The info motiveBy Lauren Kells
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Out of all the outstanding heroes in My Hero Academia, none are as physically powerful as All Might. All Might offers comfort to innocent citizens and a promise that no despicable villain will be allowed to cause harm on his watch. Furthermore, he is inspiring and motivational to aspiring young heroes, giving them a standard to live up to. In fact, his biggest fan, Izuku Midoriya, or Deku, chose to become a hero solely based on watching All Might’s heroic deeds.
When My Hero Academia creator, Kohei Horikoshi, was asked if he preferred All Might over the other characters in his story, he stated that it is not simply a matter of liking the hero, but that he is “an absolute within this series, so there is no choice for me as I have to like him.”
More than any other character, All Might shapes the story of the series, providing Deku with inspiration to become a hero in the first place, guiding the other aspiring young heroes, and serving as the “Symbol of Peace” who inspires humanity and protects them from villains.
All Might Inspired Deku To Become a Hero in Spite of His Quirklessness
Deku Never Gave up on His Dream Because of All Might, Making All Might Integral to His Hero Journey
In Deku’s childhood, he repeatedly watched one particular video of All Might saving humans and taking down villains over and over. Even once the doctor informed Deku and his parents that he was Quirkless and could never achieve All Might’s level of success, Deku continued tearfully aspiring to be like the hero in spite of his setback. Eventually, Deku met All Might in person, and, to his surprise, All Might told the young boy he was going to pass on his Quirk to him. Unbeknownest to Izuku at the time, All Might was also born without a Quirk, making them similar in that regard.
All Might is living proof that anyone can become a powerful hero, even a Quirkless individual. He imparted this lesson to Deku, encouraging him not to give up on his dream in spite of others’ negativity. This moment of motivation kickstarted Deku’s hero journey in a spectacular way. Not only did All Might pass on his One For All Quirk to Izuku, he also trained him for hours and encouraged him when he felt like giving up, shaping the world’s next great hero with his actions. All Might’s own hero work is immensely important, but so is his contribution to Deku’s journey.
All Might Is a Positive Influence on Everyone in the Story, Heroes and Civilians Alike
His Impact Proves Horikoshi’s Point That He Is an Important Part of the Story
All Might’s importance in the story cannot be underestimated, as without him, Deku would likely have never become a hero. All Might bravely saved thousands of lives during his career, and instead of retiring and taking a well-deserved rest, focused on training the younger generation to succeed him. It was crucial to All Might that after he passed on, someone qualified would take up the torch and continue protecting humanity in his place, which explains why he chose such a hardworking and persistent individual like Deku to give his Quirk to and train in his fighting style and techniques.
Horikoshi explains that the words “this is important!” constantly ring in his head when he draws and writes All Might’s scenes, because he realizes the overpowered superhero’s significance in the story and how much he influences all the other heroes around him. Not only does he inspire Deku, he serves as a famous motivator for other aspiring heroes and even average humans, explaining his nickname the “Symbol of Peace.” His signature catchphrase quote, “It’s fine now. Do you know why? Because I am here!” offers further comfort to nervous civilians, promising to protect them from villains’ cruelty at all costs.
My Hero Academia Finally Explains One of All Might’s Biggest Mysteries
All Might’s time in America has always been a question mark in his history, but the manga has finally revealed what drove him away from Japan.
All Might and Deku’s Stories Are Both Quite Similar to One Another
Both Tell the Tale of a Quirkless Individual Becoming a Great Hero in Spite of the Odds Against Them
All Might’s persona may seem flawless, but he is actually not perfect. He was born without a Quirk just like Deku and, as he grows older, becomes increasingly weaker. He even reaches a point where he can only utilize his Quirk for brief stints of time before becoming overtired and drained. Rather than give up and just retire, he continues charging into battle, even when others warn him not to. To All Might, protecting others will always come above his own comfort, proving that he will always be a hero at heart, even as his body gradually weakens.
All Might’s Quirklessness never hindered him from becoming a hero. Although it made it more difficult, his desire to achieve his dream was greater, and the same is true for Deku. There are many similarities between the two heroes, and All Might likely saw himself in Deku, which is why he chose to pass on his One For All Quirk to him specifically. For all of these reasons, it is clear to see why Horikoshi stated that liking All Might is not a mere choice, it’s a necessity. Like All Might or not, he is an integral part of the series.
My Hero Academia Would Not Be the Same Without All Might
His Influence on the Story and the Characters Within It Is Irreplaceable
Regardless of Horikoshi’s personal feelings towards the hero, All Might will always be a pivotal aspect of My Hero Academia. His own incredible accomplishments and triumphant defeats over villains are crucial, as well as his impact on aspiring heroes and the wisdom he imparts on those around him, specifically Deku. All Might is the epitome of a great superhero: courageous, selfless, unbelievably strong, and caring. Horikoshi was right to state that All Might’s moments in the series are important because the story of My Hero Academia would undoubtedly be a very different one without All Might’s presence and influence.
Source: Reddit, Kohei Horikoshi interview transcribed by Nakurawari
