The 159th episode, "Battle Without Quirks," the final episode of the seventh season of the TV anime "My Hero Academia," based on the manga by Horikoshi Kohei serialized in "Weekly Shonen Jump" (Shueisha), aired on Yomiuri TV and Nippon TV at 5:30 pm on October 12th, with a surprise appearance by actress Shida Mirai as Hercules.
Hercules is a powered suit and support item worn by All Might to fight All For One, and carries out All Might's commands and activates its onboard weapons instantly. Hercules was developed by Melissa, a scientist girl and original character who appeared in the first theatrical anime film "My Hero Academia: The Movie: Two Heroes," released in 2018. While the production team was discussing casting for Hercules, the original author Horikoshi suggested, "Since it's the AI of the mecha created by Melissa, why not ask Shida Mirai for the role?" and Shida, who played Melissa in the movie, will be appearing in "My Hero Academia" for the first time in about six years.
Shida expressed her joy at being cast, saying, "First of all, I'm really happy. I've been watching the anime for a long time and I've read the original comics. When I read the original, I knew Melissa was in it, so I was hoping, 'maybe...' but I never expected it to be in this way."
"I'm really honored, but I never expected it to be at such a final stage... We're getting into such an important story, the battle between All Might and All For One... right? I also felt a lot of pressure, thinking, is it really the right person for the role? Of course there was pressure during the movie, but since it's the final battle of My Hero Academia, which has a long history, I felt even more that I had to live up to expectations."
Regarding the seventh season, she commented, "As a fan, I can't help but feel like a parent, thinking how much everyone has grown. Also, I like Gentle and La Brava, so I got teary-eyed when I saw them appear in the final battle in the original work. They also appear as allies of Deku and the others. I really felt Horikoshi-sensei's love for the characters. So I couldn't wait to see these two in the anime. Of course, there are many scenes that move me and that I have a strong attachment to when reading the original work, but when I see the animated version, I feel like they're even more alive, and I'm really enjoying it."
"After receiving the offer, I practiced so much that I'm too embarrassed to say it (laughs). I practiced various patterns, such as a very AI-like way of speaking and one that sounds like Melissa is speaking, so that I could respond to any direction on set. It may be presumptuous, but... I wanted to make sure I didn't panic on set," she revealed. She talked about what went on behind the scenes of the recording, saying, "I couldn't sleep at all last night (bitter laugh). I watched 'Two Heroes' over and over again, and in fact I was watching it right up until just before recording started. I remembered what Melissa's voice and acting was like. I practiced a lot, but I hadn't practiced the pattern for today's direction, which was to have an 'AI voice that sounds like it's close to All Might.' However, (sound director) Mima Masafumi and director Nakayama Naomi gave precise and easy-to-understand instructions for each line, which also had some similarities to acting in movies and dramas, so I did my best to act. I also heard All Might's voice (which had already been recorded), so it made me feel like I was fighting alongside him and supporting him, and I was also very happy to be able to enter the 'world of My Hero Academia' from the TV anime."
"My Hero Academia" began serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump in July 2014. The final episode was published in the combined 36th and 37th issue of the magazine, released on August 5th, bringing the curtain down on the approximately 10-year serialization. Set in a world where about 80% of the population has supernatural abilities and quirks, the story depicts Deku, also known as Midoriya Izuku, as he strives to become the greatest hero. The comics have sold over 100 million copies worldwide.
The first season of the TV anime aired from April to June 2016, the second from March to September 2017, the third from April to September 2018, the fourth from October 2019 to April 2020, the fifth from March to September 2021, and the sixth from October 2022 to March 2023. The seventh season started in May. It was also announced that the eighth and final season, "FINAL SEASON," will be produced and aired in 2025.
