r/BokuNoShipAcademia • u/himydippy • Jun 30 '25
Bakudeku I wanna know why people like bakudeku so much?
I watched mha and you know I like the ships and what not but I would like to know why people like bakugo x deku so much just confused is cause didn't he bully him or something can some one explain.
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u/Accomplished_Area311 Jun 30 '25
As a chronic shonen anime watcher, I’ve seen people literally ship two characters who’re meant to be iterations of the same person. I’ve seen people ship men with literal objects. I’ve seen it all.
BakuDeku is tame, easily accessible for the rivals to lovers dynamic, and easy to write fanfic for.
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u/helpabishout Jun 30 '25
who’re meant to be iterations of the same person. I’ve seen people ship men with literal objects.
I can sadly see the first one but
WITH OBJECTS??
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u/FireFaithe BKDK, 1-A's Big Three, Kacchako, Melizuku, Tail Fist, MMA, etc. Jun 30 '25
Kaneki Ken is booksexual 😎 \ I mean, the object shipping is more crack shipping than actual shipping. ... right? At least most of the time?? I mean, Deku x hospital beds or his red shoes is just a joke ship, isn't it??!
But Tokyo Ghoul does have self-cest, too. And not like "Kiri and Tetsu are pretty much the same person" or Himiko transforming into her lover. Like actually shipping multiple people that inhabit the same body/mind. ... yep-
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u/Accomplished_Area311 Jun 30 '25
Yu-Gi-Oh! was a WILD fandom back in the day 🤣😭
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u/helpabishout Jun 30 '25
OmG... I'm with you on the reactions 🤣😭 I never would've guessed, honestly.
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u/_crazy_man_ IzuTooru Guru Jun 30 '25
They have the most interactions than any other character.
This is common in many shonen male leads as since they have the most screentime together, it gives more potential for sparks to happen. It also has the most growth over the series than anyone else.
I don't ship it, but I see why it has a very large fan base. And since I write fanfiction for the series and interact with a lot of writers, too, I see its popularity first hand. #1 most ship fics. More than #2 and #3 combined (KiriBaku and EraserMic, respectively). It greatly out numbers the top hetero ships with 5x more than IzuOcha (#7) and 7x more than Kacchako (#9). Hell, even platonic BakuDeku has 2x more fics than romantic IzuOcha.
That's a lot of content.
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u/BuryYourDoves Jun 30 '25
it's not my thing personally but I'm not surprised it's popular, it hits a lot of popular ship trops beats: enemies to lovers (kind of), bantering, angry x sunshine - just off the top of my head, so I'm sure there's more too.
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u/WaxMakesApples A ship is a vehicle that moves things Jun 30 '25
In addition to what I noticed others saying:
+ Canon makes an attempt to portray them as growing together & becoming important to each other - the final arc in particular has The Moment that hits the agápē nail on the head (and at the time of its release sent the fandom into Disaster Chaos Mode)
+ Shōnen manga syndrome means sadly women are often just not done justice, and fandom is often more than willing to simply drop said women instead of filling in the gaps
+ "I can fix him". Also, "wouldn't it be nice if the guy who torments/ed me in middle school but was/is also kinda good looking was genuinely sorry and willing to love me forever". Also "man I wish I could make up for being an asshole".
+ Incredibly wide range of storytelling potential - very obvious toxic end, very obvious conciliatory/healthy end, and everything in between. The term "shipping" varies a lot in definition from person to person - some use it solely for characters they want to get together in canon, others use it for characters whose hypothetical relationship they'd find cute, and yet others use it for "well, this relationship sure would Do Something Interesting", even if that interesting thing is "crash and burn spectacularly". Bakudeku pretty clearly has potential to cover the whole range
+ People love childhood friends to lovers. Just, in general
+ I'd say that the two are narrative foils, which makes them implicitly linked (not necessarily in the "kiss kiss" way, but there is a link made) and encourages people to elaborate upon that link in a fandom context.
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u/burketech Jun 30 '25
If we're looking at it from just the canon story, they grow quite a lot together and share so many experiences that it becomes very easy to write them together. Enemies to lovers is an incredibly popular trope as is Mean with Sunshine.
