To Be Hero
To Be Hero is a Chinese-Japanese co-produced original net animation (ONA) series created and directed by Li Haoling, which premiered on October 5, 2016, and consists of 12 short episodes each running approximately 11 minutes.[1] The series follows "Old Man" (Ossan), a handsome but slovenly divorced father and toilet seat designer, who is mysteriously sucked into his toilet and transformed into a chubby, unattractive hero compelled to save the world from otherworldly threats while striving to protect his intelligent daughter, Min-chan.[2] Produced by Haoliners Animation League and Emon Animation Company, it blends absurd comedy, action, and family drama in an experimental style that subverts traditional superhero tropes.[3] The To Be Hero media franchise expanded with the 2018 spin-off To Be Heroine, a 12-episode ONA released on May 19, 2018, introducing new characters and an original story centered on a schoolgirl named Futaba Hanaya who gains superpowers and navigates heroism amid comedic mishaps.[4] Also directed by Li Haoling, To Be Heroine shifts focus to themes of adolescence and empowerment while maintaining the franchise's signature humor and brevity.[5] The third installment, To Be Hero X, debuted on April 6, 2025, as a 24-episode television series co-produced with Aniplex and Bilibili, exploring a world where heroes' powers derive from public trust quantified as wrist data, following protagonist Lin Ling's rise as the anti-hero "X" in a critique of social media and celebrity culture.[6] Across the franchise, Li Haoling's direction emphasizes innovative animation techniques, satirical storytelling, and character-driven narratives that question the essence of heroism, earning acclaim for its bold visuals and cultural commentary despite varying episode lengths and formats.[7] The series have been streamed internationally on platforms like Crunchyroll, contributing to the growing visibility of Chinese donghua in global anime markets.[2]Development
Creation and concept
Li Haoling, a Chinese animation director born in Shanghai and graduated from Shanghai Donghua University, founded Haoliners Animation League in 2013 after engaging in animation production since 2008.[8] Early in his career, he served as an original plan designer and storyboard artist on projects such as Fantasy Adventure and The Special Boy Ma Mingjia for Shanghai Television Toonmax TV, Elf in a Can for Hasbro, and Happy Star Cat, a domestic animation.[8] He later took on development and directing roles for the original animation Happy Town in 2011 and entered net animated series production in 2013, experiences that shaped his approach to blending narrative innovation with visual storytelling in subsequent works like To Be Hero.[8] The concept for To Be Hero emerged during 2015-2016 as an original project written and directed by Li Haoling, marking Haoliners' push into visually ambitious anime-style productions.[9] Development involved collaboration with STUDIO.LAN!, a small Chinese web animation team led by animator Lan, who handled character designs, animation direction, and key sequences to emphasize exaggerated motion and cultural fusion distinct from traditional Japanese styles.[10] This period focused on integrating superhero tropes with absurd humor and family-oriented dynamics, drawing from Li's prior net series expertise to create a narrative that prioritizes emotional resonance amid comedic exaggeration.[9] At its core, the To Be Hero franchise explores themes of heroism emerging from ordinary individuals, the power of faith and trust in others, and satirical commentary on authority, identity, and societal expectations of power.[6] Li Haoling infused these elements with a focus on fatherhood and familial bonds, using humor to underscore the burdens and absurdities of unexpected responsibility in everyday life.[9] The anthology format evolved as a unifying structure for the series, with each installment presenting semi-independent stories connected within a shared universe to allow flexible exploration of thematic variations on heroism without rigid continuity.[6] This approach, initiated in the 2016 original, enabled subsequent entries like To Be Heroine in 2018 to build on the foundational concepts while introducing new perspectives on identity and power.[6]Production
