Summary
Today,Bleachis one of the most famous and influential manga ever, part of the iconic Big 3. But its beginnings over twenty years ago were nothing but troubled. A young up-and-coming artist struggling to make a name for himself in Shōnen Jump went from a quick cancelation of his previous work to a worldwide smash hit thanks to determination and encouragement from the best.
How did Tite Kubo’sBleachstart, and how did it get to what we know today? The so-called mangaka who wouldn’t draw defied expectations and health issues to bring millions of readers into the Soul Society with an orange-haired punk.
From Cancelation to Greatness
Zombie Powder and Snipe
Tite Kubo first started his work in Shonen Jump with the one-shot Ultra Unholy Hearted Machine. In a special issue where experienced and newcomer mangaka published new one-shots. Kubo’s work was ranked 4th, beaten by Eiichiro Oda’s Romance Dawn. This would spark a sort of rivalry between the two promising newcomers. His next one-shot was titled Rune Master Urara. Kubo was often scolded by editor-in-chief Kazuhiko Torishima, who in a heated meeting slammed a copy ofDragon BallandFist of the North Staron the desk, telling Kubo to write manga like those. Kubo was offended by this, as he knew these two series quite well. His superiors at Shonen Jump believed in him, they knew he was talented and allocated enough space for him in the magazine. After an entire year of not drawing, Kubo submitted a chapter of storyboards for a new series titled Zombie Powder. The editors approved it for serialization immediately.
Kubo was so incredibly critical of his work that he just wouldn’t get the courage to draw, while Shōnen Jump editors often encouraged him and pushed him to work. Zombie Powder was canceled after only six months, and after a one-year break, Kubo started working on his next manga.
Kubo initially drew a short, black-haired girl with a school uniform and an oversized scythe. After drawing her with this scythe, he had the idea of having her be a Soul Reaper.He named the girl “Rukia”. Kubo was inspired to work on the idea of Death Gods because of his love for Gegege No Kitaro and his fear of the afterlife. Kubo then drew a tall boy wearing a suit and wielding a gun. Because of this, he titled this project “Snipe”.
However, this pitch was rejected by his editors, and while feeling incredibly discouraged and demotivated, he received a letter from an acclaimed mangaka who liked his idea and believed in him, a letter from Akira Toriyama. Kubo continued working on this idea, reworking several elements. He wanted this series to be something fresh and unique. He switched the guns for katanas and suits for kimonos and titled the series “Black”, referring to the color of the character’s kimonos. However, he felt this name didn’t stand out, so he changed the name to “Bleach”
Bleach, A Worldwide Success
Samurai, Spirits and Monsters
Kubo assigned the boy he drew as the new protagonist, and made him a fifteen-year-old high school student with orange hair and the ability to see ghosts, Ichigo Kurosaki. He had not plannedthe Gotei 13when he started, but he knew from the beginning that Ichigo’s father would secretly be a Soul Reaper. The beginning of Bleach was straightforward,as Ichigo battled monsters called Hollows, protecting the living and the dead alike. But Kubo’s affinity for tackling the concept of death and the afterlife showed very early on. It was apparent this idea was vital to Kubo and his work.
Kubo has spoken about how he became incredibly attached to his characters, wanting to always depict different aspects of their lives. While other works are very centered around the plot, Bleach is completely character-driven, as Kubo has his characters as the most important aspect of the story. Their designs, personality, and backstory are what Bleach is all about. Kubo explains that he designs characters first and then comes up with their stories. As for the Soul Reapers, he designs the character and their Zanpakutou at the same time.
Bleach received an anime adaptation in 2004, and while the anime was incredibly successful, Kubo felt immense frustration while watching it, as the anime often mischaracterized his characters and would constantly portray a romance between Ichigo and Rukia that simply didn’t exist in the original manga. The anime would also portray Orihime Inoue as a useless damsel in distress,going against Kubo’s intended writing for Bleach’s heroine.
The Letter that Changed Kubo
A Dying Wish
While making Bleach, Tite Kubo fell ill numerous times, and his health declined with each passing year. Kubo was under a lot of stress and physical pain during the later parts of the series. One day, he received a letter from a fan that encouraged Kubo to work and finish Bleach the way he wanted, beyond what others wanted from him. This letter came from a young boy who was terminally ill. This boy lived in isolation, and reading Bleach and other manga kept him happy. Kubo was thoroughly moved by this letter and powered through his sickness to properly finish Bleach. Years later, Kubo thanked this boy in an interview, wishing he could have met him.
Bleach is one of the best-selling manga of all time, in the hall of fame of the medium. But the road to get there was incredibly troubled. The mangaka who just wouldn’t draw, created a work beloved by millions around the world. Now, Bleach has returned stronger than ever, with a stellar new anime season, special events,and a new game on the horizon.Bleachis, again, Number One.
Bleach
Based on Tite Kubo’s battle shonen manga, Bleach centers around Ichigo, a high school student who is dragged into the world of Soul Reapers. The original anime ended in 2012, but it was revived in 2022.
