My Hero Academia continues to dominate the anime landscape with its explosive battles, emotionally charged character arcs, and a society of heroes that feels more relevant than ever. The sprawling narrative, however, doesn’t stay neatly within its season boundaries. Between the core television episodes, a series of Original Video Animations (OVAs), and a growing collection of theatrical films, the timeline can become tangled even for dedicated viewers. Skipping a side story might mean missing a crucial relationship moment, while watching a movie at the wrong time can spoil major reveals. This comprehensive viewing guide will help you thread together every piece of canon content, clarify how the OVAs and movies fit, and outline the ideal path through the world of Quirks and heroism—so you can experience Midoriya’s journey from dreamer to symbol without skipping a beat.

Why a Canon Roadmap Matters

Unlike many standalone anime, My Hero Academia weaves its supplementary content tightly into the main continuity. Creator Kohei Horikoshi has directly supervised movie designs and approved OVA stories, giving them a legitimate canon-adjacent status. Characters introduced in a film may get a cameo in the manga, and emotional beats from an OVA can deepen your understanding of class dynamics at U.A. High School. Watching everything in a haphazard order risks thematic whiplash—imagine seeing Deku master a new technique in a movie before he learns it in the anime. A proper roadmap lets the growth feel earned and the stakes feel real.

The Core Series: Season-by-Season Breakdown

The main television series forms the backbone of the My Hero Academia canon. Each season adapts a specific saga from the manga, with careful pacing that preserves both action and downtime. Here’s what you need to know about every season, including the exact episode ranges and the major arcs they cover.

Season 1 – Beginnings

Episodes 1–13. Season 1 is a tight origin story. It covers the Entrance Exam Arc, the Quirk Apprehension Test, and the Battle Trial Arc before culminating in the unforgettable U.S.J. Incident. This is where Midoriya proves he deserves One For All and where the class learns that villainy isn’t just a distant threat. The season runs from April to June in the in-universe timeline, setting the foundation for everything that follows.

Season 2 – Rising Stars

Episodes 14–38 (split cour). This season expands U.A.’s world through the U.A. Sports Festival, where Todoroki’s backstory and Bakugo’s fury take center stage. It then pivots to the Hero Killer Stain arc and the subsequent Final Exams. The finale introduces the summer training camp premise, laying the groundwork for Season 3’s escalation. By the end, the students have faced real-world heroics and the ideological clash between Stain’s vision and All Might’s legacy.

Season 3 – Dark Clouds Gather

Episodes 39–63. Often cited as the emotional peak of the early series, Season 3 delivers the Forest Training Camp Attack, the Kamino Ward Incident, and the battle that changes everything: All Might vs. All For One. After the dust settles, students tackle the Provisional Hero License Exam, and a new dorm system redefines their school life. The season ends with the ominous meeting between the League of Villains and Overhaul, signaling that the danger is only beginning.

Season 4 – Overhaul and Smiles

Episodes 64–88. Season 4 dives into the Shie Hassaikai arc, introducing Eri and showcasing Sir Nighteye’s tragic prescience. Midoriya’s first full-cowl air maneuver and Mirio’s heroic sacrifice stand out. The back half shifts tone with the Remedial Course and the joy-filled School Festival arc, offering a breather before the Pro Hero arc elevates Endeavor’s character study to new heights. This season balances gut-wrenching stakes with much-needed levity.

Season 5 – Joint Training and Liberation

Episodes 89–113. Season 5 adapts the Joint Training Battle between Class 1-A and Class 1-B, revealing new Quirks and deepening rivalries. The season then pivots dramatically to the League of Villains’ perspective through the Meta Liberation Army arc, culminating in the fusion that births the Paranormal Liberation Front. The juxtaposition of school exercises with a villain uprising underscores the series’ central tension: peace is fragile, and heroes can’t afford to be complacent.

Season 6 – All-Out War and Consequences

Episodes 114–138. The Paranormal Liberation War arc consumes most of Season 6, delivering relentless action and permanent consequences. Heroes face devastating losses, society’s trust shatters, and Midoriya shoulders a burden that pushes him beyond his limits. The “Dark Hero” arc follows, an introspective coda where a lone Deku confronts his own ideals before Class 1-A brings him back. Season 7 and the ongoing Final War arc continue the story, making Season 6 a pivotal turning point.

OVAs: Extra Adventures That Fit the Canon

OVAs offer bite-sized stories that slot neatly between the main arcs. While not strictly mandatory, they enrich the school-life elements, give side characters spotlight, and often contain canon character moments. Each OVA has a defined chronological placement and a distinct flavor.

