For years, watching My Hero Academia legally has largely meant turning to Crunchyroll. As one of the biggest shōnen anime franchises of the last decade, the superhero saga has become one of the streaming giant’s most recognizable titles. Now, however, a new free platform is giving North American fans another way to revisit the series without paying a subscription fee.
Weekly Shonen Jump · Ultimate Edition How Well Do You Know Shonen Jump Anime?
ClassicsLegendary
Power SystemsUnleash
VillainsMenace
HeroesResolve
LegacyHistory
01
Dragon Ball, created by Akira Toriyama, is one of the most influential manga ever published in Weekly Shonen Jump. The series follows Goku on his journey from a child to the universe’s greatest fighter. What is Goku’s original Saiyan name?
✓ Correct! Goku’s birth name is Kakarot, given to him on Planet Vegeta before he was sent to Earth as a baby. His Saiyan rival Vegeta famously refuses to call him “Goku” and always refers to him by his true Saiyan name, Kakarot.
✗ That answer missed harder than a filler arc! The answer is Kakarot. Vegeta is the Saiyan prince, Bardock is Goku’s father, and Raditz is Goku’s older brother. Kakarot is the Saiyan name given to Goku at birth before he was sent to Earth.
02
Naruto Uzumaki dreams of becoming the Hokage — the leader of his village. Throughout the series, Naruto carries a powerful entity sealed inside him since birth. What is sealed within Naruto?
✓ Correct! Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Fox, was sealed inside Naruto by his father, the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze, on the day of his birth. What began as a source of fear and isolation for Naruto eventually became his greatest ally and friend.
✗ That answer missed harder than a filler arc! The answer is Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Fox. The Ten-Tails is a different, more powerful beast. The Curse Mark is Orochimaru’s seal, and the Rinnegan is a legendary eye technique. Kurama was sealed in Naruto at birth by the Fourth Hokage.
03
In the manga Bleach by Tite Kubo, the main character Ichigo Kurosaki gains the powers of a Soul Reaper. Soul Reapers wield unique weapons that have names and special abilities. What are these signature weapons called?
✓ Correct! Zanpakuto are the signature weapons of Soul Reapers in Bleach. Each Zanpakuto has its own spirit and name, and a Soul Reaper must learn that name to unlock its Shikai (initial release) and eventually its Bankai (final release) forms.
✗ That answer missed harder than a filler arc! The answer is Zanpakuto. Sacred Gears are from High School DxD, Nen is the power system from Hunter x Hunter, and Bankai is actually a Zanpakuto’s final release form — not the weapon’s name itself. Zanpakuto literally means “soul-cutting sword.”
04
In Dragon Ball Z, Frieza is one of the most iconic villains in anime history. He is a tyrannical galactic emperor responsible for destroying the Saiyan homeworld. What is the name of the planet Frieza destroyed?
✓ Correct! Planet Vegeta, named after King Vegeta, was the homeworld of the Saiyan race. Frieza destroyed it with a single energy blast because he feared the growing power of the Saiyans and the legend of the Super Saiyan. Only a handful of Saiyans survived, including Goku and Vegeta.
✗ That answer missed harder than a filler arc! The answer is Planet Vegeta. Planet Namek is the home of the Namekians and the Dragon Balls, Planet Sadala is the Saiyan homeworld in Universe 6, and Earth is where Goku was raised. Frieza destroyed Planet Vegeta out of fear of the Saiyan race’s potential.
05
My Hero Academia (Boku no Hero Academia) by Kohei Horikoshi is set in a world where most people have superpowers. What is the term used for these superpowers in My Hero Academia?
✓ Correct! In My Hero Academia, about 80% of the world’s population possesses a Quirk — a unique superpower that manifests in childhood. The protagonist Izuku Midoriya was born Quirkless but inherited the powerful Quirk “One For All” from the greatest hero, All Might.
✗ That answer missed harder than a filler arc! The answer is Quirks. Stands are from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Jutsu are techniques from Naruto, and Cursed Techniques belong to Jujutsu Kaisen. In My Hero Academia, superpowers are called Quirks, and they vary wildly from person to person.
06
Jujutsu Kaisen by Gege Akutami features a power system based on negative human emotions that manifest as dangerous supernatural beings. What are these beings called?
✓ Correct! Cursed Spirits in Jujutsu Kaisen are born from the accumulation of negative emotions like fear, hatred, and sadness leaked by humans. Jujutsu sorcerers like protagonist Yuji Itadori use cursed energy to exorcise these dangerous beings and protect humanity.
✗ That answer missed harder than a filler arc! The answer is Cursed Spirits. Hollows are from Bleach, Demons are from Demon Slayer, and Titans are from Attack on Titan. In Jujutsu Kaisen, negative human emotions give rise to Cursed Spirits that jujutsu sorcerers must exorcise.
