It’s a good day to be a basketball AND an anime fan as news of My Hero Academia x NBA Collaboration hit the fans quicker than Buddy Hield can basket.
SMASH!!🔥 My Hero Academia x @NBA Collaboration Officially Announced!
✨More: https://t.co/9FmhGGI7jG pic.twitter.com/BQlKaOPO9P
— AnimeTV チェーン (@animetv_jp) June 26, 2023
The Legendary Collaboration: My Hero Academia x NBA
Our heroes will keep fighting the villains and saving the city, but with style now. After Marvel, My Hero Academia is all set to take over the sports merch industry with a collaboration between the anime My Hero Academia by Kohei Horikoshi and the American professional basketball league NBA has been decided.
In a brand new collaboration between My Hero Academia, TOHO Animation, Crunchyroll and the National Basketball Association (NBA), NBALAB, and HYPERFLY, the popular Shonen Jump series will be merging into a one-of-a-kind of streetwear for fans. Apparel items will be released in the United States while some items will also be sold in Japan.
A few pieces from the collection will be exclusively debuting at NBA Con, held in Las Vegas from July 7th to July 9th, while a full merchandise release will drop later this fall where characters from My Hero Academia will be featured on newly designed merchandise for nine NBA teams:
- The Los Angeles Lakers
- Golden State Warriors
- Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics
- Philadelphia 76ers
- New York Knicks
- Miami Heat
- Dallas Mavericks and
- Portland Trail Blazers.
The first character visual released at the same time is a drawing of All Might, a symbol of peace. It shows him playing basketball with a dynamic appearance. In this collaboration, there are also character visuals other than All Might. HYPERFLY’s official website in the U.S.A. will announce the details of the apparel items that feature each visual design.
These will be available for preorder. All preorder items are expected to ship by the standard business shipping days. Items are final sale only, with no returns.
MHA x NBA collaboration announced! pic.twitter.com/NJiL1MO3qB
— ever (@DabisPoleDance) June 21, 2023
HYPERFLY’s retail launch featuring All Might on t-shirts, hoodies, and satin jackets will be available to purchase this fall in the U.S. and Canada at the Crunchyroll Store, NBAStore.com, LIDS.com, HYPERFLY.com, and other approved vendors, just in time for the upcoming 78th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
The regular season is scheduled to begin in October 2023 and end in April 2024. Merchandise will also be available in Japan on NBAStore.jp.
HYPERFLY Collaboration History
This isn’t HYPERFLY’s first rodeo in collaborating with an anime giant. They have previously partnered with Jujutsu Kaisen in a collection that features two Jiu-Jitsu kimonos and several No Gi items. They collaborated with the anime Naruto Shippuden with the Uzumaki Gi and Itchi Gi Kimonos.
They also teamed up with the legendary Japanese studio Toho to bring forward a limited-edition Godzilla collection. This collection consists of training rash guards, shorts, and a Jiu-Jitsu Gi.
In conclusion, what started out as a public ad in Japan has created waves in the fashion and anime industry as it features the fusing of both worlds. It will be interesting to see which heroes, or villains, are featured in the upcoming union.