When it comes to Shonen Jump protagonists, Luffy from One Piece is an undeniable icon. In recent years, Luffy has become the face of the magazine, especially after Naruto and Bleach ended and Dragon Ball Super moved to V-Jump.
Naturally, One Piece has inspired many modern mangaka, and My Hero Academia is no exception. In fact, the influence of One Piece on this beloved superhero series runs deeper than fans might expect, with Luffy even serving as the initial model for My Hero Academia’s main character.
My Hero Academia’s creator shares Deku’s original concept
In an interview published in the Fall 2025 issue of Jump Giga, Kohei Horikoshi was recently asked about the origins of My Hero Academia and its protagonist. Horikoshi, known as a huge One Piece fan, revealed that he initially wanted to create “a character like Luffy.”
Horikoshi expressed his admiration for Luffy: “When I first started thinking about this project, it was right after my second work, Barrage, ended. Before that, I really admired Luffy from One Piece and truly wanted to create a character like him.”
However, as fans know, Deku ended up quite different from Luffy. While both are equally lovable, Deku’s clumsiness is self-made rather than innate. His passionate desire to help and save anyone in trouble immediately sets him apart from Luffy.
In the interview, Horikoshi went on to explain that although he initially aimed to create a protagonist exactly like Luffy, he quickly realized that “I don’t have a Luffy” (meaning he couldn’t successfully create such a character). Instead, Horikoshi decided to focus on crafting a main character who was easier to draw and who could keep moving forward even after being defeated. That’s how Deku was born.
“However, after my work ended after two volumes, I realized ‘I don’t have a Luffy.’ So I started looking for a protagonist who was easier to draw and could keep moving forward even when beaten. Ultimately, the main character I had drawn in an earlier My Hero one-shot fit my style best. I thought, ‘If I draw the main character I find easiest to draw, I can try making manga again,’ and that’s how My Hero Academia came to be,” the creator shared.
Turning Deku into Luffy could have doomed My Hero Academia
Overall, no matter how great Luffy is or how much Horikoshi loves One Piece, My Hero Academia probably benefited from avoiding making its protagonist a copy of Luffy. As revealed in a 2015 interview with Mando Kobayashi, Horikoshi was quite discouraged after Barrage was canceled in 2012.
Horikoshi even told Kobayashi that he nearly gave up being a mangaka. So his decision to draw on elements from his previous works (like My Hero) and create a protagonist who was easier to draw may have saved the series.
This approach not only helped Deku become a unique character but also gave Horikoshi the motivation to continue creating My Hero Academia. It’s clear Horikoshi poured a lot of heart into Deku, especially with his never-give-up spirit. Had he tried to make Deku a rival to Luffy, My Hero Academia might never have achieved the success it enjoys today.