07
In Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba) by Koyoharu Gotouge, protagonist Tanjiro Kamado uses specialized sword techniques called Breathing Styles. What is the first Breathing Style that Tanjiro learns?
✓ Correct! Tanjiro learns Water Breathing from the former Water Hashira, Sakonji Urokodaki. Water Breathing is known for its fluid, adaptable movements. While Tanjiro later discovers his connection to the legendary Sun Breathing (Hinokami Kagura), Water Breathing was his first and foundational combat style.
✗ That answer missed harder than a filler arc! The answer is Water Breathing. Sun Breathing is the original style that Tanjiro discovers later through his family’s Hinokami Kagura dance. Fire Breathing and Thunder Breathing are used by other Demon Slayers. Tanjiro trained under Sakonji Urokodaki to master Water Breathing first.
08
Weekly Shonen Jump has been the home of many of the biggest manga series in history. Which of these series has sold the most copies worldwide as of 2024?
✓ Correct! One Piece by Eiichiro Oda holds the record as the best-selling manga series of all time, with over 500 million copies sold worldwide. Running since 1997, the series follows Monkey D. Luffy and his crew on their quest to find the legendary treasure, the One Piece.
✗ That answer missed harder than a filler arc! The answer is One Piece. While Naruto (~250 million), Dragon Ball (~260 million), and Demon Slayer (~150 million) are all massive sellers, One Piece stands alone with over 500 million copies sold — making it the best-selling manga in history by a wide margin.
Battle Complete Your Power Level
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Are you a Shonen Jump master — or still stuck in filler episodes?
As part of the anime’s ongoing 10th anniversary celebration, the first 38 episodes of My Hero Academia are being made available through the FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) channel It’s Anime on Samsung TV Plus and VIZIO WatchFree+, according to ComicBook. The move gives viewers access to the beginning of Izuku Midoriya’s journey at no cost, marking one of the franchise’s most significant free streaming releases in recent years.
The First Two Seasons of My Hero Academia Are Heading to Free Streaming
The anniversary campaign for My Hero Academia continues to expand beyond special episodes and merchandise. Beginning in June, fans in North America can watch the anime’s earliest adventures through It’s Anime, a 24/7 FAST channel that recently launched with a focus on established fan-favorite series.
Season 1, consisting of 13 episodes, became available on June 6. The rollout continues with the first half of Season 2 arriving on June 13, followed by the remaining episodes on July 1. In total, viewers will gain access to 38 episodes covering the formative years of U.A. High School and Deku’s rise as a future hero.
My Hero Academia Season 1
My Hero Academia Season 2
Episodes 1–13 — Streaming from June 13
Episodes 14–25 — Streaming from July 1
The service is currently available through Samsung TV Plus and VIZIO WatchFree+, making it accessible without a paid anime subscription. While Crunchyroll is still the primary home for the full franchise, the free release gives newcomers an easy entry point and offers longtime fans an opportunity to revisit some of the series’ most beloved story arcs.
My Hero Academia’s 10th Anniversary Is Just Getting Started
Deku in his new gear in My Hero Academia’s Final Episode
The free streaming announcement arrives during a major milestone year for the franchise. Based on the manga by Kohei Horikoshi, My Hero Academia celebrated the tenth anniversary of its anime adaptation in 2026. Although the manga concluded in 2024 and the main anime story wrapped up the following year, the series continues to release new content.
Earlier this year, fans received a special anime episode adapting material from the manga’s final collected volume. Set eight years after the climactic Final War, the story revisits familiar characters after they have established themselves as professional heroes. Another new episode focused on Eri is also scheduled to arrive later in 2026.
The celebration extends beyond animation as well. An official My Hero Academia anniversary website is tracking upcoming projects through 2027, including a large-scale exhibition planned for Japan. The franchise is also preparing the short film I Am a Hero Too, which will debut at Anime Expo before receiving a wider release on August 3.
Blue Lock Season 3 Confirmed Alongside New Movie
As the FIFA World Cup approaches, Blue Lock’s anime is gearing up with an official Season 3 confirmation, title, and new movie announcement.
Additional merchandise initiatives are also underway. One collection reimagines the cast in collaboration with a Japanese soccer theme, while another offers character-focused products featuring all 32 heroes highlighted in the anniversary artwork. Combined with free streaming access and new animated content, the franchise is ensuring that its tenth anniversary remains a year-long event for fans around the world.
With 38 episodes now available at no cost, It’s Anime has secured one of anime’s most recognizable titles for its growing catalog. For viewers who have never experienced Deku’s journey, or simply want to relive the series from the beginning, the free service has suddenly become an unexpected destination for My Hero Academia.