Haoliners Animation League served as the primary production studio for the initial installments of the To Be Hero franchise, handling animation and overall production under the direction of Li Haoling, who founded the company in 2013 and maintained creative oversight across all series.[8] The first season, To Be Hero (2016), was produced in collaboration with the studio's Japanese subsidiary, Emon Animation Company, which managed aspects like photography and production coordination to facilitate a cross-cultural workflow.[11] Similarly, To Be Heroine (2018) relied on Haoliners for core animation, with key contributions from international elements such as Japanese editing by Aya Hida.[12] The franchise's animation process emphasized a predominantly 2D style in its early seasons, utilizing traditional key animation and character design techniques led by Studio LAN, which provided chief animation direction and art settings for the 2016 series.[1] Li Haoling's involvement as director, scriptwriter, and original creator ensured thematic consistency, with staffing focused on a compact team that included producers like Xing Cheng Lu and animation directors such as Wang Feng.[1] For the third installment, To Be Hero X (2025), production shifted to BeDream as the lead studio, marking a significant expansion in collaborations through a co-production with Aniplex for Japanese distribution and bilibili for broader streaming support, announced in March 2023 following an initial teaser trailer in late 2022.[13] This entry introduced advanced animation techniques, blending 2D and 3D elements seamlessly across scenes, with enhanced CGI integration handled by specialized teams at studios like Pb Animation for 2D photography and Dalian Yuanning Animation for 3D components.[14] The international team was notably broadened, incorporating contributions from HAOLINERS KOREA and PPURI STUDIO for opening sequences, alongside domestic partners like Paper Plane Animation Studio and Hefei Anying Culture & Media Co., Ltd., to support the series' ambitious visual scope under Li Haoling's continued direction.[14]To Be Hero (2016)
Premise
To Be Hero is a comedic original net animation (ONA) that follows Ossan, a 33-year-old handsome but slovenly divorced father working as a toilet seat designer. While using the bathroom at work, he is mysteriously sucked into the toilet and emerges in an alternate world as a chubby, unattractive version of himself named "Hero X," tasked with saving Earth from an alien invasion. Compelled to protect his intelligent young daughter, Min-chan, whom he left behind, Ossan must navigate bizarre allies and foes in short, absurd adventures blending slapstick humor, sexual innuendo, and action. The series subverts superhero tropes through its experimental style and focus on family bonds amid chaotic otherworldly threats.[15][1][3]Characters
The series features a small ensemble centered on Ossan (also called Uncle), the reluctant hero whose transformation highlights themes of identity and paternal duty. As Hero X, he wields undefined superpowers in comedic battles but struggles with his altered appearance and separation from his daughter. Min-chan, Ossan's precocious eight-year-old daughter, is a genius who searches for her missing father while dealing with her mother's remarriage; her innocence contrasts the show's adult humor. Supporting characters include Yamada-san, Ossan's mild-mannered colleague at the toilet company, who becomes an unwitting ally in the hero world. Antagonists are primarily alien invaders led by the flamboyant Prince, a scheming extraterrestrial aiming to conquer Earth, and the Great Emperor, his authoritative superior overseeing the invasion. Other quirky figures like the Data Alien provide exposition on the interdimensional mechanics, adding to the satirical tone.[16][1]Cast
The series features voice acting in both Chinese and Japanese, reflecting its co-production. The Japanese dub, directed by Shinichi Watanabe, emphasizes comedic timing for the absurd scenarios. No official English dub was produced, with international releases relying on subtitles via platforms like Crunchyroll.[1][2]| Character | Japanese Voice Actor | Chinese Voice Actor |
|---|---|---|
| Ossan / Hero X / Uncle | Kenjirō Tsuda | Chen Zhangtaikang |
| Min-chan / Futaba Hanaya | Moa Tsukino | Shan Xin |
| Yamada-san | Yutaka Aoyama | Li Muye |
| Prince | Tomokazu Sugita | Tu-Te-Ha-Meng |
| Great Emperor | Kazuhiko Inoue | Fang Wen |
| Data Alien | Nozomi Nishida | Gui Ziyou |
Episodes
To Be Hero consists of 12 short episodes, each approximately 11 minutes long, released weekly as an ONA from October 5 to December 21, 2016, primarily on Chinese platforms like Bilibili before international simulcast on Crunchyroll. The episodic structure follows Ossan's sequential "days as a superhero," building to a resolution involving family reunion and alien defeat, with humor escalating through misunderstandings and battles.[15][1]| No. | Title | Original Air Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | First Day as a Superhero | October 5, 2016 |
| 2 | Second Day as a Superhero: Brutal, Brutal, Brutal Death | October 12, 2016 |
| 3 | Third Day as a Superhero: A Leader Really Must | October 19, 2016 |
