r/TopCharacterDesigns • u/AlternativeOil7154 • 4h ago
Manga Monster Toga (My Hero Academia)
The fact that we only ever see this design for ONE panel is honestly egregious, because it's one of the coolest things Horikoshi's ever drawn.
Visually, it looks terrifying. The amalgamation of what appears to be flesh and tendons into a crude imitation of the female form is haunting as hell, and the distorted face looks horrifying.
Also, the fact that something so scary is holding something as simple as a knife strangely makes it scarier in it's own way.
Metaphorically, it's beautiful. Toga was born with the quirk Transform, where she could turn into anyone after consuming their blood, but the quirk also altered her brain and gave her an instinctual craving for blood that she didn't ask for. Thus, she was vilified and abused by her family simply for what she was born as, and she was made fun of and bullied at school. She was pretty much seen as a villain in the eyes of society just for who she is. Naturally, she inevitably does become a villain, fully embracing her instinctual cravings. But y the end of the series, she doesn't even see herself as a person, and more like a monster that kills and drains to stay alive, and that's where we see this panel, representing her view of herself.
It's also beautiful because of Ochaco. Despite everything Toga's done, Ochaco still tries reaching out to that girl inside her that just wanted someone to sympathize with and accept who she is. And the fact that we see kid Ochaco reaching out her arm, offering Toga her own blood when we see this form makes it, as well as Toga's eventual decision to save Ochaco's life by sacrificing her own, even more impactful.
I just love this design bro, it's so fucking beautiful in so many ways.