It has been announced that the TV anime "Vigilante - My Hero Academia ILLEGALS -", an official spin-off of Kohei Horikoshi's popular manga "My Hero Academia ", will be broadcast on TOKYO MX, Yomiuri TV and other stations from April 7th. The main cast has also been announced, with Shuichiro Umeda playing the protagonist, Haimai Kouichi (Koichi), an ordinary college student who dreams of becoming a professional hero who protects society but gave up on that path. Ikumi Hasegawa Ikumi will play Pop☆Step, a self-proclaimed idol girl who acts with Koichi, and Mamiya Yasuhiro will play Knuckleduster, an illegal hero "Vigilante".
The story is set in Japan several years before the events of "My Hero Academia" and depicts the drama of illegal heroes, the Vigilantes, who cannot help but save people even if they are not recognized by anyone, behind the scenes of heroes who are recognized by the people. After meeting Pop☆Step and Knuckleduster, Koichi himself begins to work as a vigilante.
Umeda said, "Usually he's unreliable...and often misreads the atmosphere...but when it really matters, he's able to take a step that everyone else hesitates to take. I hope that viewers will be able to see Koichi spend his unique daily life with everyone, and give it his all to challenge and protect them. Just as Koichi admired All Might, I also looked up to Deku and the others when I decided to become a voice actor. I will use all my heart and soul and muster all my voice to play Koichi. I hope you will enjoy the role!"
Hasegawa said, "I went into the audition with great enthusiasm, wanting to play the role, and when I heard I'd been chosen I couldn't believe it. I remember feeling surprised, happy, and nervous at the same time. The dubbing is also progressing, and although I sometimes get thrown off by the stubborn Popp, I am doing my best every day to be her biggest understanding friend! This is a production that will allow you to enjoy a different image of a hero from the main "My Hero Academia" series. Be sure to check it out!"
Mamiya commented, "My name is Mamiya Yasuhiro, and I will be playing Knuckleduster. I am part of the Vigilante, a group of righteous people who crack down on the illegal drug Trigger. Among them is the particularly passionate Knuckleduster, also known as the Fist Old Man. I had half given up on the audition because I had already appeared in the main story of My Hero Academia as Gigantomachia, but being selected like this is probably a fleeting dream or an illusion. So, all you Vigilante fans! Come on, let's punch some bad guys together and feel refreshed!! (grins)."
A teaser visual showing Koichi, Pop☆Step, and Knuckleduster dancing against the backdrop of a night view, as well as a PV depicting the three meeting and action scenes, have been released.
"Vigilante: My Hero Academia ILLEGALS" is a manga written by Hideyuki Furuhashi and illustrated by Arata Betsuki, which was serialized on Shueisha's manga app "Shonen Jump+" from 2017 to 2022. It is an official spin-off of the "My Hero Academia " series, and has been gaining popularity not only in Japan but also overseas.
The anime will be directed by Kenichi Suzuki , who has worked on " Cells at Work" and "JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean," with character design by Takahiko Yoshida, who has worked on " Big Windup!" and "Yowamushi Pedal," and music by Yuki Hayashi, who worked on the music for "My Hero Academia." It will be produced by Bones Films, the same company that produced "My Hero Academia."
"My Hero Academia" began serialization in "Weekly Shonen Jump" (Shueisha) in July 2014, and the final episode aired in August 2024, bringing the curtain down on the nearly 10-year serialization. Set in a world where about 80% of the population has supernatural powers and quirks, the story follows Deku, also known as Izuku Midoriya, as he strives to become the greatest hero. The comics have sold over 100 million copies worldwide. The eighth season, "FINAL SEASON," which will be the final chapter of the TV anime, will air in the fall of 2025.
◇Staff (titles omitted)
Director: Kenichi Suzuki ▽Series composition and script: Kuroda Yosuke▽Character design: Yoshida Takahiko▽Art director: Watanabe Yukihiro▽Color design: Nobori Haruko▽Director of photography: Zhang Yingying▽3DCG director: Sasaki Mizuki▽Editing: Hirose Kiyoshi▽Music: Hayashi Yuki, Yamashiro Shogo, Furuhashi Yuki▽Sound director: Mima Masafumi▽Animation production: Bones Film
◇Cast (titles omitted)
Haimawa Koichi: Shuichiro Umeda ▽Pop☆Step: Ikumi Hasegawa ▽Knuckleduster: Yasuhiro Mamiya
