Understanding Filler in My Hero Academia

Anime adaptations of long-running shonen series often include episodes that expand beyond the original manga to avoid catching up too quickly. These non-canon segments, commonly called filler, can be a point of confusion for fans who want to experience the story as the creator intended. My Hero Academia, based on Kohei Horikoshi’s manga, is known for having relatively little filler compared to peers like Naruto or One Piece. However, it still exists, especially in the form of recap episodes. This article focuses on identifying non-canon content within one of the series’ most pivotal arcs—the Forest Training Camp Arc, often mislabeled as the Summer Camp Arc—so you can watch with confidence, whether you’re a completist or a strict manga follower.

What Makes an Episode Filler?

Filler episodes are those that do not adapt material from the original manga. Studios produce them for two primary reasons: to allow the manga author to get ahead with new chapters and to prevent the anime from overtaking the source material. In My Hero Academia, Studio Bones has largely respected the manga, keeping filler to a minimum. But when filler does appear, it usually takes the form of recap episodes or standalone side stories that do not affect the main plot. Understanding the difference between canon and filler is essential for anyone who wants to experience the story exactly as Horikoshi wrote it, without any additions or distractions.

Why My Hero Academia Has Less Filler Than Other Shonen

Unlike shows that run continuously throughout the year, My Hero Academia airs in seasonal blocks. This scheduling gives the manga time to accumulate chapters, reducing the need for extended filler arcs. When filler does appear, it is often integrated as a single recap episode or an OVA, rather than a multi-episode diversion. This disciplined approach means that nearly every numbered episode in the main series is a faithful adaptation of the manga, with only a handful of exceptions.

Defining the Arc: Forest Training Camp vs. Summer Camp

The arc in question is officially called the Forest Training Camp Arc in the manga and anime. However, many fans casually refer to it as the “Summer Camp Arc” because it takes place during a summer training retreat. This imprecise naming can cause confusion when fans discuss filler lists, as later arcs involving other camps or retreats are sometimes lumped under the same label. The Forest Training Camp Arc is a self-contained storyline spanning chapters 70–83 of the manga and episodes 40–45 of Season 3 of the anime. It is a turning point for the series, shifting from school competitions to real-life villain threats.

The arc follows Class 1-A as they travel to a secluded woodland facility run by the Wild, Wild Pussycats, a team of pro heroes. The students undergo brutal physical training to strengthen their Quirks in preparation for the Provisional Hero License Exam. Meanwhile, the League of Villains, led by Tomura Shigaraki, launches a coordinated attack to capture Katsuki Bakugo. The resulting conflict puts the students’ lives at risk and sets the stage for the next major story beat: the Hideout Raid Arc.

Canon Episodes of the Forest Training Camp Arc

To experience the arc exactly as written in the manga, watch the following episodes in order. Each is a direct adaptation of specific manga chapters, with no original content added.

  • Episode 40: “Wild, Wild Pussycats” – Class 1-A arrives at the camp and meets the pro hero team. The episode introduces the intense physical training regimen, including the infamous “non-stop” exercise session. It adapts chapters 70–71.
  • Episode 41: “Kota” – Midoriya encounters Kota Izumi, the young nephew of the Wild, Wild Pussycats who harbors a deep hatred for heroes. This episode explores Kota’s backstory and sets up a key emotional payoff later in the arc. It adapts chapters 72–73.
  • Episode 42: “My Hero” – The League of Villains’ attack begins. Midoriya faces the villain Muscular, a brutal opponent with immense power. The episode climaxes with Midoriya using a new, dangerous technique to protect Kota, directly reinforcing All Might’s philosophy of saving others. It adapts chapters 74–76.
  • Episode 43: “Drive It Home, Iron Fist!!!” – The battle spreads across the forest. Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu and Itsuka Kendo from Class 1-B work together to defeat the gas-wielding villain Mustard. This episode highlights the teamwork between the two classes. It adapts chapters 77–78.
  • Episode 44: “Roaring Upheaval” – The Vanguard Action Squad of the League of Villains focuses on capturing Bakugo. Todoroki uses his ice to counter the gas, Shoji scouts with his Dupli-Arms, and the students mount a desperate defense. Meanwhile, Bakugo is separated and taken. It adapts chapters 79–81.
  • Episode 45: “What a Twist!” – The immediate aftermath of the attack. Class 1-A returns to U.A. High School, where they learn that Bakugo has been taken. All Might faces the media, and the students are left to cope with their failure. This episode sets up the Hideout Raid Arc. It adapts chapters 82–83.

These six episodes form the complete, uninterrupted canon narrative. Each scene builds on the last, pushing the students’ Quirks to new limits and testing their resolve in ways that classroom training never could.

Non-Canon Content Surrounding the Arc

Within the immediate vicinity of the Forest Training Camp Arc, there is one major non-canon episode that viewers often confuse with the arc itself. Additionally, common misinformation spreads about later episodes being part of this arc.

Episode 39: “Game Start”

Aired right before “Wild, Wild Pussycats,” Episode 39 is a pure recap. It revisits key events from the first two seasons—the entrance exam, the Sports Festival, and the Hero Killer Stain arc—framed as an in-universe television special. There is no new animation beyond transitional scenes, and it contributes nothing to the plot. If you are binge-watching solely for the story, you can safely skip it. However, because it bears the episode number immediately preceding the Forest Training Camp Arc, many streaming platforms autoplay into it, causing viewers to believe the camp storyline has begun. This episode is the only true piece of filler directly adjacent to the arc.