OVA 1: “Training of the Dead”

Placement: Between Season 1 and Season 2. This lighthearted zombie-outbreak simulation pits Class 1-A against their own virus-infected classmates. Though comedic, it reinforces the students’ teamwork and gives early character interactions room to breathe—especially between Midoriya and Bakugo, who are forced to cooperate under bizarre circumstances.

OVA 2: “Hero Notebook”

Placement: Between Season 2 and Season 3. A day-in-the-life episode where Midoriya loses his precious hero analysis notebook. The search turns into a campus-wide scavenger hunt, revealing small but meaningful details about each student’s quirks and personalities. It’s a perfect palette cleanser before Season 3’s dark turn.

OVA 3: “All Might: Rising” (Two-Part Special)

Placement: Before Season 3, or during the early episodes of Season 3 when All Might’s past is explored. Actually, the two parts adapt All Might’s origin story from the manga, showing young Toshinori Yagi, his training with Nana Shimura, and his first clash with All For One in America. Watching this right after All Might’s fateful Kamino fight adds profound emotional weight. If you’d rather not break the season’s momentum, place it after Episode 49 (All Might’s retirement announcement) for maximum impact.

OVA 4: “Make It! Do-or-Die Survival Training” (Two-Part)

Placement: After Season 4, before the Pro Hero arc, or just after the School Festival. Split into two episodes, this OVA revisits a rescue training exercise where an eccentric producer forces the class to role-play disaster scenarios. It’s a fun, high-energy addition that highlights the creativity of Quirk usage without altering the main timeline.

OVA 5: “HLB – Hero League Baseball”

Placement: After Season 5. The heroes take to the baseball diamond in an inter-class match that mixes competitive sports with Quirk-enhanced plays. While purely comedic, it cements the camaraderie built through the Joint Training arc and serves as a final moment of peace before the chaos of Season 6.

Movies: Blockbuster Adventures That Expand the Universe

The My Hero Academia films are a unique beast: they are produced with creator oversight, feature original villains and allies designed by Horikoshi, and often drop canonical lore that later gets referenced in the manga. Each movie takes place during a specific window in the timeline and usually includes a brief “summer break” or off-screen excursion. Characters who appear in the movies occasionally have their designs acknowledged in later arcs, and the emotional development of the main cast is respected.

My Hero Academia: Two Heroes

Placement: After Season 2, before the Forest Training Camp arc (roughly between Episodes 20 and 21 of Season 3 in a chronological rewatch, but effectively during summer break). The film takes Midoriya and All Might to I-Island, a floating high-tech research facility, where a villain’s attack forces them to team up with old friends and new allies. It introduces Melissa Shield, a Quirkless support item inventor, and David Shield, All Might’s former sidekick. Key canon tie-in: All Might’s younger form and the prototype support gear Midoriya wears both appear in small manga panels later.

My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising

Placement: After Season 4, before the Endeavor Agency arc (ideally after Episode 88). Class 1-A is dispatched to Nabu Island for a solo hero internship, where they face the villain Nine and his overwhelming Quirk arsenal. The movie ends with a jaw-dropping combined attack that was originally intended as a potential ending for the entire manga. Its themes of teamwork and sacrifice directly echo the lessons learned in Season 4 and deepen the bond between the entire class.

My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission

Placement: After Season 5, after the Meta Liberation Army arc (roughly between Episodes 113 and 114). The film takes a globe-trotting approach, sending Deku, Bakugo, and Todoroki on a mission to stop a doomsday cult from wiping out Quirks worldwide. The high-stakes chase introduces Rody Soul, a charming non-Japanese character, and features some of the most fluid action choreography in the franchise. Thematically, it reinforces Deku’s resolve to save everyone, even beyond Japan’s borders.

My Hero Academia: You’re Next (Upcoming)

Placement: Set during the fallout of Season 6, after the Paranormal Liberation War. The fourth movie introduces a mysterious vigilante and a villain with ties to All Might’s past. While details remain under wraps as of this writing, the timeline places it in a fractured hero society, making it a crucial bridge to the Final War saga. Keep this on your radar for a post-Season 6 watch.

For more official updates on upcoming movies, you can visit the My Hero Academia official website.

Both approaches work, but a chronological hybrid yields the smoothest emotional progression. Below is the refined watch order that respects in-universe timing while avoiding spoilers.

