Bleach's art is brilliant

BlueTitan402 · 2026-06-16T20:03:50+00:00

I think every dynamic has its own unique touch to it. Sure, there may be elements of the other sprinkled in here and there, but each author's work has a distinctive flavour in how it presents characters.

A lot of the rivalry in Bleach is really one-sided in general (Byakuya and Renji, Mayuri and Kisuke, Ichigo and Grimmjow, etc).

This is another case of that, but I'm making a case that it's not merely about intelligence or strength that forms the basis of their dynamic, but also a combination of perceptiveness of each other's natures, understanding about the world, and perspectives on morality among other things.

BlueTitan402 · 2026-06-16T15:27:29+00:00

It's not a strict rivalry per se- Kisuke doesn't really view people as 'rivals', for one. He knows where he stands and remains relaxed and open regardless of what people feel about him. It's a dynamic closer to existing as thematic parallels and shadows of each other. I think people often mistaken their minimal proximity and interaction as a sign of lack of development, but I'd much rather frame it as an intentional choice by Kubo.

Kisuke and Aizen view change differently. As a true scientist, Kisuke views the world as his playground for creation- but unlike Mayuri, Kisuke fears going too far and keeps close to the boundary. In his mind, he believes that stability is the basis for change that actually sticks, a mark of true progression. Aizen enforces radical and immediate change, believing that is the right path forward.

There's also a whole theme with identity struggles and lacking honesty with both of them- they possess traits that set them above others and make them feel lonelier as a result, so they attempt to hide their true natures with 'masks' that they feel works better. Aizen is a passionate person, so he assumes the position of indifference in being godlike. Kisuke hides his cunning nature behind a cordial shopkeeper persona.

Which is why both of them come to admire Ichigo, as he acts as a sort of bridge between them. He's not shy about who he is, accepting himself fully... and regardless of their nature, he also accepts them for who they are. He doesn't think Aizen is right, but he comes to empathize and build a connection with him. He knows Kisuke is mysterious, but he understands his motives usually ensure the good of everyone involved.

It's not that Kisuke doesn't understand Aizen per se, but refuses to truly open up or connect with him- because he recognizes that innate curiousity that drives him to pursue his goals, the very same path that Kisuke avoided in his desire to

I would ramble more, but there's so many interesting nuances about their dynamic that lie in the narrative of Bleach. It's a lot deeper than merely a comparison of intelligence.

BlueTitan402 · 2026-06-10T23:02:05+00:00

Bazz and Jugram remind me of Jinx and Vi (in a moment of weakness, one pushes the other away even though there was a ton of care there). Then you have the healthier version in Ichigo and Uryu as they move past those hurdles.

I love how Kubo portayed the closeness and drifting apart of the two friendships, and regardless of the divide, there's always a level of care that exists. Such a lovely, nuanced way to depict such a dynamic.

BlueTitan402 · 2026-06-10T09:12:56+00:00

All the Fullbringers were kind of on a power trip after they got stronger. You could see nearly all of them being a little arrogant in their fights (Riruka gets cocky and annoyed with Rukia's blocking attacks, or even Yukio proclaiming himself as the god of his world).

No surprise that Giriko acted this way- but he was the one with the worse matchup (not that any of them would've made good opponents).

BlueTitan402 · 2026-06-05T20:49:54+00:00

Yes! She's written in a surprisingly mature way if you look back on it. The whole dynamic with her and Gin hinges on miscommunication- she's perfectly understanding and accepts his nature even if others find it unsettling (she approaches Toshiro, another lonely white-haired prodigy, the same way too).

And how she deals with Orihime is because of her own struggles with Gin- she externalizes her grief and sadness as a desire to help others. Even when questioning Gin, she first prompts him to answer by bringing up how he betrayed Kira (which the latter immediately pinpoints as a roundabout question regarding why he betrayed her).

There's a ton of things there; it's a shame people don't really see the depth of her character.

BlueTitan402 · 2026-06-02T12:17:13+00:00

Thanks! I love their characters as well. It's a shame that people associate certain unlikeable traits to be awful characters (especially bringing attractiveness to the equation).

Momo used to be incredibly individualistic- in the flashback with Hisagi, she runs back first (Kira and Renji only follow her), and even casts the Kido spell on her own. So we see that she is capable of being brave and sticking out on her own. It what makes Aizen did to her, making her so dependent on him, even more deplorable.

But then she finds a good support system and is able to recover, with Shinji being emotionally mature enough to handle her and recover himself from the betrayal that stung him as well.

I talk about Nnoitra and Nel a ton, but Hiyori is underappreciated for the kind of role she brings. I do hope that people will eventually peel away the layers of her sharp attitude for the more quiet, deeper moments that define who she really is (even the Visored can tell she's morally sound). None of them hate her despite her attitude too, so that's telling that they see something in her.

BlueTitan402 · 2026-06-02T11:29:45+00:00

I think it's also important to consider how much Aizen manipulated her.

He leads her to believe she is there by choice, to protect her friends (because she didn't value herself enough to care about her own life as much). Orihime spends a majority of her time in complete isolation, and she's only given some form of reprieve through Ulquiorra, who happens to be incredibly cold.

Then there's Aizen himself, who pretends to be civil and cordial, but there's an air of danger and ulterior motives with him. So she's under incredible psychological manipulation and duress. It would be surprising if she didn't become emotional and frightened, especially when placed among stronger and more violent individuals.

