One of the most interesting aspects of the My Hero Academia franchise is the ease with which Kohei Horikoshi, the creator, integrated tragic backstories for most of its antagonists. By doing so, the author created complex and often empathetic villains with whom the audience could relate. Most of the enemies Deku faced during his journey as a hero were more than just agents of chaos, as they had understandable reasons for turning to villainy.
Surprisingly, there is a character who was never depicted as a villain, but whom Horikoshi decided to do the exact opposite with: Katsuki Bakugo. Ever since he was a child, Deku’s rival was praised and admired, with no major tragedies occurring in his life to turn him into a bully. It is this lack of excuses for his horrible behavior that helped Bakugo’s redemption feel much more special and earned.
Bakugo Had No One To Blame for His Behavior
He Actively Decided To Become a Bully
Bakugo Katsuki, one of the main characters of the My Hero Academia series, often considered by fans as a second protagonist, was not always the outstanding hero depicted during the series finale. Long before entering U.A. High, Deku’s rival was a strong-headed but joyful child who loved pretending to be a hero with his friends. Shortly after his fourth birthday, Bakugo's Quirk awakened, giving him the ability to create explosions via his hands. This extremely powerful skill quickly gained him popularity among his peers, as he had everything he needed to triumph as a professional hero.
With dreams of fame and glory filling his head, Katsuki slowly transformed from a regular if somewhat rude boy, to a bully who saw everyone else as burdens on his path to greatness. The people who were once his friends became his lackeys, following his orders without hesitation for fear of angering him. Worst of all, his childhood best friend, Izuku, became the target of his relentless bullying. The boy went as far as to tell the friend who he grew up with to end his own life in one of the most horrible moments in the series that went too far.
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Surprisingly, Bakugo’s terrible behavior was never attributed to any external factors, with the praise he received as a child being the only possible excuse. Even then, no number of compliments or admiration justifies his terrible attitude and immense ego, which he developed completely on his own. Unlike other characters, like Todoroki, who also began the series as somewhat of a bully, Bakugo had no tragic backstory to justify his actions. Everything he ever said and did was out of his own volition.
Bakugo Could Not Escape Accountability
His Redemption Feels Far More Honest
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By giving Bakugo no one else to blame for his behavior than himself, Horikoshi created one of the most complex characters in recent years of anime. When the story of My Hero Academia began, the author made sure to convey that Katsuki was aware of the damage he had caused. The boy had no reason to acknowledge the pain and trauma he inflicted on Deku, as there were no consequences for him acting this way. Nonetheless, once he was confronted with the realities of being a hero and his ego received hit after hit, Katsuki began to gradually change.
Bakugo’s redemption feels realistic and earned because he holds himself accountable for his terrible actions. Katsuki was not the victim of an abusive father, never had his life stripped away from him by the whims of a megalomaniac, nor was he persecuted by society. Moreover, Bakugo was not even forced by his teachers or peers to change, as most of his mistakes as a student had little to no consequences. If he had wanted to, he could have continued being an arrogant and pedantic loner who belittled everyone around him.
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His desire for change, and most importantly his apology to Deku for the years of bullying, felt sincere. Because no one forced him to be better, Bakugo's character arc is considered one of the best in the franchise. Katsuki decided to become a better person and leave his hateful and spiteful self behind because he knew that was the right decision. If he had been forced in any way, his kinder personality at the end of the series would likely have felt fake and underserved.
Bakugo’s Redemption Did Take Longer Than Expected
The Series Might Have Prolonged Bakugo’s Bully Attitude a Bit Much
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Even though Bakugo’s journey is by far one of the most interesting in the My Hero Academia franchise, there is no denying that it took a bit longer than it should have. While his progress has been significant ever since he entered U.A.’s Hero Course, his attitude towards others did not truly change until the latter half of the series. He would constantly mock others, belittle their efforts, and refuse to accept his mistakes until All Might was forced to retire after his battle against All For One, undeniably one of the best fights in the series.
Many fans also believe that his apology to Deku arrived way later than it should have, as the protagonist deserved it long before he abandoned the school to become a vigilante. Despite how frustrating it was seeing Bakugo act as if he had done nothing wrong, the time it took for him to accept his flaws worked perfectly with his character. Katsuki is popular for being stubborn, determined, and confident. Turning him into an affable and caring person without any struggle on his part would have betrayed his personality.
My Hero Academia Created One of the Best Rivals Ever
Katsuki Revolutionized the Trope
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When studied closely, it becomes clear that Katsuki is far different from most other rivals in the best way possible. This can be seen in the fact that his motives to train and grow stronger do not come from any past trauma or tragic event. He is also not a former enemy befriended by the heroes after being defeated. Bakugo’s actions are not defined nor inspired by anyone else, he is the only one who decides his fate. It is this distinction that makes his constant competition with Deku feel so refreshing.
Katsuki Bakugo is a character who has more than earned his spot among the best rivals in anime history. Horikoshi truly created a revolutionary character for his My Hero Academia series, and Bakugo will no doubt inspire many authors to create subversive and unique rivals such as himself.