My Hero Academia: You’re Next – Movie Reviews by Ry!

My Hero Academia: You’re Next – A World of Ideas & Power: I am … a Hero

Film is a medium that provides fun and excitement to eons of people.  No matter what your age or gender, a journey on the big screen becomes an escape into realms that are prudent to the mind.  We all have something that pulls us to the story, a hook that is bound by experience and fervor.  No matter what grips you, if it provides that joy … then it was worth it in the end.  In this review, I look at the latest anime film from a popular IP.  Within the throws of fantasy and heroes, we have a tale that pulls you into action but strikes you with heart.  Even within its obvious anime clichés, My Hero Academia: You’re Next is an indelible tale that showcases what it truly means to be … heroic.  

This is a story that follows the class of 1-A from U.A. as they face off against a criminal mastermind who wants to become the next hero … through diabolical means.  When it comes to anime, it is a platform built on the obvious, obscure and delightful.  Anime reaches beyond the imaginary through an onset of realism and emotions.  It is the fantastical in the grounded, an ironic blend that provides a throughline to those familiar and new.  From fandom to new experiences, it is an assurance of likability that pulls at the heart of fans that may waiver within other qualities (story, characters, progression).  With this latest in the popular MHA franchise, it provides a throughline that balances fan services with a thematic quality of something more.  In the beginning, we come into this latest chapter through the drop-in method, following class 1-A as they are on specific missions to capture criminals (who have broken free of prison).  The journey focuses on the main character of Deku, as we move through a series of amazing visuals and creative displays of the main characters (and others’) quirks.  After a series of action montages, the class comes across a few unknown individuals that weren’t on their ‘capture list’.  After a quick conversation piece between Deku and their leader, it becomes obvious that this new group (the Golini Family) are in Japan for no good.  After the leader showcases his purpose to the masses (through his own quirk), we head into the main throughline of the film: class 1-A trying to stop Dark Might and the family from using the image of heroes to take over Japan and the rest of the world.  From this point, the film moves from its world building/anime clichés and easter eggs into a grounded journey focused on the task at hand.  The shift slows down the direction, giving the ‘race against time’ trope more appeal towards the fan service aspect of the property.  Through different visual quips, colorful action set pieces and expositional conversations, the methodical shift adds depth to this latest adventure, pulling away from nostalgia for a thematic look at the meaning of heroism. 

As the story continues to lift within the clashing of perspectives (between Deku and Dark Might), it provides an emotional grip when the obvious is on display.  It is through these characters you have a questioning of ideals, one that adds girth along with the amazing CGI/visual conflicts at hand.  As things start to become too close for comfort for class 1-A, we have a divergence (in the third act) that brings us back around to nostalgia, but in a way that slowly molds within the meaning of heroism.  As the heroes prepare for one final fight, this builds up to an adrenaline filled climax and anime styled epilogue.  My Hero Academia: You’re Next is an anime film that provides an entertaining through line for fans and novices.  If you are a fan of the IP, like anime or action stylized films, there is fun here for you.   I believe you can find something worthy in this film.

Full Score – 3.5 out of 5 (Matinee)