In the world of anime, particularly in the Shonen genre, three names have stood tall: Naruto, Bleach, and One Piece collectively; they are called The Big Three. Each of the shows has showcased exclusive settings, plots, techniques, and characters, which has left an indelible mark in the minds of its viewers.
Tite Kubo’s Bleach often comes under fire from the otakus, who frequently criticize him for designing a protagonist like Ichigo Kurosaki. Time and again, they have felt that the protagonist falls short in terms of character development and showcases traits that will make its viewers forget him.
They often compare him with Monkey D. Luffy from Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece. Though it is true that the Straw Hat is perhaps the most charismatic main character in the Shonen genre, fans often forget the Orange-Haired Shinigami might just be one of the most decked-out protagonists in the anime world.
Ichigo Kurosaki Exuberates Tite Kubo’s Artistic Genius
It comes as no surprise that Tite Kubo’s Bleach is often looked at as a black sheep, where it is considered to be the weakest of the original Big Three. While fans would vehemently enjoy watching the series, non-watchers of the series would often look at it critically, pointing out its major flaw, that is, the protagonist.
To make the title distinct from the other famed names of its time, it featured a main character in the author’s magnum opus. Kubo-Sensei showcased his brilliance by creating a personality like Ichigo Kurosaki, who was a high school student with the ability to watch ghosts.
Sadly, non-viewers of the show would bombard the work for being quite similar to Monkey D. Luffy from Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece, who would go to great lengths for his dear ones or anyone who hurts the weak. For the otakus, an outstanding main character should be someone having a far-fetched yet achievable dream, in this case, becoming The Pirate King.
Additionally, he has been very vocal through his words and his actions, saying that no matter what happens, he would not let anyone come between him and his dreams. But in the process, he will not abandon his nakamas because he has immense faith in them, even if they turn their back on him.
During the Water 7 arc, he nearly lost Robin and Usopp, and even during the Whole Cake Island arc, he watched Black Leg Sanji leave his crew and rejoin his abusive family to save his crewmates from grave danger. However, Luffy would not give up and fight everyone in the way to ensure that he stands on top with his crew having his back.
While some may criticize it Ichigo’s journey is one of the most intriguing ones that showcased his transition from being a high schooler to a powerful Shinigami going toe-to-toe against Yhwach. However, his growth does not change him. Instead, he continues to be the same humble boy, protecting the one he cares about.
More than being a hero fighting the bad guys, he recovered from the trauma of finding out his mother was lying lifeless on top of him. Since then, he has been blaming himself for her demise. However, he did not lose faith because Kubo-Sensei showcased his strong mindset, and he used this desire to protect the people he loved.
Kubo-Sensei showcased a full spectrum of emotions, where he is utterly helpless, pessimistic, and even depressed to handle the final outcome of the battle during the Soul Society saga. What makes the series more intriguing is that the mangaka did not shy away from featuring Kurosaki’s darker side of the personality.
This brings out the perfect balance of a hero who is imperfect and can use his failure as a stepping stone, adding his name to the very list featuring every popular protagonist in the anime world.
How Does Ichigo Kurosaki Add to Bleach’s Popularity?
Starting a bit late from its Big Three rivals, it has aged differently, which is mainly due to the fact that it was canceled. However, they often forget that Kubo-Sensei has showcased a unique interpretation of the afterlife, with a vivid list of characters that add to the plot of the show, making it grander and more elusive.
The original series aged roughly because of a number of factors affecting its production that eventually got the show canceled, but the protagonist was never responsible for it. The large number of filler episodes contributed to its declining popularity, and the mangaka’s falling health contributed to the overall problem.
While the fans walked away from the show, they continued to love the protagonist, who would take them on a buffet of emotions and even make them sit at the edge of their seats during the high-adrenaline battles supported by the animation studio. Nevertheless, Thousand-Year Blood War is a brand new addition to the series, which not only brings back the fans but also showcases how Studio Pierrot has taken the show to a whole new level.
The brand new series continues to reflect his growth as the main hero of the show, radiating a strong presence where he would display his prowess as a skilled Shinigami who would not hesitate to eliminate any threat surrounding The Soul Society.
Bleach can be streamed on Hulu, and One Piece can be streamed on Netflix.
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