| 4 | Fourth Day as a Superhero: A Leader Really Must Part 2 | October 26, 2016 |
| 5 | Fifth Day as a Superhero: The Strongest Hero | November 2, 2016 |
| 6 | Sixth Day as a Superhero: The Day the Earth Stood Still | November 9, 2016 |
| 7 | Seventh Day as a Superhero: The Strongest Hero's Weakness | November 16, 2016 |
| 8 | Eighth Day as a Superhero: The Day the Earth Stood Still Part 2 | November 23, 2016 |
| 9 | Ninth Day as a Superhero: If You'll Do It, I'll Take off My Underwear Right Away | November 30, 2016 |
| 10 | Tenth Day as a Superhero: This Episode Is Low on Laughs and Salt Content | December 7, 2016 |
| 11 | Eleventh Day as a Hero: I am a loser. Please let me die. | December 14, 2016 |
| 12 | Twelfth Day as a Hero: The End of the Earth? Or the End of Heroes | December 21, 2016 |
To Be Heroine (2018)
Premise
To Be Heroine is a 12-episode original net animation (ONA) that serves as a spin-off to To Be Hero, featuring an original story and new characters. The plot follows Futaba Hanaya, a clever but dissatisfied high school girl who is suddenly transported to a dark, lightless alternate world inhabited solely by children wearing only underwear. As the only character fully clothed, Futaba becomes the designated heroine, leveraging clothing as powerful weapons to battle evil forces and find a way back to her original world. The series blends isekai adventure, comedy, and action, with themes of friendship, growth, and heroism explored through Futaba's interactions with her new companions.[12][5]Characters
The story centers on Futaba Hanaya, a smart and resourceful high school student who, after being pulled into the underwear-only world, must adapt quickly to survive and fight as a hero. She wields clothing-based powers and grapples with the challenges of leadership in an unfamiliar realm.[12] Her allies include Hikaru Isago, a tough and loyal childhood friend who joins Futaba in the alternate world and supports her in battles; Tooru Utsubari, a strategic thinker with glasses who provides intellectual aid; and Simon Fubuki, a cool and composed fighter contributing to the group's dynamics. Antagonistic forces and otherworldly inhabitants add conflict, emphasizing themes of loyalty, betrayal, and personal development among the young cast.[17][18]Cast
To Be Heroine features voice acting in both Chinese (original) and Japanese dubs, reflecting its co-production. The Chinese cast includes performers like Yang Ning as Yuye Hua (Futaba Hanaya) and Ding Dang as Sha Xiaoguang (Hikaru Isago). The Japanese dub, aired in a condensed 7-episode format, utilizes notable seiyū to enhance the comedic and action elements. No official English dub was produced.[19][20]| Character | Chinese Voice Actor | Japanese Voice Actor |
|---|---|---|
| Futaba Hanaya / Yuye Hua | Yang Ning / Mie Mie | Moa Tsukino |
| Hikaru Isago / Sha Xiaoguang | Ding Dang | Motoko Kumai |
| Tooru Utsubari | Liu Mingyue | Omi Minami |
| Simon Fubuki / Saimon Fubuki | Jiang Chenmin | Nozomu Sasaki |
| Tōichi Tōin | Shan Xin | Seira Ryū |
| Hattori Hanzo | N/A | Toshihiko Seki |
Episodes
To Be Heroine consists of 12 short episodes, each approximately 15 minutes, released weekly as an ONA on Bilibili in China from April 14, 2018, to July 6, 2018. A Japanese broadcast version edited into 7 longer episodes (about 24 minutes each) aired starting May 19, 2018, on Tokyo MX. The narrative progresses from Futaba's arrival and alliances to escalating battles and resolution.[5][12][21]| No. | Title (English) | Original Title (Japanese) | Air Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Residents of Another World | 異世界の住人 | April 14, 2018 |
| 2 | Magic Spell | 魔法の呪文 | April 21, 2018 |
| 3 | Loyalty and Betrayal | 忠誠と裏切り | April 28, 2018 |
| 4 | A World That Vanished | 消えた世界 | May 5, 2018 |
| 5 | Attack of the Darkness | 闇の襲撃 | May 12, 2018 |
| 6 | Battle Against Overwhelming Odds | 圧倒的な戦い | May 19, 2018 |
| 7 | What You Gave Me | 君がくれたもの | May 26, 2018 |
| 8 | The Hero Who Returned | 帰還の英雄 | June 2, 2018 |
| 9 | The Final Battle | 最後の戦い | June 9, 2018 |
| 10 | The End of the Hero | 英雄の終わり | June 16, 2018 |
| 11 | The World After | その後の世界 | June 23, 2018 |
| 12 | To Be Heroine | To Be Heroine | July 6, 2018 |
To Be Hero X (2025)
Premise
