The protagonist of My Hero Academia, Izuku Midoriya, is a (relatively) less aggressive shonen lead, but that doesn't mean he'll avoid using force to win a fight. In fact, it is quite common for him to max out his Quirk so he can save somebody's life, despite the great risks that come with pushing One For All beyond his limits.
As strong as he is though, what shines through more is Izuku's overwhelming cheer — he is excitable, eager, and, most importantly, doesn't shy away from displaying his emotions. But this very fact sets him apart from his battle-oriented comrades and paints a multidimensional picture of Izuku's personality.
His Nonstop Mumbling
Due to being born without a Quirk, Izuku is forced to adapt to his future accordingly. He gathers information about heroes and villains in his iconic Hero Analysis for the Future notebook, and is quite dedicated to the task.
However, Izuku has a tendency to start mumbling random factoids and strategies, especially when he needs to make a crucial decision. The rapid-fire pace of his muttering might irritate his friends, but it is very endearing to fans.
Izuku Learns Of His UA Exam Results
Izuku behaves in an unexpected way during the UA Entrance Exams — he disregards the most crucial point of the test, scoring points. When Ochaco is in danger from the zero-point robot, Izuku decides to save her life by taking the monstrous entity head-on.
He defeats it, but scores no points at the end of the round. Izuku is understandably devastated at losing his chance, but All Might reminds him that his act of rescue managed to get him just enough points to scrape through into U.A. and Izuku is beside himself with joy.
His Attempts To Befriend Little Kota
During the Forest Training Camp Arc, Izuku is the only member of Class 1-A to show interest in a small boy named Kota. Izuku learns that Kota had lost both his parents to a villain, and internally promises himself to make the kid like heroes again.
Izuku's attempts are genuine and heartwarming, as he tries to convince Kota of the many virtues of being a hero. However, all of this goodwill is ignored until Muscular tries to hurt Izuku and Kota.
Izuku Mimics All Might's Expression & Mannerism Flawlessly
When All Might asks Izuku to recall the events of the day that the One For All was transferred, he obviously wants his successor to comprehend that there are several layers to their Quirk.
On the other hand, Izuku chooses this point to enact a near-perfect mimicry of All Might's appearance (harsh facial features, toothpaste-ad-smile, and shadowed eyes.) This moment is immeasurably tender, but it also highlights the masterful range of Izuku's comedy skillset.
He Puts On A Disguise While Looking For Kacchan
After Bakugo gets kidnapped by the League of Villains, a ragtag band from Class 1-A set out to bring him back. Tenya, Shoto, Eijiro and Momo accompany Izuku on their "covert" mission. In Kamino Ward, the group dons disguises in order to avoid detection, and the one Izuku chooses is a blend of comical and adorable.
He portrays a ruffian character, complete with gold chain, sunglasses, and fake goatee; he even practices speaking in a crude manner. The only thing that makes this scene cuter is Eijiro telling Izuku to push his "jaw out more."
Izuku Clings To All Might's Leg
Izuku comes across his idol for the first time when attacked by a villain, and is unsurprisingly astounded to see All Might stand before him in the flesh. He requests an autograph, which is granted, but then All Might exits the scene for some reason.
Not knowing what else to do, Izuku grabs his hero's leg and is taken along on the flight. The pair has a hilarious interaction that concludes in All Might dropping Izuku off on a building.
He Accepts The Meaning Of His Hero Name
Bakugo has been referring to Izuku as Deku for many years, implying that the latter's Quirklessness deserves being known as a "useless person." After enrolling in U.A. and building more (and better) friendships, Izuku experiences something that had been lacking in his life: reassurance.
Ochaco mentions that the word Deku is similar to "dekiru", suggesting a can-do attitude. Izuku resonates with her statement to such an extent that he announces Deku to be his hero name — a sweet scene for everyone watching.
Izuku Makes Eri Smile
Eri hasn't been able to smile, even after being rescued from the violently abusive Kai Chisaki, and Izuku refuses to accept the state of matters. He requests Eraser Head to allow Eri at the upcoming School Festival.
She pleasantly welcomes the invitation, curious about all the heroes who played an important part in defeating Overhaul. Izuku is held back by a sudden attack from Gentle Criminal and La Brava, but when he does make it to the festival, he gets to see Eri smiling again. The expression on Izuku's face is as cute as hers.
He Officially Inherits One For All
All Might offers Izuku the chance to be a superpowered hero by inheriting One For All, a chance that the young man jumps at (after some deliberation, of course.) Over the course of ten months, Izuku obtains a far stronger body than ever before, which, along with his skyrocketing confidence, makes him eligible for All Might's Quirk.
The actual process of transfer is anticlimactic and involves him eating a strand of blond hair, but the succeeding scene is quite charming. Although a rollercoaster, it's clear that Izuku's dream is only beginning and there is a lot more left to achieve.
Izuku Constantly Encourages And Motivates His Friends
Izuku is generally one of the more lovable characters in the series, best exemplified by how he treats his friends and loved ones. He can be a tad overenthusiastic on occasion, but his good qualities far outshine any demerits.
Izuku possesses boundless compassion for every human being and doesn't shy away from exhibiting his feelings. As much as people might deride him for being a crybaby, it is this empathy that allows Izuku to make everyone around him feel good about themselves. There's very little that's nicer than that.