My Hero Academia's Big All For One Showdown Is The Fans' Most Emotional Scene
"My Hero Academia" is easily among the most successful anime in recent generations. As the medium continues to grow in popularity around the globe, the superhero-themed series has only surged further in its brand recognition and demand from fans (via Parrot Analytics). As all things related to comics continue to grow with the success of the MCU, the DCEU, and more subversive fare like "The Boys" and "Invincible," it's really no surprise that "My Hero Academia" is also growing in popularity.
Based on the manga of the same name by Kōhei Horikoshi, the series takes place in an alternate reality where 80% of humanity have developed special powers known as quirks. As a superhuman society is formed around this development, some support the new order of things while others rebel against it, setting up the central conflict of the series. While "My Hero Academia" has always been known for its emotional storytelling, fans have a clear choice when it comes to the most heartening moment of the series.
Fans think the big Season 3 battle is the most emotional scene
In the r/BokuNoHeroAcademia subreddit, hundreds of fans answered a poll asking which scene in the series had the most emotional punch behind it, and there was a clear answer. All Might's (Kenta Miyake/Christopher Sabat) final battle with All for One (Akio Ôtsuka/John Swasey) in Season 3 earned more than double the number of votes of any other choice on the list, marking it as the undisputed winner in the poll.
"UNITED STATES OF SUMASHUUUUUU!!! No but seriously, I was crying alongside Deku and Bakugou during that scene," remarked u/Mega_Trainer, recalling the scene in question. Honestly, it's easy to see why so many fans selected this "My Hero Academia" moment as the most emotional in the series, as it really looks like the brave and selfless hero All Might could be killed off in the battle.
As onlookers cheer the hero and offer their support, and his students and friends burst into tears, All Might launches one final attack and narrowly manages to come out on top in the bout. "My favorite scene!!! I was on the edge of my seat and AM's VA was so on point with the delivery," said u/selkiesidhe. While there were plenty of other options suggested by "My Hero Academia" fans in the comments as well, it was pretty clear from the choices on hand that this moment really stood out for viewers.
This moment changed the series forever
Since "My Hero Academia" focuses primarily on the students at U.A. High School, the mentorship and advice of heroes like All Might are pivotal to the show. Furthermore, though the students are a formidable force themselves, they could always count on All Might to show up and save the day if they found themselves outmatched by a villain or vigilante. All of that changed here, as All Might used up the last vestiges of his remaining power to prevail over All for One (via Comic Book).
His final words after the battle, as the entire world looked on, made this point all the more clear for fans of the hero in the show and viewers outside of "My Hero Academia." "Next time, it's your turn," All Might says to his students, telling them they'll have to become the heroes who stave off threats like this from now on. It's a very touching moment in the series, and it also raises the stakes considerably, as Izuku (Daiki Yamashita/Justin Briner), Shoto (Yuki Kaji/David Matranga), Bakugo (Nobuhiko Okamoto/Clifford Chapin), and many others begin to step up as a result of the hero's noble sacrifice.