Summary
Tsuyu and Toga, originally supporting characters in My Hero Academia, had their storylines expanded thanks to the overwhelming fan love they received. Both characters have fascinating backstories and notable talents with their quirks, keeping fans captivated. While fans influenced the development of Tsuyu and Toga, the series creator remained committed to his original ideas and limited their role in the main plot.
Although the cast of My Hero Academy filled with interesting and compelling individuals, some more endearing than others. While it’s natural for main characters like Deku and Dabi to attract the most fan attention, there are surprisingly some supporting characters who are equally popular. According to series creator Kohei Horikoshi, the two supporting characters initially had larger roles due to fan reaction.
In a 2018 interview with Japanese manga news site Natalie, translated by anime lover Audrey Lansam and uploaded to her AitaiKimochi Tumblr site, Horikoshi spoke in-depth about My Hero Academia. He also shared some insight into his creative approach and how it influenced the development of the series. In one segment, Horikoshi was asked if any characters over the four years of the series’ publication had grown beyond his original idea of their roles.
Horikoshi first responded that it is natural for the stories of some characters, such as Deku and All Might, to develop as the story progresses. However, Horikoshi also admitted that there are other characters – like Tsuyu Asui and Himiko Toga – who are not central to the plot and thus initially lack significant developmentbut ultimately required a significant expansion of their storyline, a prospect he did not initially foresee.
The development of Tsuyu and Toga shows the true power of the Fandom
My Hero Academia was created by Kohei Horikoshi
As Horikoshi made clear, he did not initially see a need to expand Tsyua and Toga further than they had already progressed. However, according to the interview, what made him change his mind was the overwhelming love of fans for the characters, a phenomenon he apparently did not foresee. While Horikoshi may not have seen much of Tsuyu and Toga at first, it’s not hard to see why My Hero Academia’s fanbase is the way it is.
Although they were created as supporting characters, they both possess surprisingly compelling storylines, attracting the attention and sympathy of fans. Furthermore, despite their diminutive stature, they both demonstrate remarkable proficiency with their quirks and talents, a contrast that fans find intriguing. Finally, more controversially, both characters offer a level of fan service and cater to specific tastes.
The changes in Tsuyu and Toga’s backstory only go so far
Naturally, the manga industry is full of examples of fans forcing changes to characters or stories. Failure to do so risks alienating the fanbase and potentially ending the manga – perhaps the greatest example of the power of fandom. However, while My Hero Academia has a large and compelling cast of characters, many people also know that most of them are marginalized as the story focuses on the main plot, the conflict between All for One and One for All.
Tsuyu’s role gradually diminished, as did most of Deku’s classmates except Bakugo. Instead, Himiko had her time to shine in the final battle, but Toga ultimately died. This means that even though fans may have influenced Tsuyu and Toga’s story, Horikoshi remained committed to his original idea of their characters in My Hero Academy.
My Hero Academia is available on Viz Media and MANGA Plus
Source: AitaiKimochi