Eri is getting a moment the fandom never saw coming, and it could be the emotional crown jewel of My Hero Academia’s entire 10th-anniversary celebration.
While the main anime ended in 2025, the franchise quietly kept a promise to fans: one final, heartfelt story centered on the girl whose tragedy shaped so much of the series. The new OVA, My Hero Academia: I’m a Hero Too, is officially here — and it arrives right as the franchise marks a full decade of the anime that started it all in April 2016.
What Is “I’m a Hero Too” About?
The OVA adapts a one-shot bonus chapter, also called “I’m a Hero Too,” that was written by series creator Kohei Horikoshi and printed inside the My Hero Academia: Ultra Age fanbook when it came out in December 2024. Unlike the bombastic all-out brawls of the main series, this short is a character-driven spotlight on Eri, one of the most beloved and most traumatized characters in the entire franchise.
Fans have been waiting years for a proper emotional payoff for her arc, and Horikoshi delivers what many are calling the story’s warmest, most tender bonus content yet.
Where and When You Can Watch It
The OVA first got a public showing at an advance screening during Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles, where it instantly became one of the most talked-about anime reveals of the convention season. It officially premiered in Japan on August 3, 2026 at 12:00 AM JST.
But international fans weren’t left out of the loop. At San Diego Comic-Con on July 24, 2026, the official My Hero Academia social channels confirmed that the episode would get a simulcast on Crunchyroll — meaning weekend viewers could watch it with both subtitles and a fully-produced English dub barely hours after Japan.
Why This OVA Matters So Much
This extra episode follows on from the mission of the season 8 animated run and the earlier special episode “More,” which was released way back in May 2026. Together with this Eri-focused episode, it wraps up the anime in a deliberately gentler, more reflective way than the spattering would suggest.
For a series that built its reputation on gigantic clashes between the next generation of heroes and villains, centering the finale feel on a single quiet character moment is a bold choice. It’s the kind of fandom-first decision that says the anime staff understands exactly why Eri stuck with so many people — and why her long-running emotional recovery matters more than any single fight.
What Comes Next for the Franchise
This OVA is officially part of the 10th-anniversary “Ultra” projects. An official concert for the WithHero Academia music was also revealed, plus new premium events and livestreams — while two more anniversary projects remain officially unannounced, expected to arrive in 2027.
If you got into My Hero Academia during its Shonen Jump-era peak, this Eri OVA is the perfect closing bow: beautiful, remorseful, and quietly hopeful. And for new viewers, it’s a stand-alone emotional win that requires zero huge backstory to appreciate.
Watch It Now Before the Buzz Fades
Unlike the theatrical movies that hinge on years of lore, I’m a Hero Too works airtight on its own. It is streaming right now on Crunchyroll with sub and dub, so there’s no excuse to miss one of 2026’s most quietly emotional pieces of anime — especially if you’ve been following Horikoshi’s universe for the full decade.
What do you think?
Are you planning to watch I’m a Hero Too this weekend? Which My Hero Academia character do you think earned a proper goodbye the most — Eri, or somebody else? Drop your take in the comments below and tell us if this caps your All Might-era memories. (And if rankings matter to you, be sure to check out our recap of the newest manga announced at Anime Expo 2026 and our look at how another Shonen Jump giant is closing out its own story.)
