My Hero Academia officially ended on December 13, 2025. After nearly a decade of characters, world-building, and themes centered on heroism, letting go hasn’t been easy.
For those still drawn to that familiar feeling, the closest thing to filling the void is My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Season 2, which began its run on January 5, 2026 on Crunchyroll.
A prequel to My Hero Academia, Vigilantes offers a different perspective on the same world — one that exists outside the spotlight of Pro Heroes.
The question isn’t whether it replaces My Hero Academia, but whether Season 2 is worth watching now, and if it offers enough to justify your time after Season 1. In this spoiler free review, we go over the story, characters, animation, and overall viewing experience to help you decide if it’s worth diving back into the world of Vigilantes.
My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 2 story: What to expect
If you’re new to the Vigilantes anime, I’ll give you a quick rundown. It is adapted from spin-off manga, My Hero Academia Illegals, by Hideyuki Furuhashi and illustrated by Betten Court.
Illegals began serialization on August 20, 2016, in Shueisha’s Jump GIGA magazine before moving later that year to Shueisha’s online platform Shonen Jump Plus. The series ran until May 28, 2022, and its chapters were collected into 15 tankobon volumes.
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The anime adaptation, My Hero Academia Vigilantes, is produced by Bones Film, a branch of Studio Bones, famous for Fullmetal Alchemist, Mob Psycho 100, Noragami, Ouran High School Host Club, and of course, My Hero Academia, so they definitely know what they’re doing.
My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 1 debuted on April 7, 2025, and concluded on June 30, 2025, airing weekly with 13 episodes on Crunchyroll.
Discover more about protagonist Koichi Haimawari
The “Deku of this prequel” is Koichi Haimawari (Shuichiro Umeda). Unlike Deku, he was born with a Quirk. Also unlike Deku, his Quirk is not meant for attacking, but rather, mobility.
So what do they have in common? They both love and adore All Might and their only dream is to use their abilities to help others. This ethos is all too familiar.
Spoiler warning: Scenes and revelations in My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 1 are discussed below.
We learn in My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 1 that Koichi ended up being a vigilante after he was late for his licensed hero test because he jumped into a river to save a young child who had fallen in.
It was revealed to the audience that this child is none other than Kazuho Haneyama aka Pop☆Step (Ikumi Hasegawa), whom he coincidentally meets and teams up with at the start of Season 1, under the guidance of vigilante, Knuckleduster.
We also learn that Kazuho has a crush on Koichi, adding a fun layer of tension to the story. This subplot continues in Season 2, promising more blushing, awkward interruptions during her near-confessions, and a completely oblivious Koichi.
Main plot wise, we saw a shadowy man with a scar recovers the last surviving Bee containing Trigger’s data at the end of Season 1, hinting at the emergence of a new major villain in Season 2. Who is really pulling the strings behind these events still remains a mystery.
Until that is solved, we can expect our protagonists to deal with the consequences of Trigger’s influence on the city — but without their trusted mentor. Knuckleduster had hung up his weapon at the end of Season 1, signaling that he’s out, at least for now. After all, he deserves to spend time with his daughter, Tamao Oguro, whom he fought tooth and nail to get back.
To fill that void, we’re getting more airtime with our beloved UA High School teachers during their younger days, which, to be honest, is the only reason why I’m still watching My Hero Academia Vigilantes. Characters like the sexy Eraserhead (Suwabe Junichi) and the larger-than-life Fat Gum (Kazuyuki Okitsu) get moments that add depth to their personalities, reinforcing their undying appeal that we so enjoyed in My Hero Academia.
These glimpses into their pasts not only give fans a fresh perspective but also remind us why these heroes are so memorable in the main series, making the spin-off worth following even for side stories.
My Hero Academia Vigilantes’ animation, voice acting, and visuals are top tier
Despite its lighter tone, My Hero Academia Vigilantes has consistently delivered high-quality animation, keeping fans engaged with smooth action sequences and expressive character work… unlike the other hero-themed anime that ended its third season in December 2025.
The series is directed by Kenichi Suzuki, known for his work on Mobile Suit Gundam: Silver Phantom and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, where his skill in choreographing dynamic action and dramatic moments helped bring complex stories to life.
Yosuke Kuroda, a veteran screenwriter recognized for titles like My Hero Academia (the main series), Mobile Suit Gundam 00, and Excel Saga, he’s able to balance character development with fast-paced storytelling.
This ensures that Vigilantes maintains both excitement and emotional depth, even while exploring side stories and supporting characters outside the main hero spotlight.
My Hero Academia’s stellar cast returns and I have a new favorite
The biggest thing that changed for me in My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 2 is the keen awareness of Shuichiro Umeda, who voices Koichi. You probably know him as Akira Tendo in Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, Saybil in The Dawn of the Witch, and Yuuki Izumi in Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie.
But I know him best as Hikaru Indo in the critically-acclaimed The Summer Hikaru Died, which ran after Vigilantes Season 1. The first volume of the manga sold 200,000 copies in just three months and earned praise for its compelling story, detailed artwork, and memorable characters.
It’s no surprise that the anime adaptation became a hit as well, featuring a cast that brings the characters to life with authentic performances delivered in the non-native Mie dialect.
Since winning the Best New Actor Award at the 17th Seiyu Awards in 2023, Umeda has only continued to improve. While Koichi doesn’t have the emotional depth of Hikaru, it’s a joy to hear him tackle two very contrasting roles, showcasing his talent and versatility.
Be honest with your motives for watching My Hero Academia Vigilantes
For this review, I watched the first two episodes of My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 2 and it was genuinely fun, maybe even more fun than how it opened in Season 1. After the first episode I immediately went to the next without taking a break.
My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 2 doesn’t aim to be life-changing. If you’re not looking for heavy emotional drama, intricate plots that require decoding by the entire fan community, or dark storylines, just sit back and enjoy it — take it at face value, like Koichi would.
It’s a relaxed, approachable anime. I personally prefer to watch it when I’m eating a meal. The tone is light, fun, and easy to follow, making it perfect for fans who want something low-stress after the intensity of the main MHA series.
My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 2 review
| VIGILANTES SEASON 2 REVIEW | SCORE |
| Story: narrative and writing | 7/10 |
| Characters | 7/10 |
| Visuals and animation | 8/10 |
| Music and sound | 8/10 |
| Pacing and structure | 7/10 |
| Overall | 7.4/10 |
Season 2 — hopefully — gives more opportunity to explore backstories of heroes who didn’t get enough time in the spotlight of the main anime. These stories give familiar characters more depth and make the world feel fuller, even if the overall stakes aren’t as high.
Watch My Hero Academia Vigilantes Season 2 on Crunchyroll starting from January 5, 2026 with weekly episode releases.