Common Misinformation About Later Episodes

Some unofficial filler lists incorrectly categorize episodes from Season 5 as part of the Summer Camp Arc. Episodes such as 88 (“A Season for Encounters”), 89 (“The Great One’s Arrival”), and 90 (“Clash of the Villains”) are frequently misattributed. In reality, these episodes belong to the “My Villain Academia” storyline, which covers the Meta Liberation Army arc. They are fully canonical and adapt manga chapters faithfully. The confusion often arises because the earlier training camp arc is sometimes loosely referred to as a “summer camp,” and viewers may mistakenly extend that label to later camps or retreats. For clarity, only Season 3’s forest setting constitutes the training camp arc.

Why Episode 39 Is Considered Filler

Recap episodes do not move the story forward. They exist to refresh the audience’s memory after a long hiatus between seasons. Studio Bones produced Episode 39 as a bridge between the end of Season 2 and the intense start of Season 3. While it does feature the characters commenting on their own past adventures, it holds no narrative weight. The original manga never included a chapter dedicated to looking back at the Sports Festival or the Stain arc in this manner. Skipping it prevents an artificial pause in momentum as you launch into the high-stakes training camp.

How to Watch the Forest Training Camp Arc Canon-Only

To enjoy the purest adaptation of the manga’s Forest Training Camp Arc, follow this simple watching order:

  1. Complete My Hero Academia Season 2, ending with Episode 38 (“Encounter”).
  2. Skip Episode 39 entirely.
  3. Start Season 3 directly at Episode 40 and watch consecutively through Episode 45.
  4. Continue with the “Hideout Raid” episodes (46 onward) without any further filler breaks.

This path ensures you experience the same tightly paced storytelling that made the manga chapters so gripping. There are no side quests, no original characters woven into the main plot, and no diversions from the central threat of the Vanguard Action Squad.

The Purpose of Non-Canon Material in My Hero Academia

Even though filler can frustrate story-focused fans, it serves practical functions. Beyond giving the manga creator more breathing room, filler episodes can explore character dynamics that the main plot overlooks. For example, the OAD episodes “Training of the Dead” and “All Might: Rising” (usually considered separate from the main series) provide additional backstory and light-hearted moments. Studio Bones has generally respected the source material, keeping filler to a minimum compared to contemporaries. This restraint means that almost every numbered episode of the main series outside recaps and a handful of originals is faithfully adapted.

Recap vs. True Filler

My Hero Academia uses recap episodes more often than narrative filler. In addition to Episode 39, Episode 64.5 (“Get a Grip on U.A. High’s Super Difficult Curriculum”) and Episode 52.5 (“Prepare for the Provisional License Exam”) also recap past events. None of these are part of the Forest Training Camp Arc, but they appear later in the series. Understanding this distinction helps you avoid mistakenly labeling canon content as filler. True narrative filler—where entirely new, non-canon stories are told—is limited to a very small set of episodes, such as Episode 32 (“Everyone’s Internships”) and Episode 58 (“Special Episode: Save the World with Love!”). The Forest Training Camp Arc remains untouched by such inventions.

Character Development Unique to the Canon Arc

One of the strongest arguments for watching the arc without filler interruptions is the concentrated character work. The Forest Training Camp Arc delivers pivotal moments that define the rest of the series:

  • Bakugo’s Vulnerability: The kidnapping forces Bakugo to confront his own image and the fact that villains see potential in him. His capture is the catalyst for his long-term growth and eventual remorse.
  • Midoriya’s Instincts: Saving Kota is a direct callback to All Might’s philosophy. The act of heroism without thinking solidifies Midoriya’s core identity.
  • Class 1-A’s Teamwork: The students’ ability to coordinate despite the chaos—Todoroki’s ice countering the gas, Shoji’s search abilities, Jiro’s earphone jacks—demonstrates how far they have come since the entrance exam.
  • The League’s Brutality: Villains like Muscular show a level of sadistic violence rarely seen before. This arc shatters any illusion that the students are in a protected school environment.
  • Kota’s Transformation: The young boy’s hatred for heroes is overcome through Midoriya’s selfless act, providing a powerful emotional arc that carries into later appearances.

Splicing in a recap or any standalone filler would undercut this momentum. The arc’s strength lies in its relentless pacing, and the anime adaptation preserves that excellently when watched without the preceding recap.

External Resources for Canon Verification

To verify episode canonicity yourself, you can consult several trusted community-maintained databases. These resources cross-reference manga chapters with episode scripts and highlight deviations:

These sources are regularly updated by fans and editors who track even minor differences between the anime and manga. Cross-referencing your viewing with these lists can help you maintain a pure manga-accurate experience.

Conclusion

The Forest Training Camp Arc stands as one of My Hero Academia’s most essential storylines, requiring no filler to convey its full impact. By skipping Episode 39 and moving directly from Season 2’s finale into Episode 40, you secure a seamless, emotionally charged viewing experience. The arc’s canon episodes deliver everything needed—intense training, shocking villain encounters, and profound character growth—without any detours. Armed with this knowledge, you can now approach the series with confidence, whether you’re a first-time viewer or a seasoned fan revisiting the journey that shaped the world’s greatest heroes.