Crunchyroll presents My Hero Academia: You’re Next in UK cinemas from October 18, 2024.
Synopsis
Those were the words All Might, Symbol of Peace, let out after defeating All For One, Symbol of Evil. All Might may no longer be the No. 1 hero of a society where most of the population has a superpowered Quirk, but Deku and his Hero Course classmates at U.A. High School are determined to carry on his will and ideals as heroes.
It was spring of Deku’s second year at U.A. when an all-out battle between heroes and villains broke out. Deku faced an overwhelmingly powerful Tomura Shigaraki and the two clashed violently, with both the heroes and the villains suffering heavy damages. The battle has since come to a temporary halt with Shigaraki’s retreat, but the time for their next confrontation draws closer with every second.
Review
The fourth movie in the My Hero Academia franchise, “You’re Next,” finds Class 1A in a familiar spot: facing a crisis without the help of pro heroes coming to save them. This time, they’re trapped on a giant airship, battling a villain who calls himself Dark Might and looks suspiciously like All Might in his prime.
Admittedly, Dark Might isn’t the most compelling villain the series has seen, but his concept is interesting. He’s not a carbon copy of All Might, but a twisted reflection, and his flamboyant personality and gang-like crew offer something different. I’m very interested in seeing what Chris Sabat does to alter his performance as Dark Might compared to All Might.
The previous films shine brightest when they focus on the entire class. You’re next is no different. Almost every student gets a moment, and the final battle is an absolute spectacle to behold, with Deku, Bakugo, and Todoroki unleashing devastating new attacks to win the day. Unfortunately, most of the other fights are somewhat underwhelming, with some one-note villains getting taken out a bit too easily. This could be spun in a different way however, showing how much the class of 1A has grown that villains who could have posed a bigger threat once are now little more than a small nuisance for them.
The new characters, Giulio and Anna, have an interesting backstory which unfolds throughout the movie, but it feels underdeveloped. Giulio’s motivation for trying to kill Anna is compelling, but Anna herself remains more of a plot device than a fully realised character.
The film is a fun adventure for fans of the series. The battles are exciting, and seeing Deku face off against a twisted All Might is a fanboys dream made real. The rest of Class 1A has some great moments, and the absence of pro heroes makes sense within the story’s parameters. Dark Might, while interesting, doesn’t really live up to those villains from previous films. His goals feel less grand, but he does bring a unique flair.
Verdict
Ultimately, the film is worth watching for the incredible final battle alone and for what could be the final My Hero Academia movie set within the storyline of the anime and manga. Fans of My Hero Academia will not want to miss this so be sure to go see it when My Hero Academia You’re Next drops in UK Cinemas on October 18th.
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