Fuelling The Fire

Despite it being one the anime scene for a few years, it’s safely arguable to affirm how much Kohei Hirokoshi’s manga and Studio Bones’ series of My Hero Academia is a conception that’s gained both fan and critical acclaim and has steadily risen to point of it being one of the most popular animated series of recent years. From its inception, the series not only consistently pushes its characters to challenging yet exciting new places, but with each passing season, it’s an animated epic that seems to always address its preceding hindrances; whether that’s to do with its characterisation or specific narrative details. However, what is fair to say, in talking about the grand nature anime series have with one-off feature films, is how difficult it is for supplemental feature films, such as the preceding animated epic of My Hero Academia: Two Heroes, to capture the same level of importance and feel of the original show whilst also being attainable to natural newcomers that were naturally buoyed in seeing the abstract flourishes of motion and zany character designs. Indeed, for series such as My Hero Academia which is now considered to be an imperative piece of shonen history, the films in which they produce for their devotee’s and other audiences alike need to have profound aspects. Not only does the film need to mostly understandable for the new viewer, but it also equally needs to offer something interesting and relevant for fans to see . My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising is Bones’ second attempt in achieving this fickle equilibrium and, for the most part, succeeds. Without detailing all of my points which will be shortly discussed, Heroes Rising upholds a premise that is far more simplistic and exciting than it’s preceding filmic venture and equally proposes questions to its fans that’ll leave them scratching their heads in confusion, yet wonder. With it succeeding in attracting all audiences however, how does Heroes Rising compare to many of the Japanese animated feature film greats?…

Taking precedent sometime between the famed animated show’s 4th season, Heroes Rising depicts Deku and the rest of his Class 1-A friends from U.A High School where they’re sent to the remote Nabu Island, as part of their safety programme training. During their time on the island and carrying-out many heroic deeds to help the locals, Deku and friends encounter Mahoro and Katsuma Shimano – two young Quirk users that respectively share their passionate views on heroism to our lovable protagonists. However, as much as this scheme of helping the local towns people with their everyday deeds, things become rather grim for our lovable heroes as they’re tasked in stopping a villain named Nine; a multi-Quirk user who aims to create a society where heroes and villains don’t matter and how only the strongest Quirks will rule over people with weaker Quirks. With so much at stake, and in coming-up against their strongest foe yet, does Deku and the rest of Class 1-A have the capabilities of saving the day?…

In a filmic anime spin-off feature such as this, which derives from a popular animated episodic series that’s transcended into a recognisable piece of entertainment overtime, one of the more imperative aspects that a cinematic-feature like this has to achieve is to broaden its own context to the point where all audiences find enjoyment from it. As much as Heroes Rising is an animated feature that takes the celebratory grandiose from Two Heroes and amalgamates it with the series’ development – further focusing on an attachable ensemble of characters and each of the individuals’ respective growth and maturity in terms of their attitudes and the development of their Quirks, for the said film to be memorable however, it equally has to be exhibit sequences of understanding that are easy for the general cinema-goer to follow. It’s not hard to fathom and glance over many of anime’s ventures into cinema and notice how many of them reluctantly gloss over the notion that they need exhibition for other audiences to appreciate. This was always imperative for Heroes Rising to uphold this since the respective and acclaimed series not only transcends the boundaries of it merely being labelled as an anime show – with it being a superhero show that understands its own persona and showcases story-arcs and character interactions that are socially and emotionally relatable – but Studio Bones’ aforementioned diamond in the rough is going through its most vital life-cycle as a general show. With My Hero Academia nearing its conclusion to its 4th season, and with there being so much more to develop and unravel – it’ll be interesting to perceive just how much the said series can still attract its initial devotee’s and newcomers to stories that don’t feel rehashed. As much as the outcome of Heroes Rising is traditionally formulaic, considering it’s a standalone story that doesn’t wholly relate to the main precedent in the series, it can’t go unnoticed how much it tries to go Plus Ultra in shocking its devotee’s with character details that the majority will be emotionally inclined to, and the small minority maybe thinking its stupid. Whereas Heroes Rising centralises its run-of-the-mill narrative on a faraway island, much like its Two Heroes predecessor, what’s admirable to see of this second film is this transcendence of adhering to the characterisation of Class 1-A and the many personalities that coincide with another to present moments of maturity. The film amends to the series’ discrepancy of understandably detailing its context around Deku and rather spotlights lesser persona’s to the point where they shine just as brightly. As much as the work they pursue on the island is mundane at the start of the feature, it’s still exciting to see every-member of Class 1-A doing their duty to help the local islanders since there distinctive personalities clash in creative ways and, as the story reaches towards its most critical point, it’s clear to see there maturity flourish with one another. As much as they are still students in their first year of the hero course, it’s really rewarding to see every member of Class 1-A come into the fray and use their Quirks to the point where its clear that they’ve grown-up since their inception. What was equally as pleasing to see from this expulsion of all of the characters was Deku and Bakugou’s complicated yet respectful relationship blossom into something that feels like you’re watching Goku and Vegeta from Dragon Ball. With the likes of the new supporting characters of Mahoro and Katsuma instilling this running of theme of My Hero Academia of heroism what does it truly means to be a hero in a world when that revered title can be seen as just a simple profession, it’s this very motif that serves as an interesting frame for when Deku and Bakugou occasionally team-up in the film, and when they get their moment in the spotlight together in the finale. As much as it’s pleasing to see every member of Class 1-A get the screen-time they deserve, Heroes Rising ultimately serves to be a about the accord between Deku and Bakugou and their own valid but different ideologies they have for heroism. Whereas Deku is able to help and inspire people like Katsuma and push his positivity of the world through his acts of saving and protection, which correlates to this idea that an understanding and empathy towards the people that need saving is just as imperative to a hero as their ability to actually save them, Bakugou flaunts his love and devotion of heroism in a way that is all about defeating the enemy and being the strongest. With these two attitudes established by journeys end, it makes for a budding and respected relationship between the two characters that feels natural and rewarding to perceive; especially for those who’ve been watching the series since its inception. From a personal point of view, whilst I really enjoyed seeing All Might’s background story in the previous film, which I feel should have been developed further (or maybe Hirokoshi could perhaps provide us with a manga with an All Might prequel?), it can’t be dismissed how much I relished Deku and Bakugou’s relationship bloom further; particularly when the two have to work together in a epic conclusive pandemonium that see’s explosive animation and colour collide with a music background that coalesced with the emotion of the sequence. If there’s one gripe to be had it’s the hackneyed villain of Nine. While the aforesaid antagonist does present a serious threat to the well-being of our lovable heroes, as seen as well with his entourage of other villains who all display their own characteristics and personalities in creative ways, it’s inevitable for him really that he falls into this anime-film stereotype since his motives come across as one-dimensional and uninteresting to the point where you’re waiting for a better explanation to arise. There’s never really any given-moment where we’re presented with any backstory to this character whatsoever, other than the opening scene and in the middle of the film where he explains his reasons for wanting more power than he already had.

