The U.A. School Festival Arc, which unfolds across episodes 85 to 91 of the anime and chapters 171 through 183 of the manga, arrives after the emotionally draining Shie Hassaikai raid. Instead of escalating the action, the story leans into the everyday lives of the hero students, using the annual cultural festival as a way to explore character relationships, creative expression, and the quieter side of heroism. The arc is often remembered as a turning point for several cast members—and for the way it gives a traumatized child her first real smile.

Why a School Festival Matters in a Superhero Story

The U.A. School Festival serves a dual narrative purpose. On the surface, it’s a slice-of-life interlude that lets the audience breathe. Beneath that, it reinforces a central theme of My Hero Academia: that saving people isn’t just about punching villains. The festival allows Class 1-A to reach out to the public, rebuild trust, and prove that heroes can inspire through art, music, and sheer enthusiasm. It also provides a fresh lens on the school’s culture, showing what the students value when no lives hang in the balance.

A Chronological Breakdown of the Arc’s Major Events

Tracking the arc’s timeline helps highlight how the many subplots—Class 1-A’s concert preparations, the arrival of Gentle Criminal, and Eri’s emotional journey—interlock. What begins as lighthearted planning gradually tightens into a race against a quirky but dangerous intruder, all while the festival’s clock ticks down.

Festival Planning and the Birth of the Concert Idea

The arc kicks off with homeroom discussions about what Class 1-A should present. Proposals range from a maid café to a funhouse, but Kyoka Jiro’s musical talent becomes the unexpected catalyst. Encouraged by her classmates, Jiro overcomes her reluctance and agrees to lead a live rock concert. The decision isn’t just about showing off; it’s about using a shared passion to unite the class after the stress of recent battles. The students split into teams—performers, support crew, and special effects—each playing to their individual strengths.

Intensive Training and Creative Problem-Solving

Rehearsals expose gaps in the students’ non-combat skills. Bakugo, initially reluctant, learns to play the drums with typical intensity, while Kaminari and Tokoyami grapple with their instrumental roles. Meanwhile, the support course, led by Mei Hatsume, crafts elaborate stage equipment, and the class strategizes how to use their Quirks to enhance the show without scaring the audience. These sequences emphasize a growth that has nothing to do with battle—students learn to synchronize, compromise, and trust one another in a low-stakes environment.

Gentle Criminal, La Brava, and the Threat from the Shadows

While the festival preparations hum with energy, a new antagonist quietly infiltrates U.A. Gentle Criminal, a self-styled gentleman thief with a quirk that makes any surface elastic, and his partner La Brava, who can amplify his power through her love-based Quirk, aim to disrupt the festival for fame. Their plan isn’t world-shattering; it’s a misguided attempt to leave a mark on the hero society that rejected them. Despite their comedic surface, they pose a genuine security risk, and their presence forces Izuku Midoriya to confront a villain whose motives are surprisingly human.

The Concert and Eri’s Smile

The climactic concert is the arc’s emotional centerpiece. Class 1-A’s performance, featuring the original song “Hero too,” transforms the gymnasium into a vibrant display of unity. Jiro’s voice, backed by Bakugo’s explosive drumming and the class’s Quirk-powered visuals, captivates the audience—including Eri, who has never experienced joy this pure. When Eri smiles for the first time, the narrative delivers its payoff: the heroes have succeeded not by defeating a monster, but by creating a moment of genuine happiness for a child who had known only pain. Outside the venue, Midoriya’s quiet battle with Gentle Criminal ensures that the concert remains undisturbed, and the confrontation ends with a surprisingly empathetic resolution.

Aftermath and Quiet Reflections

Once the festival ends, the arc lingers on the aftermath. Gentle Criminal and La Brava are arrested but treated with a respect they didn’t expect. Class 1-A reflects on what they’ve achieved: not a rise in hero rankings, but a renewed bond and the knowledge that they can lift someone up without throwing a single punch. The school year continues, but the students carry the confidence gained from this experience into the harder trials that await.

Character Development That Defines the Arc

The U.A. School Festival Arc doesn’t just move plot points; it deepens our understanding of several key characters, pushing them past long-standing insecurities and redefining their relationships with heroism.

Izuku Midoriya – The Protector Who Values Every Smile

Midoriya’s role shifts from front-line fighter to quiet guardian. He willingly steps away from the spotlight to stop Gentle Criminal without alarming the festival-goers. This choice underscores his growth: he no longer charges in impulsively but prioritizes what matters most—Eri’s chance to be a carefree child. His empathy for Gentle Criminal’s failed dreams also signals a more nuanced understanding of villainy, one that will echo in later storylines. For more on Midoriya’s journey throughout the series, the character’s detailed profile provides a complete timeline.

Ochaco Uraraka – Blossoming Confidence and Unspoken Feelings

Uraraka’s arc in the festival subplot is quieter but no less meaningful. She channels her crush on Midoriya into supporting the class’s collective goal, taking on a behind-the-scenes coordination role. Her cheerful determination masks a lingering uncertainty about her own worth, but by the festival’s end, she recognizes that her path doesn’t need to mirror anyone else’s. The concert becomes a quiet affirmation of her choice to become a hero who helps other heroes.

Shoto Todoroki – Opening the Door to Teamwork

Todoroki’s emotional walls began crumbling after the sports festival, and the school festival pushes that progress further. He participates in the concert not as an obligation but as a genuine member of the class, even smiling during group rehearsals. The simple act of playing an instrument alongside his peers helps him redefine his identity beyond the shadow of his father. The arc reinforces that Todoroki’s healing is a marathon, not a sprint, and that camaraderie is just as essential as personal strength.

