather basic look. Moreover, his white pants extend outward from his waist, resembling a cut sphere, while his yellow gloves resemble kitchen cleaning gloves. These design choices make it hard to take Mineta seriously as an aspiring pro hero. Overall, his comical and visually unappealing appearance does not inspire confidence.

In conclusion

My Hero Academia Cover art (Image via Kohei Horikoshi/Shueisha)

Creating cool designs for the diverse range of characters in this series can be challenging. Their plain appearances could be attributed to their unique quirks and how they have impacted their physical appearance.

It is possible that Mangaka Kohei Horikoshi deliberately chose to make the main characters stand out more. Regardless of the intention, the audience may find it tiring to constantly see these plain-looking characters who receive substantial screen time. Despite their unremarkable appearances, these characters play important roles in the development of the story.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I have mixed feelings about the underwhelming character designs in My Hero Academia. On the one hand, I understand that creating visually striking and memorable characters is a challenging task, especially in a series with such a large cast. On the other hand, I believe that more effort could have been put into making some of the less impressive designs more distinct and engaging.

Overall, I think that the character designs in My Hero Academia are generally well-done and suit the tone and style of the series. However, I would have liked to see more variety and creativity in some of the designs, particularly for the less prominent characters. Despite these criticisms, I still enjoy the series and appreciate the unique and memorable characters that have been created.