Tag: MHA

The Next Captain

I had to take a break from watching Taishou Yakyuu Musume / Taisho Baseball Girls. Shockingly being a woman in the 1920’s was not as liberating as one might think, and parts were depressing. No one wanted these girls to play baseball because they felt it was unbecoming and unladylike. Their families were focused on their daughter’s marriage prospects. And they couldn’t even have male friends without receiving a lecture. Parts of the show were heavy. I would not have done well during that time. If I was born under those circumstances perhaps I would’ve felt differently? All I know is, I am very grateful to be born when I was. On top of the other oppressive circumstances that came with being a woman during that time period, they were even chastised for running! They were told that it was too vulgar!

So, why not watch a team of boys being fully supported in their athletic endeavors??? Ha, yes I know that is ironic. I actually didn’t seek that out, it was a recommended anime on the VRV page, so I started watching. But I really am enjoying the sports anime, Days! Tsukushi Tsukamoto, the main character, is new to soccer and is improving upon his skills every day. Tsukamoto likes the camaraderie of being on a team and the shared goals and support. While not their most talented player, his determination, drive, and passion makes him the heart of the team. He reminds me a lot of Deku, from My Hero Academia. A lot of people counted him out, but his best friend who introduced him to the sport, Jin Kazama, saw his potential. So did the captain of their soccer team, Hisahito Mizuki.

During training camp with other schools, Seiseki’s soccer team makes quite an entrance. The reputation of their soccer team, and their captain Mizuki, leaves everyone in awe.

However, Tsukamoto’s smaller frame, makes him the subject of ridicule. The other teams make false assumptions about his ability. While new to the sport, he has made strides due to his commitment to training. He is better than he was at the beginning of the anime. Instead of being recognized for the player he is for Seiseki High School, everyone thinks he is the team’s manager.

Now that all the teams have arrived, it’s time to run up a horrible hill! What fun training for their first day of camp!

Around this time, the athletes are wondering, who is running ahead? What school? Who is the person is at the forefront? As you’ve certainly guessed, they’re about to learn why rushing to judge someone, isn’t wise.

“Read the mood of the crowd already!” LOL

He really is a super fan! Look at that heart. I wonder if he got that autograph he requested from “the manager.”

I’m only a few episodes in, but I’m enjoying it so far! I’m watching on VRV / Crunchyroll.

Bright Future (Post 2 of 2)

“Smile; a society without cheer and humor will not have a bright future” – Sir Nighteye

***SPOILERS AHEAD***

Pro Hero, Sir Nighteye, was All Might’s sidekick for a number of years. He looked up to All Might as a mentor, but also cared for him as a friend. Sir took being a hero seriously, but also appreciated humor. He was overly cautious, likely due to his quirk Foresight. He’d send chills down people’s spines due to his stern piercing gaze. Thanks to an introduction by Mirio (that All Might helped facilitate), he took Deku for the work studies program. Sir really agreed to it because he wanted to show Deku that Mirio was the better candidate to be All Might’s successor. While on patrol with Mirio, Deku runs into Eri and Chisaki. Deku wanted to save Eri, because she’s clearly frightened and does not want to go with Chisaki (Overhaul). For wanting to save her Nighteye chided him (although later they all wondered if it would’ve been better to save her then). Sir did not think Deku was useless, but he definitely gave him a hard time.

Having been a sidekick to All Might for years, there is history between them. Sir Nighteye saw with his Foresight, that All Might would die a gruesome death at the hand of a villain, and he wanted him to find a suitable heir and retire. At that point in time, Sir’s Foresight had never been incorrect, so there wasn’t a precedent for the future being any different. They also disagreed with who should succeed him as the Symbol of Peace.

Not knowing the history behind them, Deku wanted to work with Sir Nighteye. All Might doesn’t feel comfortable introducing them, plus he was against first year students doing work studies. But he does introduce him to Mirio who is currently working with Sir. All Might reflects upon the idea, presented a while back by the UA Principal and Sir, for him to pass his quirk, One for All, to Mirio (before he ran into Deku trying to save Bakugo from Sludge).

This episode really illustrates the meaningful relationships between mentors and those they inspire. Some of the relationships that came to mind as I considered this were All Might inspiring Sir Nighteye, Deku, Bakugo, and countless others, Mirio mentoring Deku at work studies, Aizawa inspiring his students, Sir Nighteye as a mentor to Mirio, Bubble Girl, and Deku, and Nana Shimura and Gran Torino helping train Toshinori Yagi (All Might). There are countless people in the world inspired by the actions, personality, quirks, skills, traits, and outlook of others, not just in the world of My Hero Academia and anime land, but all around us. You likely inspire people by being your true, authentic self, in your daily life, even doing what you consider mundane things.

As Deku works with Sir Nighteye at his agency, alongside Mirio and Bubble Girl, we gradually feel Sir warming up towards him. He is hard on Deku, but since he doesn’t see him as useless, he must see his potential. He is appreciative that Deku showed him the future can be changed.

In the episode, Infinite 100%, we see Sir dejected. He is mortally wounded and the future he sees, shows Deku dying. He doesn’t see a point to the pro heroes and students, especially injured, risking more to fight. As the crew on the podcast Popped Off (@popped_off) pointed out this seems unusual for a hero. But given that Sir’s Foreight has never been wrong, there isn’t a precedent for him to think it can change, so his outlook is understandable. Thankfully, the future is different than he envisioned. Overhaul is defeated and Eri is saved. Sir Nighteye received his wish, through Deku, and the energy and efforts of those helping. But now, in the episode Bright Future, Sir Nighteye (not All Might), has been mortally wounded due to a villain.

