“My Hero Academia: Vigilantes” propels a thrilling spin-off to the worldwide phenomenon of the “My Hero Academia” series, delving into the lives of individuals who operate outside the official hero system. This action-packed prequel presents an alternative to a world teeming with Quirks (superpowers), delving into the reasons and struggles of individuals opting to mete out justice without the licensing and regulation that Pro Heroes undergo.

Plot: Protecting the Streets the Heroes Overlook

Set about 5 years before “My Hero Academia,“ “Vigilantes” takes place primarily in the Naruhata district. The story introduces Koichi Haimawari, a well-meaning college student with the Quirk, “Slide and Glide,” which allows him to zip across surfaces with relative ease, thus moving quickly. Koichi wants to be a hero to protect people, but he doesn’t have the image of potential to do so as a Pro Hero nor the confidence to. Instead, he uses his Quirk to perform small good deeds and chased away bad guys on occasion, and he is recognized, noted, and referred to in the community as “Nice Guy.”

Koichi’s existence is forever altered when he encounters the enigmatic vigilante Knuckleduster, a quirkless but incredibly skilled fighter, and hot-headed young Kazuho Haneyama, who has the Vocal Quirk and makes a living entertaining as the rising star idol “Pop Step.” When the three become embroiled in a war over Quirk-augmenting drugs and crime syndicates, Knuckleduster recruits Koichi and Kazuho into the world of the vigilantes.

Together, this odd couple walks the streets, battling small-time villains and solving problems that are outside the purview of the frazzled Pro Heroes. The show examines the complexities of justice, the frustration of a society that overly restricts heroism, and the moral gray areas between good and evil. In the process, as they go about their vigilante work, they run into friends and enemies, underground players and even younger incarnations of the better-known characters in the main show, providing us with interesting peeks into their backstories. One of the main overarching plots is the mysterious villain Number 6, who pulls the strings from behind the scenes, representing a threat that is bigger than Naruhata’s local concerns.

Cast: Old Favorites and New Heroes

The “My Hero Academia: Vigilantes” anime television series, premiering on April 7, 2025, boasts a talented set of actors portraying these characters.

Japanese Voice Cast

• Shuichiro Umeda as Koichi Haimawari/The Crawler
• Ikumi Hasegawa as Kazuho Haneyama/Pop Step
• Yasuhiro Mamiya as Iwao Oguro/Knuckleduster
• Sayaka Senbongi as Kuin Hachisuka
• Kosuke Toriumi is Soga Kugisaki
• Kenta Miyake as All Might
• Junichi Suwabe as Shota Aizawa/Eraser Head
• Masamichi Kitada as Ingenium
• Hiroyuki Yoshino as the Narrator
• Akeno Watanabe as Midnight
• Tokuyoshi Kawashima as Naomasa Tsukauchi
• Daiki Yamashita as Izuku Midoriya (appearing in a cameo)

English Voice Cast:

• Jack Broadbent as Koichi Haimawari/The Crawler
• Macy Anne Johnson as Kazuho Haneyama/Pop Step
• Jason Marnocha as Iwao Oguro/Knuckleduster
• Morgane Laure as Kuin Hachisuka
• Joshua Waters as Soga Kugisaki
• Christopher R. Sabat as All Might
• Christopher Wehkamp as Shota Aizawa/Eraser Head
• Present Mic = Dave Trosko
• Aaron Campbell as Number
• Justin Briner as Izuku Midoriya (appearing in a cameo)

The series also has a series of supporting characters and guest appearances by young incarnations of Pro Heroes familiar to the main series audience that contribute to the world-building and backstory about their later development.

Release Date and Where to Watch

The “My Hero Academia: Vigilantes” animation TV series first aired on April 7, 2025. New episodes are released on a weekly basis.

To date, the series can be streamed on Crunchyroll alone.English-dubbed as well as Japanese-subbed episodes are released all at once each week so that many people can view the series. The official number of episodes for the first season is 13, and new episodes are released each Monday.

What You Need to Know:

• Prequel Setting: “Vigilantes” is a prequel five years before Izuku Midoriya’s hero training in the main “My Hero Academia” series. While knowledge of the original series will be enriched by viewing because it provides background information on some of the characters and situations, it is not strictly necessary to enjoy “Vigilantes” since it is a standalone story with an alternate group of characters.
• Alternative Hero Concept: The series approaches the hero concept from the perspective of those who work outside the law.It raises the question of why other individuals become vigilantes, the problems they encounter, and the ethical dilemmas of their actions in a world that highly regulates hero activity.
• Characteristic of a Character-Driven Narrative: While action constitutes a significant portion, “Vigilantes” is largely character-driven and explores the interaction between Koichi, Kazuho, and Knuckleduster. It explores their inner conflicts, motivations, and growth as they cope with the dangers of their line of work.
• Crossovers with the Main Series: “My Hero Academia” enthusiasts will enjoy the cameos of the young actors who portray the characters they’ve come to love, like All Might, Eraser Head, and the others. These cameos provide us with the history of their backstories and enable us to learn more about the history of the world. The series also tackles early instances of villainy and issues in society that are eventually discussed in the main timeline.
• Mature Themes: “Vigilantes” digs deeper into darker and more mature themes than the main series, including the dirty and grotesque day-to-day of being outside the ‘formal’ hero system and dealing with the even more ethically questionable parts of society.

“My Hero Academia: Vigilantes” is a new and entertaining look at superheroism in the “My Hero Academia” known universe. It is a story of ordinary people trying to incite change in a super-powered world, and it acknowledges the ‘unsung heroes’ working in shadows to keep their communities safe. Whether you’re an established fan of the series or if this is your first time exploring this universe, “Vigilantes” is an interesting and enjoyable examination of the less conventional aspects of superheroism!