u/NyanScout

My third and possibly (hopefully not) final watch order infographic now that we know 100% of all the manga content is being adapted with the announcemnet of the hero too OVA.

Unless a new movie or spin off or sequel is announced whenever, this is the final infographic for now.

Now for an FAQ:

Q: Why is Vigilantes listed as optional and not mandatory?
A: Originally it was but after having seen a lot of the reactions to the anime, it seem's alot just do not vibe with the vibe of vigilantes and that's fine. Because of this I also seperate the Aizawa School days Arc as I believe that is cruical to understanding the main MHA story better, and it feels very different to the rest of vigilantes (we know horikoshi had a big hand in this arc) .

Q: This is not fully chronological is it.

A: It mostly is but not entirely! If it was then it would need some weird bits that could hamper the viewing experience. Such as needing to watch Vigilantes before the main series, to having to watch season 5 in a weird order that kinda doesn't work in the manga, to parts of the 1st movie being way before even Vigilantes.

It is 95% in chronological order but values viewer enjoyment and easiness higher. Yes WHM and the ova's technically take place between season 5 and 6 but I feel it just flows better if you go straight from the endeavour agency arc having the origin trio with Endeavour the entire time into the movie, and then the Meta Liberation Army arc going straight into the war to keep up the hype and not this weird jarring Mr Smiley OVA to break up the vibes.

Q: Heroes Rising placement is wrong chronologically, it happens after Meta Liberation/My Villian Academia as shown through twice and shigaraki.

A: Yes that is true, however that would mean due to the anime re-ordering this, it would need to be after endeavor agency & World Heroes Mission which is where deku is shown to really start to use blackwhip. Him not using blackwhip at all in Heroes Rising would feel like a missed opportunity and feel wrong. Also would mean the 3rd movie happens before the 2nd which makes the stakes more weird, going from a world level threat across the world to a threat on a single island.

Q: How come it cuts to a special episode from season 3 halfway (S3 Ep 58 Save the world with love) through season 2? For the first movie?

A: Due to when this movie came out in Japan, it came out mid way during when season 3 was airing, however it is evident this movie takes place during season 2 as All might can still fight and deku is not using shoot style.