Toho Co., Ltd. has set a 10th-anniversary version of “You Say Run,” the “My Hero Academia” theme, pairing composer Hayashi Yuki with German band Electric Callboy, with a global release set for Sept. 22.
The reworked track debuted live at the “My Hero Academia in Concert” show in London on Sept. 20 ahead of the wider rollout. Electric Callboy, known for songs including “Hypa Hypa” and its Babymetal collaboration “Ratatata,” features Kevin Ratajczak and Nico Sallach, who connected with Hayashi after he wrote English lyrics for the anniversary version. Toho’s music team had been looking for international artists who could bring powerful shouts and melodic vocals in keeping with the show’s high-energy tone, which led to the Electric Callboy pairing.
“We are beyond excited to have this opportunity to add our vocals to ‘You Say Run,’” said Ratajczak. “The melody of ‘You Say Run’ is so powerful and uplifting – we just absolutely love this song.”
Sallach said working on the track was pure fun and a huge honor to collaborate on, adding, “We can’t wait for everyone to hear it! We really hope you’re as excited for it as we are.”
The new version folds the song’s original orchestral arrangement into Electric Callboy’s blend of EDM and pop hooks, arriving a decade after the anime first premiered. “‘You Say Run,’ one of the signature tracks representing ‘My Hero Academia,’ has been reborn with an unprecedented surge of energy by fusing with the incredible vocals of Electric Callboy,” said Hayashi. “I am deeply honored and thrilled to share this special sound born from the intersection of our shared energy.”
Bones Film also unveiled a new illustration to mark the release, showing Izuku Midoriya (“Deku”) performing a “Smash” in a nod to the cover art of the anime’s original Season 1 soundtrack.
“I truly hope the song crosses borders and genres, reaches as many hearts as possible, and resonates passionately with everyone,” said Hayashi. “And while the track is absolute perfection, the cover art is top-tier too. Plus Ultra.”
The release marks a decade since “My Hero Academia” debuted, and the franchise remains among anime’s biggest global hits. Horikoshi Kohei’s manga concluded in August 2024 after selling more than 100 million copies globally, and the anime spans eight seasons, 170+1 episodes and four feature films. The new song is part of the ongoing “My Hero Academia The Animation 10th Anniversary” project, which will continue through 2026 with further announcements on the anniversary’s dedicated website.
“You Say Run -10th Anniversary Ver.-” by Hayashi Yuki featuring Electric Callboy streams globally and across major platforms starting Sept. 22.
“My Hero Academia” is a Japanese anime series based on the manga by Horikoshi Kohei, set in a world where about 80% of the population has a superpowered ability known as a Quirk. It follows Izuku Midoriya and his classmates at U.A. High School as they train to become heroes who protect society from disasters and Quirk-wielding villains. The anime released its eighth and final season in fall 2025.
Formed in Germany in 2010, Electric Callboy has built a global following on genre-blending hits such as “Hypa Hypa,” “We Got the Moves” and the Babymetal collaboration “Ratatata.” Known for a sound that mixes pop and metalcore, the band is currently building momentum around its new album, “Tanzneid.”