My Hero Academia has captured the hearts of anime fans worldwide. Among the talented cast bringing these heroes-in-training to life is Yuki Kaji, the voice behind Shoto Todoroki. Kaji Offered a glimpse into his journey portraying one of the series’ most complex characters.
As the Sports Festival Arc concluded, Kaji’s insight shed light on the crucial moments that defined Todoroki’s growth and his experience as a voice actor. This behind-the-scenes look at one of the fan-favorite characters offers a new level of appreciation for the series and the artistry behind it.
A Frozen Heart Begings to Thaw
In a recent interview via @tododekucrumbs on Tumblr, voice actor Yuji Kaji shared his thoughts on portraying Shoto Todoroki in the hit anime series My Hero Academia. He revealed that the Sports Festival Arc in the second season played a vital role for him, particularly during Todoroki’s intense battle with Izuku Midoriya.
Kaji explained:
Todoroki is a person who is still in the midst of changing, and to be honest I still feel some frustration sometimes, but it was definitely during his one-on-one tournament battle fight with Midoriya… I see it as maybe Todoroki’s “visible emotions” were his fire power. I think Todoroki had frozen his own heart, and Midoriya lit a fire in it for him.
He noted that while Todoroki initially appeared as a calm, cool, and strong character in the first season, it wasn’t until the Sports Festival that he truly got to explore the depths of Todoroki’s personality. The emotional impact of the scene echoed deeply with Kaji, who felt it was the first time he could truly embody Todoroki’s character.
Kaji’s Personal Connection to Todoroki’s Struggles
Kaji also shared how he could personally relate to Todoroki’s character, particularly the challenges of being a teenager transitioning from childhood to adulthood. He drew from his own memories to convey Todoroki’s pain and internal struggles. He recalled:
Todoroki suffers from the heavy weight of his parent’s expectations and how others see him. I also went through a phase where my father felt like a “wall I want to overcome”… I think it’s partially thanks to these experiences I was able to recall my memories and express Todoroki’s pain in a realistic manner.
His experiences of feeling sensitive, easily offended, and dealing with the weight of parental expectations are all the emotions that Todoroki grapples with in the series. He praised My Hero Academia for its ability to depict raw, human drama that goes beyond typical anime storylines.
Looking ahead to future episodes, Kaji expressed excitement about portraying Todoroki’s gradual emotional growth. He noted:
I think the key point in playing Todoroki in future episodes will be how his relationships with his classmates change and how he faces his family. His heart was frozen for a long time, so of course it will be hard for him to change suddenly
As the series progresses into new arcs featuring formidable villains, Kaji encourages fans to pay close attention to how Todoroki evolves and faces challenges that he cannot overcome alone. The voice actor’s enthusiasm for the role and the series as a whole shines through.
You can watch My Hero Academia on Crunchyroll.
