Summary

Kohei Horikoshi has created detailed backstories for previous One For All users.
Fans are left wondering when they will know the deeper histories of the other One For All users.
Horikoshi refuses to draw past One For All users' detailed stories, opting to hint at them instead.

From the beginning of My Hero Academia, One For All has been one of the most intriguing quirks, passed down through time. Before Izuku Midoriya could even become its holder, eight users previously possessed this incredible ability. While some of these users are explored more than others, their backstories have never been fully revealed. As a result, many fans are wondering when they will ever know their deeper histories.

Fortunately, My Hero Academia’s creator, Kohei Horikoshi, revealed he has created detailed backstories for previous One For All users. This probably means he may have already imagined what kind of lives these heroes led in the past, including their personalities and choices. However, as much as fans would love to get their hands on these missing stories, Horikoshi seems convinced there’s no need for him to release them, and here’s why.

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Posts 11

By Rei Penber

Horikoshi Says Previous One For All Users Have Detailed Stories

Every One For All Inheritor Has a Story

Of all the One For All users, Izuku Midoriya and All Might are the better-known holders due to the weight of their role in My Hero Academia. Many anime fans, even those who refuse to sit down and watch the series, are probably aware of the relationship between All Might and Deku, which speaks volumes about their popularity. As revealed in the manga and anime, they have a close relationship, bound by the same quirk.

A real hero will always find a way for justice to be served.—All Might

But behind the fame and prominence Deku and All Might hold, most of the previous users of One For All don’t share the same spotlight. Apart from Nana Shimura and Yoichi Shigaraki, in addition to All Might and Deku, the other One For All users are not as famous. Because of this, many fans can’t help but wonder when they will ever get to know these users on a more personal level. Thankfully, Kohei Horikoshi holds their detailed stories.

In an interview with Viz Media, My Hero Academia’s creator, Kohei Horikoshi, spills that he has created detailed stories for previous One For All users when asked if there are any characters he wanted to explore more but didn’t get the chance to:

Interviewer: Are there any characters or stories you wanted to explore more but didn’t get the chance to?

Kohei Horikoshi: It’s not quite about not getting the chance, but I have characters and backstories that I created but didn’t include in the story. For instance, I have detailed stories for the previous inheritors of One For All. I intentionally left these out. I know it’s a little off from what the question was asking.

From this statement, it’s clear that Horikoshi is a fan of subtle storytelling. Although he went to the effort to create detailed backstories of the previous One For All inheritors, he still refuses to show its entirety to the fans. Some would say he loves to torture fans in the best way possible, but these untold stories make the mystery surrounding these characters more meaningful.

On the contrary, My Hero Academia could have been deeper if fans had seen these stories come to life. At least a glimpse of their lore would have made a difference in the world-building and character depth departments, as fans still have unresolved questions about the previous inheritors in the series.

Horikoshi Declines to Draw Past One For All Users’ Detailed Stories

Hinting Is Better Than Fully Showing It

In the same interview, Kohei Horikoshi explained why he refuses to draw the backstories he created for the previous One For All inheritors to this day. Believe it or not, he was inspired by Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character in the movie Terminator 2, which convinced him to lock away the backstories of the previous users:

Interviewer: Do you want to draw those backstories at some point?

Kohei Horikoshi: No, not at all. Rather than drawing out all the well-thought-out backgrounds and episodes, I wanted to hint at those elements instead. For instance, in Terminator 2, John Connor becomes a leader in the future, and Schwarzenegger’s character is sent from that future world. But there aren’t many depictions of the future itself. Because the future isn’t depicted in detail, the viewers’ imaginations expand, and I thought that was really great. So, I wanted to create something like Terminator 2. I might have strayed a bit from the original question though…

Interviewer: So, while there are characters you thought up but didn’t draw, there’s nothing you feel you missed?

Kohei Horikoshi: Exactly.

It’s clear that Horikoshi wants fans to feel the weight of the unseen, to allow them to go out of the box and let their imagination fill the missing connections by avoiding spelling everything out. Yet still, at the end of the day, it’s a bit frustrating for many fans, knowing there are existing stories in My Hero Academia that they would never get their hands on forever.

While fans are dying to see these unused stories, Kohei Horikoshi is committed to his vision from the very beginning. Even at the cost of world-building and character depth, he’s not second-guessing or regretting the important stories, such as the lore behind the OFA users left out. Fans can only hope that in the future, Horikoshi will change his original plan.

Source: Viz Media

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