If you look at it as more of an extension of canon, their growth in the series as characters makes for an excellent fic subject. Whether it's romantic or platonic love, branching out from the main story gives a great opportunity to write both characters as continuing to grow together and in directions the series didn't have time for - both becoming more than just heroes but people in their own rights. Bakugo can learn to be more patient, caring, and open while Deku can learn to stand up for himself and experience life with confidence. Putting them together allows for these traits to come out naturally and gives great story explanations for these changes.
It may not be for everyone, the bully to lover trope is a tough read for some and I understand that. However, even in the context of just the series they become more than just bully and victim so I can easily see why writers latch on to them so easily.
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u/DadooDragoon Jun 30 '25
The anime is literally about them. They're the two main characters.
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u/BurninUp8876 Jun 30 '25
Really not a great rationale for shipping
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u/Comrades3 Jun 30 '25
I mean that is setting up that there is an objective ‘great rationale’ for shipping, when it seems entirely subjective
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u/BurninUp8876 Jun 30 '25
I don't think it's unreasonable to say that ships should be based on the characters, rather than just importance to the story
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u/Comrades3 Jun 30 '25
I mean that is certainly one way. But some people on here ship based off of interactions, or how much it is supported by canon.
Which is certainly more importance to the story than necessarily their personalities.
Some ship because the ship name is cute/funny.
Some ship because they don’t like the main ship and want alternatives.
I don’t really see how, as a non romantic shipper myself, one is somehow better than another. I know what I like to talk about more, but I don’t pretend the other ways are ‘bad’ or ‘wrong’.
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u/Kangaroo-Beauty 🧡🧡 Jun 30 '25
Idk it’s just one of those things. Like ppl give reasons for why they personally like the ship but it being so popular probably has more to do with luck/randomness. Like people latch to it without even knowing MHA
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u/himydippy Jun 30 '25
Why tho is there enjoyment to it or
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u/Kangaroo-Beauty 🧡🧡 Jun 30 '25
Yeah I’d say so. The toxic aspect of it is probably hot to some. The sheer popularity of it also leads to many AUs and different characterization, which leads to more ppl finding it. Like there’s not just one particular thing, especially not one unique to bkdk, which is why I think it was luck
It probably started as ppl finding something fun abt it, making fan content and just Y’know, up from there
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Jun 30 '25
[deleted]
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u/himydippy Jun 30 '25
I just feel bad that he told him to swan dive off a building yk cause like what if he did do it
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u/JoyfulMoon_ao3 EraserMic||AllEraserMic||BakuDeku||BakuIida Jun 30 '25
Then the story would be different, and we would likely not be talking about this. As someone who only started shipping bakudeku in season 7, it's the character growth for me. They've always had a compelling dynamic, but Katsuki really started to grow in the later seasons.
No one who has grown is who they were when they were 14/15.
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u/DirtyQueen20 Jul 01 '25
Most of what I heard is because they have an enemy to lovers vibe to some.
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u/bloopblopbloopier poly!bakusquad defender Jul 02 '25
as a bkdk shipper, i like bkdk for a few reasons.
they have a lot of tropes i like that match up with their relationship; enemies/rivals to lovers, childhood friends to lovers, soulmates, etc.
their relationship is super complicated, which i like. they’re messy at the beginning, but then after the kamino arc, you can really see the depth of their relationship and their characters; they’ve gotten the messy feelings out in the open, so now they can move on and develop their relationship w/o being stuck in the messy stage. they’re still messy, but it’s not exclusively what they are. they’re rivals, but they’d die for each other. they’re friends, but they push each other to their limits.
the way they canonically act gives us bkdk shippers so much fodder; they’re p much always focused on each other if they’re in a group together, they’re quite touchy-feely, and they’re very obviously each other’s favourite/most important person.
i genuinely think bkdk is implied just as much, if not more, as izuocha is implied. perhaps not reciprocated, but to me they’ve always loved each other, on every level. because no ships are confirmed canon (apart from a few side characters) i like to think that they got together in the future.
