Eri as a high-schooler is a huge emotional payoff for longtime fans because watching her grow from the traumatized child in the Overhaul arc to a confident high-schooler is the kind of full-circle moment that hits hard for series readers. The Anime Expo 2026 screening is also a great fan reward, since bringing the short directly to fans at one of the biggest North American anime conventions makes the rollout feel like a real celebration of the franchise. The "Character Matchup" themed screenings are clever programming too, because pairing the short with iconic episodes like Deku vs. Bakugo and Deku vs. Shigaraki gives Japanese fans a curated theatrical experience. And the August 3 streaming release keeps international accessibility in mind, making sure the short hits streaming platforms shortly after the theatrical screenings so fans worldwide won't have to wait long.

The previously announced anime short adapting the My Hero Academia manga's "I Am a Hero Too" bonus chapter, which features Eri as a high-schooler, will officially be screened for fans at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles this July.

Fans in Japan will get to experience "I Am a Hero Too" during the second and third installments in the "Character Matchup" series — themed screenings of select episodes, this time for Deku vs. Bakugo and Deku vs. Shigaraki — on August 1-2, before the anime is made available on various streaming platforms on August 3.

Production Staff

• Director: Naomi Nakayama

• Chief Director: Kenji Nagasaki

• Series Composition: Yosuke Kuroda

• Character Designs: Yoshihiko Umakoshi

• Music: Yuki Hayashi

• Original Manga: Kohei Horikoshi

• Studio: bones film

About the Series

Kohei Horikoshi created the original My Hero Academia manga. Crunchyroll streams the collection of My Hero Academia anime episodes, specials, movies and more from the franchise.

The Story

Studio Echo describes the story:

"Izuku has dreamt of being a hero all his life—a lofty goal for anyone, but especially challenging for a kid with no superpowers. That's right, in a world where eighty percent of the population has some kind of super-powered 'quirk,' Izuku was unlucky enough to be born completely normal. But that's not enough to stop him from enrolling in one of the world's most prestigious hero academies."

Premiere Information

The My Hero Academia "I Am a Hero Too" anime short will screen at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles in July, with Japanese theatrical screenings on August 1-2 as part of the "Character Matchup" series, before hitting streaming platforms on August 3.

How are you feeling about seeing Eri as a high-schooler in the "I Am a Hero Too" anime short? Are you planning to catch the screening at Anime Expo 2026, or are you waiting for the August 3 streaming release to see this emotional full-circle moment for yourself? Let us know in the comments.