Cue my uncontrollable crying and sobbing, which only got worse as the episode progressed….watching on Hulu if you want to cry with me…

New Opening and Ending for MHA in Episode “Smoldering Flames”

We got a new opening and ending, with music of course, for My Hero Academia! It was a total shift in tone. The opening felt bright and uplifting, with moments of reflection for Bakugo, Todorki, and Endeavor. Looks like we have a festival to look forward to! Aizawa has a little coat, is that for Eri??? And the ending scene had old photos of some of our favorite heroes (and some villains) at festivals. Let me know if I missed anyone or if I had any incorrect names. I’m watching on Hulu!

All Might!
Of course Deku has All Might’s Funko Pop! Ha!
Love the image of everyone’s reflection on their day and current events, as they’re getting ready to sleep…because isn’t that what we all do?
The villains look happy and dare I say, not corrupted? What happens to people and characters that put them on a dark path? Is it a major incident? Is it life circumstance? One small thing leads to another? Negative influences? Lack of morals? Survival tactics? Etc? At one point they were just having fun with friends at a festival. I do want to know who is in these photos, like that little girl in the door frame by Shigaraki.
Family photos….there was one image of a burned photo in the ending credits, I wonder what happened there…what was the photo of? Check out Todoroki in his little hat!

Meat Buns (The Scoop on UA Class 1A)

Season 4’s opening for My Hero Academia has a different feel to it. As a character we sense that Deku is stepping into his own power and fully embracing One for All (just not at 100% yet lol). He’s further along on his path to becoming the next Symbol of Peace, and he, along with his classmates, are working diligently to become heroes capable of saving people with a smile.

Anyone who knows me IRL, knows I detest projecting false images, or pretending to be different than you are (because ideally everyone should be their true selves and feel their own feelings without a mask), but after hearing All Might and Deku in an earlier season discuss how a hero smiling (especially All Might) puts people at ease and feel at peace, I get it. Hence the reason he says, “It’s fine now. Why? Because I am here!”

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

Like the previous seasons of My Hero Academia, the first episode was a brief overview and synopsis of Deku, All Might, and UA from the first three seasons. It hit the major points, and even gave a nod towards the film, My Hero Academia: Two Heroes. I thought they used a clever tactic by presenting the summary as background to the media, Juko News, trying to get an All Might article. With his retirement, there’s general unease, and an All Might article with new insight would be profitable.

In walks reporter Taneo Tokuda.

He has a hunch that “You’re Next!”(as declared by All Might after his final battle against All for One) wasn’t a threat to other villains, but actually a shout out to his successor that it was his time to carry the torch. Taneo is not alone in picking up on this, last season Bakugo and Deku both knew All Might was speaking to someone in particular, not to the villains. Which reminds of the line “give me my one chance to grab the torch and properly hold it” from the remix from My Shot (Rise Up Remix) from the Hamilton Mix Tape line courtesy of Busta Rhymes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TCVAl8j218

But back to My Hero Academia! Under a false pretense Taneo comes to UA to interview the students. After scolding Mineta for his usual perviness, their homeroom teacher Aizawa, has the students meet the reporter who is there to supposedly write an article about their happy dorm life (more like Taneo invited himself in before Aizawa was ready to introduce him but eh).

Are you doling out punishment Aizawa?! The line starts after me, ahem.

Perceptive as usual, Aizawa can tell something is up with the reporter.

Keeping up the charade, Taneo observes the UA students, and is with them as they have breakfast, and live their usual lives. Some students love it (especially those with sparkle who have laser belts), but others hate it.

Taneo has always gotten good stories due to his instincts and he suspects All Might has a successor, and that individual is in class 1A. For obvious reasons he does not think it’s Bakugo (see image above).

Meanwhile, All Might is returning from a doctor’s appointment and stops at a shop for food and finds out he has a fan club!

Since All Might’s fight with All for One was televised, the public knows his true form so the privacy he once had is no longer a thing. But he seems to be handling it well. And so far the public has been positive in their response and appreciative of his hard work as the Symbol of Peace.

Now that All Might has all the meat buns, he brings them to Deku to share with his classmates.

Good thing there aren’t any pesky reporters hanging around to catch moments that weren’t meant for the public…

“You’re Next!”

Sir, I can neither confirm nor deny that.

Taneo’s dad was saved by All Might!

I really want some meat buns now…

This is my first time watching an anime episode “live”, I usually prefer watching shows a season at a time, at my leisure (perhaps “my bingeing” would be more appropriate). But MHA is one of my favorites, so I may stay current instead of waiting for the end.

I was very impressed with Hulu, they had the first episode of season four available early this morning. I look forward to watching the rest on their site. I tried watching on VRV, since I can watch all of Crunchyroll’s shows on there, but the episode might be exclusive to their Crunchyroll platform? I was unable to watch on VRV (at least this morning).

While this post did include some spoilers, I hope you’ll watch the entire episode to learn more about the article that’s posted by Juko News and enjoy the other moments from the first episode. Looks like the next episode will have the UA students doing work studies and learning more about the new villain Overhaul.