Horikoshi sacrificed Shoto's character to make Endeavour shine, and My Hero Academia's final battle proves it

My Hero Academia had very few subplots as popular as the Todoroki family conflict. While it initially centered on Shoto, that focus changed throughout the story. After the Stain arc was resolved, it seemed that author Kohei Horikoshi had largely completed Shoto's journey and chose to focus on his father, Endeavor, and his older brother, Toya, also known as Dabi.

This shift is fairly easy to notice, as Endeavor became more prominent, Shoto received less spotlight. That is perhaps due to his father being a more complex character, while My Hero Academia had several subplots to develop. This is something that has hurt Shoto in the long run, as evidenced by the fact that his victory in the Final War arc felt somewhat hollow.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the series. Any opinion expressed here belongs to the author and not Sportskeeda as a publication.

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Shoto Todoroki's character was pushed aside for his father Endeavor in My Hero Academia

Endeavor and Shoto as seen in the anime (Image via Bones)

Shoto Todoroki and his issues with Endeavor were the main driving force of the Sports Festival arc, reaching one of the series' peaks when he fought the protagonist, Izuku "Deku" Midoriya. Later, during the Stain arc, Shoto's development was evident, seemingly making him one of the most complex and interesting characters. However, his role soon began to decline.

Author Kohei Horikoshi seemed to have pushed Shoto to the side, giving him minor moments here and there while focusing mainly on Endeavor's growth, which was celebrated by many fans. This was not out of spite or dislike for Shoto, but rather because his father's development was more complex and somewhat original within the confines of battle shonen.

This was further emphasized during the final arcs of the series, where the Toya/Dabi conflict featured Endeavor in the spotlight rather than Shoto. It is true that the youngest Todoroki son delivered the finishing blow to Dabi in the Final War arc. However, the reality is that the battle was very one-sided, and Shoto is the family member with the least connection and memories of his oldest brother.

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The legacy of the Todoroki family

The entirety of the Todoroki family (Image via Bones)

Regardless of opinions of Shoto's character and his progression, or lack thereof, the Todoroki family is still one of the most celebrated elements in My Hero Academia. Horikoshi dealt with a very delicate topic, family abuse, and handled it in a very tasteful manner without undermining any of the characters involved, which is why the fanbase became so involved in this subplot.

However, there is no denying that Shoto got the short end of the stick compared to the other two main players in this conflict, Endeavor and Toya. His growth seemed to have stopped after the clash with Stain, often relegating him to a backup role behind Deku and Katsuki Bakugo. This is a shame considering he is perceived as part of the main trio of the series.

Shoto and his family are still among the most popular aspects of My Hero Academia, but there is no denying that more could have been done with the former. That is quite evident when comparing how Endeavor's conflict with Dabi felt much more genuine and natural, despite Shoto being a main character, at least on paper.

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Final thoughts

Shoto Todoroki is still a fan favorite within the My Hero Academia community, but it is also fair to say that he was pushed aside to give Endeavor more time in the spotlight. While this focus is understandable due to his father's compelling arcs, Shoto shouldn't have been undermined.

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• My Hero Academia world's wasted potential, not Deku's, is Horikoshi's greatest mistake
• Monoma, not Deku, was All For One's natural enemy in My Hero Academia
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• Toya's fate in My Hero Academia isn't the Todoroki family's most tragic