MHA Season 8 is a Breath of Fresh Air From Anime Finale Movies (2024)

With My Hero Academia Season 8 just announced for 2025, fans are buzzing with bittersweet excitement as the beloved anime begins its journey towards the end. The upcoming season is expected to mark the final chapters of the final fight against All For One and their journey towards becoming number one heroes. However, while some anime franchises have taken to wrapping up their stories with big-budget movies, MHA is choosing a different path.

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As rumors swirl about Season 8 being a shorter season, with only 13 episodes, it promises something that may be missing from anime finales these days — a more comprehensive, satisfying conclusion to the long-running shonen. This stands in stark contrast to how other major franchises, like Demon Slayer and Haikyuu!!, decided to end their stories with movies.

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Anime Movie Finales Always Leave Something Missing

They Focus More on Spectacle Than Story

Lately, it seems that wrapping up anime series with a movie or even a trilogy has become a popular trend. Demon Slayer, one of the most successful anime of recent years, is ending its saga with a trilogy of films. While these films are sure to include stunning animation and action-packed fights, there's something that many fans feel is missing in these film conclusions: the depth and pacing that long-form storytelling offers. Fans may be eagerly awaiting the epic conclusion in theaters, but the decision to wrap it up in three movies leaves some worried about the depth and nuance of the shonen's conclusion.

My Hero Academia has always been an anime that properly sets up the spectacle by giving it a strong emotional foundation and rich character moments that keep fans invested. The cinematic finale approach can feel rushed, cramming major events from the manga into a limited runtime. Films inherently have a restricted amount of time to tell their story, which means that slower, more emotional character moments, like those fans have witnessed throughout the seasons in MHA, can often be sacrificed in favor of spectacle. This can result in an experience that feels grand and epic but lacks the same emotional payoff as a well-paced anime season.

MHA Deserves a More Thoughtful Ending

Character Arcs Shouldn't be Sacrificed for Spectacle

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My Hero Academia seems to be taking a different route with its final season, which could set it apart from franchises like Demon Slayer and Haikyuu!!. While Season 8 is rumored to be a shorter season, this could actually work in the shonen's favor. Instead of cramming the finale into a handful of blockbuster films, MHA is allowing its story to unfold over the course of several episodes, giving the production the space to dive deeper into the characters' journeys, emotions, and the themes that have been building since Season 1.

Additionally, a shorter season doesn't necessarily mean a lack of narrative — it means tighter storytelling. The final season will more than likely have better pacing and a more satisfying resolution to the arcs that have been central to the anime. The emphasis of My Hero Academia Season 8 will be on resolving the final war between Deku and All For One, the answer to who will replace All Might as the true Symbol of Peace, and the end of the trials and tribulations of the Todoroki family. With the Final War coming to a close, fans are on the edge of their seats, waiting to see the fate of the hero society itself.

Fans are Experiencing Anime Franchise Fatigue

Stretched Out Anime Finales Risk Losing Fans

Another issue with movie finales is the potential for fatigue, particularly when stretched over multiple films. While fans are undoubtedly eager for Demon Slayer's trilogy, there is a risk that stretching out the conclusion over three separate releases could lead to diminishing excitement. With months, or even years, between installments, momentum can be lost, and the emotional investment may fade.

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By contrast, My Hero Academia Season 8 will offer a more continuous viewing experience, likely to release over a single season, allowing fans to stay immersed in the story from start to finish. There won't be long gaps between releases, nor will there be a need to reintroduce characters or plot points with each installment, as is often required with movie trilogies. Fans will be able to experience the entire conclusion in one cohesive season, which can heighten the emotional payoff and provide a more seamless end to the series.

Fans Deserve to Say a Proper Goodbye to MHA

Season 8 Will Give Fans What They Need

In the end, what sets My Hero Academia apart from other anime opting for movie finales is the sense of closure that a well-paced season can provide. Characters like Deku, Uraraka, All Might, and the Todoroki family have undergone immense growth over the course of seven seasons, and a rushed movie could never do justice to the conclusion of their arcs. By allowing the final story arcs to play out in a seasonal format, MHA ensures that every character, relationship, and storyline gets the attention it deserves.

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The final season will certainly be a bittersweet farewell, but it will be a farewell that gives fans the satisfying conclusion they've been hoping for. Rather than being caught up in the spectacle of a cinematic finale, My Hero Academia is staying true to the heart of the anime — emphasizing character growth, the depth of its world, and the emotional stakes of its story. In a time where more and more anime franchises are turning to movie finales, MHA Season 8 is indeed a breath of fresh air, proving that sometimes, a final season is still the best way to say goodbye.

MHA Season 8 is a Breath of Fresh Air From Anime Finale Movies (3)

My Hero Academia (2016)

Action

Superhero

Animation

Izuku has dreamt of being a hero all his life—a lofty goal for anyone, but especially challenging for a kid with no superpowers. That’s right, in a world where eighty percent of the population has some kind of super-powered “quirk,” Izuku was unlucky enough to be born completely normal. But that’s not enough to stop him from enrolling in one of the world’s most prestigious hero academies.

Release Date
April 3, 2016

Cast
Aoi Yuki , Ayane Sakura , Christopher R. Sabat , Yûki Kaji , Nobuhiko Okamoto , Luci Christian , David Matranga , Justin Briner , Kenta Miyake , Clifford Chapin , Daiki Yamashita

Rating

Seasons
7

Franchise
My Hero Academia

Characters By
Kohei Horikoshi

Distributor
FUNimation Entertainment

Main Characters
Tsuyu Asui, Katsuki Bakugo, Ochaco Uraraka, Izuku Midoriya, Shoto Todoroki, All Might

Production Company
Bones

Story By
Kōhei Horikoshi, Yōsuke Kuroda

Number of Episodes
113
Streaming Service(s)
Hulu , Crunchyroll
MHA Season 8 is a Breath of Fresh Air From Anime Finale Movies (2024)
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