Bleach is a series in the anime and manga umbrella that holds a special place in my heart. And many people would agree with that. Bleach, Naruto, and One Piece were part of the “Big Three.” This nickname was given to these series because they were the most popular manga in Shonen Jump when they were being published. Bleach always felt like the black sheep of these three.
Yes, Bleach is popular, but it was always the least popular of the three. That never bothered me because I couldn’t help but enjoy the series to bits. I would watch clips from the anime, but I tore through the manga when I was younger. The series has so much style, and its aesthetic is just so darn cool. Speaking of cool, Bleach has a really compelling main character with a vibrant character journey.
Bleach’s Humble Beginnings
The beginning of Bleach is just so special. It’s special due to how different it is from the rest of the series. Like many anime and manga, the start of the series is awkward, and the author must find his or her footing. The start of Bleach follows a monster-of-the-week formula with Ichigo, the substitute soul reaper, fighting hollows and monsters in every different chapter.
The series then evolves into itself, with the first major arc of the series, the Soul Society arc. This arc calls upon Ichigo and his friends to invade the strange and unknown titular area to rescue their friend Rukia Kuchiki from an execution. This arc really put the series on the map for the great character writing, the exhilarating premise, and the bombastic fight scenes. The Soul Society arc is still beloved by Bleach fans, who call it the best arc in the series.
Hueco Mundo and Karakura Town
Throughout the whole series, Ichigo is always getting stronger. It’s how shonen anime and manga work. Ichigo gets multiple power-ups that enable him physically. He gets his own sword, or zanpakuto, called Zangetsu. This part is really cool. He also gets his own Bankai, which is basically a powered-up mode that lets him fight in the big leagues. In both the Hueco Mundo and Karakura Town arcs, Ichigo goes up against some really powerful enemies that test him physically.
I would say the second greatest change to Ichigo’s character comes at the end of the series (seemingly). In his fight against Aizen, he uses the Mugetsu, an ability so strong that it destroys Aizen. It takes away his ability to ever use his powers again. This is a huge moment for the character, and while the next arc is all about undoing this, it still is a low point for Ichigo.
The Thousand Year Blood War and Family
The Thousand Year Blood War is the final arc of Bleach, and it is the longest and most insane one. Remember how I said Mugetsu was Ichigo’s second greatest change? His first takes place here. Not only does he discover that the spirit inside his sword is his enemy, but he also realizes the truth about his parentage. He shares both Soul Reaper and Quincy blood, which makes him a super-strong hybrid, which makes sense, considering how overpowering he is.
In the TYBW, Ichigo fights more enemies than you can count, along with the greatest bad guy in the series. But when it’s all done, he settles down. In the final chapter of Bleach, we see Ichigo and his friends as adults, living their lives peacefully. Ichigo and his childhood friend Orihime settle down and even have their own son. This conclusion, while it was a bit rushed, felt so satisfying to see this character’s growth from a young, inexperienced kid to the savior of the world—Rock on Ichigo.
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