The TodoFam in BNHA X Toho: American Retro ver. (updated)
Observation notes:
The images above are parts of two visuals, the first was based on the “American Retro” (アメリカンレトロ) illustrations by Horikoshi Kohei, which were unveiled at Jump Festa 2024 at the end of 2023, the second was created after to include the Villains. The gadgets done with said visuals were made by Toho. The first wave was released on November 2025 while the second on March 2026. With the second waves new visuals of the characters from the first wave in chibi version were released. Contrary to what I had first assumed the chibi version also included the chibi versions of the Villains as well.
Cultural notes:
AMERICAN RETRO (アメリカンレトロ): in Japan refers to a popular, nostalgic subculture merging 1950s-70s U.S. fashion, diners, and so on with Japanese ‘Amekaji’ (アメカジ “American Casual”) aesthetics. Key elements include vintage-style fashion, denim, burger joints, and themed pop-up stores like My Hero Academia in Tokyo. Popular in places like Tokyo and Osaka’s America-mura (アメリカ村 “America village”), a famous youth culture and shopping district in Osaka, it often mixes old-school American vibes with Japanese quality
The TodoFam in BNHA X TOHO animation: You Can Become a Hero!
Observation notes:
These images are part of a series of 6 visuals representing 6 members of the cast as they dreamed of becoming heroes as children, and as they pursue their current, unwavering goals according to the theme 'Kimi Wa HERO Ni Nareru' (君はヒーローになれる "You Can Become a Hero") created for a collaboration with TOHO animation that would see gadgest based on them being sold at the comprehensive anime event "AnimeJapan 2022," which took place from March 26th, 2022 to March 27th, 2022.
On a personal note they are one of the image I love the most and I wish they had made something similar (but obviously with a different theme) for the Villains too.
The images above was one of the 6 visuals with a retro feel created for the collaboration with the amusement park Asakusa Hanayashiki" called 'TV ANIME “Boku no HERO ACADEMIA” in Asakusa Hanayashiki' (TVアニメ『僕のヒーローアカデミア』 in 浅草花やしき). The visuals were featured on photo spots throughout the park as well as used to make merchandise. The collaboration was meant to start from March 5th to April 21st, 2025.
Cultural notes:
Asakusa Hanayashiki (浅草花やしき): an amusement park in Asakusa, Taitō, Tokyo, Japan, that has operated since 1853 and therefore is claimed to be the oldest amusement park in Japan. It is operated by Hanayashiki Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Bandai Namco Holdings.
Taishō Roman (大正ロマン): refers to the vibrant cultural and aesthetic movement in Japan from 1912 to 1926 that merges traditional Japanese aesthetics with European Romanticism and Art Deco, resulting in a romantic, vintage look characterized by bold colors, lace, Victorian-inspired blouses, and western accessories. This is the style in which the characters are dressed. In specific Shōto's clothes include:
Haori (羽織): traditional Japanese kimono-like jacket which is worn open or kept closed by a string. Originally it was worn only by male Samurai and nobles, but later the economic growth of the Edo period allowed the middle class to afford it. In Meiji era women also started to wear it. It seems the longer the haori is, the more formal it is.
Haori himo (羽織紐): a pair of ties that loosely fasten a Haori and that is normally bought separately from the haori. Men’s himo are usually hooked onto the haori and unhooked to open it, rather than untied, though one can just untie the himo instead.
Kimono (着物): a Japanese traditional garment.
Obi (帯): the sash securing the Kimono, tied at the back.
BAND COLLAR SHIRT (バンドカラーシャツ): buttoned shirt that features only the upright band of a traditional collar lacking the triangular fold-over collar. They are highly popular in Japanese fashion.
Amiage BOOTS (編み上げブーツ "lace-up boots") or LACE UP BOOTS (レースアップブーツ): Boots that are fastened by threading shoelaces through eyelets or hooks.
Kinchaku (巾着): a traditional Japanese drawstring pouch or bag used to carry personal items.
The images above are 3 of the 14 visuals for their Tsumamare (つままれ "pinched") series in which characters are depicted in cute, stylized poses, as if being pinched between fingers. Includes rubber straps, keychains, and acrylic items. They were released in mid-April 2026.
The TodoFam in BNHA X HERO PLAZA: Extracurricular Activities! (July/September, 2025)
Observation notes:
The image above is a visual made for a merchandise event, "HERO PLAZA" (ヒーロープラザ). The theme is 'Kagai gakushū!' (課外学習！"Extracurricular activities!") and shows the boys riding in a red convertible. During the event, many limited and pre-release items were made be available. The event took place in Ikebukuro Loft Venue (Tokyo) from July 25th to August 24th, 2025, in Umeda Loft Venue (Osaka) from July 26th to September 7th, 2025, in Aeon Mall Hakusan Venue (Ishikawa) from August 8th to August 31st, 2025, in Sakae Loft Venue (Aichi) from August 29th to September 24th, 2025.
The image above ispart of a set of 6 images made for a merchandise event, "HERO PLAZA" (ヒーロープラザ), held in Ichiban Plaza in Tokyo Station's Ichiban-gai. The images would be used to create exclusive products sold at the event, as well as for a photo spot. Also, during the event, many limited and pre-release items were made be available. The event took place from September 6th to September 19th, 2019.
It is worth to mention later on two more characters were added to this visual.
The visuals above are part of a series of 16 new chibi visuals created for the second collaboration between BNHA and 'Tōbu dōbutsu Kōen' (東武動物公園 "Tobu Zoo") in which the characters are all wearing "safari look" outfits and are standing near animals. We can see a lion near Enji, a white Indian peafowl near Tōya and a white oryx near Shōto.
The collaboration took place from October 18, 2025 to January 12, 2026.
Cultural notes:
Tōbu dōbutsu Kōen (東武動物公園 "Tobu Zoo"): a large, hybrid leisure park in Miyashiro, Saitama Prefecture, Japan, that combines a zoo, amusement park, and botanical area. It features over 1,200 animals—highlighted by rare white tigers—and over 30 attractions, including the Regina II wooden roller coaster.
This image is part of a set of 6 visuals created by Movic and with 'fuyu' (冬 "Winter") as theme. It was meant to be released in December 2017 and it was later used to create other types of merchandise.
