My Hero Academia’s anime made Deku & Shigaraki’s great battle so much worse with one small change

Warning: Spoilers for episode #155 of My Hero Academia

Decos fight against Shigaraki is undoubtedly one of the most iconic battles of the My hero academia Franchise. This confrontation was more than a simple clash between opponents, it was a conflict that will determine the fate of the entire world. Among the many spectacular panels, the creator of the manga, Kohei Horikoshi, gave fans during the battle, the standoff between the two combatants is among the best.

The beloved moment is brought to life in episode #155 of the anime adaptation, with one small but extremely significant detail removed. As Deku and Tenko prepare to fight again, the floating grounds of UA High are noticeably missing from the scene. The decision, although not as important at first glance, takes away from the sense of urgency of the battle.

UA High’s disappearance robs anime fans of the scene’s impact

The desperation to beat Shigaraki is not as present in the anime

During the initial stages of the battle against Shigarki, Deku and his allies tried to keep the villain inside the floating UA high ground, since Aizawa would have a clear vision of the enemy. Using his Erasure Quirk, Izuku’s teacher and Monoma were able to prevent Tenko from accessing his special abilities. The plan fails due to the unexpected arrival of Kurogiri, who takes Aizawa away, giving his master freedom to use his quirks. In a desperate attempt to prevent the villain from destroying UA and the civilians hiding inside, Deku launched himself and his opponent off the island.

This urgent move ended with Deku and Shigaraki faced each other, while the floating school fell behind them. Chapter #379 of the My hero academia Manga ends with this iconic and awe-inspiring panel. Episode #155 did an amazing job animating this acclaimed moment, with almost all elements from the manga present during this scene. Nevertheless, the Falling Ua fortress, which is held by gentel criminal, is nowhere to be seen during this scene, lamentably making the sequence less impressive.

By removing the school from the background, not only does the moment become less shocking for the audience, but The importance of deco quickly ending the battle is reduced. UA turned into a floating island to keep civilians safe from Shigaraki’s Decay Quirk, which would have turned them all to dust. The threat would become a reality as soon as the school made contact with the ground, which is why Izuku was so determined to end the battle quickly. Eliminating the island from the picture prevents viewers from feeling the fear and despair that Deku feels in this moment.

Animating UA was likely extremely difficult and time-consuming

The school may be lacking for its complexity

It’s no secret that animators in the anime industry have a difficult and often demanding job. The level of detail found in the My Hero Academia series is testament to the level of commitment that the talented workers at Studio Bones put into the show. Unlike the manga, which is static, animating a falling UA island would have been a burdensome task. Although not the best decision for the story, it is understandable that such a difficult task was put aside in favor of giving other important moments the care they deserve.

While the decision to eliminate UA from the background of Deku and Shigaraki’s fight may not be the best, episode #155 is still an amazing adaptation of the manga. The My hero academia Anime is still among the most popular, beloved and stunning shows of 2024. The animators working on this incredible series still deserve recognition for their outstanding work and dedication.