Last spring, I wrote an article outlining the Enneagram types of each of the characters from Attack On Titan. After much positive feedback, I have decided to give another Enneagram character analysis, this time highlighting the characters from another one of my favorite shows: My Hero Academia (MHA). In MHA, over 80% of the population in Japan has mysteriously gained superhuman abilities, which are referred to as Quirks. The protagonist, Izuku Midorya, is one of the few citizens born Quirkless, but the show follows his journey to becoming the #1 hero in Japan after inheriting a powerful Quirk. For those of you who are not familiar with the Enneagram personality test, it reveals how people view the world and manage their emotions.
- Enneagram One: The Reformer
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One of the most apparent Enneagram Ones of the show is none other than the protagonist, Izuku Midoriya. Like many Ones, Izuku has a strong sense of right and wrong, and very few of his actions are morally ambiguous. He is driven by his strong desire to protect the citizens of Japan from danger, and he envisions a society free of villains. While this desire for societal improvement is noble, it can be a hindrance to Izuku at times, as his desire for perfection can lead to putting himself in dangerous situations unnecessarily. That being said, this desire to fulfill a mission to society makes him one of the most promising young heroes.
- Enneagram Two: The Helper
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One of the most sincere characters of the show, Enneagram Two goes to Ochako Uraraka. When questioned about her motives for becoming a hero, Uraraka reveals that deep down all she wants to do is provide for her family. Additionally, she is always the one to bring others up. For example, when Izuku is being bullied, she is always the one to attempt to boost his self-esteem. While she is not the most obvious hero, Uraraka’s selflessness and high regard for the well-being of others make her a respectable candidate for a future professional hero.
- Enneagram Three: The Achiever
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One of the most obvious Type Threes in the show in my opinion is the one and only Katsuki Bakugou. From the beginning of the show, we learn that he is determined to climb to number one Pro Hero and he makes sure to let everyone know that nobody will get in his way. While he does have regard for the overall wellness of society, Bakugou is highly conscious of his image, and much of his desire to achieve the top ranking results from his competitive nature and desire for a formal title. One downfall to this is that he will legitimately do anything necessary to become the best, which occasionally lands him in dangerous situations. That being said, his work ethic is unmatched, which is something that all young heroes should strive to emulate.
- Enneagram Four: The Individualist
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Enneagram Fours are often characterized by their lone-wolf nature, making Dabi the clear choice for this personality type. While Dabi loosely associates himself with the League of Villains, he does it more out of necessity to reach his goals. Dabi is slow to trust anyone, which often works in his favor, given his interactions with villains. Although he has few close relationships, Dabi has a strong sense of self, including both his strengths and his flaws. This self-awareness makes him a danger to society, as he is aware of his limits. Additionally, like many Fours, it is apparent that Dabi feels as though he is missing something in life: something that he believes will be filled by taking down hero society.
- Enneagram Five: The Investigator
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Known for their intellect and strong insight, it seems like a no-brainer to classify Momo Yaoyorozu as an Enneagram Five. Momo, referred to by the hero name Creati, also has a Quirk that compliments her curious nature: being able to craft anything she knows the structure of out of the lipids from her body. Always being the logical one, Momo has saved her classmates a multitude of times with her innovative solutions. That being said, like many Fives, she prefers to only participate in tasks in which she can ensure her success. Nonetheless, she can work past these mental blocks to grow in her creativity and protect the well-being of others.
- Enneagram Six: The Loyalist
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If I were to choose one character from the show that I think would make the greatest best friend, it would be Kirishima. Like other Type Sixes, Kirishima has a devout loyalty to those he cares about and the systems he believes in. This is demonstrated multiple times throughout the show, but the best example is when he is willing to put his life on the line to rescue his best friend, Bakugou, from the League of Villains. Although he occasionally struggles with self-confidence and not wanting to go against the opinion of the group, Kirishima has a strong sense of morality, which gives him the foundation of a successful future hero.
- Enneagram Seven: The Enthusiast
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Out of all the Enneagram types, I would consider Type Sevens to be the most fun. Throughout the series, I do not think I have seen a single scene where Mina was not smiling. Her fun-loving nature can bring a smile to anyone’s face, which contributes to a strong sense of comradery among the members of Class 1A. While Mina certainly offers much comic relief, her enthusiastic nature also makes her dedicated to her goals. She tends to go with the flow in many situations, which in some cases can lead to error due to a lack of planning. However, this can also be one of her greatest assets, allowing her to learn more quickly than her classmates.
- Enneagram Eight: The Challenger
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Hawks is widely regarded as the heartthrob of the Pro Hero community and he certainly has a bit of an ego to go along with this. Like many Type Eights, Hawks is charismatic which is thought to contribute to his high popularity rankings among the general public. That being said, he is also one to speak his mind, as he makes it very clear the issues he has with the hero society. It is apparent that one of his biggest fears is being a puppet to authority and he is not afraid to confront those in power. While he may seem a bit arrogant at times, he is highly emotional and concerned with his relationships with others. This contributes to his success as a hero, as he values others and is merciful when handling villains.
- Enneagram Nine: The Peacemaker
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Although much of a hero’s work deals with conflict, Tsu is highly driven by her desire to keep peace within society. She has a strong sense of what is right and what is wrong and she frequently encourages others to do the right thing. Similar to Izuku, very few of Tsu’s actions are morally ambiguous. However, Tsu sometimes struggles to recognize when breaking the peace may be necessary, especially when dealing with a villain encounter. Yet, if it can be made clear to her how handling short-term conflict will lead to long-term peace, Tsu will happily jump in. Tsu’s agreeable nature also makes her a great mediator in conflicts between classmates.
It is interesting to see how while these characters have many different demeanors, most of them have all chosen to become professional heroes. Each one has the desire to better society, but by digging a bit deeper, we can see that their motives are very different. Whenever I watch a show, I tend to gravitate toward certain characters and I believe that much of this is due to sharing a personality type. That being said, the Enneagram structure is not rigid in the sense that many of these characters could fit into several different categories.