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Years back, Tite Kubo made his mark in the shonen genre through his seriesBleach. The mangaka went above and beyond to ensure its success and it did pay off eventually. It stands strong even after its ten-year hiatus nonetheless.
Be it fight scenes or art, the mangaka set his work apart through his elaborate and flamboyant yet intricate designs. And though his series was considered weakest among the Big 3, it is a cut above the rest in 1 aspect.
Not evenDragon BallorOne Piececan match up to this element. And to say the least, Kubo did a great deal in setting himself apart from his contemporaries.
Even decades after its release, its story and core elements hold relevance in more ways than one. Precisely why the series deserves more respect and recognition for being well-written and put together.
Bleachreigns supreme in its portrayal of cultures
Bleachdoesn’t have an alluring world-building likeOne Pieceor an unconventional hero likeNaruto. It also isn’t comparable toDragon Ballwhen it comes to battle intensity. But it does stand out in its unique way.
More often than not, the series is labeled the weakest among the Big 3. And though it isn’t as glorious as its contemporaries, it set a benchmark in the shonen with its rightful comeback.
While it may not have crazy worldbuilding, intense battles, or unconventional shonen heroes, it is supreme nonetheless. Its exploration of death, loss, and suffering is one such example.
This also ties well with its underlining of amorally corrupt soul societyand its warped virtues. Amidst the conflict and conundrum, the mangaka stood out with his portrayal of cultures in the series.
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Most fans onr/bleachlauded Kubo for the diverse cultures in the series.
In retrospect, the exploration of diversity wasn’t restricted to merely cultures and terminology. Rather, Tite Kubo went above and beyond in giving us some of the badass yet diverse Black and PoC characters.
From Oetsu Nimaiya to Yasutora Sado, the series brilliantly carried out representation that makes it a cut above the rest in every single way.
Diversity and representation matters in Tite Kubo’s series
One thing thatTite Kubodoes best is diversity and representation. Not only cultures but different races are highlighted brilliantly in the series. This holds especially true for his inclusion of Black and People of Color.
This is something that fans cannot help but laud on several occasions. Be it Kaname Tosen or Yoruichi Shihoin, Kubo showcases an array of diverse characters. But there is more to the diversity than meets the eye.
Often, Black and PoC characters are written off as stereotypes. Not in this case especially with the mangaka’s characterization. Their roles as villains, side characters as well as greyscale characters prove one thing.
Kubo sure told everyone how it is done. Representation has a lot to do with accuracy, truthfulness, and acknowledgment. In this manner, the mangaka takes the cake with his rightful andnon-problematic representationof the community.
“There’s a reason for this fanservice”: Tite Kubo Is a Genius for the Best Rangiku Scene in ‘Bleach’ That Many Fans Claim Could’ve Been Done Better
Overall, the series stood the test of time in many ways. The serialization and the hiatus were arduous nonetheless. But its kickback to glory is nothing short of refreshing for the fanbase.
Bleachis available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Crunchyroll. The manga is available for reading on Shueisha’s Manga Plus app.
Himanshi Jeswani
Anime Writer
Articles Published :993
Himanshi Jeswani is an anime writer at Fandomwire, with her work spanning over 900 articles. Her articles cover shojo, shonen, seinen, and all things beyond. Her interests, however, aren’t limited to simply anime. She has a penchant for exploring different genres of manga, be it horror, yanki, music, and food. She brings out her specialization and expertise in the performing arts through her articles. As a writer, she strives to bridge the gap between the viewers and the medium itself. To her, anime is a revolutionary medium that is capable of creating communities and stories after all.
