Summary

• Bakugo's redemption arc in My Hero Academia highlights the series' theme of change and growth.
• The character transformed from a bully to a hero through self-awareness and reflection.
• Forgiveness and teamwork are valued in the series, emphasizing that anyone can change for the better.

My Hero Academia offers some of the best redemption arcs in anime, always giving characters chances to change even when they seem past that point. One of the most obvious examples of this happening is in the character Katsuki Bakugo. This fellow U.A. student began as nothing more than Deku's greatest bully, but grew into a true hero.

Bakugo's cruelty at the beginning of My Hero Academia was nothing short of shocking, leaving fans wondering how anyone could possibly commit such abhorrent actions. He mocked and mistreated Izuku Midoriya, who he nicknamed Deku, which roughly translates to "useless" in English. This offers truly disgusting insight into how Bakugo viewed his classmate at that time, seeing him as worthless.

He felt the young hero was beneath him due to his lack of a Quirk when almost everyone else in their school possessed these powers. When Deku managed to gain entry to the prestigious U.A. High School, Bakugo became even more frustrated.

At The Beginning Of My Hero Academia, Bakugo Was Deku's Worst Bully

The cruel character made Izuku's life miserable due to his own insecurities

Later in the series, it is revealed that Bakugo is an insecure and self-conscious character who doubts himself and his abilities, and this is even somewhat hinted at in earlier seasons. Although he portrayed a cocky and arrogant demeanor, always surrounded by hordes of bullies who encouraged his behavior, he was only picking on someone he perceived as weak to mask his own uncertainty surrounding his own achievements. Even if this explains Bakugo's actions, there is no excuse for how he treated Deku and his earlier cruelties have caused some fans to still have trouble forgiving him even today.

Bakugo insulted, mocked, physically attacked, and even told Deku to jump off a roof, treating his classmate horribly. As things escalated, he began to target Izuku during class practices and training, using his Quirk in risky ways in order to intimidate and harm the fellow hero. He became even angrier when he realized Deku had somehow inherited One For All, All Might's Quirk, and his mistreatment of the boy grew even more severe, causing other students and teachers to truly begin to notice how far the rivalry had gone. At this point in My Hero Academia, fans found it very difficult to like the fiery character.

Bakugo Was Starting To Become Too Evil

He was only defined by cruelty and bullying, so creator Kohei Horikoshi gave him a marvelous redemption

Horikoshi realized Bakugo needed more elements to his character than just meanness and hatred, so he wrote a new arc for the young hero, allowing him to grow and change from the vile and brutal actions he committed in the past. Bakugo went on to do something no one expected: he apologized to Deku and even showed self-awareness and reflection. By itting his own self-doubt to All Might and apologizing to his victim, Bakugo took the first step on his journey to become a better person and shed his old bully identity for his new role as a helpful and brave hero.

Some of Bakugo's actions are almost unforgivable and the emotional damage he caused to Deku will surely be long-lasting, so his apology doesn't immediately negate what he did or make his past behavior disappear from the story. However, Izuku kindly accepted Bakugo's regretful speech and seemed delighted that his classmate was turning over a new leaf and trying to become a better version of himself. Deku would've been well within his rights to reject Bakugo's apology, but by showing him grace and mercy, he offered the previous bully a chance for true redemption, one of My Hero Academia's most prominent themes.

Bakugo's Arc Highlights One Of My Hero Academia's Most Important Lessons

Change and redemption are crucial scenes in the narrative of the series

After Bakugo's apology, something even more surprising happened. He teamed up with Izuku, his former bullying victim, and the pair battled alongside one another against evil villainous threats such as the of the League of Villains, combining their powers to fight more effectively. Fans were truly stunned to see the two previous enemies working together so well, but this groundbreaking plot point goes to show how much the My Hero Academia creator values the importance of forgiveness, teamwork, and redemption from past behavior as long as the person is willing to truly change and take ability for the harm they caused.

Bakugo is not flawless and the effects of his damaging behavior can't be fully wiped away, but he is on a steady upward trajectory to becoming a better hero and person. Some fans wonder how far this potential for change and redemption in My Hero Academia will go, and if even the worst villains are capable of being redeemed similarly to how Bakugo was. The overpowered villain, Tomura Shigaraki, is one of the most awful characters in the series, yet Deku refuses to kill him, leaving fans wondering if maybe the horrific League of Villains leader could undergo changes too.

It seems unlikely that Shigaraki would feel remorse, considering the extent of his murderous plans. However, no possibility is out of the question and if Horikoshi can offer a fresh start for a character like Bakugo, maybe other evildoers have a chance at bettering themselves too. Regardless of how the story ends, Horikoshi has asserted the significance of forgiveness and shown that no one is past the point of saving. Anyone can become better if they are willing to take responsibility and work hard to get there, and My Hero Academia's Bakugo provides a perfect example of this inspiring theme.

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