The ending of the My Hero Academia manga has become one of the most debated topics in the anime and manga community. While the series enjoyed widespread acclaim for its engaging characters, dynamic action, and positive messages, the finale left many fans feeling underwhelmed and even betrayed. The disappointment stems from several key factors, and it raises the question: What if a beloved series like One Piece were to conclude in a similar fashion?
Why My Hero Academia’s Ending Upset Fans
The final chapter of My Hero Academia, Chapter 430, concludes with the main protagonist, Izuku “Deku” Midoriya, becoming a teacher at U.A. High School, the very place where he once aspired to be a hero. This ending, while seemingly benign, sparked considerable controversy among fans. Here’s why:
Deku’s Retirement From Heroics
One of the biggest points of contention is that Deku, after sacrificing his power, One For All, to defeat Tomura Shigaraki, effectively retires from being a hero. Despite spending the entire series working toward becoming the greatest hero, he ends up as a teacher, a role that doesn’t align with the dreams he so passionately pursued. This contradicts the core theme of the series that anyone, regardless of their abilities, can become a hero.
Loss of One For All
Deku’s journey was fundamentally tied to the power of One For All. By giving it up, he seems to have abandoned his dreams. While some argue this sacrifice was necessary to defeat Shigaraki, many feel that it cheapened his journey and the power itself. The fact that he becomes quirkless again, after all that he went through, was disheartening to many fans.
Rushed Pacing and Untied Loose Ends
The ending felt rushed, with many key plot points and character arcs not receiving the closure they deserved. The series tried to wrap up too many elements in too little time, leaving fans feeling as though several aspects of the story were neglected. For instance, the Quirk Singularity Theory, a concept introduced early in the series, was never fully explored. The pacing of the final arc was criticized for moving too quickly. Additionally, the epilogue arc skipped over many moments that should have been addressed.
Lack of Romantic Resolution
Fans were also disappointed by the lack of romantic resolution between Izuku and Ochaco Uraraka. The series had hinted at a potential romance, but the final chapter completely ignored this aspect, leaving fans feeling as though their emotional investment in their relationship had been overlooked. The lack of any significant moment between them in the final chapter was a letdown for many.
The Eight-Year Time Skip
The eight-year time skip between the final battle and Deku becoming a teacher was jarring for many. It also created plot holes. For example, although the manga previously stated that heroes would have a lot of free time, the time skip showed that the heroes’ schedules rarely match up. It felt as though this time skip was used to quickly resolve plot points, without any meaningful character interactions.
Deku’s Inspiration
Many fans were disappointed that Deku’s inspiration for becoming a teacher didn’t come from All Might or Shota Aizawa, his main mentors, but rather from a minor character named Mawata Fuwa. This felt like a missed opportunity to provide a more impactful and meaningful conclusion to Deku’s journey.
Villain Fates
The handling of certain villains also drew criticism. While some were given redemption or at least clear fates, others were left in limbo. For example, Spinner was allowed to live freely while Toga was believed to be dead. Some readers felt this did not make sense and wanted to know what happened to Toga.
Missing Emotional Payoffs
The ending also lacked emotional payoffs and surprising twists. The final chapter was a rather generic conclusion when compared to other shonen series like Naruto or Death Note. The author chose not to indulge in the unofficial rule that shonen characters should deliver emotional payoffs with romantic pairings, which disappointed many fans who were heavily invested in such pairings.
A Glimmer of Hope: Chapter 431
However, there is some positive news for fans. Chapter 431, released after the initial ending, has been hailed as a saving grace. This final entry is considered canon, and it addressed many of the issues that Chapter 430 left behind. It showed Deku as a hero once again, confirming that his dream had not been abandoned. It also helped to reassure fans that the series’ ending was not a total letdown. Some believe this extra chapter saved the manga from being a major disappointment.
Imagine if One Piece Did the Same
To understand the scale of disappointment many My Hero Academia fans felt, consider what would happen if One Piece were to end in a similar manner. One Piece is an epic adventure that has captured hearts worldwide for over two decades. The series has built up significant anticipation, and many fans are worried that the ending will not be satisfactory.
Luffy Retiring From Piracy
Imagine if Monkey D. Luffy, after reaching Raftel and uncovering the One Piece, decided to abandon his dream of becoming the Pirate King and instead returned to his normal life in a small village. Such a conclusion would go against everything the series stands for. Just as Deku’s ending contradicted My Hero Academia’s core messages, Luffy’s retirement would be a betrayal of One Piece’s central themes of freedom and adventure.
No Reunion
Imagine if, instead of a grand party with all the major characters, Luffy simply ended up alone, with little to no contact with his friends. Such an ending would be a disservice to the strong bonds of friendship that are at the heart of the One Piece universe.
A Rushed Finale
Just like My Hero Academia, imagine if One Piece’s ending rushed through major plot points without providing satisfying conclusions. The series has a multitude of mysteries surrounding the Void Century, the Will of D, the Ancient Weapons, the One Piece itself, and many more things. If these mysteries were explained with little care or even ignored, it would be a major disappointment.
Luffy Giving up the Straw Hat
The Straw Hat is one of the most important symbols in the series. For Luffy to willingly give it up would be unimaginable. If, after becoming the Pirate King, Luffy were to simply give back the Straw Hat to Shanks, it would be an anti-climactic end. The Straw Hat represents his dream, so willingly giving it away would suggest that he doesn’t care about it anymore, which would be out of character.
The Weight of Expectations
Both My Hero Academia and One Piece are series that carry a significant amount of expectation. Fans have invested years following these stories, and they have formed strong emotional connections with the characters and their journeys. When an ending fails to meet these expectations, the disappointment can be profound.
What Does the Future Hold for One Piece?
The ending of One Piece is one of the most highly anticipated events in manga history. The series is currently in its final saga and the author, Eiichiro Oda, has stated that he wants to end the series with a big party to celebrate friendship. He has also shared his plans with the people he works with and has expressed his desire to bring the series to a close in the coming years. The series may end around 2030, or maybe a few years later, depending on how much time is needed to wrap up the final saga. It’s a challenging task to wrap up such an extensive and detailed story.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding My Hero Academia’s ending serves as a cautionary tale for long-running manga and anime series. It highlights the importance of pacing, character development, and emotional payoff in a series finale. While My Hero Academia has a very dedicated fan base and has cemented its place in anime history, it is important to learn from this series and remember that endings are just as important as the rest of the series. The disappointment that many fans felt is something that other series, especially One Piece, should learn from. Only time will tell whether One Piece will be able to live up to the expectations of its fans.
