Fans of the gritty superhero spin-off, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, can mark their calendars as the anime’s second season is officially slated to premiere in January 2026. The announcement was made during a stage presentation for the My Hero Academia franchise at the recent KyoMAF event, which also unveiled a new visual for the upcoming season.
The highly anticipated return of the series, which delves into the unpolished world of unlicensed heroes, follows the successful first season that aired from April to June 2025. Crunchyroll has confirmed it will stream the second season, continuing its global distribution outside of Asia.
Recap of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Season 1
The first season introduced audiences to Koichi Haimawari, a seemingly ordinary college student with a modest Quirk, who couldn’t make the cut as an official hero. Instead, Koichi, also known as The Crawler, engages in vigilante activities, helping others on the streets of Naruhata. His journey takes a significant turn when he teams up with the aspiring pop idol Pop☆Step (Kazuho Haneyama) and the formidable, Quirk-less vigilante Knuckleduster (Iwao Oguro). This unlikely trio forms the core of the Naruhata Vigilantes, tackling street-level crime and investigating the mysterious “Trigger” drug.
Set five years before the main My Hero Academia storyline, Vigilantes provides a unique perspective on hero society, showcasing a more grounded and often darker side of crime-fighting without the official backing of the Pro Hero system. The first season was praised for successfully distinguishing itself from the main series while maintaining its core energy and aesthetic.
The Manga’s Foundation and Canon Status
My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is a prequel and spin-off manga series written by Hideyuki Furuhashi and illustrated by Betten Court. It began serialization in Shueisha’s Jump Giga in August 2016 before moving to Shōnen Jump+ in October of the same year, concluding its run in May 2022 with 15 collected volumes.
While not directly penned by My Hero Academia creator Kōhei Horikoshi, the Vigilantes manga is widely considered canon, with Horikoshi himself giving it his blessing and even featuring a brief cameo from Koichi Haimawari in the My Hero Academia Final War Arc. This spin-off enriches the broader My Hero Academia mythos by offering valuable insights into lesser-known heroes and the challenges faced by those operating outside the official hero system.
Production and Creative Team
The anime adaptation of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is produced by BONES FILM, a new offshoot company established by Studio Bones, the studio behind the main My Hero Academia series. Kenichi Suzuki (known for his work on Cells at Work! and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure) directs the series. Yōsuke Kuroda, who handles scripts for the main My Hero Academia anime, returns to oversee the series scripts for Vigilantes. Character designs are handled by Takahiko Yoshida, and the music is composed by Yuki Hayashi, Shōgo Yamashiro, and Yūki Furuhashi.
What to Expect in Season 2
With the first season covering the initial arcs of the manga, including the “Vigilantes Beginnings Arc” and portions of the “Vs. Queen Bee Arc”, the second season is expected to continue adapting the remaining compelling storylines. The manga features several acclaimed arcs, such as the “Stendhal Arc” (which delves into the backstory of Hero Killer: Stain) and the “Naruhata Lockdown Arc”. Fans can anticipate further character development for Koichi, Pop☆Step, and Knuckleduster, as they navigate the complexities of being vigilantes in a world governed by licensed heroes.
The debut of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Season 2 in January 2026 will also coincide with the final season of the main My Hero Academia anime, which is scheduled to begin in October 2025. This concurrent airing will allow fans to fully immerse themselves in the expansive My Hero Academia universe, exploring both its past and its dramatic conclusion.
