Screen Rant spoke with talents Justin Briner and Clifford Chapin who voice the characters Izuku Midoriya (Deku) and Katsuki Bakugo, respectively, ahead of the premiere of My Hero Academia's third movie World Heroes' Mission. Deku and Bakugo's turbulent relationship has grown significantly in the main series ever since the release of the franchise's second film, Heroes Rising, which somehow explored new avenues of their strained friendship beyond the main storyline, even for fans who read ahead in the manga. Knowing this, it was possible that World Heroes' Mission could accomplish the same feat. But their relationship isn't the main focal point. Instead, the majority of the film focuses on how Deku's kindhearted nature and pure outlook on heroes shapes the life and bleak outlook of a poor, down-on-his-luck boy named Rody Soul (Ryan Colt Levy) when extenuating circumstances force the unlikely duo to go on the run from the police and the terrorist organization Humarise.
Screen Rant spoke with Briner and Chapin during Funimation's exclusive press event promoting My Hero Academia's latest film to discuss how World Heroes' Mission's break from specific plotlines affects their characters.
Screen Rant: There’s been a lot of focus on the relationship between both of your characters lately. The last movie Heroes Rising was really the precursor to what’s going on in season five, where Bakugo is now involved in Midoriya’s secret. World Heroes’ Mission kind of puts that story on hold. So with that in mind, was this movie refreshing from an acting perspective since you guys get to explore other avenues?
Justin Briner: Deku and Bakugo had their fun in the second movie, and quite a bit of it. So it's only fair that we let some other folks get the spotlight. Their relationship and budding friendship and rivalry has always been one of the major selling points, personally as a fan of the show and the material, and to see how far they've come in a relatively short time, all things considered, is really awarding. And I'm grateful to see how far they've come.
So in the movie, it's nice to see them generally on the same page. There's some communication that needs to be worked out but otherwise they're kind of just on the same side for the most part and working together. So good on them!
Clifford Chapin: I think that's one of the cool elements in this film. Where we are in the series now - 113 episodes in, I believe - and now we're in our third film, we have seen their dynamic grow so much so to see a situation painted where Deku is accused of mass murder and being involved in this sort of conspiracy situation, and Bakugo and Todoroki are trying to catch up but Bakugo never seems convinced that the news reports are true. It's always a bit of, "What's really going on? What's going on with Deku? How do I get there and how do we solve this problem?" So it's cool to see us move past that sort of point in their relationship where there is trust between them now, and it's cool to see that reflected in this film.
Justin, I know you’re doing other roles and acting with other characters but, in a My Hero Academia setting, this movie was a definite shift for you since Midoriya mostly interacts with Ryan Levy’s character. Since you read ahead, did you learn anything about Midoriya that you didn’t already know here, especially from that awesome scene in the cave?
Justin Briner: For Deku, one of his greatest strengths is his kindness and his willingness to accept people and their circumstances when the world at large is a little hesitant. Brody is sort of on the fringes of society, and they might not have even interacted if not for some of the unlikely circumstances surrounding this movie. To see them learn, to have them see eye to eye, for Deku to just extend his empathy to someone whom very few people would otherwise is really special.
So getting to see their relationship blossom in this movie, to see more about each other and, to see more about the world outside of Deku's original home is really satisfying for me portraying the character. I'm sure viewers are going to feel the same way. It's just gratifying just to see him interacting in a more international environment.
Clifford, You’re always yelling as Bakugo. It even feels like Bakugo yells more in this movie more than usual. Does that hurt after a while? How do you prepare for that?
Clifford Chapin: Yes, there's always a certain point where it's like, "Alright, I think that's as much as we're going to get today. And I'll try and push past it but fortunately, Colleen Clinkenbeard, our voice director, is very aware of it, being a very accomplished actor herself. She has been through that ringer probably many, many times. She knows when to pull the brake. She'll let me try it, but she'll know to be like, "Nope! We're done."
We recorded this film in two sessions, and I recorded all of the movie up until the fight in the first session, which was cool because there are a lot more introspective parts, a lot more calm, a lot more intellectual and analytical dialogue in there. There are some fights and yelling and whatnot because, of course, it's Katsuki Bakugo.
But we did the whole climactic fight in this film in the second session by itself, so I had a few days of rest, I think, maybe a week between sessions. So I came in as rested as possible. I was able to tear into the final fight as best I could and give it all I had. And, man, for what was only another two-hour session at the end of that movie, for that fight, it really took all I had, I would say that.
I was hoping for some more interactions with Luci Christian’s character, Ochako. I am always rooting for both of you guys to get together. Are you in the same headspace? Are you and Luci always rooting for Midoriya and Ochako to get together?
Justin Briner: [Laughs] I think there is plenty of evidence that they are super good friends, and Uraraka was one of the first people, one of the first students to really take a chance on Deku. So, of course, I am always rooting for them to have some team-ups and moments together.
But, otherwise, everyone's character is someone's favorite out there. I wish I could spend ten hours with all of them and have a moment with everyone in the series and in a movie. It is what it is.
My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission premieres in theaters on October 29.