Premiere Report: My Hero Academia Season 3

My Hero Academia is the anime of the moment. It's easy to see why – the show presents a versatile and intriguing take on superhero storytelling and aesthetics, and it's filled to the brim with action and good humor. The anime's second season is a particularly varied and entertaining piece of work—its various arcs feel like reinventions of all of the best shonen action stories, and we learn that even a weakened, diminished All Might is still hilariously overpowered. Season 3's coming was sort of a foregone conclusion, and at the time of this posting, it's mere days away!

The 2018 edition of Anime Boston had an ace in the hole—the English-language world premiere of My Hero Academia's third season, episode 39, which begins the School Trip story arc. Despite a slight delay in order to get every last seat in the room of the cavernous Hall D filled (there were well over a thousand in attendance), the event was soon kicked off by FUNimation's conventions manager, Tara McKinney. Tara started with the old marketing pitch, reminding fans that both season 1 and season 2 part 1 were available on Blu-Ray, highlighting the fact that season 2's special edition comes with goodies like a set of cards with the show's most popular characters, and also that weird grape kid that nobody likes. McKinney then highlighted what was in store for the second season 2 Blu-Ray set, and reminded fans that season 3's worldwide premiere would include a same-day dub on Funimation Now.

At that point, McKinney invited the stars of My Hero Academia's English-language dub to the stage—present were Monica Rial (Tsuyu), J. Michael Tatum (Tenya), Josh Grelle (Tokoyami), Clifford Chapin (Bakugo), and Justin Briner (Deku). The cast had an excellent, easy rapport, and answered a variety of interview questions. When asked about what it means to be a hero, Tatum responded, “It means making your work about who you help, instead of yourself.” “A giant bird head is important,” added Grelle. Then, the stars were asked about their favorite moment of the series so far. Rial tipped the fact that Tsuyu got a whole episode; Tatum lauded Tenya's jazz hands and the Stain arc overall. Chapin harkened back to an impassioned speech by Bakugo during the final exam, in which he shouted “I don't want there to be any doubt that I'm the best, and that only works if you come at me with everything you've got. If you aren't prepared to do that, why are you even here?”

McKinney then asked the actors how they got into character. “I get really angry!” replied Chapin. “In Dallas traffic, that's not hard.” The rest of the cast confirmed that they also talk to themselves and sing in the car, a remarkably effective practice that's also the big secret of all-time-great voice actor Frank Welker. Grelle also listens to metal. Then, the cast shared stories from recording the show. Since they often record their parts separately, they're fond of leaving behind alternate takes to make their costars crack up, which they call “bombs.” Grelle recounted the scene in which All Might congratulates Toyokami, saying that he left his costar Chris Sabat listening to his character mumbling “I swear to god, if you hug me…!” Chapin revealed that he accidentally hurt his costar Briner for an on-camera segment, and Rial talked about how her director, Colleen Clinkenbeard, always seemed surprised and amused at her line reads. “Dude, you cast me!” she shot back. Tatum pointed out that playing Tenya often just meant that he'd need to deliver his lines like a stressed out convention security staffer; Chapin revealed that pretty much every episode's performance makes him lose his voice for the rest of the day.

From left: J. Michael Tatum, Josh Grelle, Monica Rial, Clifford Chapin and Justin Briner

Then, McKinney asked if the cast have anything in common with their characters. “Well, there is my giant bird head, and I just love darkness!” quipped Grelle. “I'm nearsighted like Tenya, and my calves are in OK shape!” said Tatum. “I like hanging out with these guys!” added Rial. Clifford said that he hoped he was nicer than Bakugo, and Briner mentioned struggling with his self-worth like Deku. The actors were then asked if they wanted their characters’ quirks. “I'd never have to get up and get anything with that tongue!” said Rial. Tatum didn't want Tenya's quirk, because he figured it would mean people would always be asking him to use his super-speed to run errands for them.  “You gotta weigh the pros and cons here,” added Grelle. “On the one hand, I'd have a giant bird head and control over my shadow. But on the other, would being half-bird mean that my kids would be hatched from eggs, and I'd have to build a nest for them? Would I have to puke up half of my food in order to feed them? Pros and cons, man.” Chapin worried about his character's explosive sweat, and Briner gave the notion a hard pass.  “I don't have that healing nurse around,” he said, “So every time I threw a punch with Deku's quirk, I'd be laid up for three months.”

For final questions before the episode, the actors were asked for their thoughts on season 3. “Tsuyu is waifu,” responded Rial smartly. “Bakugo is waifu!” retorted Chapin. The actors don't really know where the story will lead, but are looking forward to learning it together. After a short autograph giveaway, it was time for episode 39!

The episode begins with two things—first of all, we see the show's villains, beaten but not vanquished, taking refuge in a quiet bar while they plot their next move. Then, it's over to a bus ride with the hero trainees of Class 1-A, who are looking forward to some accelerated training at a remote camp.  There's a rest stop along the way, and it's there that our heroes meet the Pussycat Squad, a pair of feline-looking heroines called Mandalay and Pixie Bob. Here, like in so many great shonen training arc stories, their new pals introduce themselves as the trainers, and tell the kids that the training has already begun. They have until noontime to get across the forest to the campsite, or it's no lunch for them!

The way that Bakugo, Deku, and the rest of the team go blasting into action and quickly overwhelm their first opponent, a dirt monster, is both an animator showcase, and a ton of fun. But Pixie Bob has lots more monsters where that first one came from, and it takes a pretty long time for the class to get to camp. At the camp, Deku learns a little more about Kouta, the purported third member of the Pussycat Squad, who spends most of his time scowling silently and disparaging heroes. A grumpy little kid with a tragic past or a secret hidden power is a hallmark of shonen anime, so we'll have to keep our eye on this kid. The episode also takes time to show the team sharing a meal, and then hitting the bath, which gives Mineta the chance to roll out his hoary old lecher act. Having the resident class perv foam at the mouth and holler “I gotta see them boobs!!,” is a joke was careworn to begin with, and one that that gets progressively less funny every single time they use it. Fortunately, it's over pretty quick.

My Hero Academia's episode 39 is ultimately a solid, exciting premiere; seeing it feels like getting back together with old buddies after some time spent away, which is how a series like this oughta feel.  The dub actors have really made these characters their own, and have terrific chemistry. Watching the series dubbed in English on its Japanese airdate is going to be a trip, but I'm glad that Funimation have made the travel arrangements. My Hero Academia just might be the anime world's biggest hit since Dragon Ball, and big hits should be global. Plus Ultra!