My Hero Academia’s Jason Liebrecht Talks How His Tragedy Fuels Dabi’s Voice (Exclusive)

My Hero Academia's Jason Liebrecht Talks How His Tragedy Fuels Dabi's Voice (Exclusive)

As a gamer and an avid follower of anime, I find the Todoroki family’s storyline in “My Hero Academia” to be one of the most compelling and emotionally resonant narratives in recent memory. The character of Dabi, voiced brilliantly by Jason Liebrecht, is a testament to this depth and complexity.


One intriguing narrative arc from the anime “My Hero Academia” that has struck a chord with viewers is the heart-wrenching saga of the Todoroki Family. The father, Endeavor, subjected his family to immense suffering in his quest to produce heroes capable of rivaling All Might, the previous top hero. Tragically, this harsh treatment led to Toya Todoroki, his eldest son, transforming into one of the world’s most formidable villains. Dabi stands out as a significant adversary in the shonen series, particularly during the climactic battle depicted in the anime. Recently, at Dragon Con 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia, we had the opportunity to discuss with Dabi’s voice actor, Jason Liebrecht, about how his personal experiences contribute to the fiery antagonist’s character.

In the series “My Hero Academia,” Liebrecht didn’t mince words when discussing his portrayal of Dabi. He admitted that his own childhood abandonment resonates with the character, making it challenging yet rewarding to act. Having been estranged from his mother at three years old and later rebuilding their relationship, he understands her choices were not ideal. This personal history significantly impacted his performance as Dabi, a role that allows him to draw on feelings of abandonment, pain, and anger from his own life. This emotional release is therapeutic for him in a way.

My Hero Academia's Jason Liebrecht Talks How His Tragedy Fuels Dabi's Voice (Exclusive)

Becoming Dabi

Interestingly, it was Colleen Clinkenbeard, the former ADR director of ‘My Hero Academia’, who helped Jason secure his role. For anime enthusiasts, Clinkenbeard might ring a bell as she has voiced characters like Gohan in ‘Dragon Ball’, Monkey D. Luffy in ‘One Piece’, and Momo Yaoyorozu in ‘My Hero Academia’. Liebrecht stated that it was because of Colleen’s belief in his suitability for the role.

Colleen has been acquainted with me since my late teens, during a time when I was quite the free spirit. She reached out to me and said, ‘I think I found your match in My Hero! You’re going to really take to him!’ Following some voiceover work, I informed Colleen that ‘I appreciate this guy’, and she replied, ‘I always knew you would.’

Keep tabs on Dabi’s progress during the seventh season of “My Hero Academia”? Check out Team Anime on ComicBook for the freshest news about UA Academy.

Read More

2024-09-08 02:09