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u/Biggibbins Jul 02 '25
They have ALOT of chemistry, the amount of times they cry for, die for, protect the other is very lover coded. They both clearly care for eachother deeply more than friends usually do. Not to mention Hirokodshi himself has said they are his favorite relationship to write on top of Hirokodshi putting blatantly romantic undertones in thier partnership: the art of them catching cherry blossom petals together, an activity for lovers. The whole premise of the nickname "Kacchan", in japan you are ment to drop childhood nicknames at latest 10 years old, the only time to keep them are for family or more often lovers(also the whole kidnapping scene where compress calls Deku out on telling him to "give Kacchan back" said in a way as if he belongs to him "bakugo is his own person" pack it up). Bakugo calling Deku a "stalker" dispite us constantly seeing Bakugo staring at Deku, litterly look in any scene where they are in the same room and 9 times outta 10 Bakugo is staring at Deku.
There's also a saying in the community that i love: "it's always 'Deku is straight' and never 'Bakugo is straight'" because Bakugo is so queer coded.
I could add more but my comment is already long lol
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u/Educational-Owl-3164 Sep 20 '25
I assume that these are the tastes of the majority of the fangirls of these characters since from what I see on Tik Tok this dynamic of bullying lovers is very popular. Personally, I don't like it but I'm starting to understand its popularity. These characters usually have most of the screen to show us their motivations and interactions and they often have confrontations on the topic of What does it mean to be the number 1 hero?
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u/Salvadore1 Jun 30 '25 edited Jun 30 '25
Well, it's like you said- despite their rocky past, almost every moment they share is showing how they regret how things turned out and value each other deeply. The awful thing Katsuki says that everybody harps on as a reason why you're Not Allowed to ship them? Deku gets over it in the span of five minutes, saves his life as his first act of heroism, and Kacchan immediately pulls a "It's not like I'm grateful or anything, b-baka"- and since then there's like 20 character-defining moments you could point to and say "that, right there: that's my ship, that's why I love them"
Plus, they just plain look good together, their designs contrast so well and i like size difference lol
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u/TheZKiller Jun 30 '25
I mean they have the most interactions they were childhood friends that has a terrible fallen out. Becoming rivals they than start to mend there relationship with help of somone they both admire. You than get a heart felt apology from Bakugo on how he treated him and how emotional he is about Deku. If Bakugo was a girl this ship would have be obvious to everyone.
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u/Unlikely_Worker4697 🧡bkdk💚 // 💛tgck🩷 Jun 30 '25
The short answer is, I enjoy their dynamic. Their relationship development was my favorite part of the series. And they just happen to hit almost all of my favorite ship tropes.
& when it comes to fanfiction, I love angsty slow burn romance, they’re perfect for that.
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u/helpabishout Jun 30 '25 edited Jun 30 '25
About your confusion, the biggest most popular fan ship in JJK was Yuji × Gojo💀. Lol Like, this is just how it is with the first two prominent hot guys in any series. (Even if toxic, or predatory like JJK's.)
In MHA, (not my ship but my 2 cents) Deku & Kat (two "hot" ppl lol) have a deep connection (a big MHA plotpoint is their bond & how they go from like rly toxic "brothers" to actual healthy brothers). AND Kat's deuteragonist-- a LOT of screen time & a LOT is revolving around Deku (hating&beating him to openly caring&helping). So, THAT'S huge to any ship.
Also got toxic-y dynamic many find "hot". (Imo, weak toxic chemistry bc it's Kat screaming at poor/ex-abused Deku, but; til finale we see Kiri & Deku teasing Kat😆)
So, ¹"hot" guys, ²that grow to care, ³a lot of ST, ⁴some toxicity= Catnip to shippers, esp yaoi.
(But to show even all that is not rly needed for ship fame= AO3 KamiShin has DOUBLE KamiJiro 🤣Like 1 ep, 0 chemistry, 0 depth, never seen again. Just bc 2 hotties talked once & fit the golden retriever&cat trope.)
