Drago: "Hey everyone, it's your old pals DragoHeart57 and koolken256 here. While unfortunately, we aren't bringing you the next chapter of Our Hero Academia, we would like to reinforce that we are at work on it so no need to fret. But at the same time, BNHA/MHA is celebrating 7 years of manga and 5 years of anime as of 2021! This is definitely something to celebrate... but the anniversaries bring with them a more serious note that we wish to discuss."

Kool: "Yes, something that has been at our attention, Drago's more than my own until he brought it up to me, for a while and we feel it's something that should be addressed."

Drago: "Over the last handful of years in particular, and pardon my use of terminology because I normally don't use them, 'cancel culture/purity culture' has become quite prominent in fandoms far and wide, but it's been more noticeable in the anime community. Whether you're the one doing the accusing or have been accused yourself by someone else, there's been a lot of labeling people as pedophiles in the overall community... and for very little reasoning for the most part."

Kool: "The main reason we have notice is given the age of certain character that people become attached to. In anime, these characters tend to be under the legal age of consent in the U.S and other parts of the world, depicted as still in High School for the most part. This labeling of 'Pedophile' to people who enjoy and like FICTIONAL, and I'm stressing that part, characters, is the cause of the labeling that has been done."

Drago: "Now this isn't to say we're defending pedophilia, far from it. And as much as I'd like to say there are NONE in the BNHA community at all, or even in the general anime community, I can't. But that's also not to say that anyone and everyone over the age of 18 is one either. Artists, cosplayers, and even fans who do casual shipping have been falsely labeled. And artists and cosplayers tend to age characters up a bit if they do something a little raunchy but not full hard-core 18+. Doesn't seem to matter to some people though."

Kool: "Yes, please don't mistake our message as defending pedophilia. There is some out there, and we denounce it for sure. But, as Drago stated, people take it way too far. A vast majority of fans are older than 18 themselves, some have families even. This also distracts from real cases of pedophilia that need to be stopped, as well other problems in the anime community that we have. It's ok if you're much older than the canon age of your waifu and/or husbando, or that you ship to characters or draw/ cosplay as characters who aren't your age. I myself have cosplayed as Ichigo Kurosaki when it was at the canon age of 17 by the outfit I had on."

Drago: "There's even some cases where people didn't get to enjoy anime as a child/teenager but are fully able to when they're adults. Each case is different. Many fans have been watching anime since they were children, getting their start in the '90s or early 2000s and that shouldn't stop them from being able to enjoy it now. I grew up on Pokémon, Dragon Ball Z, Yugioh, Bleach, Yu Yu Hakusho, and more. Anime wasn't even mainstream like it is now and so easily accessible, but not being able to see the line between fantasy and reality is the most prevalent problem. It doesn't even stop at this topic either, I've seen cosplayers and actors harassed and sent DEATH THREATS for portraying characters just because people don't like them! It's fine to not like a character to the point of hatred, but learn to separate fiction from non-fiction!"

Kool: "To sum it up, This is getting a bit out of hand and we want our readers to understand that this shouldn't and doesn't need to be this way. If we are going to cancel animes, games, and such for telling the story they want, or having the characters they want, why isn't this just as much outrage for characters in shows and movies like Twilight, and Game of Thrones? Since some characters in that show are just as underage, while they are seen in the same view as anime, they are still put in situations that put them in harm's way. And by that standard, other things besides pedophilia should be looked at, such as murder which happens often, or other crimes. Also, even when a character is of age, and yes, I'm addressing the whole thing Uzaki-chan, who I believe had a canon age of 20, there was still outrage and calls of pedophilia even though the character is and will always be, of legal age. That one really blows my mind."

Drago: "We all want to enjoy Hero Academia to the most we can, from start to finish. Just keep in mind that while it may be easy to sling around labels and accusations, words and actions have consequences. They can hurt people and ruin lives that don't have to be, and we want not just our readers, but all fans of the series to keep this in mind. This isn't meant to be a negative message. It's meant to be a positive one to keep the spirit of the series, the characters, and our beloved Horikoshi-sensei alive and well. This also extends to any fandom or franchise you happen to enjoy."

Kool: "Please, enjoy what you like and how you like, and be careful what you say to others. Things can get out of hand when someone says something careless or points a finger without thinking. But keep your heads held high and enjoy life to its fullest!"

Drago: "Just keep in mind the whole fiction and reality thing, can't stress that enough. Everyone has something they might enjoy in private but it's not always something you would do or broadcast to the world... especially if you know it's wrong. I'm looking at you, 50 Shades fans."

Kool: "Twilight fanfiction... before we go down a dark hole and pretty much undo our message, we want to end this on a might lighter note. I think... We good to end this here?"

Drago: "Sorry, my bad. But yes we are. And with the wrap-up here, we shall be getting back to writing Chapter 7. Keep an eye out for that in the near future, and as always..."

Both: "GO BEYOND! PLUS ULTRA!"

Kool: "And here is a little preview for what we have in store."

Aizawa: "You are will be participating in the Annual U.A Sports Festival."

?: "So this is Class 1-A..."

Izuku: "I have to think, there is something I can do here!"

Deion: "Don't fall too far behind, Midoriya."

Bakugou: "I'm going to win this whole thing."

Sean: "May the best man, or woman, win."

Present Mic: "AND THE WINNER FOR THE FIRST EVENT IS...!"

Our Hero Academia: Chapter 7: The U. A Sports Festival Begins

Coming Soon