Episode 159 of the My Hero Academia anime contains what many consider one of the most emotional moments in the series, Toga’s sacrifice. After an arduous battle against Uraraka, Himiko managed to accept herself as something other than a monster. Woefully, this happy moment was interrupted by the urgency of saving Uraraka from bleeding out.

In a surprising twist of events, Toga fully turned herself into Ochako thanks to her Quirk, which allowed her to use her blood to save her former enemy’s life. Still, the strain of previously using Twice's Quirk while transformed caused Toga to lose some control of her Quirk, resulting in only half of her face looking like Ochako. However, during this moment, Himiko and Uraraka’s faces blended perfectly, signifying that the former villain was redeemed in her last moments. Her love for Ochako helped her overcome the previous issues she had when utilizing her Quirk, only to die tragically right after.

Ochako’s Acceptance Helped Toga Overcome Her Mental Blocks

Uravity’s Genuine Care Allowed Himiko to Master Her Powers

Toga Himiko, one of My Hero Academia's most notable villains, had one of the series' most tragic backstories. When her Quirk awakened, which allows her to transform into other people by drinking their blood, her parents began to see her as a monster. Himiko’s need to drink blood only made the opinion of her caregivers worse, as they began to fear and seclude her from society. Toga grew up thinking of herself as a mistake, someone who should not have been born. One day, her urge for blood caused her to attack a classmate.

This accident is what led her to become a villain, one who wanted to be accepted for who she was, without having to hide any of her traits. Yet, she failed to accept herself, still haunted by the words of her parents and peers. It was not until her final encounter with Uravity that Himiko accepted herself as someone worthy of love and respect. This change in perspective occurred mostly thanks to Ochako's encouragement and genuinely encouraging words. Her kindness gave Himiko the opportunity to live her last moments as a hero.

The anime made this clear by showcasing Toga using Uraraka’s blood to transform into her, with their faces becoming one. Besides being an amazingly animated moment, this event gave fans the opportunity to see Hiiko embrace her powers and the love she had for Ochako, truly mastering her Quirk for the first time. Previously, in episode 109 of the anime, the villain used Uravity’s blood as well, but her face looked like a melting candle, as her combination was not stable. Letting go of her anger and sadness and embracing a heroic spirit is what helped her control her Quirk.

Toga’s Quirk Also Conformed Her Attempts to Redeem Herself

The Differences in Appearance Showcase Her Desire To Be a Hero

Ochako Uraraka is among the most heroic characters in the My Hero Academia universe. She is a kind and loving individual whose biggest wish was to give her parents a comfortable life with her salary as a hero. During her time as villain, Toga was the complete opposite, only thinking about her personal gain and disregarding the safety of others. This clash in ideologies is likely what led to Himiko’s first attempt to use Uraraka's Quirk resulting in a monstrous appearance. By that point in the series, Himiko could only use another person's Quirk if she "loved" them, meaning she held that person close to her heart.

Worst of all, Himiko first used the abilities of Ochako’s Zero Gravity Quirk to kill many of the of the Meta Liberation Army. Once her powers awakened, a rare occurrence in the series, she managed to utilize Uravity’s abilities to float her opponents and let them fall from a lethal height. Uraraka would never condone such an action, which made the appearance of the villain look incomplete and mismatched, something that did not occur when she transformed herself into Twice.

However, in episode 159, Toga did not use her abilities nor Ochako’s blood to hurt others, but rather to save a life. She acted as a true hero, sacrificing herself to give Ochako another chance at life. Himiko became a hero through and through, proven by the fact that her face and Ochako's blended perfectly. This fact makes her death, one of many that occurred during the ruthless Final War arc, that much more tragic. All Toga needed to become a hero was someone to believe in her and accept her, a wish Ochako fulfilled before her death.

Himiko Toga will remain one of My Hero Academia’s most tragic characters, not only due to her untimely death but also because of her traumatizing childhood. She is a reminder of the flaws that plagued hero society in the series, and serves as an example of the amazing social critique that characterizes this beloved manga and anime.