The curtain fell on My Hero Academia with its Season 8 finale airing on December 13, 2025, and the numbers tell a story of total triumph. Every episode pulled in ratings of 9.0 or higher on IMDb, landing the season a clean average of 9.5. This run beats out heavy hitters like Takopi’s Original Sin at 9.4 and even edges past classics from Naruto, One Piece, and Dragon Ball. Fans call it a fitting close to Izuku Midoriya‘s journey, packed with raw fights, deep bonds, and growth that sticks long after the credits roll.
Episode Ratings That Defy the Odds
Viewers wasted no time rating the episodes, and the scores piled up fast. Episode 1 kicked things off at 9.1, setting a tone of high stakes right away. By Episode 2, it climbed to 9.6, thanks to sharp character clashes that pulled everyone in.
The peak hit with Episode 3 at 9.8, where explosive action sequences left jaws on the floor. Episode 4 held strong at 9.7, blending strategy with heart-pounding turns. Even the quieter builds like Episode 5 at 9.1 and Episode 6 at 9.3 kept the momentum alive through clever team plays and quiet revelations.
Episode 7 surged back to 9.6 with mentor-student ties that hit hard, while Episode 8—often pegged as the visual standout—touched 9.8, or even 9.9 in early tallies. Episode 9 settled at 9.3, focusing on fallout from big swings, and Episode 10 at 9.2 wrapped loose ends with precision. The finale, Episode 11, sealed it at 9.6, delivering a balanced send-off full of resolve and quiet wins.
This streak marks the first time any My Hero Academia season cleared 9.0 across the board. It tops the franchise’s own charts, where past seasons hovered around 8.5 to 9.0. On broader anime lists, it claims the 2025 crown, outpacing Solo Leveling Season 2 at 9.0 and Lord of Mysteries at 9.1.
Core Story Arcs Fuel the Fire
Season 8 dove straight into the final war, picking up from Season 7‘s chaos. Izuku Midoriya, now a battle-hardened pro, leads Class 1-A against All For One and a fractured villain front. The arc spans massive team-ups, personal duels, and society-wide fallout, all drawn from Kohei Horikoshi‘s manga chapters 343 to 430.
Early episodes ramp up the invasion on U.A. High, with heroes scrambling to protect civilians amid quirk overloads. Mid-season shifts to one-on-one showdowns, like Katsuki Bakugo‘s grudge match that fans rave about for its grit. Later parts tackle redemption threads, such as Himiko Toga‘s tangled loyalties and Shoto Todoroki‘s family reckoning, adding layers beyond the blasts.
The epilogue episodes tie it all with real-world rebuilding—heroes mentoring the next wave, scars turning into strength. No loose plots dangle; every thread from quirk origins to societal shifts gets closure. This tight weave keeps pacing brisk across 11 slots, avoiding the filler traps that snag longer runs.
Studio Bones animated the lot, building on their track record from earlier seasons. They handled fluid quirk effects, like One For All‘s green lightning or Decay‘s creeping voids, with butter-smooth frames. Budget poured into key frames, making crowd battles feel alive without losing individual flair.
Voice Cast Brings Every Punch Home
The English and Japanese dubs shine equally, but the original voices carry extra weight. Daiki Yamashita as Izuku nails the shift from wide-eyed kid to steady leader, his cries in tense spots landing like gut punches. Nobuhiko Okamoto‘s Bakugo roars with that signature edge, turning taunts into battle cries that echo.
Ayane Sakura gives Ochaco Uraraka quiet fire, especially in her growth moments. Kaito Ishikawa as Shoto chills with controlled fury, while Clifford Chapin‘s English Bakugo matches the heat. Supporting turns, like Hiro Shimono‘s scheming Shigaraki, add menace that creeps under the skin.
These performances sell the bonds—Izuku‘s talks with All Might feel lived-in, drawn from years of buildup. Dubs rolled out weekly on Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Hulu, syncing global drops for midnight watches in the US, 3 a.m. GMT in the UK, and evening slots in India via local partners.
Global Release Keeps the Hype Rolling
Season 8 dropped weekly starting October 4, 2025, on Crunchyroll worldwide, with subs in 10+ languages. US viewers caught episodes at 2:30 p.m. ET Saturdays, UK at 7:30 p.m. GMT, and India at 12 a.m. IST Sundays. Netflix added batches mid-season for bingers, while Amazon Prime Video handled regions like Southeast Asia.
Simulcasts hit peak concurrent views, topping Jujutsu Kaisen‘s finale numbers by 20%. Physical Blu-rays launched in Japan on December 20, 2025, with US editions set for January 2026 via Funimation. Streaming stays on Crunchyroll long-term, with ad-free options for premiums.
Fan Voices Echo the High Marks
Reactions flooded social feeds right after drops, zeroing in on why the scores hold up.
“Bro this final season is straight fire 🔥 9.6 on IMDb and not a single episode under 9.1? My childhood just hit legendary status 😎 Who else is out here rewatching like 10 times already?” – @Naveensurya555 on X
Many pointed to Episode 8‘s hype, with one user noting:
“Absolute Cinema 🙌 My Hero Academia Final Season Episode 8 now holds an almost perfect rating of 9.9/10 on IMDb, making it the highest rated anime episode of the year.” – @theotakuinsider
On Reddit’s r/BokuNoHeroAcademia, threads buzzed with breakdowns. Users praised Bakugo spots for raw energy, one saying the war’s stakes felt real because “anyone can drop at any time.” Emotional beats, like farewells and rebuilds, drew tears, with comments like “cried during that episode… ain’t made me cry since AOT.”
X polls showed 92% rating the season 9+ , with calls for it as Anime of the Year. Japanese site Filmarks gave it 4.6/5, Studio Bones’ best yet.
Animation and Sound Design Hit New Heights
Studio Bones went all-in, using 3D assists for massive quirk clashes without stiff looks. Backgrounds popped with urban decay turning to hopeful rebuilds, scored by ** Yuki Hayashi**’s orchestral swells—think swelling strings under *Izuku*’s final charge.
Sound effects cranked the immersion: quirk activations buzz with electric snaps, impacts thud like real hits. The OP “Tagatame” by TK from Ling Tosite Sigure pumped adrenaline, while ED tracks like “Koko ni Iru yo” softened landings with acoustic warmth.
This polish justifies the scores—it’s not just story, but a full sensory wrap on eight years.
Legacy Ties from Manga to Screen
Kohei Horikoshi‘s manga wrapped in August 2024 at chapter 430, giving animators room to breathe. The adaptation stuck close, expanding fights with extra beats for flow. No major cuts; even side character arcs, like Mezo Shoji‘s stand, got shine.
Post-finale, the series logs over 110K IMDb votes at 8.2 overall, but Season 8 skews it up. It outdid Attack on Titan‘s finale at 8.9, setting a benchmark for shonen ends.
Jump Festa 2026 panels on December 20-21 will feature cast talks, with whispers of an OVA covering chapter 431’s bonus. Merch drops include Izuku figures and art books hitting stores in January 2026.
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