An Obscure My Hero Academia Character Connects Ochako and Toga on a Deeper Level

The relationship between My Hero Academia’s Toga and Uraraka is one of the most complex and tragic in the entire series. Although they became bitter enemies after the League of Villains attacked U.A.’s training camp, the girls began to understand each other better with each subsequent meeting. By the end of the story, they were far more than just friends, having developed an unbreakable bond.

Yet, it seems as if their connection goes deeper than the series implies, as proven by a small side character, Eel Boy. This lesser-known hero might not have contributed much to the story, but his few appearances were of vital importance for the character arcs of both Himiko and Ochaco. He is a representation of how they saw Hero Society as a whole, solidifying the deep bond between the girls.

Eel Boy’s Two Appearances Connect Ochako and Toga

He Only Ever Became Relevant Around Them

Episode #137 of the My Hero Academia anime series gave fans a new understanding of Ochako’s motivation to choose her career path. This entry included a flashback to a time in Uraraka’s childhood in which she encountered a public servant saving civilians from a villain. Seeing this hero risk his life while bringing smiles to the people around him made her realize that she wanted to be just like that in the future.

The person who ignited this flame inside Uravity was none other than Eel Boy. Most fans will struggle to remember this character, as he was barely relevant to the story and his ability to summon sea creatures from his hands is not as memorable as other Quirks. Still, Eel Boy was of vital importance to the development of another major character in the story, Toga Himiko. He was a part of the raid team that attacked the Paranormal Liberation Front’s headquarters in season 6 of the anime. Lamentably, he was also one of the warriors who died during the battle.

In episode #116, Eel Boy came across Toga and Mr. Compress as they attempted to escape the facilities. He managed to capture them and was preparing to bring them over to the authorities when he was stabbed and killed by one of Twice’s clones. Shortly after his passing, the duplicate revealed to Toga that her dear friend Jin had been murdered by Hawks, an action that would bring disastrous consequences later. While this hero signified hope for Ochako, he brought nothing but misery to Toga.

Ochako And Toga Saw The Reflection Of Hero Society On Eel Boy

Himiko Saw The Need To Change, While Uravity Saw An Ideal

Despite how short Eel Boy’s interactions with Ochako and Toga were, they were of vital importance for their stories. Each of their interactions is a reflection of how the girls saw Hero Society, from their beliefs to their desires. Uravity considered Eel Boy an inspiration, someone who pushed her to become the best hero she could be and save those who could not protect themselves. While her life was not ideal, she was surrounded by a loving family and a supportive community who wanted her to achieve her dreams. For Uraraka, Hero Society was something that needed to be protected.

On the other hand, Toga wanted nothing more than to destroy the system that brought her so much suffering. From childhood, she was ostracized, feared, and even attacked for her Quirk and the need to drink blood. After her breakdown, caused by her parents’ neglectful and abusive upbringing, she was branded a dangerous criminal and attacked on countless occasions. Twice was one of the few real friends she had, who accepted her for who she was. Despite not being directly linked to his death, Eel Boy was the hero present when she learned about this tragedy.

Turning into him and going on a rampage against her enemies was the beginning of her descent into chaos. Toga rightfully saw Hero Society as an unjust and corrupt system that needed to be destroyed if people like her wanted a chance at a better life. Eel Boy might not have been of much relevance to the overall story of the series, but his actions defined the course of both Uraraka and Toga’s destinies. Without him, it is hard to imagine what they could have become by the end of this beloved adventure.

Not many My Hero Academia fans will remember Eel Boy with the same love as major characters like Deku or Uraraka. Nonetheless, he is proof of the series’ main premise: even the smallest of actions can change someone's world. He was both an inspiration to become better and proof of how rotten Hero Society was. His impact on the plot is another example of how outstanding the writing of this amazing series is.

In My Hero Academia, some humans have superpowers called quirks. Izuku Midoriya, nicknamed Deku, is not one of them. Deku has always idolized heroes like the number one hero, All Might, and since he was a child, he has always wanted to be a hero. However, his lack of a quirk has always held him back, but a chance encounter with All Might after discovering a classmate in danger sets Deku on the path to becoming a true hero. My Hero Academia centers around Deku and a class of heroes-in-training at UA. This school shapes young quirk users into future heroes through fake rescue missions, combat training, and other hero-tempering tasks. With young Deku inheriting the "One-For-All" quirk, he will learn what it means to be a true hero while facing off with dastardly supervillains.

Release Date April 3, 2016

Seasons 7

Franchise My Hero Academia

Production Company Bones