In a world where superpowers are derived from public trust, heroes' abilities are directly proportional to their "Trust Value," a data-driven metric quantifying societal belief and faith in them.[22] This system ranks the top ten heroes based on accumulated trust, with rankings determined every two years through a high-stakes tournament that tests their prowess and popularity.[22] The narrative centers on "X," the enigmatic titleholder as the number-one hero, whose position sparks intense competition among the elite, forcing participants to navigate rivalries, public scrutiny, and the precarious balance of maintaining their empowered status.[22] The series explores interconnected backstories of these top heroes, revealing how personal histories and societal expectations shape their paths to heroism. Themes of identity emerge as characters grapple with the authenticity of their roles versus the performative demands of public adoration, while societal pressure underscores the psychological toll of fluctuating trust levels.[23] The cost of heroism is portrayed through the vulnerability of power loss, where diminished belief can render even the mightiest powerless, highlighting the fragility of fame in a trust-dependent society.[22] Employing a non-linear structure, the anthology format weaves past events with impending threats, unveiling layers of intrigue around the tournament and the heroes' origins to deepen the understanding of this belief-fueled world. Evolving the franchise toward an ensemble anthology, it contrasts individual journeys with collective stakes in the ranking system.[23] Co-produced by BeDream, Bilibili, and Aniplex, the series emphasizes innovative animation and satirical elements critiquing celebrity culture.Characters
In To Be Hero X, the narrative centers on an ensemble of top-ranked superheroes whose abilities are derived from public faith and trust values, fueling a high-stakes ranking competition that tests their resolve and societal roles.[22][24] At the forefront is X, the enigmatic top hero who rapidly ascended to prominence by claiming the titular rank in a single tournament, remaining unaffiliated with any hero agency or organization, which amplifies his aura of mystery and isolation.[25][26] As a suited salaryman in his civilian guise, X grapples with profound doubt about the hero system's integrity and his own burdensome title, often preferring solitude amid the fame that elevates his reality-manipulating powers—such as dimensional shifts and matter control—through accumulated trust from adoring fans who revere him almost divinely.[26] His central role in the recurring Heroes Tournaments underscores themes of personal crisis, as he contemplates relinquishing his position to escape the cycle of expectation and corruption.[27] The other top 10 heroes embody diverse archetypes, each drawing unique faith-based abilities from their backstories and public personas, exemplified by figures like Ghostblade, a reserved swordsman whose shadow manipulation and stealth prowess stem from a history of quiet guardianship, fostering trust through understated heroism.[28] Similarly, Lucky Cyan represents the chaotic survivor archetype, a plane crash sole survivor whose probability-altering luck powers fluctuate with her erratic public trust, rooted in her musical talents and orphan resilience, often leading to crises of reliability in battles.[28] Loli, meanwhile, is the deceptive inventor type, a young engineer whose illusion and telekinesis abilities are hampered by her childlike appearance, sparking personal doubts about being taken seriously despite her innovative gadgets that garner niche fan faith.[29][28] Dragon Boy channels fiery charisma as a fan-favorite brawler, his fire manipulation and durability powered by widespread adoration, yet vulnerable to reputation dips during competitive scrutiny.[28] Antagonists and supporting figures further entwine with the trust mechanics, such as Wreck, a vengeful former ally turned villain whose matter-disrupting energy blasts draw from fear values accumulated through betrayal-fueled rampages, challenging the heroes' faith-based dominance.[30] Zero, a disgraced ex-top hero, embodies fallen ideals with explosive flight abilities sustained by societal dread post his "Fall of Dawn" incident, serving as a cautionary foil to the protagonists' trust reliance.[30] Supporting elements include agency representatives like Shand of the Treeman Group, a ruthless businessman who manipulates alliances and competitions to bolster heroes' trust metrics, highlighting the industry's exploitative underbelly.[29] Group dynamics among the ensemble revolve around intense rivalries in the ranking tournaments, where alliances form temporarily within agencies like DOS or Treeman to amplify collective trust, yet fracture under personal crises—such as X's isolation clashing with Queen's strategic independence or the Johnnies' teamwork straining against solo archetypes like AHU's brute force—exploring how competition erodes or forges bonds in a faith-dependent hierarchy.[26][28]Cast
