TV-Series
Description
Eijiro Kirishima, known by his hero name Red Riot, is a student in Class 1-A at U.A. High School. He was born on October 16 and stands 170 centimeters tall. His Quirk, known as Hardening, manifested when he was three years old, an event that left a small scar above his right eye. Before his enrollment at U.A., Kirishima attended middle school where he was a self-conscious and timid boy. He felt overshadowed by his more outgoing classmates and was deeply affected by an incident in which he found himself unable to stand up to a bully threatening other students. This failure to act shook his confidence in his dream of becoming a hero.
Kirishima's path changed after he watched an interview with the pro hero Crimson Riot. Inspired by his idol’s words about courage and masculinity, Kirishima resolved to become a hero like him. He adopted a new, sharper hairstyle, changed his personal image, and with renewed determination, trained his body and mind to pass U.A.'s rigorous entrance exam, ultimately enrolling in the hero course.
Personality-wise, Kirishima is a straightforward, outgoing, and energetic young man who frequently uses the word manly to describe actions he finds admirable, such as bravery, fairness, and integrity. He is known for his kind and supportive nature, often acting as a bridge between his more volatile classmates. Kirishima is a firm believer in direct confrontation and dislikes underhanded tactics like sneak attacks, preferring a fair fight. Despite his confident exterior, he has harbored insecurities about his Quirk, which he once considered plain or unflashy, especially when compared to the powerful abilities of his peers and the similar Quirk of a student from Class 1-B, Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu.
His primary motivation is to become a hero who can protect others without regret, a promise he made to himself after overcoming his childhood fear. This desire to be a reliable shield for those in need is the core of his heroic ideal. Within the story, Kirishima serves as a key supporting protagonist and a loyal friend. He is most notably known for being the closest friend to the explosive and antisocial Katsuki Bakugo. Kirishima is one of the few people Bakugo respects and the only classmate he consistently addresses by his real name instead of a derogatory nickname. They are frequently seen together, and Kirishima is often the one who can understand and temper Bakugo's aggressive nature. He also shares a significant history with Mina Ashido, as they attended the same middle school, where he secretly admired her natural bravery in situations where he himself froze. Other close friendships include Denki Kaminari and Hanta Sero, with whom he forms a popular friend group.
Kirishima experiences significant character development, most prominently during his work study under the pro hero Fat Gum. During this time, his past is explored in depth, revealing the day he failed to act when a massive villain known as Gigantomachia attacked his classmates, a memory that has haunted him ever since. Facing the powerful villain Kendo Rappa forces Kirishima to confront these old fears. Remembering the lessons of Crimson Riot, he finds the inner strength to push past his limits, resulting in the creation of his ultimate move. This arc solidifies his transformation from a boy who once ran from danger into a determined hero-in-training who protects his allies no matter the cost.
Kirishima's notable abilities stem entirely from his Quirk, Hardening. This power allows him to harden any part of his body, making it rock-solid and sharpening its surface. In this state, his physical strength and durability are greatly enhanced, granting him significant resistance to physical strikes, heat, and shockwaves. However, his hardened state has a limit and can be worn down by sustained or extremely powerful attacks, which also drains his stamina. Over time, he has developed several techniques, including Red Counter, a hardened block followed by a counter-punch, and Red Gauntlet, a rushing charge with his hardened body as a shield. His most powerful technique is Red Riot Unbreakable, which dramatically increases the strength and density of his hardening for a short period, turning his body into a near-impenetrable defense that allows him to take incredible amounts of damage.
Kirishima's path changed after he watched an interview with the pro hero Crimson Riot. Inspired by his idol’s words about courage and masculinity, Kirishima resolved to become a hero like him. He adopted a new, sharper hairstyle, changed his personal image, and with renewed determination, trained his body and mind to pass U.A.'s rigorous entrance exam, ultimately enrolling in the hero course.
Personality-wise, Kirishima is a straightforward, outgoing, and energetic young man who frequently uses the word manly to describe actions he finds admirable, such as bravery, fairness, and integrity. He is known for his kind and supportive nature, often acting as a bridge between his more volatile classmates. Kirishima is a firm believer in direct confrontation and dislikes underhanded tactics like sneak attacks, preferring a fair fight. Despite his confident exterior, he has harbored insecurities about his Quirk, which he once considered plain or unflashy, especially when compared to the powerful abilities of his peers and the similar Quirk of a student from Class 1-B, Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu.
His primary motivation is to become a hero who can protect others without regret, a promise he made to himself after overcoming his childhood fear. This desire to be a reliable shield for those in need is the core of his heroic ideal. Within the story, Kirishima serves as a key supporting protagonist and a loyal friend. He is most notably known for being the closest friend to the explosive and antisocial Katsuki Bakugo. Kirishima is one of the few people Bakugo respects and the only classmate he consistently addresses by his real name instead of a derogatory nickname. They are frequently seen together, and Kirishima is often the one who can understand and temper Bakugo's aggressive nature. He also shares a significant history with Mina Ashido, as they attended the same middle school, where he secretly admired her natural bravery in situations where he himself froze. Other close friendships include Denki Kaminari and Hanta Sero, with whom he forms a popular friend group.
Kirishima experiences significant character development, most prominently during his work study under the pro hero Fat Gum. During this time, his past is explored in depth, revealing the day he failed to act when a massive villain known as Gigantomachia attacked his classmates, a memory that has haunted him ever since. Facing the powerful villain Kendo Rappa forces Kirishima to confront these old fears. Remembering the lessons of Crimson Riot, he finds the inner strength to push past his limits, resulting in the creation of his ultimate move. This arc solidifies his transformation from a boy who once ran from danger into a determined hero-in-training who protects his allies no matter the cost.
Kirishima's notable abilities stem entirely from his Quirk, Hardening. This power allows him to harden any part of his body, making it rock-solid and sharpening its surface. In this state, his physical strength and durability are greatly enhanced, granting him significant resistance to physical strikes, heat, and shockwaves. However, his hardened state has a limit and can be worn down by sustained or extremely powerful attacks, which also drains his stamina. Over time, he has developed several techniques, including Red Counter, a hardened block followed by a counter-punch, and Red Gauntlet, a rushing charge with his hardened body as a shield. His most powerful technique is Red Riot Unbreakable, which dramatically increases the strength and density of his hardening for a short period, turning his body into a near-impenetrable defense that allows him to take incredible amounts of damage.