Let’s be real. We all knew a fourth movie was coming. My Hero Academia is a juggernaut that refuses to quit, and cast of My Hero Academia: You're Next has been the subject of massive speculation since that first teaser of a "Dark Might" dropped. It’s weird seeing All Might—or someone who looks exactly like him—acting like a complete psychopath, isn't it? But what actually makes or breaks these films isn't just the flashy Bones animation; it’s the voices behind the quirks.
You’ve got the usual suspects, of course. Daiki Yamashita and Justin Briner aren't going anywhere. But this film throws some serious curveballs with its original characters. If you’ve been following the franchise since 2016, you know the drill: new movie, new tragic backstory, and a brand-new villain that makes us question the hero society.
The Familiar Faces of Class 1-A
It feels like home when Deku speaks. Whether you're a sub purist or a dub lover, the cast of My Hero Academia: You're Next brings back the core ensemble that has grown up with us. Daiki Yamashita brings that specific, shaky-but-determined energy to Izuku Midoriya that just hits different during the high-stakes battles. On the English side, Justin Briner has basically mastered the art of the "shonen scream."
Katsuki Bakugo is voiced by Nobuhiko Okamoto (JP) and Clifford Chapin (EN). Honestly, Chapin’s raspy take on Bakugo is one of those rare instances where the dub arguably captures the raw, explosive aggression just as well as the original. Then you have Yuki Kaji and David Matranga as Shoto Todoroki. Watching Shoto evolve from a "cool and distant" trope to a genuine emotional pillar of the team is a testament to how these actors have lived in these skins for years.
It's not just the big three, though. The entire class shows up.
- Ayane Sakura / Luci Christian as Ochaco Uraraka.
- Kaito Ishikawa / J. Michael Tatum as Tenya Iida.
- Aoi Yuki / Monica Rial as Tsuyu Asui.
They’re a well-oiled machine at this point. They’ve recorded hundreds of episodes together. You can hear the chemistry in the banter. It’s easy to overlook how much work goes into making a group of 20 kids feel like a distinct, living community, but the cast pulls it off every single time.
The Man in the Mask: Who is Dark Might?
This is the big one. The elephant in the room. Or rather, the Symbol of Peace in the room who definitely isn't the All Might we love.
Kenta Miyake, the legendary voice of Toshinori Yagi, pulls double duty here. He’s voicing All Might and the antagonist, Dark Might. It’s a brilliant casting choice. It’s unsettling. Imagine hearing the voice that usually tells you "I am here!" suddenly used to justify absolute destruction. Miyake has to find a way to make Dark Might sound like All Might, but... wrong. It’s about the inflection. It’s about that slight edge of arrogance that the real All Might never possessed.
Christopher Sabat handles the English version. Sabat is an industry titan—think Vegeta or Piccolo. He’s been the voice of All Might since day one. For him to pivot into a villainous version of his most iconic hero role is a masterclass in vocal range. He’s not just playing a bad guy; he’s playing a perversion of a hero. That’s a subtle distinction, but it’s what makes the cast of My Hero Academia: You're Next so compelling for this specific outing.
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The Newcomers: Giulio and Anna
Every MHA movie introduces a "movie-original" duo that usually ends up breaking our hearts. In Two Heroes, it was Melissa Shield. In Heroes Rising, it was the Shimano siblings. In World Heroes' Mission, it was Rody Soul (voiced by the incredible Ryunosuke Kamiki).
In You're Next, we get Giulio Gandini and Anna Scervino.
Giulio is voiced by Mamoru Miyano. If that name sounds familiar, it should. He’s Light Yagami from Death Note and Okabe from Steins;Gate. Miyano brings a sophisticated, somewhat mysterious vibe to Giulio. He’s a butler, but he’s clearly packing some serious combat skills.
Anna Scervino is voiced by Meru Nukumi. This is an interesting one. Nukumi is primarily a model and actress (often called "Meruru" in Japan), and while some fans get nervous when "idols" or "talents" are cast in major anime roles, she holds her own. Anna is central to the plot—her quirk is actually the reason Dark Might is such a massive threat. The dynamic between the stoic Giulio and the distressed Anna provides the emotional backbone of the movie, separate from the UA students' heroics.
Why the English Dub Cast Matters So Much
Let's talk about the Funimation (now Crunchyroll) legacy. The MHA dub is widely considered one of the best in modern anime. Mike McFarland, the ADR Director, has a knack for casting people who don't just sound like the Japanese actors, but capture the soul of the character.
For the cast of My Hero Academia: You're Next, the dub team had the challenge of recording during a transitional period in the industry. We're seeing more remote recording, more hybrid setups. Yet, the polish is there. When you hear Zeno Robinson as Hawks or Abby Trott as Mezari, it feels seamless.
