One anime trope that remains constant throughout the majority of any series is the tragic backstory of a character. The protagonist was forced to overcome adversity during their early years to shape the person they are today, while the antagonist crumbled under the trauma they suffered.
My Hero Academia is a fine example of an anime series that is chalk-full of characters with a sad past, and there are several episodes throughout each season that highlight their pain. What separates the good guys from the villains is how they cope and move on, or fail to put the past aside.
This list will focus on twelve cases of characters undergoing a tragic backstory, how they were affected by it, and where it ranks, from sad to downright depressing.
12 Mezo Shoji
Facing Discrimination Due To His Appearance
Developing a quirk isn’t just a matter of receiving a power; For some heroes and villains, their entire appearance can change overnight. Referred to as Heteromorphs. Mezo Shoji is one example of this type of quirk user, sporting a unique look with multiple arms and a lizard-like face.
While most Heteromorphs are accepted in major cities, the more suburban areas still consider them as taboo, often rejecting them just for their appearance. Unfortunately, Shoji grew up in the latter, and despite his aspirations of becoming a pro hero, he was treated as an anomaly.
In his backstory, Shoji performed a heroic rescue, saving a young girl from drowning in a flood, yet was still rejected by his village. Thankfully, this experience and many others didn’t turn him to the dark side, but instead it further encouraged him to continue to do good in hopes of one day changing their mind.
11 Izuku Midoriya
Born Without Any Quirks
As many young children grow up, they look forward to discovering their unique talent and developing it to become a professional hero someday. The one thing you absolutely want to avoid in the My Hero Academia universe is being born quirkless, which would make you an ordinary human living at the mercy of heroes and villains.
Such was the case for Izuku Midoriya, who aspired to become a powerful hero like his role model, All Might, but was devastated by the news that he would never acquire a quirk. Once the news spread at school, Midoriya was bullied by everyone, including his best friend, Katsuki Bakugo.
In an ironic twist that felt like destiny calling, Midoriya grew with All Might, and eventually took over the One For All quirk. Not only did he now have powers of his own, but the quirk he inherited from All Might would make him one of the most powerful heroes in the world.
10 Lady Nagant
A Prisoner Of Body And Mind
What happens when you go from being a respected pro hero, to finding yourself locked behind bars after killing the Hero Public Safety Commission’s chairman? You stumble upon the character known as Lady Nagant, a disgraced hero caught in a cover-up.
During her time in Tartarus, a maximum-security prison for quirk users, Lady Nagant was again caught in a sticky situation when All For One created chaos in order to break out all the prisoners. As his way of seeking repayment for setting her free, All For One employed Lady Nagant.
Her sole mission from All For One was to find Midoriya and take him out using her Rifle quirk. Once again confined to her duty, Lady Nagant was also implanted with a bomb inside her body, set to go off at any time if she were to rebel against All For One.
9 Himiko Toga
Her Parents Hated Her
Sometimes, a backstory is tragic enough that there’s no hope of becoming a pro hero. Himiko Toga was dealt one of those hands, as her appearance alone and sadistic nature was enough to turn the entire city, as well as her parents, against her.
Toga was sweet and charming on the outside, but harbored a psychopathic nature on the inside that led her to do some heinous things at a young age. Her parents couldn’t handle her actions, criticizing her for everything she did and pleading with her to hide her sharp teeth.
A child can only be told so many times by her parents and her peers that her smile is hideous until she loses it. Toga joined the League of Villains later on in life, feeling accepted for the first time in her life by a group of evil quirk users.
8 Shoto Todoroki
Born Into A Life Of Expectations And Abuse
The Todoroki family was very problematic in the past, which is why there are actually two entries on this list dedicated to their history. The first one belongs to Shoto Todoroki, the hot-and-cold quirk user who inherited both his mother’s ice and father’s fire.
Shoto’s parents were involved in an arranged marriage for the sake of combining two quirks into one through childbirth, something they attempted many times. After multiple failed attempts involving children with only one of the quirks, Shoto was born.
