Let’s be real for a second. If you try to list boku no hero academia all characters in one sitting, you’re going to be there all night. Kohei Horikoshi didn't just write a story; he built an entire ecosystem of heroes, villains, and students that feels almost claustrophobic at times. But there’s a reason why the "All Might" era feels so different from the chaos of the Final War arc. It’s the sheer volume of people involved.
Most shonen series struggle once the cast gets past twenty members. You get the "side character curse" where everyone who isn't the protagonist becomes a background prop. My Hero Academia (MHA) dodges this—sorta. It’s not perfect, but Horikoshi’s obsession with giving even the weirdest background kid a specific Quirk and a birthday is why the world feels lived-in. You’ve got Class 1-A, Class 1-B, the Pro Heroes, the League of Villains, and the random citizens who actually turn out to be the emotional core of the ending.
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The Class 1-A Paradox
It starts with Izuku Midoriya. Obviously. But the "main" group is actually twenty distinct personalities. Honestly, some of them—looking at you, Sato and Koda—don't get nearly enough screen time. Yet, when the chips are down, Horikoshi pulls these characters back into the spotlight.
Take Bakugo. He’s not just the "rival." His character arc is arguably more complex than Deku’s because it involves a total deconstruction of his ego. Then you have Shoto Todoroki. His family drama with Endeavor is basically a Shakespearean tragedy dropped into a superhero manga. The thing is, boku no hero academia all characters lists usually focus on the "Big Three" of the class, but the heart of the story often lies in characters like Uraraka. Her fight against Toga isn't just a physical scrap; it’s a debate about what it means to be "normal" in a world of mutants.
I’ve always felt that the sheer size of Class 1-A serves a structural purpose. It’s a microcosm of society. You have the geniuses, the goofballs, the quiet ones, and the ones who are just trying to get by. When they all stand together against Shigaraki, it feels like a collective effort rather than a "Chosen One" trope.
Why the Villains Matter More Than You Think
You can't talk about the cast without the League of Villains. Tomura Shigaraki is the obvious standout, but look at the depth in the Paranormal Liberation Front.
Twice (Jin Bubaigawara) is perhaps the most tragic character in the entire series. His Quirk, Double, literally broke his mind. He didn't want to destroy the world because he was evil; he just wanted a place where he wasn't alone. When Hawks—the number two hero—has to make a call on Twice’s life, it changes the tone of the entire series. It’s messy. It’s gray. It’s not your typical Saturday morning cartoon.
- Dabi (Toya Todoroki): His reveal as the long-lost Todoroki brother was one of the biggest moments in manga history. It reframed Endeavor’s entire redemption arc as something potentially unforgivable.
- Himiko Toga: She represents the people the Quirk-based society failed. Her "love" is violent because her Quirk forces it to be.
- Spinner: A relatively minor character who becomes the voice of the "heteromorphs" (those with physical mutations) who face systemic racism in the MHA world.
The Pro Heroes: Not Just Capes and Spandex
The Pro Hero rankings give us a look at the "celebrity" side of this world. All Might is the golden standard, the "Symbol of Peace" whose retirement creates a power vacuum that drives the rest of the plot. But it’s the ones who follow him that are interesting.
Endeavor is a polarizing figure. He’s a domestic abuser who spent years trying to be "better," and the series doesn't let him off the hook easily. It’s a nuanced take on atonement. Then there’s Eraserhead (Aizawa). He’s the ultimate "tired dad" archetype, but his sacrifice during the war arcs is what keeps the students alive.
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We also have to mention the foreign heroes, like Star and Stripe. Her introduction was brief, but she showed us that the Quirk phenomenon is a global geopolitical issue. It wasn't just about Japan; it was about how the world handles a "God-tier" power like New Order.
Dealing with the "Background" Character Fatigue
Sometimes, boku no hero academia all characters can feel like too much. Class 1-B, for example, often feels like a redundant group designed just to give 1-A someone to spar with. Monoma is great for a laugh, and Kendo is a solid leader, but do we really need all twenty of them?
In a way, yes.
The Final War arc uses these "minor" characters as cogs in a massive machine. When the sky starts falling, it’s not just Deku holding it up. It’s the kids from the Business Course filming the fight. It’s the support heroes fixing the floating fortress. It’s the "extra" characters who remind us that a hero society shouldn't rely on just one person.
Surprising Details You Might Have Missed
Did you know that many characters in the early chapters were actually based on Horikoshi’s previous one-shots? Characters like Gang Orca appeared in Oumagadoki Zoo before they were ever Pro Heroes. This interconnectedness shows how long these designs have been rattling around in the creator's head.
Another thing: the names. In Japanese, almost every character's name is a pun related to their Quirk. Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu literally translates to "Iron Iron Iron Iron." It’s ridiculous. It’s campy. But it’s also a testament to the level of detail put into even the most secondary cast members.
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How to Keep Up With the Cast
If you’re trying to track everyone, stop focusing on the stats and start focusing on the factions.
- U.A. High Staff & Students: This is your anchor. Most of the emotional weight stays here.
- The League / Liberation Front: The antagonists who provide the "why" for the conflict.
- The Top 10 Pros: The institutional power that eventually crumbles.
- The "Civilians": Characters like Eri or Kota who represent the future the heroes are fighting for.
When you look at it this way, the "all characters" aspect becomes less of a list and more of a tapestry. You see how Shigaraki’s decay mirrors Deku’s growth. You see how Hawks’ pragmatism clashes with Jeanist’s idealism.
The real magic of the MHA cast isn't just that there are hundreds of them. It's that by the time you reach the final chapter, you actually remember their names. You remember the kid with the tape elbows and the girl who can turn into a giant. You remember them because Horikoshi treated them like people, not just power sets.
To really get the most out of the series now that the manga has wrapped, pay attention to the "side" stories like Team-Up Missions or the Vigilantes spin-off. They flesh out the corners of the world that the main series didn't have time for. If you want to understand the full weight of the ending, go back and watch the background characters in the early seasons. Many of those "random" people return during the final battle to pay back the heroes who saved them. It's a full-circle moment that only works because the cast is so massive.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check out the "My Hero Academia: Vigilantes" manga. It provides crucial backstory for Aizawa and the origins of the Quirk society that the main series glosses over.
- Re-watch the School Festival arc. While it feels like filler to some, it’s the only time we see the entire cast of Class 1-A working as a single unit without the threat of death, which makes the stakes of the final war much higher.
- Analyze the character name meanings. If you look up the kanji for your favorite character, you'll often find a second layer of storytelling that explains their destiny or personality.