The voice cast for To Be Hero X (2025) expands on the series' tradition of multilingual dubs, with the original Chinese performances directed by Li Haoling, emphasizing fresh talent for protagonists like X and the top-ranked heroes to suit the season's ensemble dynamics. This Chinese production prioritizes diverse voices to reflect the heroes' varied backgrounds and powers, drawing from a pool of established donghua actors while integrating the non-linear narrative through layered vocal deliveries.[31] In collaboration with Aniplex for the Japanese dub, the series features a star-studded lineup of seiyū known for their work in high-profile anime, enhancing the global appeal and allowing for nuanced portrayals aligned with the score's intensity. Notable performers include Mamoru Miyano as the enigmatic X, Kana Hanazawa as the regal Queen, Kōki Uchiyama as the fierce Dragon Boy, Yūichi Nakamura as the shadowy Ghostblade, and Kōichi Yamadera as the veteran hero Ahu, among others for the top 10 heroes.[22][32][14] The English dub, produced by Crunchyroll for simultaneous international release, boasts a talented roster of voice actors experienced in action-oriented series, capturing the chaotic energy of the battle royale premise. Key roles are voiced by David Matranga as X, Mauricio Ortiz-Segura as Lin Ling/Nice, Stephanie Young as Miss J, Bryn Apprill as Moon, and Christopher Sabat as Ahu, with additional ensemble members like John Burgmeier and Mike Smith contributing to the diverse hero lineup.[33][34][35] Performances across dubs were shaped by Hiroyuki Sawano's commanding soundtrack, including the opening theme "INERTIA" and main theme "JEOPARDY," which influenced vocal timing and emotional intensity to support the season's innovative non-linear structure.[22]| Character | Chinese Voice Actor | Japanese Voice Actor | English Voice Actor |
|---|---|---|---|
| X | Wei Chao | Mamoru Miyano | David Matranga |
| Queen | Liu Xiaoyu | Kana Hanazawa | Morgan Garrett |
| Dragon Boy | Chen Zhang Taikang | Kōki Uchiyama | Zach Aguilar |
| Ghostblade | Chang Bing | Yūichi Nakamura | Ernesto Jason Liebrecht |
| Ahu | Zhang Fuzheng | Kōichi Yamadera | Christopher Sabat |
| Lin Ling/Nice | Gu Jiangshan | Natsuki Hanae | Mauricio Ortiz-Segura |
| Miss J | Qiao Shiyu | Chiwa Saitō | Stephanie Young |
| E-Soul | Yang Kaiqi | Nobunaga Shimazaki | Stephen Fu |
Episodes
To Be Hero X consists of 24 episodes, aired as a television series from April 6 to September 14, 2025, divided into two cours of 12 episodes each, with the first cour running from April to June and the second from July to September. The series premiered on Bilibili in China and was simulcast internationally on Crunchyroll.[36][37] The episode structure follows a non-linear anthology format, presenting interconnected stories of aspiring heroes in a world where power derives from public trust, building toward a climactic hero tournament. Episodes 1–4 introduce protagonist X and the initial competition dynamics, while episodes 5–16 delve into individual backstories of key heroes such as E-Soul, Lucky Cyan, Queen, Loli, and Ghostblade, exploring their origins and rises in the rankings. The narrative then shifts to the competition climax in episodes 17–24, focusing on The Johnnies, the Ruins Incident, Dragon Boy, Ahu, and the finale centered on X, with episodes 17–18 serving as the chronological starting point for the overarching plot.[38] Stylistically, the series features diverse animation techniques, with peaks in fluid action sequences during competition episodes and more experimental visuals in backstory segments to reflect each hero's unique abilities and reality-warping elements tied to trust values. Runtimes vary slightly, typically 22–25 minutes per episode, allowing for concise character-focused narratives without filler.[22]| No. | Title | Original Title (Japanese) | Air Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nice | ナイス | April 6, 2025 |
| 2 | Moon | 小月青 | April 13, 2025 |
| 3 | The Ever-Standing Hero | 不屈のヒーロー | April 20, 2025 |
| 4 | The Commoner | リン・リン | April 27, 2025 |
| 5 | One Actor | 一人の役者 | May 4, 2025 |
| 6 | Two E-Souls | 二人の魂 | May 11, 2025 |
| 7 | Three Seats | 三人の席 | May 18, 2025 |
| 8 | The Cyan Girl | 紺碧の少女 | May 25, 2025 |
| 9 | Loss and Gain | 喪失と獲得 | June 1, 2025 |
| 10 | The Truth Behind Luck | 幸運の真相 | June 8, 2025 |
| 11 | Road to the Crown | 王冠への道 | June 15, 2025 |
| 12 | Fall of the Star | 星の没落 | June 22, 2025 |
| 13 | Tough Girl | タフガール | June 29, 2025 |
| 14 | Impromptu Counterattack | 即興の反撃 | July 6, 2025 |
| 15 | Affective Disorder | 感情失調症 | July 13, 2025 |
| 16 | The Cure | 治療 | July 20, 2025 |
| 17 | Whisper Flower | 白婉花 | July 27, 2025 |
| 18 | Died-Out Flame | 消えゆく炎 | August 3, 2025 |
| 19 | Breaking the Balance | 均衡の崩壊 | August 10, 2025 |
| 20 | The Ruins Incident | 遺跡事件 | August 17, 2025 |
| 21 | Nurturing God | 神の育成 | August 24, 2025 |
| 22 | The Last Smile | 最後の微笑み | August 31, 2025 |
| 23 | Lie | 嘘 | September 7, 2025 |
| 24 | X | X | September 14, 2025 |