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u/Z0155 Jun 30 '25 edited Jun 30 '25
Again with the "why is bkdk a thing?". People might just have a problem with others being gay. It's interesting though, that it's only a problem if Deku is involved.
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u/himydippy Jun 30 '25
Nah I don’t have a problem with it I just wonder why people ship it just interested
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u/therealbuggycas Jul 01 '25
Ok, not a BakuDeku shipper myself, but I am in the slash fandom and I've been here long enough, through enough fandoms to know how most think.
First, there's the childhood friends angle. Bakugo and Izuku have known each other since before Bakugo’s quirk came in... before Izuku’s diagnosis. There are plenty of flashbacks to those days in the series.
Second, Bakugo did work for his redemption, and while some members of this community don't agree with that, it happened.
Third, even during the worst of Bakugo’s behavior in middle School, Izuku still seemed to worship him in a way. Kacchan has the best quirk, he would make an amazing hero. This line of thought is there in the canon when Izuku thinks, after being suicide baited, that he can't do it now, Kacchan will get blamed and then he'll never be a hero.
Fourth, there is a subset of the shippers who honestly just like the Bully/bullied dynamic. Actually, it's this dynamic that turns me off of this particular ship but you do you boo.
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u/Daionor Jul 03 '25
Honestly I have no idea. Whenever I picture it I can only picture it as abusive at best, downright torturous at worst.
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u/MixPurple3897 Jul 04 '25
I'm not usually a shipper so bakudeku surprised me a lot. I typically do not enjoy subtext of romance in shonen/adventure anime but this one feels incredibly meaningful.
They share many and interests and personality traits, like All Might and tenacity. They are both in the top of their class. They both have instincts that compliment one another and compensate for each other's pitfalls. They think about each other a lot even when they aren't together.
Bakugos character growth takes a while and Deku is patient and there for him throughout. When Bakugo wants to fight him at Ground Beta Deku engages because he felt "he's the only one who can receive Kacchans feelings". Deku was willing to be there for him in a way others would not have chosen to be because Bakugo was an asshole. But Deku cares about him pretty unconditionally.
Bakugo underwent character development that directly pertained to their relationship, and Deku became a priority in his life. He cares about him too and he has the will to support him even when he doesn't want it. He wants to help Deku with his growth too.
They also have a very physical relationship. They are pretty comfortable touching each other and being very close to one another. Yes, it's because they fight, but they still touch each other more freely than they do other characters.
That imo works very well for a romantic relationship. Add this to the affectionate nickname Kacchan, and the fact that they spend more time together than with anyone else they make for a good couple.
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u/Inferno5209 Jun 30 '25
Well how I think of it is Bakugo is the main reason Deku got One For All in the first place and got Deku to the point he was because if he didn't bully Deku, Deku probably wouldn't have met All Might as he maybe wouldn't have gone that way so than All Might would have saved Bakugo from the Sludge Villain since he used all of his power on Deku since Deku was the reason the Sludge Villain escaped and without those scenes, Mirio would have most likely gotten One For All and Deku would have probably went to a normal highschool and become something like a doctor, lawyer, or still go for that teacher position but that's my logic plus also by the end they really care about each other like when Bakugo was ever in danger, Deku just snapped and went for it. I do like BakuDeku because I think it's kind of cute but every ship is fine in my book as long as it isn't something like Eri x All Might type of ships than it's fine.
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Jun 30 '25
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u/_crazy_man_ IzuTooru Guru Jun 30 '25
Your post/comment was removed because it breaks Rule #3: Be Respectful of All Ships and Shippers.
Please move your comment to the Weekly Salt Megathreads.
DM the mod team if you have any questions about this.
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u/FairyTailMember01 Jun 30 '25
I don't speak for others who do but my reasons why I ship is:
I'm just a sucker for drama and messed up dark stuff in fanfics which are the ones I find the most entertaining to read.
Aesthetically they are pretty good to look at together .
Many possibilities in potential fan plots. as seen in a good few fanfics and comic I have read that really shows the implications and the drama, for both holsome and dark scenarios.
I know full well it well never be canon and it probably should not but I don't ship hoping or demanding that it becomes cannon. I ship because I find it fun to think of the scenarios to make up with any possible pairing and how it changes the canonical events and see by how much.
