In Kohei Horikoshi’s My Hero Academia, the world of heroes and villains is anything but simple.
And with so many stories to follow, knowing the My Hero Academia watch order is key to fully experiencing its rich cast of characters, from aspiring students to pro heroes, cunning villains, and everyone caught in between.
Across its seasons, movies, and OVAs, MHA offers different perspectives that explore what it truly means to be a hero, not just through epic fights, but through ideals, failures, and growth.
With that much to unpack, figuring out where to start can feel like taking U.A.’s entrance exam, which is daunting, but absolutely worth it.
Your guide to the My Hero Academia watch order
Kohei Horikoshi’s My Hero Academia takes place in a world where nearly everyone possesses unique abilities known as “Quirks.” The story follows Izuku Midoriya, a Quirkless boy who dreams of becoming a hero like his idol, All Might.
His life changes when All Might passes on his Quirk, One for All, giving Midoriya the power, and responsibility, to become the next Symbol of Peace. From there, the story unfolds across different character arcs that chart the journeys of both heroes and villains.
My Hero Academia seasons
The anime adaptation first aired in 2016, and since then, it’s evolved into one of the most popular shonen franchises worldwide. Each season builds on the previous one, introducing new characters, rivalries, and escalating conflicts that push the boundaries of what it means to be a hero.
| SEASON | JAPAN RELEASE PERIOD | INTERNATIONAL RELEASE PERIOD | DESCRIPTION |
| Season 1 | April 3, 2016 to June 26, 2016 | May 5, 2018 to August 4, 2018 | Covers Midoriya’s early life, his first days at U.A. High, and the attack on the U.S.J. facility. |
| Season 2 | April 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017 | August 11, 2018 to February 24, 2019 | Expands the world through the U.A. Sports Festival and the Hero Killer Stain arc, highlighting the growing threats outside the classroom. |
| Season 3 | April 7, 2018 to September 29, 2018 | March 3, 2019 to August 18, 2019 | Follows the students’ summer training camp, the League of Villains’ growing power, and the emotional All Might vs. All for One showdown. |
| Season 4 | October 12, 2019 to April 4, 2020 | November 9, 2019 to February 8, 2020 | Focuses on the Shie Hassaikai arc and introduces Overhaul as a major antagonist, showing Midoriya’s growth as he protects Eri. |
| Season 5 | May 9, 2021 to September 25, 2021 | May 9, 2021 to November 7, 2021 | Explores the joint training between Class 1-A and 1-B, the Endeavor Agency arc, and the League of Villains’ backstory in the Meta Liberation Army arc. |
| Season 6 | October 1, 2022 to March 25, 2023 | December 4, 2022 to April 23, 2023 | Brings the Paranormal Liberation War and its aftermath, reshaping hero society as the villains rise in power. |
| Season 7 | May 4, 2024 to October 12, 2024 | May 4, 2024 to October 12, 2024 | Adapts the Star and Stripe and U.A. Traitor arcs, setting up the Final War that continues in the next season. |
| Season 8 | October 4, 2025–ongoing | October 4, 2025–ongoing | Continues the Final War arc and moving toward the series’ long-awaited conclusion. |
My Hero Academia movies
The My Hero Academia movies add depth to the world, with some acting as supporting narratives to the main plot.
Two Heroes revisits All Might’s past and introduces his former allies, while Heroes Rising draws from Horikoshi’s original ideas for the manga’s finale, making it canon to the broader story.
World Heroes’ Mission offers a high-stakes, globe-spanning side story that still aligns with the anime’s timeline. The latest film, You’re Next (2024), continues the series’ spirit with new characters and events set during its later arcs.
| MOVIE | JAPAN RELEASE DATE | INTERNATIONAL RELEASE DATE | DESCRIPTION |
| My Hero Academia: Two Heroes | August 3, 2018 | July 5, 2018 | Set after Season 2; Midoriya and All Might travel to I-Island, where they meet All Might’s old friends, Melissa and David Shield. |
| My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising | December 20, 2019 | February 26, 2020 | Set after Season 4; Class 1-A protects Nabu Island from the villain Nine, using concepts Horikoshi originally planned for the manga’s ending. |
| My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission | August 6, 2021 | October 29, 2021 | Set during Season 5; a global mission against the terrorist group Humarise. |
| My Hero Academia: You’re Next | August 2, 2024 | October 11, 2024 | Set between Seasons 6 and 7; explores All Might’s legacy and introduces a new villain that tests society’s fragile peace. |
My Hero Academia OVAs
The franchise also features several OVAs (Original Video Animations), often bridging events between seasons or adding fun, light-hearted stories. These range from training sessions and sports festivals to comedic side missions that highlight the students’ teamwork.
| OVA EPISODE | RELEASE DATE |
| Save! Rescue Training! | November 27, 2016 |
| Training of the Dead | June 2, 2017 |
| All Might Rising | February 13, 2019 |
| Make It! Do-or-Die Survival Training | August 16, 2020 |
| Departure | February 16, 2022 |
| Hero League Baseball | June 16, 2022 |
| Laugh! As If You Are in Hell | June 16, 2022 |
| U.A. Heroes Battle | October 13, 2023 |
| A Piece of Cake | February 19, 2025 |
MHA Spin-off Vigilantes
Set several years before the events of My Hero Academia, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes explores the rougher, street-level side of hero society, long before Deku’s rise at U.A. High. The series follows Koichi Haimawari, a Quirk user who operates outside the law as the unlicensed hero “The Crawler,” alongside fellow vigilantes who protect their city from the shadows.
