To Be Hero [Season 1 Episode 1 to Episode 12]

To Be Hero: A Wild Ride of Absurdity and Heartfelt Fatherhood

When To Be Hero first dropped in October 2016, no one expected a toilet seat designer getting sucked into his own toilet to become the premise of one of the most bizarre yet oddly touching anime of the season. Produced by Emon and animated by Studio LAN under the supervision of Shinichi Watanabe (yes, the same genius behind Excel Saga), this Chinese-Japanese collaboration is a chaotic blend of action, comedy, and unexpected emotional depth.

At its core, To Be Hero follows Old Man, a ridiculously handsome but utterly dysfunctional father who designs toilet seats for a living. His life takes a turn for the absurd when he’s literally flushed into another dimension and tasked with saving the world—except there’s a catch. He loses his good looks in the process, transforming into a pudgy, middle-aged hero. Now, he must balance his new superhero duties with being a single dad to his brilliant and athletic daughter, Min-chan.

The Absurdity That Works

The show’s humor is as unapologetically crude as it gets. From toilet jokes to over-the-top fight scenes, To Be Hero doesn’t shy away from embracing its ridiculousness. Fans on MyAnimeList and Reddit pointed out how the comedy evolves from pure slapstick to something more nuanced as the series progresses. One user noted, “It was stupid, but the good kind of stupid.” And honestly, that’s the charm of it.

The action sequences, while rough around the edges, are surprisingly dynamic. The final showdown between Old Man and his evil counterpart (because, of course, there’s an evil version of him) is packed with emotional weight. As one fan put it, “When the worst enemy is yourself, ah classic.”

The Heart of the Story: Fatherhood

Beneath all the absurdity, To Be Hero is a story about fatherhood. Old Man’s journey isn’t just about saving the world—it’s about redeeming himself as a dad. The relationship between him and Min-chan is the emotional backbone of the series. Viewers were divided on the ending (more on that later), but many agreed that the father-daughter dynamic was the highlight.

One Reddit user summed it up perfectly: “This anime is really about fathers, their children, and how that relationship can be messed up when pride becomes more important than your kids.” Another fan added, “The fact that everything was in his head and he was actually in a coma never occurred to me. The bad dad vs. the good one… the ending really raised its rank for me.”

The Controversial Ending

Ah, the ending. This is where things get divisive. Without spoiling too much, the finale takes a meta turn, leaving viewers questioning what was real and what wasn’t. Some loved the ambiguity, calling it “a brilliant way to show the challenges of parenting.” Others, however, felt cheated. “It was all a dream?! 🙁 8/10 nonetheless, made me laugh a lot!!”

Interestingly, there’s a cultural divide here. The Japanese version of the finale cut significant content to fit broadcast time, leading to confusion among international audiences. As one fan pointed out, “The Chinese version’s ending is much better. The director intended it as an apology letter to his daughter.” Whether you prefer the multiverse twist or the more grounded Chinese ending, one thing’s clear: To Be Hero leaves an impression.

Final Verdict: A Hidden Gem

To Be Hero isn’t perfect. The animation can be janky, the humor won’t land for everyone, and the ending is… well, a lot. But it’s also one of those rare shows that balances absurdity with genuine heart. As one MyAnimeList user put it, “This was the best short of the season. The comedy was on point, and the drama was actually pretty decent.”

If you’re looking for something offbeat, hilarious, and unexpectedly touching, give To Be Hero a shot. Just don’t take it too seriously—unless it’s about the dad feels. Then, by all means, grab some tissues.

Rating: 7.5/10
“A wild, weird, and surprisingly heartfelt ride.”