My Hero Academia anime‘s official website unveiled a brand new key visual for the upcoming 8th and final season that confirms October 4 release date.
Crunchyroll will stream My Hero Academia season 8 anime worldwide excluding Asia.
My Hero Academia is a Japanese shonen manga crafted by Kōhei Horikoshi. Launched in Weekly Shōnen Jump on July 7, 2014, and concluding on August 5, 2024, it spans 430 chapters compiled into 42 tankōbon volumes. Set in a society where “Quirks” (superpowers) are widespread, the story centers on Izuku Midoriya, a Quirkless teen with ambitions of heroism. His life changes when All Might, the world’s top hero, recognizes his determination and passes on his Quirk, “One For All.” Midoriya joins U.A. High, an elite academy for aspiring heroes, navigating intense training, rivalries, and battles against villains. The manga blends dynamic action, emotional depth, and influences from Western superhero comics, earning over 100 million copies in circulation by April 2024, including spin-offs, cementing its status as a global phenomenon.
The anime adaptation, produced by Studio Bones, brings Horikoshi’s story to life with vivid animation and a compelling soundtrack. Premiering on April 3, 2016, it closely follows the manga, chronicling Midoriya’s growth at U.A. High and his clashes with villains like the League of Villains. The series spans seven seasons (with an eighth planned for October 2025), covering 158 episodes as of July 2025. Key seasons aired as follows: Season 1 (April–June 2016), Season 2 (April–September 2017), Season 3 (April–September 2018), Season 4 (October 2019–April 2020), Season 5 (March–September 2021), Season 6 (October 2022–March 2023), and Season 7 (May–October 2024). The anime also includes four films—Two Heroes, Heroes Rising, World Heroes’ Mission, and You’re Next—and ten OVAs. It’s lauded for its animation quality, voice acting (Japanese and English), and action, though some critique its pacing.
Kōhei Horikoshi is the manga’s writer and artist, inspired by his earlier works like Oumagadoki Zoo and a 2008 one-shot, My Hero. His love for Western superhero comics and shonen manga shaped the series’ unique style. The anime was helmed by Studio Bones, with Kenji Nagasaki directing, Yōsuke Kuroda scripting, Yoshihiko Umakoshi designing characters, and Yuki Hayashi composing music. Horikoshi contributed to the anime, notably on films and additional scenes.
The series has grown into a vast franchise, including spin-off manga (Smash!!, Vigilantes, Team-Up Missions), light novels, video games, stage plays, and merchandise. A live-action film by Legendary Entertainment is in development. The manga frequently topped The New York Times best-seller list, and the anime has garnered acclaim for its storytelling, art, and cultural nods to superhero comics, making it a cornerstone of modern anime and manga.