The story delves into the early days of hero culture, showing how society handled justice before pro heroes became a global standard. Its anime adaptation premiered on April 7, 2025, bringing the beloved spin-off manga (2017–2022) by Hideyuki Furuhashi and Betten Court to life for the first time.
My Hero Academia Watch Order by release date
If you want to experience My Hero Academia exactly as fans did when it first aired, following the release order is the best way to go.
This order lets you watch the story unfold as it was originally presented, matching the pacing, animation updates, and evolving character development across the years.
Here’s the full MHA watch order by release date:
| ORDER | TITLE | TYPE | RELEASE DATE |
| 1 | MHA Season 1 | Series | April 3, 2016 |
| 2 | Save! Rescue Training! | OVA | November 27, 2016 |
| 3 | MHA Season 2 | Series | April 1, 2017 |
| 4 | Training of the Dead | OVA | June 2, 2017 |
| 5 | MHA: Two Heroes | Movie | August 3, 2018 |
| 6 | MHA Season 3 | Series | April 7, 2018 |
| 7 | All Might Rising | OVA | February 13, 2019 |
| 8 | MHA Heroes Rising | Movie | December 20, 2019 |
| 9 | MHA Season 4 | Series | October 12, 2019 |
| 10 | Make It! Do-or-Die Survival Training | OVA | August 16, 2020 |
| 11 | MHA Season 5 | Series | May 9, 2021 |
| 12 | MHA World Heroes’ Mission | Movie | August 6, 2021 |
| 13 | Departure | OVA | February 16, 2022 |
| 14 | Hero League Baseball | OVA | June 16, 2022 |
| 15 | Laugh! As If You Are in Hell | OVA | June 16, 2022 |
| 16 | MHA Season 6 | Series | October 1, 2022 |
| 17 | U.A. Heroes Battle | OVA | October 13, 2023 |
| 18 | MHA Season 7 | Series | May 4, 2024 |
| 19 | MHA You’re Next | Movie | August 2, 2024 |
| 20 | A Piece of Cake | OVA | February 19, 2025 |
| 21 | MHA: Vigilantes | Spin-off | April 7, 2025 |
| 22 | MHA Season 8 | Series | October 4, 2025 |
My Hero Academia Chronological Watch Order
If you want to follow My Hero Academia as it unfolds within its own timeline, the chronological order is the best route.
This order lines up the events as they happen in-universe, from All Might’s early days as a hero to Deku’s ongoing journey at U.A. High. Watching this way gives you a clearer view of how the characters and storylines connect across seasons, movies, and OVAs.
Here’s the full MHA chronological watch order:
| ORDER | TITLE | TYPE | TIMELINE |
| 1 | All Might Rising | OVA | Before Season 1 (All Might’s origin) |
| 2 | MHA Vigilantes | Spin-off | Several years before Season 1 (pre-Deku era) |
| 3 | My Hero Academia Season 1 | TV Series | Deku’s origin and U.A. entrance |
| 4 | Save! Rescue Training! | OVA | After Season 1 |
| 5 | MHA Season 2 | Series | U.A. Sports Festival and Hero Killer arcs |
| 6 | Training of the Dead | OVA | After Season 2 |
| 7 | MHA: Two Heroes | Moive | After Season 2 |
| 8 | MHA Season 3 | Series | Summer Camp, Kamino, and Provisional License arcs |
| 9 | MHA Season 4 | Series | Overhaul and School Festival arcs |
| 10 | Make It! Do-or-Die Survival Training | OVA | Between Seasons 4 and 5 |
| 11 | MHA Season 5 | Series | Joint Training, Endeavor Agency, and Meta Liberation arcs |
| 13 | MHA: Heroes Rising | Movie | After Season 4 |
| 14 | MHA: World Heroes’ Mission | Movie | During Season 5 |
| 15 | Departure | OVA | Between Seasons 5 and 6 |
| 16 | Hero League Baseball | OVA | Between Seasons 5 and 6 |
| 17 | Laugh! As If You Are in Hell | OVA | Between Seasons 5 and 6 |
| 18 | MHA Season 6 | Series | Paranormal Liberation War and Dark Hero arcs |
| 19 | U.A. Heroes Battle | OVA | After Season 6 |
| 20 | MHA: You’re Next | Movie | Between Seasons 6 and 7 |
| 21 | MHA Season 7 | Series | Star and Stripe, U.A. Traitor, and early Final War arcs |
| 22 | A Piece of Cake | OVA | After Season 7 |
| 23 | MHA Season 8 | Series | Final War and Epilogue arcs |
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