My Hero Academia’sBakugo Katsukihasgrown and changed more than nearly any other character in the series. During his early moments inMy Hero Academia, he was exceptionally cruel to those around him, especially Deku, to mask his own fears of falling behind his classmates. He was also reckless, endangering both himself and others by letting his anger control him and using his powerful Quirk foolishly.
One of the most crucial moments inMy Hero Academiawas when Bakugo and Deku fought one another outside the dorms in season 3, only to be interrupted by their teacher, All Might. After the Provisional Hero License Exam had concluded, with everyone in Class 1-A except for Todoroki and Bakugo passing, Bakugo confronted his classmate, challenging him to a physical confrontation.
Deku was not eager to fight Bakugo and attempted to reason with him, but Bakugo wanted to see Deku’s One For All Quirk in action, inan attempt to figure out why All Might chose him as a successor.
Bakugo Confessed That He Felt Responsible for All Might Losing His Quirk
Even Though All Might Assured Him This Wasn’t the Case, Bakugo Carried Crushing Guilt Over the Incident
During the clash, All Might confronted the two young students, breaking up the battle. In the following scene,Bakugo made a truly shocking confession to All Might, opening up emotionally for the first time. He revealed that he blames himself for All Might losing his powers, since he lost them rescuing Bakugo from the League of Villains. This tearful moment marked a turning point in Bakugo’s journey, allowing All Might to comfort and encourage the aspiring hero. This pivotal scene unleashed a never-before-seen side of the fiery hero, provingBakugo is more than just the class bully.
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Few My Hero Academia characters are as iconic as the explosive Bakugo but he also happens to be one of its more divisive figures too.
Bakugo proved he was a lot more caring and considerate of others than he had previously acted, since he was genuinely worried for All Might and carefully considered the danger the Pro Hero would be in now that he had lost the final embers of One For All for good. Bakugo had previously always acted confident, arrogant, and above his classmates, so it wasa monumental shift to see him tearfully apologizing to his hero, All Might. Even though All Might assured him he would have lost his Quirk soon anyway, Bakugo still offered showed genuine remorse and took accountability.
Bakugo and Deku’s Relationship Shifted in This Season Three Scene, Becoming Less Toxic
Bakugo Began To View Deku as Someone To Compete With Rather Than Someone to Defeat
This scene alsocompletely changed the dynamic between Bakugo and Deku, taking Bakugo’s behavior from genuinely mean-spirited to a more playful rivalry with Deku. Previously, Bakugo was the aggressor, bullying and belittling Deku every chance he got. However, this scene marked a turn in Bakugo’s mindset towards his fellow aspiring hero. Although he did not begin showing affection or overwhelming kindness to Izuku, he dialed back the petty insults and needless physical attacks, viewing Deku as more of an equal than someone beneath him. Bakugo never genuinely saw Deku as lower than him, but he acted that way to conceal his insecurity.
Bakugo and Deku both grew up admiring All Might and aspiring to be like him, so it was likelya massive blow to find out his idol chose his self-proclaimed greatest rival, Deku, to inherit his Quirk. Bakugo felt the need to prove he was “better” than Deku, and this feeling only grew after learning All Might saw incredible potential in Izuku. Learning Bakugo’s behavior stems from jealousy and vulnerability humanizes him and takes him from a needlessly mean character for no reason, to a struggling teenager who is finally beginning to confess and work through his feelings of inadequacy.
Bakugo Proved He Was Growing into the Hero He Was Destined To Be With This Scene
All Might assured Bakugo that he did not need the One For All Quirk because he was already so strong with a phenomenal Explosion Quirk. All Might chose Deku as his successor to give him an extra boost, since Deku was born Quirkless, but Bakugo already had a spectacular Quirk and did not need the help. Upon realizing All Might’s rationale, and being assured that All Might losing his powers was not his fault, Bakugo began working toshift his mindset from anger to acceptance. His relationship with Deku did not instantly become perfect, but this was a step in the right direction.
My Hero Academia’s Anime Improves Deku & Bakugo’s Best Moment
The My Hero Academia anime manages to improve the series’ most important scene with Deku and Bakugo, making it even better than it was in the manga.
A lot changed for Bakugoat this moment, and he started on the path to becoming a respectable hero rather than a cruel villain, at a moment when he could’ve potentially gone either way. Horikoshi explained in an interview thathe hadalways intended on developing Bakugo into a hero, but during the Hideout Raid arc, his future seemed uncertain to viewers. With this scene, Horikoshi proved Bakugo would never slip into evil and that his tendency to lash out and raging anger were a result of his own lack of confidence, not genuine malice or a desire to needlessly harm others.
At the Conclusion of the Scene, Bakugo Shifted Into a More Positive Mindset
His Relationship With Deku Also Began to Improve, as They Shifted From Enemies To Competing Rivals
Bakugo still had not formally apologized to Deku by this time. That central moment would not come until a later battle. However, this scene was equallyimportant becauseit marked the start of Bakugo’s journeytowards becoming a better heroand a kinder person. The conversation between him, All Might, and Deku allowed him to get some inner struggles off of his chest and be reassured that the guilt he was carrying on his shoulders regarding All Might’s fate was not his burden to hold. He also made great strides in his complex and confusing relationship with Deku.
Bakugo Wasn’t a Real Hero Until One of His Darkest My Hero Academia Arcs
Bakugo’s lowest moment in My Hero Academia was essential to him becoming a real hero because it forced him to reflect on his behavior.
Bakugo and Deku certainly did not immediately become best friends, but they began treating one another differently and with less animosity. Bakugo recontextualized the way he looked at Deku, seeing himas someone to compete with rather than someone to destroy. He used Deku’s accomplishments to push him further and inspire him to achieve his own goals. At the end of their fight, they both swore to surpass one another, playfully arguing over who would become the ultimate hero. That final scene revealed the beginning of a brand-new dynamic between theMy Hero Academiapair and a new, more positive mindset forBakugo.
My Hero Academia
My Hero Academia is a multimedia franchise that follows a young boy named Izuku Midoriya, who dreams of becoming a hero despite being born without superpowers. These superpowers, known as “Quirks” are found in most people after birth, but Izuku wasn’t so lucky - until a fateful encounter with All Might, Japan’s greatest hero, Izuku inherits his Quirk and enrolls in U.A. High School to learn the true meaning of heroism. Alongside his classmates, each endowed with unique abilities, Izuku faces rigorous training and lethal threats from villainous forces.
