Editorial: BLEACH is a Masterpiece – Robots Over Dinosaurs

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

So, BLEACH is too good a story for us all. We don’t deserve it. Think about this truth: We were all deep into Naruto and Luffy, who were goofy and happy-go-lucky protags. Ichigo honestly just wanted to have a normal day. So much so that his manga never had a slice-of-life chapter or episode of anime.

Ichigo’s life was forged in the misery of the world. He had to shoulder a very tough burden from birth to 15 when we met him. Seeing Ghosts. Losing your mother when you believed she was taken by a hollow. Quietly knowing that something was off about the world, but not being able to put your finger on it.

BLEACH is the story of a world-shattering individual who just wanted peace. Think about it. Ichigo would run to create peace. Would put his life on the line for it. Almost died countless times for it. Peace.

In reality, he had to reconcile that burning question in his head to achieve that peace. The question of “Who am I?” Never once did we in our younger years notice that Ichigo spent the entire series finding himself. When, at the time, we experienced protags that were themselves, but never questioned the who what, or why. Luffy is a moronic goofball with a singularly focused goal. Naruto was a goofball with a singularly focused goal. Ichigo was on a road of personal discovery.

Ichigo first had to understand that there are other planes of existence that share a similar cloth. That souls require proper cleansing to move on. Then he had to face the lingering mistake of his adopted sensai, Urahara. All whilst discovering the world inside his sword. Then to paths of discovery about his birth, the manipulation of many people to create him, and finally accepting that he is the harmony of warring realms.

Tite Kubo gave us a great story that requires more insight to realize Ichigo in the 15-year timeline we get to experience of his life from the age of 15 to 30. He became a great friend, great brother, amazing protector, good husband, and a great father.

His journey is our journey. Self-discovery is a road traveled by few and fewer still come out the other end better than when they started. BLEACH shows us that those downs we have are extremely essential to the ups we have later.

Without adversity from Renji, Ichigo would have never thought about how he uses his Reika. Without the clash against Kenpachi Zaraki, Ichigo would have never learned to control his spiritual pressure leading to his soon version 1 Bankai. Without Aizen’s betrayal, he would have never learned about his Vizard abilities. So on and so forth.

I was hooked on BLEACH after one month I forgot to pay my internet bill when I was young and just binge-read like 100 chapters. I created a Roleplay Forum based on using Music to perform attacks. It was called “TheSociety“. Even with all that appreciation for the story, I didn’t get the meaning of the work. Luckily a new generation of Mangaka and Authors did get the meaning and ran with it.

BLEACH is called the father of Modern Day Anime because many of its qualities are unmatched but easy to duplicate. Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, Attack on Titan and more. The Authors and Mangaka were all huge fans of BLEACH.

We approach the final Cour of the Thousand Year Blood War Arc. I am sad to see this story come to an end, but happy that I get to see it. Kubo deserves his flowers for this.

Here is to hoping we actually get the HELL Arc.