My Hero Academia final season finale: Anime vs. manga, explained

A shot from the final episode of the anime
A shot from the final episode of the anime (Image Credit: Studio Bones)

The My Hero Academia final season finale just wrapped up after nearly a decade, and fans are comparing it to the manga ending that dropped over a year ago. The anime had time to learn from fan reactions and make some smart changes. So what's different, and did it actually improve things?

The manga ending was controversial when it was released in 2024. Fans felt rushed through certain moments and wanted more closure for their favorite characters. The My Hero Academia final season finale took those complaints seriously and expanded on key scenes that needed more breathing room.


The anime fixed what fans hated most

Class 1-A as heroes (Image Credit: Studio Bones)
Class 1-A as heroes (Image Credit: Studio Bones)

One of the biggest complaints was how distant Class 1-A felt from Deku in the final chapter. It almost seemed like they were leaving him behind after everything they went through together. The My Hero Academia final season finale addressed this head-on by showing the class smiling back at Deku, making it clear they are still connected. It's a small change, but it matters a lot.

The credits sequence also gave us a "where are they now" montage that the manga didn't have. We got updates on everyone from Class 1-A. Todoroki is climbing the hero rankings. Bakugo's still causing chaos, but in a good way. Uraraka and Tsuyu are doing quirk counseling at different schools. The My Hero Academia final season finale made sure no one got left behind in the epilogue.


What did the My Hero Academia final season finale add that wasn't in the manga?

The Graduation Ceremony (Image Credit: Studio Bones)
The Graduation Ceremony (Image Credit: Studio Bones)

The opening scene hits different in the anime. We see a kid whose quirk scared his family so much that they locked him in a basement. It mirrors Shigaraki's backstory perfectly. But this time, an old woman holds his hand instead of walking away. The My Hero Academia final season finale uses this to show how Deku actually changed society for the better.

The anime also expanded the graduation ceremony. We got to see each student receive their diploma and hear speeches. The manga glossed over this pretty quickly. These extra moments let the My Hero Academia final season finale feel more complete and satisfying.

There is more detail in how the characters grew up, too. The anime shows Mirko with upgraded prosthetics. We see Endeavor visiting Dabi with Rei by his side. Present Mic and Aizawa visit Shirakumo's grave with flowers for Midnight. These weren't in the original manga chapter.


The romance that got cut

Izuku and Ochaco (Image Credit: Studio Bones)
Izuku and Ochaco (Image Credit: Studio Bones)

Here's where things get interesting. The My Hero Academia final season finale adapted chapter 430 but skipped chapter 431 entirely. That bonus chapter confirmed Deku and Uraraka ended up together. The anime doesn't show this at all.

Chapter 431 came out with the final manga volume and gave way more closure to the romance subplot. But the anime decided to leave it ambiguous. Some fans are happy about this because it lets them imagine their own endings. Others feel cheated out of the official conclusion.


More backstory and context

Koki Terumoto (Image Credit: Studio Bones)
Koki Terumoto (Image Credit: Studio Bones)

The anime went deep into Koki Terumoto's past. We see his family treating his quirk like a curse and literally locking him away. The My Hero Academia final season finale makes his rescue by the old woman even more powerful because we understand what he went through.

Class 1-A's final years at UA got expanded, too. The manga showed these moments in quick panels. The anime turns them into full scenes. We watch them train together, take their licensing exams, and support each other through recovery. The My Hero Academia final season finale proves these relationships matter just as much as the final battle did.


Conclusion

Most fans agree that the anime improved on the manga's ending. It fixed the emotional distance problem and gave characters proper send-offs. The season finale feels more complete even without the romance confirmation from chapter 431.

But it is not perfect. Some people really wanted to see Deku and Uraraka's relationship addressed. And the "our story continues" message at the end suggests there might be more content coming. An OVA could still adapt that missing chapter.

The My Hero Academia final season finale succeeds where it counts, though. It reminds us why we loved this series. Anyone can be a hero. You just need to reach out and help when someone needs it. After ten years, that message still hits hard.

Edited by Nabil Ibrahim-Oladosu