  1. Season 1 (Episodes 1–13) – Complete the origin.
  2. OVA 1: Training of the Dead – Lighthearted interlude after the U.S.J. arc.
  3. Season 2 (Episodes 14–38) – U.A. Sports Festival through Final Exams.
  4. OVA 2: Hero Notebook – Before summer training camp mood shifts.
  5. Movie 1: Two Heroes – Watch immediately after Season 2’s finale; thematically it sits right before the training camp arc. If you’d rather stick to a tight release order, place it after Season 3 Episode 20, when the students are on break.
  6. Season 3 (Episodes 39–63) – Through the Kamino incident and license exam.
  7. OVA 3: All Might: Rising (Two-Part) – After Episode 49 for maximum emotional resonance, or before starting Season 3 as a prologue.
  8. Season 4 (Episodes 64–88) – Overhaul and the School Festival.
  9. OVA 4: Make It! Survival Training – After Season 4’s finale; a fun capstone before the Pro Hero arc.
  10. Season 5 (Episodes 89–113) – Joint Training and Meta Liberation Army.
  11. Movie 2: Heroes Rising – Can slide in after Episode 88 (end of Season 4), but watching it before the Joint Training arc (after Season 5 Episode 13) also works. The class’s teamwork feels most earned post-Season 4.
  12. OVA 5: Hero League Baseball – After Season 5 concludes.
  13. Season 6 (Episodes 114–138) – Paranormal Liberation War and Dark Hero arc.
  14. Movie 3: World Heroes’ Mission – Best experienced between Episodes 113 and 114, as it occurs during the gap between Season 5 and Season 6. Watching it right before the war arc emphasizes what the heroes are fighting to protect.
  15. Season 7 – continues the Final War arc.
  16. Movie 4: You’re Next – after Season 6, before or during early Season 7 per official placement.

For those who want the pure release order, simply watch each season as it aired, inserting the OVAs in their home video release slots and the movies after the season that immediately preceded their theatrical debut. Both paths lead to a cohesive story; the chronological hybrid merely tightens the cause-and-effect chain.

Where to Stream My Hero Academia

Maintaining the intended viewing experience means accessing high-quality, licensed platforms. The main series, OVAs, and movies are spread across several services:

  • Crunchyroll streams all seasons subbed and dubbed, along with select OVAs. Visit Crunchyroll’s My Hero Academia page for current availability.
  • Funimation (now merged into Crunchyroll) previously hosted the films; Crunchyroll now holds the movie streaming rights in many regions. Check for individual movie titles like “Two Heroes” in the Crunchyroll library.
  • Hulu carries several seasons in select territories, and Netflix occasionally rotates seasons depending on your country.
  • Digital purchase on Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV is a reliable option for the movies if they leave subscription services.
  • For physical collectors, the OVAs are often included in Blu-ray specials of the respective seasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the OVAs canon?

Most of them fit comfortably within canon events. “All Might: Rising” is a direct manga adaptation. The comedic OVAs like “Training of the Dead” and “Hero League Baseball” are considered slice-of-life filler but they don’t contradict any established lore. The character interactions and Quirk usage are consistent, so they enhance the world without affecting major plot points.

Can I skip the movies and still understand the main story?

Absolutely. The anime never requires movie knowledge to follow the main plot. However, the emotional beats—like Midoriya’s growth in “Heroes Rising” or the global stakes in “World Heroes’ Mission”—add layers of depth. Additionally, small nods, such as a character’s support item design in a later season, can make the movies feel like rewarding secrets for attentive fans.

What about the filler episodes in the seasons themselves?

My Hero Academia has remarkably little pure filler. Episodes like the dorm room contest in Season 3 or the remedial course episodes in Season 4 expand on character dynamics rather than inventing new arcs. They’re part of the official adaptation and should be watched alongside the main arcs.

I’m completely new to the series. Should I watch everything in this guide in one go?

It’s a lot, but you can pace yourself. Start with Season 1; if you’re hooked, follow the main series and insert the OVAs and movies as suggested when you reach the corresponding breakpoints. The OVAs are short (around 25 minutes each), so they don’t derail momentum. The movies each run about 100 minutes and work best as a capstone to a season.

Will there be more movies or OVAs?

The franchise remains active. With Season 7 covering the Final War arc and the manga concluded, additional side stories are always possible. Always check the official site for the latest announcements.

Final Thoughts: Crafting Your Hero’s Journey

My Hero Academia thrives on the interplay between grand-scale heroism and intimate personal growth. A haphazard watch can dilute those connections, but a curated order turns every cameo, every reference, and every quiet moment into an intentional piece of a larger puzzle. By weaving together the seasons, OVAs, and films in this guided sequence, you’re not just watching an anime—you’re walking the path from U.A. hopeful to enduring legend alongside Midoriya and his classmates. Whether you prefer the electric action of the movies or the character-focused breathers of the OVAs, this roadmap ensures that each step through the Hero Society feels earned. Enjoy the ride, and go beyond—Plus Ultra.