Horikoshi changing the original ending for My Hero Academia saved the series from a major controversy

Modified Nov 10, 2024 12:30 GMT

Horikoshi changing the original ending for My Hero Academia saved the series from a major controversy (Image via Bones)

My Hero Academia manga concluded on August 5, 2024, and, like many series that concluded this year, it didn't receive a warm reception from the fandom. This response might be due to Deku not becoming the number 1 hero or anything related. However, a recent interview with the series' director revealed that the ending might have fumbled if the author had adapted the original one.

The Heros Rising anime film showcased Deku sharing One for All with Bakugo as they defeated the ultimate evil Nine. In the interview, it was revealed that the true ending of the series was supposed to feature Bakugo getting One for All and becoming the number 1 hero. However, the author didn't opt for it as he wanted to give some other characters justice and gave this concept to the movie's director.

Disclaimer: This article contains potential spoilers from the My Hero Academia manga series and has the author's opinion.

Exploring the original ending of My Hero Academia

Class 1-A students as seen in the climax (Image via Shueisha)

In Newtype January 2020 Magazine, Nagasaki Kenji, the director of the anime film My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising, was interviewed and asked a variety of questions. The inquiries mostly focused on the movie's plot and how Horikoshi, the series' author, was involved as a supervisor and character designer.

However, one surprising question arose when the interviewer asked Nagasaki Kenji about the series' having elements of the manga's climax. The director stated that there was a part of the film that was supposed to be an 'element in the series' ending. This element involved Deku passing One of All to Bakugo so that they could defeat Nine.

Izuku and Bakugo defeating Nine with One for All (Image via Bones)

After a heated battle, the series' protagonist was defeated by the film's villain Nine. With no way to defeat him, Deku risked everything and asked Bakugo to extend his hands. As their hands touched, a part of One for All was passed towards him. Combining their strengths, these two defeated the villain with a grand move.

The director expressed his surprise at using this element because he had asked Horikoshi whether it risked giving away the series' ending in a film. Horikoshi had no problem and stated that he would come up with a better one anyway, so all was good. The director ended the conversation by calling Horikoshi a 'cool mangaka.'

The controversy the true My Hero Academia ending avoided

The Symbol of Peace as seen in the anime (Image via Bones)

In the true ending, Bakugo was supposed to receive One for All and defeat All for One and Shigaraki. He would then go on to become the number 1 hero in the world, even though the number 1 hero for Class 1-A was Izuku Midoriya. This alternate ending had a lot of complications.

If this alternate ending had happened, Horikoshi might have never gotten a chance to give Shigaraki's character justice. The same could be said for some Pro Heroes too. However, the biggest controversy surrounding this alternate would likely be the birth of the next Symbol of Peace.

All Might's character as the Symbol of Peace created a lot of problems in the Hero Society, with many becoming obsessed with the number 1 title. Since the true ending didn't continue the Symbol of Peace title, it was presumed that the cycle would stop. However, with the alternate ending, things might have turned haywire for Bakugo and the rest of the Hero Society.

Final thoughts

It is quite interesting to see how such an interview was available on the internet while only a part of the fandom was aware of it. This highlights that the eyes of a mangaka see more than what the fandom can, as Horikoshi himself was aware of the complications the 'Symbol of Peace' created. This might be another reason to love the true climax of the series.

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Edited by Shubham Soni