The movie also features the "Gorilla" villain (voiced by Kenjiro Tsuda in Japanese—yes, Nanami from Jujutsu Kaisen is a gorilla now). The absurdity of the quirks in this movie requires actors who can play it straight. If the actor doesn't believe in the world, the audience won't either.
Production Secrets and Studio Bones
Studio Bones doesn't miss. Director Tensai Okamura (known for Darker than Black) took the reins for this one, and you can see his influence in the darker, more cinematic framing. The cast has mentioned in interviews—specifically in Weekly Shonen Jump features—that the recording sessions for You're Next were particularly grueling because of the sheer volume of screaming.
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It’s a battle shonen. Screaming is the job description.
But there’s a nuance to it. When Deku uses 45% of One For All, the strain in Daiki Yamashita’s voice is a calculated choice. It’s not just "loud." It’s "painful." This level of detail is why the cast of My Hero Academia: You're Next stays at the top of the charts. They aren't just reading lines; they're reacting to the high-octane storyboards Bones is famous for.
Addressing the "No More All Might" Rumors
A lot of fans went into this movie thinking it might be a flashback or a multiverse thing. It’s not. It’s set during the "Dark Hero" timeline, right around the transition to the final act of the series. This means the cast had to portray characters who are exhausted.
The UA students aren't the bright-eyed kids we saw in the first movie. They’re battle-hardened. You can hear it in Uraraka’s voice—Luci Christian gives her a weight and a maturity that wasn't there in Season 1. This continuity is something the cast of My Hero Academia: You're Next excels at. They carry the trauma of the previous seasons into the recording booth.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Movie Cast
People often think movie-original characters are "throwaway" roles. They aren't. In many ways, they are harder to voice because the actor has only 90 to 120 minutes to make the audience care about them. Giulio Gandini has to go from "who is this guy?" to "I would die for him" in the span of two hours.
Mamoru Miyano’s performance is key here. He uses a lower register than his usual flamboyant roles, giving Giulio a sense of grounded duty. It's a contrast to the high-pitched, frenetic energy of the villains.
Also, can we talk about the side villains? The "Scervino Family" ensemble features some veteran VAs who probably had way too much fun playing absolute lunatics. The diversity in the cast of My Hero Academia: You're Next ensures that even the minor henchmen feel like they have a history.
How to Experience the Best of the Cast
If you really want to appreciate what these actors do, you have to watch the "Behind the Scenes" features often included in the Blu-ray releases or on official Japanese promotional YouTube channels. Seeing Kenta Miyake literally sweat while voicing a Dark Might power-up is eye-opening.
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For the English audience, keep an eye on the credits for:
- Justin Briner (Deku)
- Clifford Chapin (Bakugo)
- Christopher Sabat (All Might/Dark Might)
- Kayli Mills (Anna Scervino)
- Mauricio Mercado (Giulio Gandini)
The chemistry between Briner and Chapin is the heart of the series, and it’s pushed to its limit here. They’ve been "rivals" for nearly a decade in real-time. That level of comfort allows for improvisations and grunts that aren't even in the script but make the fight scenes feel visceral.
Final Insights for Fans
The cast of My Hero Academia: You're Next delivers exactly what you'd expect: high-energy, emotional, and technically proficient performances. Whether you’re watching for the new characters like Giulio and Anna or just want to see Class 1-A kick butt one more time, the voice acting is the glue holding the spectacle together.
If you're planning to watch, try to see it in a theater with a high-end sound system. The sound design, paired with these performances, makes the "United States of Smash" style moments resonate in your chest.
- Check the credits: Don't skip them. There are often small cameos from previous characters that you might miss if you aren't listening closely.
- Compare the versions: If you have the time, watch the movie once in sub and once in dub. The tonal differences in how certain jokes or threats are delivered are fascinating.
- Follow the actors: Many of the VAs, like Justin Briner and Nobuhiko Okamoto, share behind-the-scenes tidbits on social media (X/Twitter) that add a lot of context to specific scenes.
The movie serves as a perfect bridge as we head toward the series' conclusion. It reminds us why we fell in love with these characters in the first place. The voices might age, and the stakes might get impossibly high, but the "Plus Ultra" spirit remains consistent across the entire cast.
To get the most out of your viewing, pay close attention to the scenes where Dark Might speaks. The subtle shifts Kenta Miyake and Christopher Sabat make to distinguish him from the real All Might are the highlight of the film's vocal production. You’ll notice that Dark Might’s laugh is just a little too loud, a little too long, and lacks the genuine warmth of the original Symbol of Peace. It’s those tiny details that prove this cast is at the top of their game.
As the franchise moves toward its final chapters, the performances in You're Next stand as a testament to the longevity and talent of the actors who have shaped the world of My Hero Academia. They’ve turned a simple superhero story into a generational epic. Enjoy the ride, listen for the nuances, and remember to stay until the very end of the credits for any potential teasers.