My Hero Academia has grown into one of the most widely known and popular anime and manga series globally over the past few years. It boasts a massive international fanbase across many countries.
The franchise’s viewership and following have surged notably since its inception, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, establishing My Hero Academia as a premier source of entertainment for millions of people.
The anime adaptation of My Hero Academia in particular has been a major driver behind anime’s overall growth in popularity and accessibility in recent years.
Since its anime debuted, many major streaming platforms and publishers like Crunchyroll aggressively pursued distribution rights for My Hero Academia due to its success.
This wider availability of official distribution channels has helped decrease piracy rates globally for the series. However, despite these efforts, Horikoshi’s My Hero Academia series still ranked as the 5th most pirated anime series in the world during its 6th broadcast season last year.
My Hero Academia’s Battle Against Anime Piracy
Anime contains numerous genres offering many viewing options, but the “shonen” style action-adventure shows aimed primarily at teen boys are especially popular.
Within this segment, My Hero Academia has emerged as an enormously successful and beloved franchise.
The storyline for My Hero Academia was masterfully crafted by creator Kohei Horikoshi.
Now nearing completion after several years, it has profoundly engaged and enthralled global audiences.
Its characters feel impressively real and multilayered, enabling a broad spectrum of viewers to connect with them.
After wrapping up a dramatic sixth broadcast season, My Hero Academia will soon premiere its hotly anticipated seventh season.
Devoted fans can barely contain their excitement to see the further unfolding of the intense conflicts between the courageous student heroes and the sinister Shigaraki.
This newest season is expected to be packed with more of the thrilling action and emotional, character-driven drama that has made My Hero Academia a modern anime touchstone.
According to Hiroyasu Matsuoka, the CEO of a major anime distribution company, the immense success of My Hero Academia has been a turning point in curbing the surge of illegal online anime piracy.
Matsuoka explained in an interview with Forbes Japan that when My Hero Academia’s anime adaptation was first announced, multiple major U.S. streaming platforms, with rapidly expanding users, eagerly pursued distribution rights without hesitation.
Initially, the pricing negotiations proved challenging for the distribution team. However, the demand was so high that platforms were concerned about being potentially misled on prices.
Matsuoka feels this hunger for premium anime content marked a shift in the industry landscape. The recent box office triumph of various anime films further supports this trend.
However, despite meaningful progress, illegal piracy remains problematic.
My Hero Academia shockingly ranked 5th among the most pirated series globally last year, even surpassing world-famous titles like One Piece and Stranger Things.
Overall industry losses to piracy still amount to many millions per year, which threatens the viability of creating new anime seasons.
Reducing piracy therefore remains crucial to ensure continued production and renewal of hit franchises like My Hero Academia which drive the industry’s growth.
More About My Hero Academia
The soon-to-premiere seventh season of My Hero Academia looks to reignite the intense clashes between the heroes and villain Shigaraki, who remains determined to obliterate hero society despite constant resistance from Deku and his fellow student heroes.
One of the most hotly anticipated new characters, Star and Stripes – deemed America’s most powerful hero – will also make her debut.
Her epic confrontation with Shigaraki promises to be one of the manga’s most thrilling battles.
There is also a new My Hero Academia movie titled “You’re Next” set for release in Japanese theaters on August 2nd, 2024.
The film’s name was just announced this January, though plot specifics are still tightly under wraps.
As the fourth movie in the franchise, it will likely follow in the footsteps of its predecessors as an anime-original story woven into the continuity of the main manga timeline.
With both a new season and film arriving soon, 2024 shapes up to be another huge year for My Hero Academia as it continues growing its massive global fanbase.
The next wave of content looks set to deliver the series’ signature blend of emotional storytelling and spectacular superpowered action.
