My Hero Academia: Vigilantes episode 6 review: A familiar villain’s birth intensifies plot momentum with peak progression

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes episode 6 maintains its heightened momentum as major story developments unfold, most notably the origin of a familiar villain. Aired on Monday, May 12, 2025, at 11 PM JST, the episode picks up with intense storytelling, focusing on the newly introduced vigilante Stendhal, whose second encounters with Koichi add to the tension.

The plot intensifies further with Kuin’s deeper involvement, raising the stakes further. A confrontation between Knuckleduster and Stendhal ultimately culminates in the transformation that marks the birth of a future infamous villain.

In addition to the compelling story progression, the episode also maintains its elevated production standards. Fluid animation, immersive sound design, and strong voice performances all contribute to the episode’s energy and weight.

Altogether, this installment delivers an engaging, action-packed experience that further elevates the series’ pacing and engagement.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes episode 6 review: Hero Killer Stain’s birth unfolds with amplified hype with stellar production

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes episode 6: A narrative review

Knuckleduster uses All Might's signature dialogue (Image via Bones Film)

Directed by Kenichi Suzuki and written by Yōsuke Kuroda, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes episode 6 delivers another gripping installment in the spin-off prequel to Kohei Horikoshi’s acclaimed series. With each new entry, Studio Bones steadily enhances the story’s momentum, striking a strong balance between character arcs and development, plot advancement, action sequences, and escalating tension.

Titled Crossing Lines, the episode begins with the vigilante Stendhal taking down yakuza members. It’s soon revealed that he has temporarily working with Kuin, who aids him for her own experimental agenda to test her Trigger-enhanced subjects in real combat.

Meanwhile, the focus shifts to the three thug instant villains Koichi and group previously fought, Soga Kugizaki, Rapt, as they realize the consequences of Trigger use. When Kuin warns Soga that Stendhal is targeting him, he chooses to confront the threat alone to protect his friends.

Kuin survives Stendhal's attack (Image via Bones Film)

Despite refusing Kuin’s offer of Trigger, she forcibly injects him with it using her bees, turning him into a mindless threat once again. As Soga and Stendhal clash, Koichi arrives and tries to save Soga, realizing Stendhal is after his life. However, Stendhal, warped by his own justice, now deems Koichi a villain for aiding someone like Soga.

Just in time, Knuckleduster intervenes and takes on Stendhal. Though hesitant to fight another vigilante, Stendhal refuses to retreat due to his unyielding ideals. Knuckleduster overpowers him, shattering his mask and ideology. However, this ends up triggering an awakening in Stendhal. He uses his quirk, Bloodcurdle, to escape with his renewed resolve.

An impressive frame of Stendhal eliminating the Yakuza members (Image via Bones Film)

The episode closes on a tense note as Stendhal regroups with Kuin and ponders his new vision. Annoyed by Kuin’s response, he strikes her left eye, and discards his former identity by slicing off his own nose, symbolically becoming the feared Hero Killer: Stain. Kuin, however, survives the attack thanks to her quirk.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes episode 6 offers a well-balanced blend of story progression, character building, dramatic tension, and intense action. The shift in focus from the vigilante protagonists to the villains brings a refreshing change to the story and pacing.

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Stain’s origin is handled with remarkable depth, adding nuance to one of the main series’ most memorable and significant villains. Kuin’s manipulations further escalate the unfolding narrative, while Soga’s involvement plays a crucial role in this pivotal turning point.

With its steady momentum, character-focused storytelling, and rising intensity, episode 6 continues to expand the world and emotional weight of the series while maintaining a gripping and engaging tone throughout.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes episode 6: An overall production criticism

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Studio Bones Film brings yet another standout entry with My Hero Academia: Vigilantes episode 6, continuing its streak of excellence in both storytelling and production. This episode maintains a consistently tense narrative tone, centered around the emergence of Stain, one of the franchise’s most pivotal villains.

His transformation is executed with meticulous care, well-measured pacing, and refined storytelling finesse. The production quality remains top-tier, elevated by refined visual and auditory elements. The storytelling is tight and compelling, featuring strong direction and a seamless narrative flow.

Knuckleduster vs. Stendhal (Image via Bones Film)

When it comes to visuals, the episode impresses with stunning animation, expressive sequences, and impactful frames that effectively convey the emotional depth and narrative tension of each moment. As a heavily action-focused installment, the fight scenes hit hard with fluid animation and dynamic camera work that enhance the intensity of every combat moment.

The continued use of comic-book-style effects further reinforces the series' distinct visual identity. One of the episode’s major highlights is the clash between Stendhal and Knuckleduster, serving as a peak moment of dramatic and physical confrontation.

Hero Killer Stain is born (Image via Bones Film)

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes episode 6 doesn't hold back in depicting gore and bloodshed where necessary, though it maintains a measured approach. Voice performances are consistently exceptional. The sound design and music by Yuki Hayashi, Shogo Yamashiro, and Yuki Furuhashi elevate the mood further, amplifying the suspense and drama throughout the episode.

Altogether, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes episode 6 stands as a polished and significant installment, continuing an impactful momentum while also raising anticipation for what's to come.

Final thoughts

Kuin in this episode (Image via Bones Film)

To sum up, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes episode 6 delivers a captivating and highly entertaining watch, particularly with Stendhal’s transformation into the notorious villain Hero Killer: Stain. Kuin's growing involvement deepens the intrigue, while the episode also provides updates on other instant villains like Soga and his group.

The shift in focus towards the villains gives the plot a significant boost in momentum. Coupled with enhanced production values and a polished presentation, this episode further marks the spin-off’s potential as one of the standout and most engaging titles of Spring 2025.