The legacy of My Hero Academia lives on, and a legendary Kyoto-based woodblock print studio has revealed stunning new artwork depicting Izuku Midoriya, Katsuki Bakugo, and Shoto Todoroki as they appeared in the story’s final battle. Though the beloved shonen series ended its run in Weekly Shonen Jump in 2024, fans aren’t ready to let Kouhei Horikoshi’s magnum opus fade away, with new merchandise and events continuing to pop up on a regular basis. Now, My Hero Academia fans are in for a treat, with these new prints bringing some of the series’ most popular characters to life via an ancient Japanese carving technique utilized meticulously by skilled artisans. (And yes, they are for sale.)
The global popularity of My Hero Academia continues unabated, marking an incredible phenomenon, with Horikoshi’s manga series selling over 100 million copies. This puts Izuku’s adventure on par with other unforgettable series like Hunter x Hunter, Fist of the North Star, and Astro Boy, with its anime adaptation not falling far behind, having recently been awarded the Guinness World Record for most in-demand animated TV show in the world. One of the largest reasons for My Hero Academia‘s success is its cast of characters, with Izuku, Katsuki, and Shoto commonly ranking near the top in popularity polls. Fans of both this celebrated series and traditional Japanese art are in luck, thanks to one well-known art studio in the country’s ancient capital.
Kyoto-based Woodblock Print Studio Creates Stunning My Hero Academia Works
Takezasado, a Kyoto-based woodblock print studio founded in 1891, has revealed a series of artworks depicting Izuku, Katsuki, and Shoto created using traditional ukiyo-e woodblock printing techniques passed down since the Edo period. Showing the three characters as they appeared during the epic final battle, the handcrafted items will be available to purchase for ¥55,000 (around $340) starting July 31 at 7PM JST, and each will come fully framed and include a certificate of authenticity. Unsurprisingly, a very small number will be available, so those wanting to add these one-of-a-kind pieces to their collection will want to visit the official website on release day to snag their copy.
In regards to why the company decided to create these works in the first place, Kenji Takenaka, a master printer at Takezasado, explained that while they didn’t invent woodblock printing, they aim to act as a bridge, incorporating ancient forms of art into the modern day and connecting the past with the present. The artist also pointed out that creating each work requires both physical discipline and a degree of obsession, something that the characters in My Hero Academia are familiar with as they aim to become stronger.
Numerous events are taking place throughout 2026 to celebrate the series’ 10th anniversary, and fans are gearing up for a new My Hero Academia anime episode set to release on August 3. Titled “I Am a Hero Too,” the episode will adapt a manga chapter found in My Hero Academia: Ultra Age: The Final Fan Book, which shows an older Eri visiting U.A. High School. Additionally, the Toho Animation YouTube channel is currently hosting early episodes of My Hero Academia for free as part of the ongoing celebration.
Rearrange the covers into the correct Japanese release order.
Fans in the US are also preparing up for the My Hero Academia concert tour slated to take place later in 2026. From September 12 to October 23, the event will travel to 30 locations in the United States, featuring a 15-piece live band. Attendees can expect to hear tracks from the entire series, and the most memorable moments will be shown on a huge screen behind the performers. Tickets are currently on sale at the official event website.
- Release Date
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2016 – 2026-00-00
- Network
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TBS, MBS, Nippon TV
- Directors
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Shouji Ikeno, Tsuyoshi Tobita, Ikuro Sato, Takudai Kakuchi, Masashi Abe, Tetsuya Miyanishi, Kazuma Komatsu, Yoshifumi Sasahara, Masayuki Otsuki, Daisuke Tsukushi, Takayuki Yamamoto, Yohei Fukui, Takuro Tsukada, Masatoyo Takada, Naomi Nakayama, Sayaka Morikawa, Takanori Yano
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Daiki Yamashita
Izuku Midoriya (voice)
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Kaito Ishikawa
Manga Fukidashi (voice)
Source: Oricon