From watching all of My Hero Academia’s episodes in their entirety, it’s not surprising to perceive in this filmic counterpart, how expressive and abstract the drawn animation is that Studio Bones provide. Whether it’s the explosive and stunning motorway fight that kicks of the film, Class 1-A’s heroism on the Island in the first-act of the film, or the grandiose final climax that exceeds our own expectations, Heroes Rising expertly understands how to best show-off these super-heroic abilities and to have them collide with them in ways that are sumptuous and eye-popping to behold. The fluency that’s bestowed upon every motion of a character is luscious and organic; expressionate yet natural all at once and inherently adds verisimilitude to a show and film that wants to break it’s ‘realism’ through dynamic and kinetic moments of animated action. Not only does the animation expressions pay humble homage to the drawn marks in Hirokoshi’s manga series, emulating them rather faithfully, but it’s truly sublime to watch battle moments in Heroes Rising that are choreographed to point where you think they may have dabbled in motion-capture or rotoscoping techniques. This can be especially said in already-mentioned final battle of the film which perfectly amalgamates animation and music into a euphoria bewilderment and eccentricity that leaves you either physically or mentally breathless of what you’ve just seen. This ending is big in every sense of the word and I truly don’t know how the series comes back from it or manages to improve upon it in the series’ actual finale. What was more impressive and relieving to fathom of Heroes Rising’s animation was its presentation and detail of the mise-en-scene; how backgrounds of grassy environments and suburban surroundings looked and felt attainable to the eye. One of my biggest discrepancies of the main series, in relation of its animation style, can be the attention to detail and how some wide-view angles of environments can look as though they’ve been severely rushed. It was always a distraction and unjust to the artistry that’s displayed in the original manga. In this feature however, it’s clear to see that they’ve addressed this being that the environments here contribute to the frenetic action as well.

In many ways, My Hero Academia: Heroes: Rising feels like the definitive My Hero Academia story that devotee’s had hoped to see once the series would finally come to a close one day. It’s a journey that justifies its feature-length treatment and it effectively juggles the series’ many characters and does right by them all; forever focusing its attention to Class 1-A as a whole and not a selective handful like Two Heroes. What certainly helps establish these characters development is the visually-stunning animation that not only excels in brandishing their respective Quirks, but also eclipses the preceding films animated demonstration of awe-inspiring set-pieces that pierce your eyes. If there are faults to mention however, it has to be reminded that not only does the central villain portray a stereotypical persona that comes across as safe and humdrum, but it’s also second and third act and how predictable events unfold (after all, it’s a spin-off so I guess you can’t expect much deviation from the norm). Having said that however, I believe Studio Bones do achieve what they set out to do with this film; to make a feature that satisfies long-time fans of the series as well as swaying newcomers to see what the main series has to offer in terms of the different arcs and characters that are on display…

On that note, it’s time for me to end this week’s Film Review. As always everyone, thank you for reading my latest Film Review of My Hero Academia: Two Heroes and if anyone wants to share their thoughts on the film or review itself, then you’re more than welcome to comment down below. For next week, considering that I haven’t seen any recent films at the cinema, and the fact that cinemas are closed anyway due to this predicament we’re in, I’m going to venture and discuss an old film from my own upbringing…With that said, thank you once again for reading my latest Film Review and I hope you’re all having a nice weekend! Adieu! 😀✌💪👊💥

★★★★☆ – Alex Rabbitte