My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission

Let's get this done before Halloween ends and November begins. 

As with Demon Slayer, My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission takes a popular anime and manga franchise to the big screen. Unlike Demon Slayer, this is actually the third film based on Kohei Horikoshi's franchise and is not adapted directly from the printed page. Now for those who came in late:

Izuku "Deku" Midoriya used to be one of the 20% born without a superpower, a Quirk. That is, until he met his favorite superhero, All-Might, who shares his aptly-named Quirk, One for All, giving him momentary bursts of energy. He's enrolled in UA High for his superhero education. Lots of stuff happens and we're here:

Deku is one of many called to action to fight Humarise, a terrorist organization out to wipe out the Quirky. Even though a few members, including leader Flect Turn, have Quirks (but at least they admit it!). Their "Trigger Bombs" fatally drive Quirks out of control. Deku and his classmates, the literally explosive Katsuki Bakugo and the hot & cold Shoto Todoroki, head for Humarise's home-turf of Otheon. 

Deku runs into a streetwise guy named Rody Soul, who comes into possession of a Humarise defector's MacGuffin briefcase. Coincidentally, Deku is immediately framed as a mass murderer. So they head for the border with the case. Katsuki and Shoto join up later on. It's up to them to find Humarise's home base and stop their plan to Trigger Bomb the entire world.

The usual Quirky League - director Kenji Nagasaki, writer Yosuke Kuroda and animation studio Bones, et al - continue their work from the show and previous films. They create a decent standalone story for the main cast. Flect Turn's threat is quickly established with the first of his Trigger Bombs. There's some semblance of backstory for those who came in late. The main three and some of their peers get at least a few moments to shine. It milks some suspense and runtime with its climactic battles; at least we're on edge as we wonder how the main three will win.

This is very much Rody's movie. He's still a likable guy underneath the sarcastic exterior. We see him support his younger siblings with shady work. His time with Deku lets him open up. That's when we see his important connection to Humarise. There's some genuine suspense as we wonder if he'll stay on Deku's side. His bird sidekick, Pino, is more important than one first suspects. 

The animation includes some stunning long takes, such as one where Rody outruns Deku. It's somewhat diminished when characters obviously lack faces. But it's brought up by the Quirky character designs, especially of the new characters created by Horikoshi. Flect Turn's blue visage is instantly memorable; a few memorable lackeys include the handbow-wielding Beros and the oni-morphing Rogone. The heroes' side includes the living paperman Salaam, the aptly named Clair Voyance and an unnamed flying squirrel girl. Their battles are great displays of sight and sound. Some of the best bits of sound come from series composer Yuki Hayashi's score.

Deku's latest big screen mission continues My Hero Academia's standards of superheroic excellence. It's sure to thrill fans as they wait for the anime's sixth season next year. The uninitiated get a great audience surrogate with Rody Soul. The World Heroes' Mission has something for everyone. I saw the English dub but it's also available subtitled. Whatever language suits you will do just fine. It's sure to make slow Sundays go, as the show puts it, plus ultra.