The dust had barely settled. Two weeks ago, we said goodbye to My Hero Academia after eight years, 159 episodes, and more emotional damage than any shonen has a right to inflict. Fans were already entering the post-MHA void, wondering what comes next. And then today, Crunchyroll dropped the news: “I Am A Hero Too” — a brand new anime short — will premiere at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles. If this is your first time here, welcome to the Anime Roulette blog — and if you’re still grieving the finale, this is the news you needed.

What Is “I Am A Hero Too”?

The anime short adapts the Eri-focused one-shot chapter from My Hero Academia Fan Book: Ultra Age — a commemorative fanbook written by Kohei Horikoshi himself that went on sale exactly one year ago on May 2, 2025. The chapter, titled “I Am A Hero Too,” follows Eri in a story set after the events of the main series, exploring her life and growth following everything she endured.

This isn’t filler. This isn’t a side project by a secondary team. This is Horikoshi’s own story, brought to life by the same animation team that carried the main series through to its conclusion. For a character who became one of the emotional pillars of the entire franchise, getting a dedicated short is exactly the send-off Eri deserves.

When and Where to Watch

The world premiere will take place at Anime Expo 2026, running July 3-6, 2026 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Crunchyroll has confirmed they will host the premiere as part of their MHA programming at the event.

For those who can’t make it to Los Angeles, don’t worry. A wider release through Crunchyroll is expected to follow shortly after the premiere, likely later in Summer 2026. The short will almost certainly stream worldwide on the platform, just like previous MHA OVAs and specials.

Anime Expo 2026 tickets are available now through the official Anime Expo website. If you’re planning to attend, MHA panels are historically among the most popular events at the convention — expect long queues and an electric atmosphere.

Why Eri Deserves This

If you’re reading this and thinking “of all the characters, why Eri?” — let me remind you why this small horned girl matters so much.

Eri was introduced in the Shie Hassaikai arc (Season 4) as a child whose quirk, Rewind, allowed her to reverse a living being’s body to a previous state. Her adoptive “father,” the villain Overhaul, used her as a tool to create quirk-erasing bullets — by disassembling and reassembling her body over and over again. She was five years old. She had spent her entire life in pain, believing she was cursed, convinced that her existence only brought suffering to others.

And then Deku and Mirio Togata came for her. The rescue of Eri remains one of the most emotionally devastating and uplifting arcs in modern anime. Mirio losing his quirk to save her. Deku breaking his own body at 100% to reach her. And that smile — the first genuine smile Eri had ever given anyone — when Deku finally took her hand.

Throughout the rest of the series, Eri became one of the most important characters in the entire story. Her quirk Rewind saved multiple heroes, including Deku himself during the Paranormal Liberation War. But more than her power, she represented what MHA was always about: saving people, not just defeating villains.

The Timing Is Perfect

The announcement of “I Am A Hero Too” landed on May 2, 2026 — the exact same day as the final episode of the main anime. That wasn’t an accident. Horikoshi and the production team clearly planned this as a bridge between the end of the main story and whatever comes next for the franchise.

And honestly? It’s exactly what fans needed. The finale was beautiful, but it was also heavy. It closed the book on Deku’s journey, on Class 1-A, on everything we’d followed for nearly a decade. A quiet, character-focused short about Eri — about healing, about moving forward, about the children saved by heroes — is the perfect emotional palette cleanser.

If you haven’t read our retrospective on the MHA finale, check it out here — we looked back at the moments that defined a generation and explored what comes next for fans feeling the post-finale void.

What Comes After This?

The main My Hero Academia anime is complete. There are no more seasons announced, no more arcs to adapt. But the MHA universe is far too profitable — and far too rich with characters — to simply end. Vigilantes, the spin-off prequel manga, has plenty of material for an adaptation. Side characters like Hawks, Endeavour, and even Shigaraki have backstories worth exploring.

And then there’s the movie pipeline. Four MHA films have already been produced, and a fifth is always a possibility. The franchise remains one of Crunchyroll’s biggest draws globally. Horikoshi may be done with the main story, but the world he built isn’t going anywhere.

For now, “I Am A Hero Too” is enough. A quiet, beautiful coda to the series’ most heartbreakingly resilient character. A reminder that being a hero isn’t just about throwing punches — sometimes it’s about helping a little girl learn to smile again.

What to Watch While You Wait

Summer 2026 is shaping up to be one of the strongest anime seasons in years. While you wait for Eri’s short, check out our Spring 2026 first impressions for five shows that are already dominating the conversation. If you want something with similar emotional depth and underdog energy, our weekly Top 10 rankings are updated every week based on what thousands of fans are actually spinning. And if you need help picking your next obsession, our guide on how to pick your next anime has six proven tricks that cut through the noise.

Or just spin the wheel and let fate decide. We tested the best random anime generators — including ours — to see which ones actually deliver good recommendations and which ones waste your time.

We said goodbye to My Hero Academia two weeks ago. But maybe goodbyes don’t have to be forever. Maybe sometimes, the heroes we love get one more chapter. Eri’s story isn’t over yet. And honestly? Neither is ours.

Plus Ultra isn’t just a catchphrase. It’s a promise.