Hello everyone~! This is Saori from Otaku Republic!

This time! Episode 1 has finally aired! Whether you missed it or just want a quick overview before diving in, let’s take a light recap of Episode 1 of the spring anime 'Vigilantes'!

[Vigilantes] The Official My Hero Academia Spin-Off Manga Finally Gets an Anime! It’s Not Too Late to Catch Up! A Quick Recap of Episode 1 of the Spring Anime “Vigilantes”!

Timeline? Connection to the main story? Let’s quickly review key points as we recap Episode 1!

Fun fact! The opening is performed by Kocchi no Kento-san, who sang 'Hai Yorokonde,' which has over 170 million views online! A lot of you might’ve heard it before!

Back to the main topic—how is Vigilantes connected to the main story of My Hero Academia? The short answer: it’s a prequel! More specifically, it takes place several years before Deku starts high school in My Hero Academia. It’s a time when All Might and Aizawa-sensei are active pro heroes! This spin-off even dives into the backstory of an important character from the main series, which got people talking!

So the timeline is set in an era where the pro hero system is already firmly established, but at the same time, underground crime and illegal activity are rampant. All Might is an unstoppable hero on the rise in both fame and power.

Vigilantes focuses on heroes operating outside the law!
They have quirks, a strong sense of justice, and fight evil—yet they’re not officially recognized......

In the world of My Hero Academia, only those certified under the hero system are allowed to use their quirks as heroes. But those heroes can’t cover every single act of evil. Heroes are limited, villains are not. So when no hero is around, someone still needs to step up—enter Vigilantes, a vigilante group fighting crime even without recognition.

On the streets, a drug called “Trigger” is spreading!
If forced to take it, even regular people can awaken quirks and go on dangerous villainous rampages!

Why was the Vigilantes group formed? Because of a dangerous drug called 'Trigger' spreading throughout the city. Produced by a mysterious individual, the drug gives quirks to even normal people or enhances existing ones to terrifying levels. People injected with it go on wild rampages. The Vigilantes’ mission is to find the source of Trigger—that’s the basic premise!

The Vigilantes manga is already complete, so the anime can move along at a good pace without catching up too quickly. It explores hidden pasts of familiar characters from Boku no Hero Academia (My Hero Academia), so fans of the main series will definitely enjoy it! Even if you’re new to the world of My Hero Academia, the anime explains the setting and the role of heroes well, so this is a great way to get into the franchise through Vigilantes!

Boku no Hero Academia (My Hero Academia)