‘To Be Hero X’ is Unlike Any Other Superhero Story I’ve Seen, and That Says Many Things

When I first saw the To Be Hero X trailer about a year ago, I was immediately impressed by its heightened sense of style and visual language. The blending of 2D and 3D animation is a difficult line to walk, and the not quite 90 second trailer managed to do so deftly. The warping of perspective and dimension to a hypnotic soundtrack was utterly captivating and barely knowing the premise other than “superhero,” I was sold. So when the screener for the pilot became available, I knew I had to see what the whole world was about. As it turns out, To Be Hero X is set in a world where Trust (colloquially, public approval, and belief) has a physical, tangible benefit. If the world has entrusted you Trust, you have superpowers. However, even if you had some sort of innate special power, a lack of Trust can actually strip you of your powers. As such, the vibe of To Be Hero X sort of stands in an entirely different corner of the world than its peers. It’s not a straight up parody like One-Punch Man, nor is it a diehard love letter to the genre like My Hero Academia. Instead, it falls in a sort of realm of playful deconstruction. A little more cynical outlook on large scale organizations managing heroes, but it is certainly a lot more optimistic than say The Boys.

It surprised me how it played with conventions I have seen time and time again, while still feeling fresh. Although, no small part of that is due to the stellar animation. The blend of 2D and 3D works just as well in the ope…