High School DxD Hero Episode 0: Holiness Behind the Gym

ハイスクールD×D HERO体育館裏のホーリー (High School DxD Hero: Taiikukan-ura no Holy)

7.0(59,476)

MAL Score

Ranked #5103

Popularity #2205

Action
Comedy
Ecchi
Romance
Supernatural
Harem
Mythology
School

Episodes: 1
Duration: 24 min
Aired: Apr 10, 2018
Status: Finished Airing

Synopsis

*High School DxD Hero Episode 0: Holiness Behind the Gym* presents an alternate take on the concluding four episodes of *High School DxD BorN*, revisiting that end stretch with a different version of events.

Otaku Consensus

High School DxD Hero Episode 0 earns its keep less as a standalone special than as a surgical continuity repair: Passione uses it to discard BorN's widely criticized anime-original end stretch and realign the series with the light-novel path fans wanted. The strongest notices praise its direct adaptation purpose, brisk setup, familiar action, and unapologetic fan service, while the recurring complaint is that the ecchi comedy feels recycled and the new Hero-era art style remains divisive.

Why You Should Watch

Watch Episode 0 if BorN's final stretch left you wondering why High School DxD suddenly stopped playing by its own rules. This is for viewers who want the franchise's harem chaos, mythological power flexing, and Issei-centered romantic absurdity without pretending the anime-original detour never happened. It scratches the same brazen ecchi-action itch as To Love-Ru or Rosario + Vampire, but with the added appeal of franchise maintenance: one compact episode that tells you which continuity the next season actually cares about. The best audience is already invested in Rias, Asia, and the Occult Research Club, especially fans who value source-material alignment. The caveat is real: if the repeated breast jokes have worn you down after three seasons, Episode 0 does not reinvent that part of the formula.

Key Characters

A
Asia Argento(VA: Azumi Asakura)
Asia remains the emotional soft spot of the cast, the character fans point to when DxD's outrageous harem machinery pauses long enough to show sincerity.
R
Rias Gremory(VA: Youko Hikasa)
Rias carries the series' blend of aristocratic devil charisma and romantic possessiveness, making her the anchor whenever the comedy and supernatural stakes collide.
I
Issei Hyoudou(VA: Yuuki Kaji)
Issei is still the franchise's make-or-break lead: a shameless ecchi protagonist whose appeal depends on turning libido into loyalty, momentum, and battle energy.

What Makes It Stand Out

1
It is structurally labeled Episode 0 rather than Episode 1, signaling that its job is continuity triage before High School DxD Hero properly begins.
2
The special directly addresses one of the franchise's most notorious adaptation controversies: BorN's anime-original ending, which reviewers criticized for removing key material needed for the next season.
3
Studio Passione is credited on this entry, making it part of the Hero-era production shift that fans frequently discuss alongside the changed art style.
4
Its reputation is unusually functional for a single episode: many viewers recommend it not because it is the flashiest DxD installment, but because it clarifies which version of events the rest of Hero follows.
5
Critical reaction splits cleanly between franchise value and episode quality: fans welcomed the retcon and action-fanservice mix, while harsher reviews still called Episode 0 weak as entertainment on its own.

Fun Facts & Trivia

Fun fact 1: The Japanese subtitle, Taiikukan-ura no Holy, is rendered in English as Holiness Behind the Gym, a very DxD-style collision of sacred language and schoolyard setting.
Fun fact 2: It aired on April 10, 2018 as a single completed episode, immediately positioning itself as a gateway into High School DxD Hero rather than a separate mini-arc.
Fun fact 3: On MyAnimeList, it sits at a 6.96 score from 59,089 votes, with a #5059 rank and #2200 popularity placement, reflecting a niche but heavily sampled franchise entry.
Fun fact 4: Review discourse around the episode is dominated by one production-context point: Season 3, BorN, was widely treated as the weakest season because of its anime-original final arc.
Fun fact 5: The credited main trio for this special is Asia Argento, Rias Gremory, and Issei Hyoudou, voiced in Japanese by Azumi Asakura, Youko Hikasa, and Yuuki Kaji.