My Hero Academia: Mirko’s voice actor tells us what makes her such a refreshing character

The fifth season of My Hero Academia season 5 kicked off last weekend with a recap episode showcasing Class 1-A’s skills. The next episode will return viewers to the anime’s major storylines, including Endeavor and Hawks’ showdown with the high-end Nomu that attacked Central Fukuoka. And those who have read the manga or seen the subbed version of the fifth season know that Mirko will make an appearance soon.

It’s been a while since fans have seen Mirko in action, but following All Might’s retirement, it’s likely the Pro Heroes will be out in full force in the coming episodes, especially if the League of Villains is on the move once again.

We were lucky enough to get to talk to Anairis Quiñones, who voices Mirko in the English dub. While she didn’t reveal much about the character’s role in the upcoming season, she did express her excitement about seeing “more nuggets of Mirko,” something most fans will surely relate to. “You know, in general, I’m excited for her to take a more prominent role,” Quiñones said. “I’m excited to see her fight, as we did with episode two, and I’m not sure where she’ll be this season, but at least we got some of her.”

Why Mirko is such a refreshing character

Even a little bit of Mirko goes a long way, especially when fans get the opportunity to see her in action. Mirko’s fighting skills have only been on display a few times in the anime, but they showcase why she’s such a powerful hero, and such a refreshing female character.

Quiñones talked about the qualities that drew her to the role: “I was always interested in her because she’s so cool and confident, and kind of aggressive, and I think I always admired seeing, you know, I guess these more aggressive characters in superhero shows — or in Shonen, in general. I just like seeing girls fight. I think it’s cool.”

Mirko’s skills aren’t portrayed as second to her male counterparts, nor is she any less aggressive. In fact, Quiñones feels she’s right up there with Bakugo in terms of refusing to hold back:

"I feel like, if you ever get females or girls in fighting types, they’re not really fighting as much, and they’re definitely not that aggressive. So, getting to see a character as aggressive as Mirko — just as crazy as Bakugo or anyone — I think that’s pretty cool to see."

With Mirko’s character, My Hero Academia offers anime fans a chance to appreciate strong women who pack a punch. That’s as good a reason as any to tune into the fifth season of My Hero Academia, which will be airing new episodes week to week on Funimation, Hulu and Crunchyroll.

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