The decade-long run of Kohei Horikoshi's global phenomenon, "My Hero Academia" (or "MHA"), finally came to a climactic end in Weekly Shonen Jump in August 2024. However, the saga continues on screen with the highly anticipated "My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON" (animated by Bones Film), which premiered in Japan on October 4, 2025. To celebrate the final chapter, an official interview with star voice actor Daisuke Ono, who plays Toshitsugu Kudo, has been released, where he shares the specific intentions he brought to the powerful role and recounts his experiences in the recording studio.
<The following content is quoted from the official announcement>
Interview with Daisuke Ono, Voice of Toshitsugu Kudo
The current major key in the My Hero Academia anime is the "Quirk" One For All (OFA), inherited by Deku from All Might.
Toshitsugu Kudo is the second user of OFA—the culmination of power passed down through generations and the key to defeating ultimate evil—and possesses the "Quirk" Gearshift.
In the currently airing FINAL SEASON, the mysteries surrounding him, which had been previously unknown, are gradually being revealed, and he plays a significant role as Deku prepares to battle the worst villain in history, Tomura Shigaraki. An official interview with Daisuke Ono, the voice actor who played Kudo, has now arrived.
──You have been appearing as the second user of One For All (OFA) since Season 6. First, how did you feel about "My Hero Academia" as a series?
Daisuke Ono (hereinafter, Ono) : "Plus Ultra!" That phrase summed it up. Seeing the cast united by these words, I thought it must be a wonderful set and felt envious.
──The second user is a unique character dwelling within the Quirk. While initially mysterious in Season 6, his thoughtful words showing care for Deku were also memorable. What did you keep in mind while portraying him?
Ono: I made sure never to step forward. I also focused on fighting alongside him. I constantly kept in mind the idea of standing behind Deku while challenging things from the same perspective.
──Joining from the later seasons like Season 6 and 7, what was the recording atmosphere like? Also, if there were any memorable moments on set, please share.
Ono: Daiki (Yamashita) embodying his performance with everything he had was Deku himself. He kept pushing forward despite being physically and mentally worn out. And Nobu-kun (Nobuhiko Okamoto), responding to that, was Bakugo (Kacchan) himself. They truly embodied the "Plus Ultra" spirit.
──Yoichi is the younger brother of the ultimate villain, All For One, whom Kudo must defeat. How do you, Dasuke Ono, view Yoichi's presence in relation to Kudo?
Ono: A friend. I felt that the words "My Hero" that Yoichi uses for him conveyed not just a reliable comrade, but also a deep, intense friendship.
──The Quirk "Gearshift" was revealed in Season 7's battles. How did you feel about that Quirk?
Ono: "Gearshift" is like a mechanism in a car that maximizes engine output by selecting the appropriate gear and matching the RPMs. The process of gradually shifting up from first gear is necessary—you can't skip straight to fifth gear. I believe "Gearshift"—which combines the bonds forged with allies, the accumulated effort, and the soul inherited across a long span of time—is a Quirk truly worthy of being inherited by Deku.
──In Season 7 and FINAL SEASON's battles between Bakugo and Shigaraki (AFO), there were scenes that overlapped Bakugo and the second holder, and the name Kudo appeared, gradually revealing his identity. How did you feel when reading the original manga and the script about these revelations?
Ono: I think the similarities are coincidental. But it also feels inevitable. What I felt while reading the original manga was the similarity in their way of life. Fighting for someone's sake. Never giving up. Challenging until they burn out. Kacchan's line, "This is our story!" must resonate in the second user's heart as well.
──In Season 7's battle against Shigaraki (AFO) and FINAL SEASON episodes 164 and 165's battle against Shigaraki, the second user showed strategic brilliance. What did you feel during these recording sessions?
Ono: The second user told Deku, "The chain of events leading to this point will surely become your strength." Words that could also be interpreted as "The path you've lived isn't wrong," "You're not alone," "So you'll be okay." I felt these were words that give me courage in my own life—words I want to cherish.
