Is 'MHA More' Canon To The Main Series?

I see 'MHA More' as glorified fan service—in a good way. It’s not canon, but it feels like it could be. The stories are lighthearted and often focus on slice-of-life moments between big arcs, like the characters training or hanging out. The main series stays focused on Izuku’s journey, while 'MHA More' lets side characters shine. It’s a fun addition, but don’t expect it to tie into the core plot. The creators clearly intended it as bonus content, not required reading.

I’ve been deep into 'My Hero Academia' for years, and 'MHA More' is one of those spin-offs that fans debate about constantly. From what I’ve gathered, it’s not directly part of the main series canon, but it does expand on the universe in interesting ways. The stories in 'MHA More' focus on side characters and events that don’t clash with the main plot, making it more of a complementary piece rather than essential reading. The author hasn’t explicitly confirmed its canonicity, but the lack of contradictions with the main story gives it a semi-canon status. Some arcs feel like they could fit neatly into the main timeline, while others are clearly just fun extras.

What makes 'MHA More' worth discussing is how it fleshes out characters who don’t get much screen time in the original. For example, we get deeper backstories for Class 1-B students or pro heroes who only appear briefly in 'My Hero Academia'. The art style and tone match the main series closely, which adds to the feeling of authenticity. If you’re a completionist, you’ll probably enjoy it, but if you’re strictly following canon, you won’t miss anything critical by skipping it. The ambiguity around its status keeps fans engaged, though—some treat it as headcanon, others ignore it entirely.

From a licensing and merchandising angle, it's all canon because it's all product that needs to be moved. If they say a character's birthday is revealed in 'MHA More,' that birthday becomes official for toy lines and fan celebrations. In that commercial sense, it's absolutely canon—it defines brand attributes. Narrative canon and commercial canon are two different beasts. The former matters to story purists, the latter matters to the company selling goods. 'MHA More' often serves the commercial canon, fleshing out details that help sell more stuff.

The most straightforward answer is to check the source. 'MHA More' material is usually credited to Horikoshi as 'original creator' or 'supervisor,' not as writer/artist. That tells you everything. He provides the blueprint, others build the house. It's his world, but the execution is handled by a different team. That means it's aligned with his vision but not directly from his hand. For some fans, that distinction is everything. For others, it's meaningless. It all depends on how much authority you invest in the creator's direct involvement.