Greetings shippers and the day is upon us it is time to enter the my hero academia fandom
an anime and manga fandom juggernaut.
With many ships, many rivalries and a truly passionate fanbase and some intriguing differences
in dominant ship in between the west and the east.
We’ll be talking about all of that as we take a look at Tododeku the pairing of shoto
todoroki and Izuku Midoriya.
I am of course a native english speaker so the emphasis may be a bit different though
I will do my best as always although that will not stop the comments there can be a
protective venner amongst otaku fandoms particularly as they have oft been the butt of so many
jokes which can manifest in the form of gatekeeping.
But today we open the gates to take a look at these two young heroes.
This was the winner of the monthly vote over on Patreon thank you so much as always for
your support and for voting which helps us tackle pairings sooner rather than later.
It was a difficult choice with my hero there re so many ships to choose from and a bit
of a trinity at the top how do you choose between the trinity.
Thanks to this vote it was decided for us.
Before we get started as always please follow on social media to stay up to date know when
we’re streaming and just come on over and chit chat about fandom it’s a good time
I swear.
Now onto the pairing.
This ship comes to us from my hero academia an ongoing shonen manga and anime at the time
of this recording.
The manga began in 2014 with the anime beginning in 2016 after being announced in 2015.
It has not caught up the manga yet always good news cause when that happens sometimes
things can go off the rails.
However this has also resulted in an interesting shipping environment and at times the need
to express which canon one is working from as if one is say caught up with the manga
vs only watching the show you’ll have access to different moments and information which
can impact the fics you write or how you feel about a ship in general.
My hero academia follows the adventures of Izuku Midoroya a young boy born quirkless
or without powers in a world of superheroes and yet he desperately dreams of becoming
one a chance encounter with premier superhero allmight leads to him proving himself as just
the person he wants to pass his power one for all down to.
Thus begins his journey to becoming the number 1 superhero as he enters a world of rivals,
villains and friendship.
One of those rivals who becomes a friend is Todoroki son of number 2 hero Endeavour.
The heroes in this world have to be certified Japan will not tolerate vigilante superheroes
that’s for western loose canon heroes.
Let’s meet the plays Midoriya or Deku the superhero name he takes on for himself a former
insult by childhood friend/very intense rival and other half of this ships main rival bakugo.
Deku is an earnest young man with a genuine belief in heroism and a gratitude and appreciation
for his own potential thanks to being bornb quirkless he’s known what it is to feel
helpless and yet try to help anyway so he understands the responsibility he wields even
if he can get frustrated and impatient at times.
He is self sacrificing and willing to damage himself to make sure those he cares about
stay safe but he is also concerned with the emotional well being of those around him and
has a large capacity for forgiveness.
He ends up inspiring many of the people he comes in contact with.
Next up Todoroki much more subdued than Deku he is no less driven only his drive comes
a focus and a knowledge of what bitterness can come with these quirks.
He has a complex relationship with his father that has manifested as complex relationship
with his powers the ability to wield fire like his father but ice and cold on the other
side like his mother.
Hence his now much cosplayed two tint hair.
Todoroki is willing to push himself and has the will to be the best but at times can take
a bit of a push to regard himself introspectively.
He is loyal to his friends and actually more willing to be silly than people think.
These two first begin their rivalry during the u.a sports festival arc wherein driven
by the fact that Deku is allmight’s protege.
Todoroki sets himself against him in a bid to show that can do what his father cannot
all without using his father’s power.
However from the start Deku seems more interested in understanding todoroki than just going
off against him and actually ends making him reconcile some of his inter conflict and making
him overcome his unwillingness to use his fire powers.
Deku is also more good natured about this rivalry than the one he shares with Bakugo
being more willing to be openly admiring of Todoroki and even to admit that he is more
powerful and trained than him.
At the moment.
The two would end up becoming close friends with Deku being one of the few people Todoroki
will do something reckless for and also seek to comfort and of course there’s that much
circled edited panel where it appears the two are holding hands.
More circles on this pic than a youtube thumbnail.
Shipping and a robust au was also helped by the medieval end credits the series had for
a bit wherein Deku is a peasant warrior and Todoroki is a knight.
There is much art for this as well as fics.
Tododeku presents the shipper with a tried and true classic fandom trope rivals to friends
to lovers with emphasis on the second two but only in contrast to the other rivalry.
The two also seem like they would match well with todo’s more subdued dedication paired
with Deku’s boundless enthusiasm . the two make a good team and Deku pushes todo to be
better while todo does the same with how disciplined he is, and he can also provide a more level
head at times.
The two were interesting contrasts in how much the type of mentorship you receive shapes
you and how you don’t have to let that define you.
The two present a ship where they look as though they would continue to grow together.
Also here’s this gif of them dancing who can resist.
They are also usually paired in production stills and in merchandise as japanese marketers
are more than happy to lean in to what is working.
Is that pandering yes how one feels about it is a mileage varies thing.
Now Tododeku is actually the dominant pairing in the west in the east it is not only know
to many as todoizu but is 2nd to bakudeku.
Now there are areas where these ships coincide but there can be some truly vicious wars.
Fans who ship Tododeku with often ship kirikaku the thirs most popular pairing
but no matter where you are east or west this pairing is the most popular for todoroki.
So why is this rivalry so intense well in the west in particular some of the discourse
surrounding it particularly on tumblr had gotten quite vitriolic.
With the read that bakugo was abusive taking off thanks to his rather volatile temperament
and aggressive treatment of Deku. some going so far as to say he should be paired with
no one.
This led to one of those this is the good healthy ship vs this is the bad deviant what’s
wrong with you you cosign abuse in real life ships.
Which could then lead to arguments about how far along in the canon are you as bakugo and
deku’s relationship changes over time it’s a hard fight change but it comes.
While others argued there was nothing wrong with the ship it wasn’t abusive as you the
shipper had control over the fic and hence it’s tone and that this was a case of canon
only mattering when it comes to bolstering or discouraging another ship.
If one can stay out of those pockets it’s a wonderful fandom, and tends to be better
for tododeku shippers since they are part of the “good” ship though all of this
has put some people off shipping them which if one is interested is a shame as there are
so many intriguing works and so much beautiful art.
And as always there are multishippers lurking in corners living their best lives.
So what can one expect if one dives in well really anything this fandom is one of the
large ones so you can find all the tropes, no powers aus, or regular high school au,
that medieval au aged up fics, getting together fics, a/b/o.
Soulmark.
It’s all there.
And it is expanding as more and more is adapted and released and new light novels it’s become
a juggernaut.
One of the great anime pairings to be remembered.
So why would one not ship it well there are numerous other pairings and some prefer them,
some also prefer the adult pairings not feeling comfortable shipping the youths or working
in anything explicit for them.
Though if one tags correctly this can be a viable form of self expression and fandom
is for everyone which means people of all ages will be involved with different interests
and not one group can rule as to who wants to/ can say what.
Though of course there’s always the option for age gated discords and the like.
There is a belief that fandom is only for the young a belief that often changes if as
one ages and retains interest.
However it is a complex nuanced topic but again one that can be difficult to discuss
without being shouted down.
So most just seek like minded communities or if they cannot may be driven out.
And of course aging out is fine too not every hobby is for everyone forever as long as one
enjoys it for the time they need to.
To everything a season.
Of course some feel these two wouldn’t work that they have different interests or are
at their core too different in terms of energies and of course for some it’s not that deep
it just didn’t click.
Different strokes for different folks.
Have you checked out my hero academia what about the fandom share your thoughts and favourite
ships down below.
Are you here for tododeku?
Thanks so much for watching shipers guide to
the galaxy...