Uraraka Ochaco's characterization in My Hero Academia was poor beyond measure, and here's why

When My Hero Academia by Kohei Horikoshi was released, it was met with positive response for its refreshing take on the superhero genre, compelling world-building, and a diverse cast of characters. Among those characters was Uraraka Ochaco, initially shown as a kind-hearted girl who was inspired to become a Pro Hero.

She wanted to support her family by being a source of financial aid as they were struggling. Her Quirk, Zero Gravity, offered unique strategic potential, and fans expected her to develop into a well-rounded character with significant contributions to the story.

However, as the series progressed, it was clear that her development remained stagnant. Nothing about her was ever explored in depth, including her part as the emotional support and romantic subplot roles. Her overall presence felt pale in comparison to her classmates.

Uraraka Ochaco has proved herself during the U.A. Entrance Exam by saving Izuku Midoriya. Additionally, during the Sports Festival, she went up against the seemingly invincible Katsuki Bakugo and stood her ground and earning respect from the audience and Bakugo himself.

It was clear that she refused to let anyone else define her worth. During these events, the author, Kohei Horikoshi, planted seeds of a formidable hero in the making. She was a character in My Hero Academia who was well aware of her limitations but never backed down because of her strong willpower and tenacity.

Unfortunately, this strong foundation was never built upon in a meaningful way. From the moment her character was shown to develop romantic feelings for Izuku Midoriya, it was as if her character arc suddenly stopped going towards the path of her being a hero. Rather, she was now entangled in a romantic sub-plot, which unfortunately did not evolve or contribute to the greater narrative.

Suddenly, she was a generic love-struck girl and was pushed aside to be a side character. There was a golden chance to use this material and write a romantic angle that could have further added to her character depth. Instead, for Ochaco, it becomes a hindrance. Even when she had the chance to fight against strong opponents, she was stuck in her mental dilemma of whether to confess to him or not.

In contrast, characters like Bakugo, Todoroki, and even side characters like Mirio Togata get complex inner struggles, long-term development arcs, and significant impact on the plot. Uraraka Ochaco was part of the main cast but was reduced to be someone who witnessed major fights from the sidelines.

My Hero Academia wasted the potential of her Quirk

Ochaco’s Quirk, Zero Gravity, is one of the most unique in My Hero Academia. She could nullify the effects of gravity on anything she touches. While it looks like a great defense ability, her Quirk has the potential to be lethal at the very least, a powerful asset. We saw glimpses of what Ochaco could do with her Quirk in the Sports Festival and during the Provisional License Exam.

Her use of martial arts and battlefield awareness hinted at an evolution from a timid first-year student to a proactive hero. Especially how she used quick thinking to touch all the debris and hurl it at Bakugo. But then again, during all of My Hero Academia, she never got a major battle that truly showcased her growth in power or strategy.

Finally, Uraraka Ochaco in My Hero Academia never was an influential character, even during important arcs like the League of Villains’ attacks or the Final battle, her presence is also of almost no importance. Even in moments where her emotional depth could have served as meaningful, like her battle with Toga, it could have had a proper buildup. But it was resolved pretty quickly and without lasting consequences. It felt more like a stretched scene just to remind us on her empathetic side.

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In conclusion, Ochaco in My Hero Academia could have been a great example of strong femininity in heroism. But once what started out with the promise of being a standout character unfortunately crashed and burned, she was sidelined in major arcs and denied the kind of character growth that her peers enjoyed. Ochaco deserved more than being an emotional anchor for the protagonist. She deserved her own journey, her own battles, and her own spotlight.

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