Why My Hero Academia Movies Might Struggle to Keep Pace with Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen

My Hero Academia has not only produced six seasons of its anime adaptation but also several movies, expanding the already rich lore created by Kohei Horikoshi.

Since its launch in 2016, the My Hero Academia anime has gained widespread popularity, captivating viewers worldwide with its engaging storyline, thrilling action scenes, and diverse cast of characters.

Why My Hero Academia movies cannot match the success of Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen

Despite receiving three movies and six seasons of anime, the series has not achieved the same level of success as other popular franchises like Demon Slayer or Jujutsu Kaisen, all due to one crucial reason.

The My Hero Academia series by Kohei Horikoshi has captured the hearts of fans since its debut in 2014. The anime adaptation has been a huge success with six seasons and three movies - Two Heroes, Heroes Rising, and World Heroes' Mission.

The three My Hero Academia movies achieved strong financial success and generally positive reception from fans, but they fell short in comparison to the blockbuster hits of other popular series such as Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen.

In December 24, 2021, Gege Akutami's popular Jujutsu Kaisen series released a prequel movie titled Jujutsu Kaisen 0, which is set before the events of season 1 of the anime. The story revolves around Yuta Okkotsu, who is haunted by the spirit of his childhood friend Rika, who passed away at a young age.

The film delved deeper into the world of Jujutsu, shedding light on the events leading up to the current storyline and showcasing the pivotal death of Suguru Geto.

The Demon Slayer series released the movie Mugen Train on October 16, 2020, which was a significant part of the overall series. The film included the death of the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku, and marked the first appearance of the Upper Moon 3, Akaza, who played a major role in the story afterwards.

Both the Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer movies were essential to the overall narrative of their respective series and became two of the most profitable anime movies in the industry.

In contrast, the three My Hero Academia movies were not considered canon to the main story. Although some may argue they were technically canonical to the overall narrative, they did not introduce any significant events that would impact the plot.

The movies had minimal impact on the story or characters, mainly offering more screentime and development for particular characters. Compared to the Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer movies, the My Hero Academia movies were viewed as filler content, adding little to the plot and achieving less financial success than Jujutsu Kaisen 0 or Demon Slayer: Mugen Train.

The My Hero Academia movies can be viewed as independent stories that provide deeper character development and insight into the characters, but they are not essential to the overall plot and can be skipped by viewers.

Furthermore, fans have observed that Studio Bones seems to be placing more emphasis on creating movies rather than concentrating on the anime series. It is widely known that movies generate much higher profits than an entire anime season, despite requiring the same level of effort from the animators.

The third installment of the My Hero Academia movie, titled World Heroes' Mission, was released while season 5 of the anime was still ongoing. Consequently, fans noticed a decline in the overall animation quality of the anime, sparking outrage against Studio Bones for prioritizing profits over upholding the quality of their ongoing series.

Despite releasing more movies, My Hero Academia has not been able to achieve the same financial success or impact on the story as Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer. Unless Studio Bones can make the movies more relevant to the plot and maintain the quality of the ongoing anime seasons, it is doubtful that My Hero Academia movies will ever reach the same level of success as Jujutsu Kaisen or Demon Slayer.

Final thoughts

Although the My Hero Academia movies did not achieve the same level of success as the Jujutsu Kaisen or Demon Slayer movies, they were still well-received by the fanbase. Despite not contributing to the main plot, they can still be enjoyed as standalone films.

Editor's P/S

As a passionate fan of My Hero Academia, I can't help but feel a sense of disappointment when comparing its movies to those of Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen. While I understand the financial incentives behind producing movies, it's disheartening to see that they have come at the expense of the anime series' quality. The movies, while enjoyable, feel like filler content that doesn't significantly contribute to the overall plot. In contrast, Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen movies have been integral to their respective series, introducing crucial events and character development.

The lack of canonicity in My Hero Academia movies further diminishes their impact. While they provide additional character development, they don't hold the same weight as the main storyline. This approach leaves fans feeling like they can skip the movies without missing out on essential plot points. Moreover, the prioritization of movies over the anime series has resulted in a noticeable decline in animation quality, which is a significant letdown for dedicated fans.