──The "My Hero Academia" anime series is finally approaching its climax. Please share a message for fans and viewers.
Ono: It is a painful and difficult battle. It is an all-out war. Let us go forward together—Kudo, the past successors, and all of the fans. "Plus Ultra!"
About "My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON"
Starts airing October 4, 2025!
Streaming
TV Anime season 1-7 are available on Crunchyroll!
Introduction
The comic series has surpassed 100 million copies in circulation worldwide! "My Hero Academia" is a popular TV anime based on the hit manga by Kohei Horikoshi, currently serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump (published by Shueisha). The story is set in a world where about 80% of the population possesses some kind of supernatural ability called a "Quirk."
The series follows the growth, battles, and friendships of high school student Izuku Midoriya, nicknamed "Deku," and his classmates at U.A. High School. They aspire to become professional heroes, a career dedicated to protecting people and society from accidents, disasters, and villains who misuse their Quirks for criminal purposes.
Now, as the series enters its 8th season in 2025, it has been announced that it will air as the FINAL SEASON!
Story
In a world where supernatural abilities known as "Quirks" are commonplace, a Quirkless boy named Izuku Midoriya, nicknamed "Deku," encounters the legendary No.1 Hero, All Might. Recognizing Deku's inherent heroic qualities, All Might passes down his Quirk, "One For All" (OFA), to the young aspirant.
Deku then enrolls in U.A. High School, a prestigious institution famous for producing top-tier heroes. Alongside his classmates in Hero Course Class 1-A, he strives to become a hero who can save society and its people using his newfound Quirk.
As Deku and his friends enter their second year at U.A., they find themselves thrust into the final battle against the villains led by Tomura Shigaraki and All For One. Intense fights erupt across Japan, marking the climax of their ongoing conflict.
Several confrontations reach their conclusion, including the fateful encounter between the Todoroki family - Shoto, Endeavor, and Dabi (revealed to be Toya Todoroki) - as well as the face-off between Ochaco and Toga.
The stage is now set for the ultimate showdown: Deku, having fully unlocked the power of One For All, faces off against a fully awakened Shigaraki, who has managed to absorb All For One's consciousness. Meanwhile, a rejuvenated All For One in his prime battles against All Might, who, despite being Quirkless, dons a high-tech suit to become "Armored All Might."
As these epic battles reach their crescendo, the question remains: Will Deku's journey to become the greatest hero reach its triumphant finale, or will everything crumble in the face of overwhelming villainy?
The fate of their world hangs in the balance as "My Hero Academia" hurtles towards its thrilling conclusion!
Staff
Original Work: Kohei Horikoshi (Published by Shueisha Jump Comics)
Chief Director: Kenji Nagasaki
Director: Naomi Nakayama
Series Composition: Yosuke Kuroda (Studio Orphee)
Character Design: Yoshihiko Umakoshi, Hitomi Odashima
Art Directors: Shigemi Ikeda, Yukiko Maruyama (Atelier Musa)
Color Design: Kazuko Kikuchi (Wish)
Director of Photography: Takashi Sawa
3DCG Director: Yota Ando
Editor: Kumiko Sakamoto
Sound Director: Masafumi Mima
Music: Yuki Hayashi
Opening Theme: "THE REVO" by Porno Graffitti
Production Supervision: BONES
Animation Production: BONES Film
Cast
Izuku Midoriya: Daiki Yamashita
All Might: Kenta Miyake
Tomura Shigaraki: Koki Uchiyama
All For One: Akio Otsuka
Young All For One: Hiroshi Kamiya
and more Heroes & Villains...
Official Site
Official X
Official Instagram
Official Anime LINE Account ID: heroaca_line
YTV Official Site
©K.Horikoshi / Shueisha,My Hero Academia Project
© Animate Times
*Some parts of this text have been translated using machine translation
