Anime franchises have a long-standing tradition of creating movies that can either exist outside the main continuity or intertwine with the primary storyline.
For instance, Dragon Ball Z often produced films that were non-canon, while One Piece created movies that retold significant events from the series.
My Hero Academia, however, integrates its movies within its main continuity, allowing characters introduced in the films to potentially appear in the main series. This integration has been evident as the manga progresses towards its climax, with pivotal movie characters making a return.
Spoiler Alert: This discussion goes into the latest developments in My Hero Academia’s manga, particularly Chapter 423.
My Hero Academia Chapter 423 features Multiple Movie Cameos
In the final arc of My Hero Academia, the stakes have been raised higher than ever. Izuku Midoriya, also known as Deku, has taken a desperate gamble by transferring many of the Vestiges of One For All to Shigaraki in an effort to defeat the ultimate villain;
All For One. Despite losing many of his powers, Deku dives headfirst into battle, drawing strength and encouragement from the broader Hero Society, including some familiar faces from the My Hero Academia movies.
In Chapter 422, Deku receives crucial support from the masses, reinforcing his resolve to ensure a future where everyone can smile. This chapter features the return of Rody Soul from the movie *My Hero Academia: World Heroes Mission* and Melissa Shield from *My Hero Academia: Two Heroes*.
While these characters do not directly participate in the ongoing battle, their inclusion signifies the creator Kohei Horikoshi’s intent to acknowledge their importance before the series finale.
Additionally, the franchise continues to expand its cinematic universe with the upcoming movie *My Hero Academia: You’re Next*, slated for release in Japan on August 2nd. In this film, Class 1-A faces a villain dubbed “Dark Might,” who bears a striking resemblance to the former Symbol of Peace, All Might.
Although there is no confirmed North American release date yet, given the pattern of previous films making their way to the West, *You’re Next* is likely to follow suit.
This ongoing integration of movie characters into the main storyline not only enriches the narrative but also provides fans with a cohesive and expansive universe, bridging the gap between the series and its cinematic ventures.
