My Hero Academia: World Heroes Mission Review - 8 Ups & 2 Downs

Despite its enormous cast of heroes, the film ends up feeling surprisingly intimate in parts, especially in the moments Deku spends traveling cross-country with Rody Soul.

With moments of contemplation and beautiful scenery with some lovely, surprisingly mellow original music from Asian Kung-Fu Generation that gives it a faintly Ghibli-esque feel, it does well to let the audience breathe between its frenetic action scenes. It also makes Rody and Deku's relationship feel earned, making the climax feel satisfying as well.

It feels remarkably unique in comparison to the two other films in the franchise, and it may not be to the liking of many of the series's fans who only come for the shonen "sakuga" action (though this movie has many of those as well). It's a refreshingly sweet and heartfelt film, with as much "soul" as the new character's name, and it certainly wouldn't have worked half as well if the relationship being built between Rody and Deku wasn't as compelling as it was.

It showcases one of the series's other, underrated strengths: its ability to write characters and relationships with a surprising softness for an anime known for its action.