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The credits for _My Hero Academia_ add "plus Ultra" after the series name.
Occasionally All Might shouts "plus Ultra!" as sort of a battle cry when he is
about to strike a foe. From context, I guess it means "extra power" or
"boost", but "plus ultra" seem so random. Is there more meaning to the two
words than this? Is this just something which does not translate well from
Japanese?


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my-hero-academia
What does "plus ultra" mean in My Hero Academia


Even in Japanese they say "Plus Ultra!". It is more a reference to when All
Might saved many people despite being tired, while having a smile in his face,
because he always goes beyond his limits. Plus Ultra is (as far as I concluded
from Season 1) when he does something with all his power and more. When he
gives his all doing something and even a bit more is when he shouts it. Going
beyond his limits. The others adapted to it as their favourite slogan from
their almighty hero. That's why they always shout it too. It reminds them
about All Might and gives them courage to push forward or to give that little
extra more that's needed. But yeah at the end of the episode it can be
compared to fanboy/fangirl behaviour.


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It means "Above and Beyond!" which is All Might's motto and his ideal vision
for all heroes to aspire to.

Also, the English words "plus" and "ultra" sound kinda cool to the Japanese
audience already, and combining them together is _double trouble_ :)


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2017-11-01T19:47:33.873
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"Plus Ultra" is actually a [_Latin_
Phrase.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plus_ultra) It translates to "Further
Beyond." In My Hero Academia, it has been adopted as the school motto of U.A.
High. It's uncertain in-universe whether or not the motto was around before
All Might, or if he's the one who came up with it, and his alma mater adopted
his personal motto.

In-context, it is an extremely gung-ho statement that tells you to push past
your limits and go further than you think you can.

It also happens to be the national motto of Spain, previously the personal
motto of King Charles V. Which he adopted as a rejection of the words
inscribed on the Pillars of Hercules "Non Plus Ultra" (Nothing Further Beyond)
after the discovery of the Americas.

Even IRL, it carries that same sort of gung-ho "You told us there was nothing
beyond this point...let me prove you wrong!" sort of sentiment.

The fact that it sounds cool to Japanese Ears by using a pair of English-
adopted words that they like is bonus points. But this phrase is not, in-fact,
"English" gibberish as anime/manga occasionally produces on account of their
writers not being entirely fluent in English. It's a Latin phrase with real-
world history.


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As others have said, the phrase relates to giving it more than your most,
rather than just "more power".

This is personified in All Might's fight with Nomu, as Deku notes that each of
All Might's punches are **more than 100%** of what he can give.


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