“I was a little shocked” – Deku, Bakugo and All Might Actors in My Hero Academia: You’re Next

DAIKI YAMASHITA: Like Deku, I always “express what I feel as it is”, and that has been a consistent rule. At some point, I stopped reading the manga, because I wanted my feelings behind my voice to be so real. I expected to be closer to Deku’s emotions by being in a similar place to him in the story’s timeline. This approach is specifically for when I voice Deku and I think it brought me closer to his thoughts and feelings. He is very calm in the fourth film, as it is right after the sixth season, in which the heroes come together. Out of all the films so far, I feel like Deku is at his most stable. Although I can’t deny that I was a little shocked by Dark Might, a villain with a similar appearance and voice to All Might.

Audiences really fell in love with Midoriya as a character and he became one of the most popular heroes in the shonen genre. What has it been like interacting with My Hero Academy fans that you’ve inspired over the years and is it surreal to watch a film like this in a theater packed with fans?

DY: I think it was about eight years ago, when My Hero Academy it wasn’t known yet, but it was my first event and I told the audience: “I want you all to remember these words! Go further! More Ultra!” I could see the question mark above most people’s heads and only a very few repeated the words back to me. But I kept repeating “Go further! More Ultra!” at all events, radio and live shows. Now each My Hero Academy Fans are ready for these words, not only in Japan, but also around the world. We are always ready to say “Plus Ultra!” together. I’m glad I never gave up and I want to continue connecting with fans with these words!

Kenta, you’ve been playing All Might since My Hero Academia start, which has always been the ultimate symbol of heroism and justice. What was the experience like playing this film’s villain, Dark Might, and having the opportunity to channel a very different type of performance? Did you approach Dark Might the same way you would All Might, or did you take a different approach here? What were your inspirations for the character?

KENTA MIYAKE: I’ve always seen Midoriya and the group from All Might’s perspective, but this time I had the opportunity to look at them as villains, so it was wonderful to be able to feel their strength and resolve everything again. When I was figuring out how to voice Dark Might, I tried to remember when I auditioned before I knew much about All Might. As a result, I hope I was able to bring out Dark Might’s personality, including the feeling of emptiness he sometimes exudes.

One of my favorite elements in My Hero Academy it’s how the series blurs the line between heroes and villains and leads the audience to question what truly makes a hero. How this theme is explored in My Hero Academia: You’re Next and what do you think the film says about the power of words and the dangers of how people can misinterpret messages and turn something honorable into an abuse of power?