My Hero Academia has reached a sublime sweet spot in its fifth season. The exciting action series combines shonen archetypes with superhero costumes to create a challenging deconstruction of the genre that doubles as an inspiring coming of age story that showcases phenomenal superpowers known as Quirks.
My Hero Academia focuses on Izuku Midoriya, a prospective hero student at U.A. High, but the anime has a cast of dozens and even the supporting figures are full of depth and nuance. Kinoko Kimori has floated in the background since season two, but the character finally gets the showcase that she deserves in season five and there are lots of questions that fans need answered.
10 She’s A Representative Of Class 1-B
The majority of My Hero Academia’s episodes are focused on Izuku Midoriya and the other students that make up U.A. High’s Class 1-A. Over time, the anime has gradually featured prospective hero students from other U.A. High classes, like 1-B and 1-C. Seasons two and five become great showcases from Class 1-B students and Kinoko Komori really comes alive during season five’s Joint Training Arc. Komori’s status in Class 1-B has kept her out of the spotlight, but she’s definitely a strong enough character that’s worthy of pro hero status.
9 Her Mushroom Quirk Is Extremely Dangerous
There are a number of Quirks in My Hero Academia that are specific to nature and different plants, but Kinoko Komori’s Mushroom Quirk is both to the point and incredibly debilitating. Komori’s Quirk releases powerful spores that manifest into mushrooms almost immediately upon contact with any surface. Kinoko Komori’s Quirk allows her to flood areas with mushrooms and she doesn’t appear to have any limitations on how often or thoroughly she’s able to put her Quirk into action. A Mushroom Quirk doesn’t immediately sound intimidating, but Komori only needs a few minutes to prove why it’s a big deal.
8 Her Hero Name Is A Clever Mushroom Pun
There are many factors that pro heroes need to consider in My Hero Academia, but the anime also explores the importance behind the right hero costume and alias. My Hero Academia occasionally proves why a name is a crucial aspect of the ensemble. Kinoko Komori’s hero name is Shemage, which is similar to the shimeji variety of mushrooms.
Additionally, Shemage could also be a reference to a “female mage,” which is applicable to Komori’s witch-like costume. Curiously, Komori’s original hero name was going to be “Gnocchi Nyokonyoko,” but it was changed because of how difficult that is to pronounce.
7 She Dreams Of Being An Idol Hero
My Hero Academia showcases dozens of powerful students with bright futures ahead of themselves, but the anime eloquently examines how many of these individuals want to go in different directions. There are lots of ways for heroes to help the public, but it’s the entertainment industry and the performative life of an idol hero that appeals most to Kinoko Komori. Komori seems shy during her initial appearances, so this desire to perform on stage speaks to how much she’s grown. Kazuho “Pop” Haneyama from My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is a major idol hero that Komori could learn a lot from.
6 Her Mushrooms Only Last For Two To Three Hours
There’s no denying that initially getting infected by Kinoko Komori’s Mushroom Quirk is quite jarring and cause for immediate panic. However, some Quirks quickly dissipate or seem a lot worse than they actually are. Kinoko Komori’s Quirk is actually on the more severe side and while her mushrooms aren’t permanent, they still naturally remain for anywhere between two to three hours, which is likely long enough for any battle at hand to be concluded. Granted, the use of disinfectants can also rid victims of Komori’s mushrooms, but without the proper planning it’s useless.
5 She Teams Up With Shihai Kuriro For Her Work Studies Program
There’s a true sense of growth and progression between the students at U.A. High with each new season. Practically all of the students enter this challenging stage in their lives as loners, but they slowly make allies and build teams along the way.
Kinoko Komori doesn’t immediately receive an internship offer, but the second time around she’s able to pair together with Shihai Kuroiro and strive for greater things. This carries over into the raid of the Paranormal Liberation Front, where Komori continues to play an important role.
4 Her Quirk Produces Many Different Varieties Of Mushrooms
There are certain Quirks that contain lots of potential, only for their applications to be rather narrow. Komori’s Mushroom Quirk could go either way, so it’s satisfying to see that there’s a fair bit of variety incorporated into it. Komori doesn’t just produce one type of mushroom and she actually has control over what species she produces, which in turn can have specific applications to the situation at hand. This might seem benign, but a deep understanding of her medium grants Komori a distinct advantage in battle.
3 She Uses Shroom-Shooters To Amplify Her Quirk
My Hero Academia emphasizes the importance of a strong Quirk, but it’s also crucial to develop the right hero costume and support equipment to properly regulate and maximize that power. Some heroes don’t come into their own until they gain the right equipment that redistributes their power in a way that makes sense. Kinoko Komori has two reliable Shroom-Shooter spray guns that she uses to raise an area’s humidity so that her spores will more ideally spread. These Shroom-Shooters make Komori’s Quirk more dangerous, but they also just look incredibly stylish.
2 She Can Produce More Invasive And Internal Mushrooms
Kinoko Komori’s first major showcase of her Mushroom Quirk is during the Joint Training Arc against Class 1-A and it’s one of the most visually fascinating & busy Quirks from the entire anime. The entire frame gets filled with tiny mushrooms, but Komori also reveals that she’s able to produce mushrooms in less obvious places that have more drastic consequences.
Komori helps secure a victory against Tokoyami by producing mushrooms in his lungs, a serious ailment that requires medicine to remedy. Many characters have super moves that do heavier damage, but lung mushrooms are on the more disturbing side.
1 Her Eyes Resemble Shiitake Mushrooms
It’s easy to get caught up in the wild displays of explosive Quirks, but My Hero Academia is full of more subtle details in the background and character designs that reveal some amazing insight. Kinoko Komori’s mushroom ensemble is absolutely perfect for her Quirk, but it’s surprising to see just how far her affinity for mushrooms goes. Komori’s eyes are actually modeled after the caps of shiitake mushrooms. Komori often keeps her eyes hidden beneath her bangs, so the first reveal of this is an even bigger shock.
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