Bingo In The Elf-Lounge

I’ll get to the shorter answers first:

“Who do you ship?”- Let me preface this by stating that I don't really care about ships, canon or otherwise. Like… at all. It takes a LOT to make me care about a romance in any story. Luckily, MHA is an action-shonen anime, so not a lot of that going on. However, I will try to put some more thought into this topic than I usually do. 

If we’re talking confirmed canon ships (discounting married couples), the only two I can even think of are Midoriya/Ochako and Denki/Jiro. I’m sure there are others, but MHA is (thankfully) very light on romance, so those two seem to be the only ones that have actually been confirmed as canon. (Forgive me if I’m wrong; I literally had to Google “canon MHA ships”.) Midoriya/Ochako is cute, and I love their dynamic. I think they'd be a good/healthy couple, but they're perfectly fine just as friends. Denki/Jiro is also sort of cute, a little more on the “belligerent sexual tension” side, but there’s not nearly as much to work with. That may be because these two don’t get as much focus as characters, I don’t know. Overall, the students in this show are more mature than their peers, so they’ve had to be more thoughtful about their futures and life decisions. They’re also still just kids. Adolescent relationships almost never last irl, and in fiction they seem to be portrayed in a similarly shallow vein, so I see no point getting invested.

If we’re talking non-canon, it’s still not my thing. I kind of low-key ship All Might/Inko Midoriya, but ONLY if Hisaishi Midoriya was out of the picture (I HATE cheating, even in fiction). That’s probably about it. I steer clear of shipping wars, so I’m not going to get into any of the other non-canon ships. I don’t care enough to paint a target on myself. 

The ships I really care about are the friendships. I'm way more into those, and found family! MHA is full of both, which is one of the many reasons I love it! (If you want to know who I “ship” in terms of “friendships” I’ll post a follow-up answer for that.) 

“Least favorite characters?”- I’m going to qualify my answer by setting aside characters you’re meant to dislike/hate (i.e. the villains/the Hero Safety Commission). Of those left, Mineta might be the only character I actively dislike. I think his design is fun, and his quirk is offbeat, but his personality is mostly awful. If he was a villain, or just some random background person, he wouldn’t grate as much. But Mineta is supposed to be funny and sympathetic. I don't hate him, I just... That character type (95% pervert) has never appealed to me, no matter the series. I'm glad he's gotten a bit better in the last few arcs, but it's been too little, too late for me to really like him. 

I also found Monoma irritating, but he’s gotten better.

Now onto my “long” answer. You have been warned! 

“Fav MHA character(s)?”- I have to say, a big part of the reason I love most of the characters in this show is the translation/VA work, as well as the animation. This may be the best English VA cast for a show I’ve ever heard, and the translation is exceptional. 

Aside from that, I love (or love to hate) pretty much all the main and side characters in the whole series. I think they all have something interesting to contribute to the story, even if they’re only in one scene. On the “villain” side, Twice is arguably my favorite, but I find all the main baddies compelling, and even some of the minor ones. On the “hero” side, the class 1-A kids have a special place in my heart, along with Mirio, Tamaki, All Might and Aizawa. 

However, if I have to pick favorites, my top 3 are Midoriya, Todoroki and Kirishima; not necessarily in that order. And that’s only if I have to really whittle it down, because the top tier would be even larger otherwise. (I do love a good ensemble!) Since you asked my reasons for picking my favorite(s), and I’m trying hard not to write an essay, I shall break it down thusly:

TODOROKI

Cool quirk!

Fun to draw

Half-and-half hair

Has scar; I want to hug him

Hidden sweet side

Also sassy

Overall bishonen looks without being aware of it (or not caring)

Dual personality like his quirk: cool-headed warrior/socially awkward teen 

Takes some things literally (with amusing results)

Curb-stomps multiple thugs at USJ like it's nothing

Snarks at said thugs about how they should be embarrassed

Loves his mum

Screw the rules, I’m doing what’s right!

Will throw hands if you hurt his friends

Terrible upbringing, still wants to be a hero like All Might

 Every reason to be villain but is Good Boi

Tells it like it is

Also worries about others

Stoic boy becomes soft boy with friends

Will do what it takes to be his best, even if it means working with abusive dad

Willing to forgive those who have hurt him

Admits and overcomes his weaknesses

Never gives up!

KIRISHIMA

Cinnamon roll

Sunshine boi 

Fun to draw

HIS EYES

Shark teeth

2 hairstyles, both cute!

Loyal

Sees the good in others (even Bakugo)

Worries about his friends

Not afraid to cry/be emotional

Positive manliness!

Devotion to chivalrous outlook is PRECIOUS

Works hard to improve

Protective quirk, protective heart

Super helpful

Overcoming insecurities to become a true hero!

Risks death to save lives

Always ready to help

Dad/son vibes with Fat Gum

Empathizes with others, even villains!

Consistently rises to the occasion

Knows others may have “flashier” quirks but still does his best

Looks terrifying in battle/is soft boi irl

Anyone that can put up with Bakugo as equals…

Keeps Lord Explosion Murder (somewhat) in line

Just overall seems like he gives excellent hugs

MIDORIYA

Cinnamon roll

Nerdy nerd nerd

Socially awkward

Freckles

Expressive eyes

Floof child

Mumbles to himself 24/7

Loves his mum

Fun to draw

Emotional without being annoying

Forgiving nature

Wants to be a hero to help others

Risked death as quirkless kid to save his bully

Always tries to do what’s right

Gains most powerful quirk and uses it for good

Seriously- every reason to be villain but is Good Boi

Willing to work harder than anyone to get where he is now

Lifelong outsider who helps others reevaluate their quirks’ potential

Bullied relentlessly and still didn’t give up hope for a better world

Dad/son relationship with All Might is GOLD

Big Brother vibes with Eri are made of diabetes

All his friendships… ALL OF THEM

Goes feral if you hurt his friends

Will go feral if you hurt total strangers

Smol boi, BIG PUNCH

Broken every bone in his body? Uses “Blackwhip Froppy Style” 

Seriously, nothing stops this kid. I love him so much!