My Hero Academia is a shonen action series that combines the ever-popular superhero genre with the “magical high school” concept, and the result is the U.A. School for Heroes. Protagonist Izuku Midoriya and his classmates must not only learn to control their Quirks, but learn and grow as people, too.
Some U.A. students are more up to the challenge than others. Some are coasting on their incredible skills and talents, while others are working hard to enhance their abilities and minds alike, having been through a lot and reinvented themselves after some introspection. Which students changed the most, or the least?
10 STUDENT WHO CHANGED THE MOST: Shoto Todoroki Has Embraced His Fire Powers At Last
At first, Shoto Todoroki was a talented but aloof prodigy, and he cared only about spiting his father Endeavor in every way. He refused to use the fire half of his dual-element Quirk, and he made it his personal mission to become the new number one Hero with ice powers alone and thus mock his father’s ambitions for him.
However, Shoto had a change of heart upon fighting Izuku Midoriya in the U.A. Sports Festival, and he began using his fire at last. Shoto is also slowly mending bridges with his father, and he has learned to be a more cooperative and humble ally to his classmates. He doesn’t have to be alone anymore.
9 STUDENT WHO CHANGED THE LEAST: Toru Hagakure Is Still Having Fun
Toru Hagakure is completely invisible due to her Quirk, and her personality is warm and radiant, which makes her easy to get along with. All this makes her a memorable student of Class 1-A, but that’s all there is to say.
Toru is a background character, and she is somewhat invisible in more ways than one. She’s just as happy and cheerful as ever, and she hasn’t undergone any life-changing moments or major fights as of this point in the anime. She’s been walking a smooth but unremarkable path so far.
8 STUDENT WHO CHANGED THE MOST: Mirio Togata Lost his Quirk & His Best Friend, But Endured
Mirio Togata is the strongest of U.A.’s Big Three, combining his Permeation Quirk with his incredible strength, speed and intuition into one package. Mirio is also cheerful and friendly to everyone, making him easy to like and respect as a Hero. But he has also suffered some serious losses recently.
Mirio was humbled when he failed to rescue the young Eri the first time, and he lost his Quirk during the final battle with Overhaul while trying to save her. Mirio also endured the death of his mentor and friend Sir Nighteye, but all this has not broken him. He remains a Hero in strength of character and personality.
7 STUDENT WHO CHANGED THE LEAST: Mezo Shoji Is The Same Guy As Ever
Like Toru Hagakure, the humble Mezo Shoji is content to remain in the background as a supporting character, occasionally contributing something to Class 1-A when his unique talents are needed. He’s a slightly peculiar kid naturally, and he hasn’t changed much since the beginning of the series.
Like the rest of the class, Mezo has been training to enhance his moves, but otherwise he hasn’t seen much growth. Even now, little is known of his backstory or interests, and he hasn’t undergone any life-changing moments.
6 STUDENT WHO CHANGED THE MOST: Katsuki Bakugo’s Rivalry With Izuku Has Become Healthier
Katsuki Bakugo is the classic shonen rival, being fiercely determined to outperform the lead and prove himself to be number one at all costs. For the most part, Bakugo’s personality is rather unsavory and hostile, but he is slowly changing that for the better.
Bakugo is generally uncooperative and proud, but he did learn to get along better with Shoto after they went through remedial training together. Now, Bakugo is Izuku’s and Shoto’s teammate while interning with Endeavor. Bakugo also revealed his talent for drumming, and he made his rivalry to Izuku healthier after learning the truth about the One For All Quirk.
5 STUDENT WHO CHANGED THE LEAST: Hanta Sero Is All About The Tape
Hanta Sero, the tape hero, is another background character who has not undergone any life-changing moments or losses, and he has rarely been in spotlight at all. Very little of his backstory or worldview is known, and he generally acts as support for more prominent members of Class 1-A. As a result, though Sero is a capable student, he’s had few opportunities to grow and change as a person.
4 STUDENT WHO CHANGED THE MOST: Kyoka Jiro Has Gained Some Self-Confidence
At first, Kyoka Jiro was just an aloof, punkish girl who kept everyone at arm’s length, and she refused to open up to anyone. Over time, as she warmed up to her kind classmates, she began showing everyone what she’s really capable of, both as a support hero and as a friend.
Kyoka Jiro risked it all to help Momo Yaoyorozu fight back against the cunning Saiko Intelli, and Jiro later showed everyone her stylish dorm room and thus revealed her talent for music. Jiro soon helped form a proper rock band with her friends to put on a concert for the U.A. School Festival, and she broke out of her shell at long last.
3 STUDENT WHO CHANGED THE LEAST: Itsuka Kendo Is Still A Reliable Big Sister Figure
Class 1-B’s representative is Itsuka Kendo, a melee-oriented student Hero who doubles as a reliable big sister figure for her 19 classmates. Itsuka has a strong sense of responsibility that makes her a natural leader, and these qualities have never failed her.
Itsuka is largely the same as she was when she first appeared, but that’s hardly a bad thing as it means she was capable from the start. It would be nice to dive deeper into her backstory and worldview sometime soon, but otherwise, Itsuka is simply being her classic self, and that’s just what Class 1-B needs.
2 STUDENT WHO CHANGED THE MOST: Hitoshi Shinso Has Truly Stepped Into The Hero World
When he first appeared, Hitoshi Shinso was bitter about his villainous Quirk and his inability to qualify for U.A.’s Hero courses. He tried to prove himself in the Sports Festival, but lost to Izuku. He wasn’t seen for awhile after that, but now he’s back as a prominent character in the beginning of season 5, and he is a changed man.
Shinso is finally ready to join the Department of Heroes, and he’s got a new voice modulator and a new attitude to match. Now, Shinso has conviction rather than bitterness, and he is a fine teammate for any squad of Heroes, rather than a loner. He also trained with Shota Aizawa personally and gained a capture weapon to match the Pro’s.
1 STUDENT WHO CHANGED THE LEAST: Neito Monoma Is Still At It
Neito Monoma is the most notorious student in Class 1-B, being the loudmouth who makes his defiance toward Class 1-A horribly clear. It’s not a healthy rivalry; rather, it’s a spiteful obsession, and little has changed since then. Neito won’t miss any chance to boast about Class 1-B or mock Class 1-A, whether about Hero training or about their rankings in the School Festival.
It’s true that Neito has gotten a little better with his Copy Quirk and his strategies, but otherwise, he’s the same as Class 1-A’s students remember him. But he isn’t all bad – he’s in the Hero course, after all, and he cooperated with Aizawa when Aizawa wanted to study Eri’s Quirk using Neito’s Copy ability.
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