My Hero Academia fans, this one hurts a bit.
The anime’s final season already wrapped back in December, but the newest special episode feels like the actual curtain call. Set after the original ending’s eight-year time skip, the episode gives fans a better look at the cast as adults, closes up some lingering emotional threads, and finally makes Deku and Ochaco’s romance official.
Technically, the franchise is not completely done. There is still a new anime short coming, titled “I am hero too,” which adapts a one-shot manga story from the Ultra Age fan book. But for most fans, this latest special lands like the real ending. After years of U.A. High, Pro Hero rankings, League of Villains chaos, and Deku screaming through every broken bone possible, it really does feel like the end of an era.
So what do you watch next if MHA was your comfort shonen?
For Malaysian and SEA anime fans, this is a familiar problem. You finish one long-running series, your group chat goes quiet, and suddenly everyone is hunting for the next weekly anime to argue about. Here are five solid picks that can scratch different parts of that My Hero Academia itch.
Demon Slayer
If what you loved about Deku was his heart, Demon Slayer is the easiest recommendation. Tanjiro is not chasing a superhero dream, but he has the same stubborn kindness and “I will keep going even if the world is on fire” energy.
The setting is totally different, but the appeal overlaps hard: emotional stakes, huge action scenes, and a main character who wins people over through sincerity rather than ego. Demon Slayer is also heading toward its ending through three feature films, with two more still coming, so this is a good time to catch up.
For Malaysia, this one matters because anime movies actually feel like events here now. If you enjoyed watching MHA on the big screen, Demon Slayer’s cinema-level fights are probably the closest replacement.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen is darker, meaner, and far less gentle with its cast, but MHA fans will understand the core setup immediately: an ordinary boy gets dragged into a dangerous world after gaining extraordinary power.
Yuji Itadori is not Deku 2.0, especially with Sukuna living inside him, but both characters are powered by the same basic instinct: help people, even when the cost is brutal. Jujutsu Kaisen also has a school structure, training arcs, rivalries, and big “everyone is levelling up” moments that should feel familiar to MHA viewers.
Just don’t go in expecting the same safety net. JJK is much more willing to hurt you. Like, bro, emotionally prepare first.
Sentenced to Be a Hero
If you want a more twisted take on heroism, Sentenced to Be a Hero is the interesting pick. Instead of treating “hero” as a dream job, this series makes it a punishment. Criminals are forced into the role and sent into battle against supernatural threats.
That is miles away from MHA’s licensed Pro Hero system, but that contrast is exactly why it works as a follow-up. My Hero Academia asks what happens when superheroes become a proper profession. Sentenced to Be a Hero asks what happens when the title itself becomes a sentence.
It is bleaker, but it still has action, flawed characters, and enough worldbuilding to keep shonen fans interested. Plus, Season 2 is already confirmed, so you are not jumping into a dead-end series.
One-Punch Man
For fans who loved the professional hero angle, One-Punch Man is still a must-watch. Its Hero Association, licenses, public rankings, and competitive hero culture feel like a comedy mirror version of MHA’s world.
The main difference is tone. One-Punch Man leans heavily into satire, especially through Saitama, who is so overpowered that hero work becomes boring. But underneath the jokes, the series still understands why people love superheroes: the drama, the weirdos, the public pressure, and the occasional genuinely hype fight.
Season 1 remains the peak, no debate. But even if the anime later becomes more inconsistent, the concept is strong enough that superhero fans should at least give it a shot.
My Hero Academia: Vigilantes
The most obvious replacement is also the closest one: My Hero Academia: Vigilantes.
This spinoff is set in the same world before Deku’s main story and follows Quirk users operating outside the official hero system. Its lead, Koichi, is older than Deku and does not have the kind of Quirk that would easily get him into U.A. High or earn him a proper license. Still, he wants to help people anyway.
That makes Vigilantes a great follow-up because it expands the world without just repeating Class 1-A’s journey. You get a more street-level view of hero society, a slightly more mature angle, and even some familiar faces popping up.
If MHA’s ending left you wanting more from that universe, start here first.
Source: ComicBook Anime