Kyoka Jiro – From Insecurity to Center Stage

Jiro steps into the narrative focus in a way she never has before. Once embarrassed about her musical ambitions, she learns to view her passion as a strength rather than a frivolous hobby. Through writing “Hero too” and leading the band, Jiro discovers that her voice can move people in a way that her Earphone Jack Quirk alone cannot. Her arc is a love letter to creative courage, and her performance remains one of the anime’s most rewatched moments. You can revisit the concert episode details through the official episode list for season four.

Eri – A Child Learns to Smile

Eri’s transformation is the arc’s emotional anchor. Having known only captivity and pain, she still flinches at loud noises and struggles to understand kindness. The concert changes that. Immersed in dazzling sights and sounds created by the same class that helped rescue her, Eri experiences joy for the first time. Her smile isn’t just a reaction; it’s a victory condition that validates everything Class 1-A has fought for. The moment resonated so strongly that it became a symbol of the series’ heart, discussed widely among fans on platforms like MyAnimeList.

Thematic Depth Beneath the Festive Surface

While the arc wears a lighthearted costume, it threads several important themes through the chaos of rehearsals and the clash with Gentle Criminal. These ideas connect the festival back to the larger narrative and define what it means to be a hero in this world.

Heroism Beyond Combat

Every major hero school event until now—the sports festival, the provisional license exam, the work studies—has centered on combat or rescue efficiency. The school festival, by contrast, rewards creativity, empathy, and community engagement. Class 1-A’s success is measured not in defeated enemies but in the crowd’s applause and a child’s laughter. This redefinition broadens the series’ philosophy and prepares the students for a society that needs more than just soldiers.

The Healing Power of Art and Music

“Hero too” becomes an anthem not just for the concert but for the arc’s core message: stories and songs can save people. Jiro’s lyrics speak directly to those who feel lost, and the performance demonstrates that creative expression can bridge emotional distances. The song’s continued popularity in the real world—fan covers, official streams, and concert remixes—attests to how effectively the arc tapped into that universal truth.

Flawed Adversaries and Empathy

Gentle Criminal and La Brava are not monstrous. They are people who once dreamed of being heroes but were rejected by the system. Their crimes are real, but Midoriya still sees the broken aspiration underneath. This nuanced portrayal reminds the audience that many villains are shaped by societal failure, and that true justice involves understanding, not just punishment. The arc handles this with a light touch, but it plants seeds for the more complex moral questions that dominate later seasons.

The Role of Music and Performance in Storytelling

Music production within the anime medium often stays in the background, but the U.A. School Festival Arc makes it the narrative engine. The rehearsals double as character-building exercises, the songwriting process reveals Jiro’s inner world, and the final concert becomes a climax that rivals any fight scene in emotional weight. The creative team’s decision to compose an original song added authenticity, and the choreography of Quirks with the music—Ashido’s acid-laced light show, Sero’s tape-suspended acrobats, Hagakure’s sparkling presence—merges superpowers with spectacle in a way only My Hero Academia can.

Unexpected Challenges and How They Were Overcome

The path to a flawless performance is littered with obstacles, each one a test of the students’ resolve.

  • Technical malfunctions: The support gear for the stage breaks down during a critical dress rehearsal, forcing the class to scramble for fixes and improvise with their Quirks.
  • Class 1-B’s competitive pressure: The rival class’s elaborate play raises the bar so high that Class 1-A nearly buckles under the fear of humiliation. Rather than fueling resentment, this pushes them to refine their own vision.
  • Internal doubts and interpersonal friction: Jiro’s fear of being laughed at, Bakugo’s battle with his own pride, and Kaminari’s struggle with his musical ineptitude create tension. Each student must overcome a private hurdle before the collective can shine.
  • The infiltration of Gentle Criminal: This external threat threatens to cancel the festival entirely. Midoriya’s solo mission, kept secret from the audience, adds a layer of suspense that heightens the concert’s eventual triumph.

Why the Arc Remains a Fan Favorite

For many viewers, the U.A. School Festival Arc stands out not for its scale but for its intimacy. It allows the series to pause and remind the audience why these characters became heroes in the first place—not for glory, but to put smiles on people’s faces. The concert episode is frequently ranked among the top episodes of season four, and merchandise tied to the performance continues to sell well. The arc also solidifies the class’s dynamic as a found family, a status that makes subsequent crises hit harder.

Connecting the Festival to Larger Storylines

While the arc may feel like a detour, its repercussions ripple forward. The positive public reception helps restore U.A.’s reputation after the press scandal and the Kamino Ward incident. Eri’s improvement gives the faculty hope that she can eventually control her Quirk. And Midoriya’s interaction with Gentle Criminal foreshadows his later efforts to understand and redeem Shigaraki. It’s a small-scale story with large-scale implications, carefully woven into the expansive world of the series.

Watching, Reading, and Revisiting the Arc

If you’re tracking the events to rewatch or read along, episode 85 (“School Festival Start!!”) through 91 (“Let It Flow! School Festival!”) cover the full arc. The manga chapters 171–183 are available in volume 22 and 23 of the original collected editions. Official streaming platforms like Crunchyroll carry the anime in most regions, and the concert song “Hero too” is available on major digital music services. For deeper analysis, community discussions on forums and dedicated wikis offer scene-by-scene breakdowns and character studies.

The U.A. School Festival Arc proves that the quiet moments matter just as much as the explosive ones. It’s a celebration of youth, creativity, and the belief that even the smallest light can eradicate darkness—and that a single smile can be the most heroic achievement of all.