What makes his story painful to watch is the constant abuse and forceful training sessions he was involved with, at the hands of his father, Endeavor, and his mother accidentally burning his face. The high expectations that were placed on him at an early age were cruel and unfair, but Shoto managed to make it out alright, albeit with a major chip on his shoulder.
7 Spinner
His Reptilian Appearance Was Rejected
Another representative of the League of Villains that also happens to be a Heteromorph is Spinner, who appears to have become a full-fledged lizard. His purple hair and aloof nature accentuates his appearance, but even in a city where quirk users are prevalent, many found him to be off-putting.
During his adolescent years, Spinner was often bullied by his peers and found it very difficult to make any friends. When one grows up feeling rejected and alone, they search for any semblance of acceptance, which is what Spinner found in the League of Villains.
Pledging to make the world a better place, Spinner works to make the world a more accepting place of Heteromorphs, even if it’s through villainous methods. One could argue his adoption of Stain’s personality and characteristics is a way of concealing himself and playing up a part he can be proud of.
6 Twice
His Quirk Made Him Lose Control
Twice has one of the weirdest quirks in My Hero Academia, but one that sets him apart from every other member of the League of Villains. His ability allows him to multiply himself into several clones, but there’s one major design flaw in this quirk.
As Twice learned to utilize his quirk and master it as much as he could, Twice developed an identity crisis that twisted his mind to the point of losing his sanity. Despite being able to create multiple clones of himself, each copy believes they are the original, creating doubt in his mind that he is the true Twice.
It’s a sad state to find yourself in, possessing an incredible quirk that could turn the tables on any opponent, yet it is a constant source of your consistent anguish. Continuing to use his quirk to help the League of Villians, Twice’s life was ruined as he lost himself in the clones he created.
5 Hawks
Isolated And Abused By His Father
Growing up poor is never an easy life to live, but Hawks managed to survive by finding ways to entertain himself and please others. Sadly, the one person he could never bring to smile was his abusive and belligerent father.
No matter what Hawks did, he could be certain that his father would be angry at him and, more often than not, get physically violent. Shouting cruel sentiments, most would have their mental state deteriorate and become vengeful towards others.
In Hawks’ case, his pure heart and belief that everyone had good in them led him down the road of heroism. Following the retirement of All Might, Hawks became the number-two pro hero, following behind Endeavor and being trusted with intense missions, such as going undercover in the League of Villains.
4 Toya Todoroki
Nearly Destroyed By His Father And His Quirk
The second member of the Todoroki family was actually one of the best-kept secrets of My Hero Academia. First introduced as Dabi, a dark-haired flame user with scars and burn marks over his face and neck, many were not prepared to learn of his true name and lore.
Born as Toya Todoroki, Dabi was the older brother of Shoto and one of the Todoroki rejects due to his single quirk usage. Dabi was often disregarded by his father due to his weakness and inability to control his quirk, and the pain of his father’s rejection could not be saved by the love of his mother.
After setting the forest ablaze with his power, Toya was believed to be dead, only to resurface later as a representative of the League of Villains. The pain and torment he faced during his upbringing led him down a path of hatred and disdain for anyone with the Todoroki name.
3 Kota Izumi
A Child That Grew Up Hating Pro Heroes
Kota Izumi once grew up a very happy and bright child, living life to his fullest and aspiring to be a contributing member to society. That all changed following the death of both his parents, who lost their lives to a quirk user.
The sudden shift in Kota’s life is what led him down a spiral that resulted in his hatred towards quirk users. Whether it was an evildoer that was destroying the city, or a pro-hero sworn into duty to stop them, Kota hated them.
His heart-wrenching backstory and his reaction to losing both his parents is something that could change anyone. While Kota’s resentment towards quirk users was strong for so many years, his bond with Midoriya helped change his mind and believe in those who protect the world.
