"Boku no Hero Academia" (My Hero Academia) is a popular manga-turned-anime that portrays boys and girls aspiring to become superheroes everyone could admire.
The work, affectionately called "Hiro-Aka" by fans, now has its second animated movie, "Boku no Hero Academia The Movie -- Heroes: Rising" (My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising), which is currently in theaters.
"Hiro-Aka" is set in an alternative world where 80% of the entire population have supernatural powers called Quirks. The protagonist, Izuku Midoriya, or Deku, is a part of the remaining 20% born without powers. But he gains the special ability to power up his body and aspires to become a hero who can protect people from the villains who use their Quirks for evil.
The original manga by Kohei Horikoshi has been serialized in the Shukan Shonen Jump weekly manga magazine since 2014, and so far, there have been 25 volumes of the manga published. The story revolves around Deku, who goes to U.A. High School, an elite hero-training school, works hard with his classmates and other students, and confronts the bad guys.
The manga belongs to the lineage of the Jump magazine's many hit works that are themed on friendship, hard work and victory.
One of the reasons for its popularity is the colorful characters. Distinctive personalities are given not only to the main characters, such as Deku and his childhood friend, Katsuki Bakugo, but also to other members of the school as well as rank and file enemy characters.
"The serialization started after the personalities of Deku and the other 19 homeroom classmates were completely figured out," said the manga's editor, Ryosuke Yoritomi.
That's why even when the story focuses on a side character, it is still ranked quite high by Jump readers who send in their votes for their favorite manga of the week.
Why is each side character, who doesn't need too much of a personality, given such vivid detail?
Yoritomi said Horikoshi answered the question with a line from the manga -- "Everyone is a protagonist in his or her own life, and everyone is a side character in someone else's" -- which is uttered by Neito Monoma, a side character himself, in the 22nd volume of the manga.
Behind the scenes
The new movie brings the students of the first-year homeroom A to the southern island of Nabu, where they engage in extracurricular hero activities for a period of time. They search for a lost child, keep watch at the beach or help out at the food stalls. But basically they have a relaxing time. One day, Villain Nine and his company attack the island. To protect the islanders, Deku and the other aspiring heroes confront the most hostile enemies they have ever faced.
Like the first "Hiro-Aka" film, which was released in the summer of 2018, Horikoshi serves as the new film's supervisor and created the story as well as the original characters.
"It's impossible to surpass the first film unless I keep on giving 150% to the new one," Horikoshi said.
He remained true to his word and actively put forward various ideas for the production.
In creating the character Nine, the most formidable enemy character in the film, Horikoshi made sure that he looks visually cool so that he would leave a strong impression on the audience. The manga artist also gave the character a detailed backstory that is not seen on screen.
What's more, Horikoshi decided to use an idea he originally planned to use in the final battle in the manga.
"I tried to stop him, but he didn't hesitate," Yoritomi said, looking back on how Horikoshi made the decision. The dynamic and magnificent battle scene is sure to become one of the best scenes in the history of "Hiro-Aka."
So, what will become of the final battle in the manga?
"You can rest assured. I'm worried, too," Horikoshi said flatly.
The creative team behind the movie has poured the very best ideas conceivable into the film, just as the author, Horikoshi, has done, following the motto of U.A. High School, "Plus Ultra!," which means "To go beyond."
Overseas success
"Hiro-Aka" is very popular overseas as well. The manga is published in about 30 countries and regions from Asia to the West.
In the United States, where the first volume went on sale in August 2015, 22 volumes have already been released, and more than 1 million copies in total have been sold.
The manga is selling exceptionally fast even among the other Jump magazine manga that boast many overseas fans. The first animated film was shown in more than 400 U.S. theaters.
Fans waited in a long line when Horikoshi was signing autographs in San Diego, Calif., in July 2018.
"I remember a fan who shook Mr. Horikoshi's hand very tightly and passionately and said the character Tenya Iida was himself!" said Yoritomi, who accompanied Horikoshi to the event.
The manga has won many fans outside of the United States as well. Yoritomi said he often hears from fellow editors that they are jealous of "Hiro-Aka" because they see its phenomenal popularity whenever they go to manga events overseas.
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