This article contains spoilers for the My Hero Academia anime

It's hard to find many My Hero Academia fans who don't love Katsuki Bakugo. While this aspiring hero may be rude, rebellious, and even a little dangerous, these key characteristics are arguably what have made him so popular, as there's never any telling what he's going to do next any time he shows up on screen. While it's clear that author Kohei Horikoshi had Bakugo in mind from the very beginning, considering he appears in the first episode and chapter of the series, he also revealed that he did end up changing a pretty important aspect of his character before My Hero Academia began publication in the Shonen Jump magazine.

This is specifically referring to Bakugo's name, which was once quite a bit different from what it eventually became, and, in all honesty, pretty goofy. The reason Horikoshi gave for why he decided to change Bakugo's title at the last minute might surprise a few fans, but it's honestly just shocking to learn that this character would have been different at all, considering he seems more or less perfect in the main series. With that being said, it's time to take a closer look at what exactly the author of the series revealed about Bakugo's old name, and whether or not it would have been a good fit for the character, considering his explosive personality.

Bakugo Originally Had A More Comical Name

One That Probably Wouldn't Have suited His Fiery Persona

Horikoshi revealed Bakugo's original name
He seemed a little embarrassed to admit what Bakugo was called at first

Back in 2015, before the My Hero Academia anime had even started, Horikoshi was interviewed as part of a Japanese news show to answer a few questions about the series. Like most manga authors, Horikoshi often tries his best to keep his identity hidden from public view, so this is actually one of the only times fans have ever been able to see him in the flesh, rather than just reading one of his interviews on paper. While this casual conversation is packed full of intriguing questions, such as how long Horikoshi wanted the series to go on for, and what his inspirations are, one that many Bakugo fans will be most interested in is the origin of the hero's name.

The interviewer admits that Horikoshi once told him that the name that Bakugo once went by was actually Gogo. Rather than Go being his first and last name, Gogo was going to replace Bakugo first name, while Katsuki would have remained the same. Interestingly, Horikoshi was actually hesitant to admit the name when the interviewer first asked him, but when he did finally say it out loud, he let out a nervous chuckle directly after, indicating that he wasn't too proud of it.

"I changed it because it seems very stupid" - Horikoshi

The interviewer goes on to comment on a few other names that Horikoshi had thrown around when he was still drafting My Hero Academia, including the likes of Lightning Electric, and Iron Iron Iron. Clearly, Horikoshi isn't shy about inserting weird and wacky names into his beloved manga series, so why exactly did he reject Gogo before My Hero Academia officially started?

Horikoshi Was Embarassed By 'Gogo'

It Probably Didn't Translate Well To Bakugo's Serious And Crude Demeanor

Fascinated by the answer that Horikoshi gave, the interviewer continued pressing him about Bakugo's old name, asking why exactly he decided to change it. The author comes out with a short but sweet reply, saying that he simply thought that the name sounded stupid. While the interviewer didn't seem to agree with the sentiment, Horikoshi was adamant that the name Gogo simply wouldn't have worked, and to be honest, when looking at Bakugo as a character, it's easy to see why this would be the case.

Just a few moments before this question was asked, Horikoshi went in depth to explain what makes Bakugo such a popular character. He explains that Bakugo is a guy who simply cannot sit still no matter how hard he tries, and goes on to say that he drew his costume to present the hero as someone who is always angry and more than ready to jump into a fight. Anyone who has read or watched My Hero Academia will also know that Bakugo is extremely unpredictable, which makes him the perfect host for his deadly Quirk, Explosion.

Gogo sounds like a very upbeat and joyful name that would be a perfect fit for a plucky protagonist, such as Deku. However, upbeat and joyful would not be accurate words used to describe Bakugo, so it does start to make sense why Horikoshi made the decision to drop it before the series began. While it's unclear whether Bakugo's name change did anything to add to his popularity, one thing is for sure, this hero is by far one of, if not the most beloved characters in all of My Hero Academia.

Why Is Bakugo So Immensely Popular?

The Hot-Headed Hero Has Resonated With A Lot Of Fans For A Few Reasons

Bakugo learns the true responsibilities that come with being a hero
His Quirk is one of the most exciting abilities to watch in action
He has a flashy design which is packed full of small details

When looking at the popularity polls for My Hero Academia, Bakugo is almost always at the very top of the list, and there are a few reasons why Deku's rival has amassed such a massive fan base. An obvious one is simply the fact that he possesses one of the most exciting and dangerous Quirks in the story, Explosion, which he is able to use in a myriad of ways to blast his opponents to smithereens. Therefore, it's always a joy to see Bakugo cut a villain down to size, especially in the anime, where the overwhelming power of his Quirk is expressed through the animation, but there's a much deeper reason why so many people resonate with Bakugo as a character.

Despite initially coming across as little more than a bully, Bakugo has grown and matured a lot throughout the story. He starts off as a very selfish hero who simply looks out for himself, but throughout the exams, Bakugo gradually learns that saving civilians and helping his allies is what truly makes him a hero, rather than just trying to elevate his kill count as high as possible. At the same time, his relationship with Deku would also change, with Bakugo eventually admitting that he actually admires the protagonist, and was simply treating him horribly because of his own selfish point of view.

"I tried to act all superior by rejecting you...but I kept losing that fight" - Bakugo to Deku

Of course, it's hard to talk about Bakugo and not also mention his iconic design. With razor sharp spiky hair, duel grenade gauntlets attached to his arms, and a stern look which can always be seen splashed across his face, it's hard to look away from the screen any time Bakugo shows up to cause some chaos. Everything about Bakugo, from his outfit to his Quirk, and also his name, comes together to form a hero who many fans have fallen in love with, though it is interesting to wonder whether Gogo would have been quite as popular among the fanbase.

Source: Nippon Creator Channel

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Release Date: 2016 - 2025-00-00
Network: TBS, MBS, Nippon TV
Directors: Shouji Ikeno, Tsuyoshi Tobita, Ikuro Sato, Takudai Kakuchi, Masashi Abe, Tetsuya Miyanishi, Kazuma Komatsu, Yoshifumi Sasahara, Masayuki Otsuki, Daisuke Tsukushi, Takayuki Yamamoto, Yohei Fukui, Takuro Tsukada, Masatoyo Takada, Naomi Nakayama, Sayaka Morikawa, Takanori Yano