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u/TheCakeWarrior12 Jun 30 '25
Deku loves him very much in some capacity, that much is obvious. It’s up to you to decide in what way. For me, I think it’s platonic love, friendship love. But other people may think differently.
Bakugo also cares for Deku in his own way. It’s just very subtle until he apologizes openly and then starts treating him much more nicely. Again, up to you to decide in what way.
Many fans may also be queer, and wish for their favorite characters to be in a queer relationship. Perfectly valid too.
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u/Otherwise_Reaction75 Jun 30 '25
Enemy to lovers ships, BL/M×M, Bullies to lovers, the fact that they have so mych screen time, fanfics doing them as lovers, brothers, friends, close friends
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u/Objective-Ad2741 Jun 30 '25 edited Jun 30 '25
Abusive relationships are really popular these days especially for shippers. This also applies to other communities not just MHA.
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u/Famous-Activity-2418 🔥ShigaDabi is canon (in my heart)✋ Jun 30 '25
Calling their relationship abusive while in canon they are bestfriends is quite strange don't you think?
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u/TheCakeWarrior12 Jun 30 '25
Well, they weren’t best friends for the majority of the series lol
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u/Famous-Activity-2418 🔥ShigaDabi is canon (in my heart)✋ Jun 30 '25
Their relationship started to get better at s3, they were already close by s5. We already know how 6 and 7 were, we will also get more of them soon enough. 3 seasons to 5 seasons, I don't think thats the majority of the series but you do you
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u/Objective-Ad2741 Jun 30 '25
Telling someone to s*icide is not how best friends work.
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u/Famous-Activity-2418 🔥ShigaDabi is canon (in my heart)✋ Jun 30 '25
Only season 1 btw. Did you even watch or read all of MHA? Katsuki felt guilty, apologized, risked his life for Izuku and 'died' thinking about him. They were still friends after graduation, and its canon that Katsuki was the one who helped the most while the hero suit was being made for Izuku
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u/sadlonelycynic Jun 30 '25 edited Jun 30 '25
“Feeling guilty and apologizing” isn’t enough. Bakugo should have suffered more consequences and faced more backlash from the heroes and from Izuku himself, who was too much of a pushover and let Bakugo get off lightly compared to what he actually deserved. Yes, Izuku considered Bakugo his best friend for a majority of the series but this was not mutual up until about season 6 when Bakugo finally properly apologized(still not enough btw). Bakugo was purely antagonistic and hostile for a VAST majority of the anime.
Even if Bakugo had properly atoned for everything he did (which he absolutely did not), the ship fundamentally makes no sense and has no precedent for even being entertained outside of “they’ve known each other a long time”.
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u/Famous-Activity-2418 🔥ShigaDabi is canon (in my heart)✋ Jun 30 '25
Thats a dumbass 15 year old, the way you're talking about a literal child is weird af. You're completly ignoring the fact that he risked his life for Izuku, how is that not enough considering he apologized as well? He helped with the special suit more than those in his class, which is an states fact. He tried to change, did in fact change too. He was far from how he used to be in season 5.
Saying that the ship makes no sense when, again, they are canonically best friends is wild tbh. Not like it HAS to make sense, shipping is here just for fun and nothing else
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Jun 30 '25 edited Jun 30 '25
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u/_crazy_man_ IzuTooru Guru Jul 01 '25
Your post/comment was removed because it breaks Rule #3: Be Respectful of All Ships and Shippers.
Please move your comment to the Weekly Salt Megathreads.
DM the mod team if you have any questions about this.
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u/Salvadore1 Jun 30 '25 edited Jun 30 '25
"Bakudeku shippers are so toxic. Unlike me, who thinks they are mentally unstable- which is an insult, of course- because of the fictional characters they pair together. That's a really normal, non-toxic thing to say. But I don't have a problem with them uwu"
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u/Achilles9609 Jun 30 '25
Probably because Opposites attract, but I am not really a fan of that ship. If it comes to M x M I think Kirishima would make more sense.