My Hero Academiahas a colorful cast of characters, and nowhere is that more true than with the students of Class 1-A. From the very start, the series set up a variety of unique quirks and characters with clashing personalities; However, even though Class 1-A surrounds the main characters ofMy Hero Academia,not everyone was given the chance to step into the spotlight. This absence forced certain characters to go without much screen time. You only have to look at heroes like Sugar Rush to see how true that is, and it could have been tweaked rather easily.
Had the structure of Class 1-A been different,the series could have invested in more engaging and meaningful character arcs. There is no denying the class is full of students with great potential, but its large roster left many overshadowed by their peers. At best, these extra students acted as dressing for UA High School, and at worst, the characters felt underdeveloped. A reduced class size would have allowed certain characters to stand out and ultimately increase the impact of the narrative, but would the spotlight be worth axing some of Class 1-A? That is a question each fan must answer themselves.
A Smaller Class Would’ve Allowed for Better Character Development
Many Characters End Up Forgotten With So Many Characters Vying for Attention
IfMy Hero Academiaopted for a smaller class size, the roster of Class 1-A would have been more focused, giving greater opportunities for character development. While some characters like Bakugo Katsuki andTodoroki Shoto received substantial attention, there were others who remained all but unexplored such as Mashirao Ojiro and Rikido Sato. These characters, along with several others such as Hanta Sero,end up fading into the background when they could’ve served a greater purpose in the series. If Deku fielded fewer classmates,My Hero Academiacould have focused on more compelling arcs and offered the chance for fans to connect with more of the secondary characters.
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Just imagine it, okay? For instance, character arcs such asMezo Shoji’s heteromorph stand would have felt more impactful. However, due to the sheer number of students crowding Class 1-A, the narrative wasn’t able to keep up with the relationships and individual growth of each student. Even characters like Momo Yaoyorozu, who carried a substantial amount of potential, didn’t get fully fleshed out because of the manga’s divided focus.By having a smaller hero course classes, each student could have been fully realized and given thorough character arcs.
There Would Be Stronger Connections Between the Core Cast
This Change Would Also Allow Fans to Foster a Stronger Connection With the Characters
A smaller class would not only unify the manga’s story, butMy Hero Academia’s core cast would have been able to create more meaningful relationships with others and themselves. Given the large number of students in the class,many heroes-in-training don’t have the chance to regularly interact with others in the hero course, resulting in surface-level relationships. A smaller student pool have given students the chance to delve deeper into bonds with select students rather than spread their attention across the board.
And of course, this complaint does not exist just for Class 1-A; There is also a similar issue with Class 1-B. The classroom was always going to mirror Deku’s own, and though it was never a main focus of the manga, its characters have gained popularity among fans. The issue is that Class 1-B is as big as Class 1-A, so its characters were not given a chance to shine in the canon. If UA High School couldn’t negotiate time for all of Class 1-A as is, then there was never a hope for Class 1-B. IfMy Hero Academiahad narrowed down its focus on Class 1-B as we saw with Shiketsu High School, we would have been better for it.
While the series has an extensive and diverse cast,the large class sizes of the hero course limits the development its characters. If the manga had reorganized its classes and character focus,My Hero Academiacould have delivered a more engaging friendships. But even with its divided attention, the anime fandom has found ways to uplift every hero-in-training, turning ‘side characters’ like Neito Monoma into fan faves.