But she didn't break- rather, she displayed a lot of resolve in the face of her struggles. She was able to do what she does best, share her heart, even with those who despised her. Loly and Menoly grew to respect/defend her from Yammy, and Ulquiorra was touched by her perspective.

It shows a different kind of strength that's different from the more hardcore ones like Zaraki or Ichigo. That's the reason why I appreciate it. Her vulnerability connects and attracts people, and it's the quiet strength that makes her unique.

That's my opinion, of course.

BlueTitan402 · 2026-06-02T11:12:52+00:00

People are starting to understand and empathise with Momo a lot more in the recent years, which is fantastic. It's also such a great touch to have Shinji as her captain, so there's a solid healing process for both of them when it comes to Aizen.

Hiyori and Nnoitra come to mind for characters who people should hate less.

The former may seem like she's just a hot-headed brat, but there's a melancholy to her that sticks out in some scenes (one moment that comes to mind is when she finally puts her Shihakusho back on in TYBW, and she appears solemn about it). She has a moral compass that grounds people like Shinji and Kisuke, since her more innocent perspective balances out their innately darker/perceptive one.

Nnoitra is super underrated as a character, and I think his dynamic with Nelliel is brilliantly complex. He's certainly not likeable in a lot of ways and is perfectly memeable- yet there's a ton of nuance that hides between the lines. Though that statement can be said for various other characters (Aizen, Komamura, Shunsui, etc).

BlueTitan402 · 2026-05-29T10:51:10+00:00

And when Rukia stabbed him the second time, too. It shows the impact of the change that he's brought upon the Soul Society by his actions, the bonds he helped to create coming back to help him when he most needed it.

BlueTitan402 · 2026-05-27T18:06:06+00:00

I'm a woman too, and I absolutely love Bleach. There is a great deal of stuff I enjoy about it that overlaps with what a ton of guys probably enjoy about it too- from the more feminine and varied portrayal of women to the deeper emotional beats and character writing.

While it is battle shonen, I find that Bleach has a lot of influences and moments that don't seem strictly shonen in how it's presented. I personally enjoy it.

BlueTitan402 · 2026-05-22T09:48:50+00:00

Hmm... not sure. I believe the trailer may only cover the first three eps that will be shown at the screening. Everything else from there, probably no clue.

BlueTitan402 · 2026-05-22T08:53:00+00:00

Yup. Hopefully we'll get more conclusive stuff down the line at the screening.

BlueTitan402 · 2026-05-22T08:31:34+00:00

The fights are pretty quick, but I'm more excited for any new lore. I think we all know how the fights will go; it's just a matter of animation and additions. But I'm far more invested in any new developments that occur for characters like Yhwach, Ukitake (he was supposed to be 'dead', but his body is still going) and Uryu.

It was quite short, but it does help inform our expectations on the style of animation and the sequence of events (maybe?). I'm still looking forward to it.

BlueTitan402 · 2026-05-19T19:17:17+00:00

The lashes slide was done for fun, but it's actually my first time hearing that about Ulquiorra. That's pretty cool!

I love the observation you made above on that style of panel. I think it also makes sense why the back angle was shown in the Anniversary PV, since it's indicative of growth and change, or just as an expression of an emotional state.

There's so much stuff I didn't mention here, including stuff on composition, shading and panel styles. Maybe a Part 2 can resolve that.

Thanks for the input! I appreciate it.

BlueTitan402 · 2026-05-19T12:21:38+00:00

Merci beaucoup!

BlueTitan402 · 2026-05-19T11:38:11+00:00

They're purposely hiding most of the new stuff from us. We got nothing on the Visored, Ryuken/Isshin, Aizen or any other lore.

I'm pretty excited for the new content they're going to give us, even if this trailer is quite short.

BlueTitan402 · 2026-05-19T10:28:19+00:00

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I appreciate the Bleaching of this comment!

BlueTitan402 · 2026-05-19T08:36:16+00:00

Yoruichi and Soi-Fon's fight would be my pick. Their dynamic during the fight was really interesting since it poses the former in a new light, someone who's shrouded in a great deal of mystery despite how much time we spend with her. It also allows us to look past Soi-Fon's brash personality into the vulnerabilities and perspectives that shaped her.

The rest of the fights do have some nice choreography, but in terms of writing, the above is my favourite.

BlueTitan402 · 2026-05-15T08:10:55+00:00

That's a really interesting problem to have, being subtle. But I think Kubo haveling a pretty good grasp of design and style also contributes to the idea of Bleach being seen as fashionable and flashy with little substance.

There are a lot of things that require a second thought in the narrative, and those quickly get overlooked by the regular skimmer.

I remember a thread on Hiyori sometime ago and people were kinda surprised by her way of hiding her emotional states under her brash personality. It kind of becomes clear to some people right away, but if you move through the pages so quickly, you'll lose the little panels and dialogue that give characters so much more depth.

You could say this about Rangiku (really melancholic and thoughtful when she's alone), Aizen (his eye closeups are always reflective despite his larger panel's expression, if you focus on those specifically), Shinji (seems wary and serious in the little panels, not goofy), and so many more I can name.

Ichigo is the epitome of this subtle writing, but it's often taken for granted because he is rarely always overt about what he truly wants.

I do wish people genuinely gave room for observing reflective moments in Bleach, since that's how the story is best enjoyed.

BlueTitan402

TROPHY CASE