My Hero Academia: Bakugo's Shift from Rival to Ally: Analyze His Growth

Important takeaways

• Bakugo's pride and ruthlessness sparked a toxic rivalry with Midoriya, who challenged their values ​​and methods.
• Interactions with All Might and apologies to Midoriya led Bakugo from insecurity to empathy and friendship.
• Bakugo's growth depicts a complex transition from intense rivalry to deep camaraderie and mutual admiration within My Hero Academia.

Rival characters are usually created as opposites to the protagonist, challenging them and often pushing them towards self-improvement. This trope is particularly prominent in shōnen anime, where rivalries serve as a backbone for character development and sometimes blossom into great friendships. These dynamic relationships add depth to each story by truly showcasing the fine line between rivalry and camaraderie.

My Hero Academia does justice to this trend and ups the ante with some detailed rivalries between Katsuki Bakugo and Izuku Midoriya. Both are driven but with personalities, values ​​and methods that couldn't be further apart. Bakugo started out as Midoriya's most brutal critic, reeking of pride, arrogance and a murderous attitude towards being a hero. But the way he traveled from adversary to ally showed a depth and complexity rarely seen in regular rival characters. Through this, My Hero Academia makes it very clear how subtle character development can be, and that's what really makes Bakugo one of the most interesting characters on this show.

Early personality

A terrifying and violent presence

At the beginning of My Hero AcademiaBakugo comes across as a loud, confident, and often intimidating presence among his peers. His quirk, “Explosion”, is the perfect reflection of his explosive personality and aggressive way of being a hero. As a youngster, Bakugo showed a strong desire to be on top, then he showed arrogance and a deep loathing of Midoriya due to the latter's obvious weakness and low status. But that need to feel superior now turned into an unstoppable compulsion to bring down others, especially Midoriya, creating a toxic rivalry that had deeply hurt those around him.

He mainly acted in a way where his classmates completely alienated him, as the threats he caused made people want to be away from him. Besides, ruthlessness in competition was all it took to separate him from them. He rarely felt compassion, as showing mercy was weak in his eyes. His mistaken impression of the attitude spread to teachers and mentors alike. With his personality at first, Bakugo didn't seem the least bit likable. His pride and strong ambition masked insecurity deep within. This tough exterior not only affected how people perceived him, but also sparked Midoriya's desire to do better and prove himself to the world.

Midoriya and Bakugo as polar opposites

Warm-hearted and kind-hearted

Where Bakugo is proud and strong, Midoriya has been raised to be resilient, humble and caring. Midoriya's respect for others and his desire to help people, regardless of the personal cost, have long puzzled Bakugo, who initially perceived these traits as weaknesses. This difference in perspective caused tensions to run deep between the two, Bakugo struggling to understand Midoriya's constant pleasantness and determination due to him being “headstrong” most of his life.

This was further escalated due to the fact that Bakugo had always been the better in their shared past, and Midoriya was the underdog. So when the tables finally turned and Midoriya got a Quirk, and started to catch up, it fueled Bakugo's fire. He could not understand why someone he perceived as beneath him could rise to power and be able to stand beside him. This set the stage for the tension that would eventually force Bakugo to reflect on himself and grow to understand that Midoriya's values ​​were just as important in heroism as his own.

The turning point

Bakugo's interactions with all power

One of the most important points in the development of Bakugo's character is through his interactions with All Might, the former number 1 hero, and the revelation of Midoriya's quirk. The moment Bakugo learned Midoriya's powers actually first came from All Might, he began to see Midoriya through a different lens. This upsets him and wrestles in his mind with the fact that such a person would be chosen by his idol. This knowledge in turn causes Bakugo to struggle as he has to fight his insecurities and rethink all the notions he had about strength and heroism.

Also playing a significant role in helping Bakugo understand the true meaning of becoming a hero was All Might's influence in teaching the former hero; this made Bakugo reflect on his behavior and come to the realization that his relentless pursuit of power had blinded him to other essential qualities of heroism, such as empathy and cooperation. This guidance further reflected his rivalry with Midoriya and turned Bakugo towards a gradual but significant change, taking him straight from an alienating, proud figure to a considerate and understanding ally.

Burning flame to heat fire

As the seasons progressed, although Bakugo was still competitive and somewhat abrasive, he finally began to show signs of growth and empathy. This is evidenced through his interactions with his classmates and, especially, through the growing relationship he shares with Midoriya. Although his ruthlessness did not completely disappear, it was tempered by the newfound awareness of the people around him. He grew to appreciate teamwork and began to recognize other people's strengths and abilities; he even showed concern for his classmates during some of the more challenging assignments.

This development would be seen more markedly when Midoriya is set on a vigilante journey – a time when Bakugo showed genuine concern for the safety of his former rival. Despite his cold demeanor, all of Bakugo's actions pointed to some kind of responsibility he had felt towards Midoriya – more than he was willing to admit. The willingness to show loyalty and commitment to stand with Midoriya proved that his character had grown and matured beyond rivalry into something deeper, showing a very complex and mature understanding of friendship and responsibility.

Bakugo's apology and breakthrough

Finally realizing what Midoriya went through

The most prominent moment in Bakugo's character arc comes when he apologizes to Midoriya and explains the circumstances surrounding his actions over the years. This apology is a profound moment of tender vulnerability on Bakugo's part, as he admits that such hostility came from insecurity and jealousy. He went on to explain that this was because he felt threatened by Midoriya's growth, especially when Midoriya gained a quirk and began to excel. This confession not only serves to make us empathize and appreciate Bakugo, but also to help Midoriya understand the emotional struggles that Bakugo faced.

Through this apology, he truly changed from a rival to a true friend, as he realized his past mistakes and managed to tell Midoriya how much respect he has for him. By apologizing, he gave up the arrogant character he had in the early stages and took up the humble and responsible character that motivates this meeting, bringing the rivalry to an end and sowing the seeds of mutual respect and admiration never seen in their relationship.

Looking up to Midoriya

Catch up with your best friend

In later seasons, Bakugo realizes how strong Midoriya has become and confesses his desire to catch up. He doesn't think of Midoriya as an obstacle or rival anymore, but as some kind of role model and a close friend. It's a big development, much more mature, to really accept Midoriya's strengths, as Bakugo has put the jealousy aside and moved on to a much healthier, supportive relationship.

His words and gestures are respectful, filled with admiration towards Midoriya during their fight with Shigaraki, where he loudly questions whether he will be able to keep up with him. This change from rivalry to camaraderie is the final evolution of Bakugo's character, where the desire for strength has turned into a more positive drive. By the end of the series, Bakugo has completely transformed: from an icy rival to an unchanging ally and friend—powerful enough to signify strong character development in My Hero Academia.