May Hero Academia: It's Your Power Not His, The Story Of Shoto Todoroki And Becoming Your Own Kind Of Hero

This Post Contains Spoilers. Heads Up!

In My Hero Academia, there are a ton of great characters to see in the show and even relate to. There are a ton of characters in the show I find super cool, but my top three are Mirio, All Might, and Shoto Todoroki. The last of the three is the one I wanted to focus on today.  Todoroki wielding the powers of both fire and ice already made him inherently no pun intended, cool. Then the show dived deeper into his character in one of my favorite arcs of the show which is the UA Sports Festival. MHA has multiple tournament arcs but the ones I enjoy the most are the UA Sports Festival and The Heroes Licensing Exam. 

The UA Sports Festival has many different hype moments, it has a great blend of action, comedy, and emotion. Plenty of great matches, character development, and even has a good set up for the next art. It checks off every box that makes it a solid anime arc. This arc coming after the end of the first season was great because we get to meet some new characters and hear their stories, but also get some more time with the cast we were introduced to last season. As the games go on, we are introduced to the successor of the number two hero Endeavor, and his son Todoroki.  He meets our lead Deku before their sparring match in the tournament that is about to begin. This match is major as this could lead to internships, sponsors, and opportunities galore depending how well someone performed during the sports festival.

All Might's Successor and the number two hero's successor face to face, and you see the anger that consumes the latter. Todoroki was raised loving All Might and with a heart for heroes, but in a broken home. His father raising him in an abusive environment trying to raise someone powerful enough to top the number one, to the point that it tore the family apart, mother, siblings, all of them. Todoroki resenting his father and not even using the flames that he could, not wanting to be like him, after this face to face, the match between the two successors begin and with Deku on the ropes throws his chance at opportunity to reach out and save the angry young man from being consumed. 

Deku echoes out the words "It's Your Power, Not His", and those words struck a chord within Shoto, and changed him, he finally uses his flames, even with his father present and yelling out how this is what he always wanted from his son. A smile across Shoto's face as he finally lets loose and embraces life becoming his own kind of hero, not being defined on the circumstances of his life so far. A single tear falls from his face in that moment but from this moment, Todoroki changes, and makes this power his own. 

As the series continues he apologizes and tries to make amends to those he hurts, he gives his all in stopping villains, and does his best to bring his wayward brother home. He becomes stronger but in the end sees the anger in his brother that once was ablaze within him and gives his all to try to make it right and save his sibling, even trying to forgive his father and restore his home. He trains and masters both halves of his power, and becomes a hero... his own kind of hero. Even in the movies Todoroki is a key player in defeating the main cast of villains and even in some cases, the main villain of the whole movie. 

Even extending that kindness to bringing back a wayward hero who once helped him. When Deku feels the weight of the world many arcs later and runs away, wanting to separate himself from the entire cast and carry the burden on his own. Todoroki is there to reach out and save Deku. Extending the kindness that he needed in that moment.

Todoroki became his own kind of hero and even helped the one who had been there for him, more then once fighting alongside him, and even at a point fighting for him. Showing that sometimes the kind words we give, the kind deeds we can extend, might go father then we could of even think of. Those words reaching out for someone that is truly hurting and needs them. But it was Shoto who took those words, and changed things, putting in the efforts I mentioned. He found a power all his own.