This is an original movie set (supposedly, it is actually somewhat confusing) in the time between the end of Season 2 and the start of Season 3, so before the Forest Training Camp Arc. It is a fast-paced, action-packed and well-animated side-story to the popular anime. In it, Deku and All Might head to the "I-Island" to attend a world-famous "I-Expo" where some of the best scientists in the world research quirks. This, however, is really an excuse for All Might to visit his old friend, but as one can easily guess, things do not go smoothly and villains interrupt their plans.
Story - 7:
Honestly, a pretty basic "villains VS. heroes" set-up, with a classic BnHA scenario of adult heroes being incapacitated, requiring the young UA students to rise to the occasion and save the day. There are some fairly predictable "plot-twists", but overall the movie has a very simple story line. Nothing really phenomenal, but just like the main series, this movie manages to work well and is enjoyable to watch.
Art - 9:
Amazing as always, Studio Bones is again showing how good and reliable it is. Nothing much to say here, if you have seen the main series, it will be more of the same excellent animation throughout the whole movie. I have to commend them for making the fight scenes especially "juicy" and you get to see all your favorite characters fight it out against the villains in very high quality. If I had to name the strengths of this movie, art is definitely one of them.
Sound - 9:
As usual, a job well done, both by the VAs and the soundtrack team. Most OST is re-used from the main series, however I think there is one or two original tracks, which were all great. Miyake Kenta as All Might is as great as ever, and I really enjoyed Koyama Rikya (VA for Takamura from Hajime no Ippo) as the main villain.
Character - 7:
Fan-favorite All Might and the protagonist Deku play the leading roles in this movie, with the familiar Class 1-A students joining in the action as the supporting cast. There are also two new major characters (which were previously mentioned in episode 20 of Season 3), Melissa and her dad Dave, who is All Might's friend from his early days of being a hero.
I really liked that the movie provided some backstory to All Might, and I enjoyed the new character Melissa; however, I feel like the movie could have explored some of the aspects of these characters (such as Melissa being quirkless, and thus sympathetic to Deku's early struggles, and vice versa), and the friendship dynamic of Dave and All Might in a richer manner. Because they did not, Melissa especially feels like wasted potential, and is presented as merely this one-dimensional all-round perfect daddy's girl - perhaps that's what they aimed for, but in my opinion her character could have been effectively used for Deku's development. The villains are entirely forgettable, and other than a great seiyuu of the main villain and a small reference/nod to All for one, they were as bland and dull as possible. I guess the main villain had a somewhat interesting quirk, but that is all.
The rest of the Class 1-A are not really developed in any significant manner, and reflect their current characterization in the main series (the slight hint of some romantic development between Deku and Uraraka at the very start is unfortunately used only as comedic relief). Overall, decent but could have been a lot better in my opinion.
Enjoyment - 10:
The most important aspect of any anime is how enjoyable and fun it actually is, and I have to say that despite some of the problems that I have written about, this movie was a blast to watch. Great comedy (despite the overuse of Mineta, which the main series suffers from as well), amazing fights, emotional moments - this movie has it all. If you are a fan of BnHA, you will have tons of fun watching it, and that is what really matters.
Overall - 8:
Overall, I really enjoyed this movie, especially given my experience of watching it on a big screen in a cinema. The story and characters could be better, however the animation and fights make up for that. If you are a fan of Boku no Hero Academia and cannot get enough of it, then I am sure you will greatly enjoy this side-story movie. It did not blow my mind, but it was worth my time and money, 8/10.
