A recurrent criticism people have of Bleach is regarding Ichigo Kurosaki, the main character. Often, non-Bleach fans will say he’s a boring protagonist with no personality, that he has no real goal or motivation, which makes him come short compared to the other Big 3 protagonists, Luffy and Naruto.

However, Ichigo’s qualities are expressed through this differentiation from his peers. Ichigo is a much more realistic and human character, making him more relatable and understandable.

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Ichigo’s Background

Unlike Luffy and Naruto, Ichigo lives in a world much closer to real life. He’s a student in Karakura Town. He’s fifteen years old, and the only thing setting him apart from other teens is his orange hair and ability to see ghosts. Ichigo lives with his father, Isshin, a local doctor, and his two little sisters, Karin and Yuzu. He often hangs out with his friends Sado, Keigo, and Mizuiro. Before meeting Rukia Kuchiki and finding out about Soul Reapers and Hollows, he lived a normal life, no different from that of a real-life teenager. Ichigo scores fairly high at school even if he sometimes gets in trouble for fighting. Ichigo doesn’t particularly excel at anything, but he’s kind, intelligent, and thoughtful, while also having a bit of a temper.

From the get-go, Ichigo serves as less escapism and is closer to the audience that might discover Bleach in the pages of Shōnen Jump or with the anime in the mid-2000s. He’s instantly more relatable and approachable than most anime characters.

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Ichigo’s Goal

Ichigo’s name, as given by his mother Masaki, means “The One Who Protects”. From a young age, he committed to his namesake, training in martial arts to protect his mother and baby sisters, Yuzu and Karin. After the loss of his mother, his life changed completely, and he took protecting his sisters much more seriously, as well as now guarding those stranded souls of the deceased.

Upon gaining Soul Reaper powers, his path was now much clearer, he had true power, and he had people who couldn’t defend themselves from the dangers of Hollows. As such, he gained strength to protect those in need.

Ichigo’s ultimate goal is not a grandiose purpose, like being a world leader or having a fortune. His goal is never-ending and constant; the protection of everyone in danger; humans, souls, benevolent hollows. Ichigo values life most of all, and that is his sole reason for seeking power, to protect them all.

Ichigo’s Power

In most Shōnen series, characters grow through physical training, but in the case of Soul Reapers, soul-searching and understanding oneself is the key to growth. No one exemplifies this better than Ichigo himself, as his power grows as he interacts with Zangetsu, the spirit of his Zanpakutou and Soul Reaper power, who’s also an extension of himself.

Ichigo’s relationship with Zangetsu, the real Hollow-Soul Reaper manifestation, is tumultuous and violent. As Zangetsu is always antagonistic and brash, Ichigo’s reluctance to accept him stifles his growth. As Zangetsu, behind his violent behavior, wants nothing more than to protect Ichigo, the two are constantly at odds, reflecting on how many teenagers have a battle with themselves when they grow up. Ichigo finally accepts Zangetsu, his origins, and his real self. This is what grants him his true power.

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Ichigo is a Relatable Character

Something Bleach fans have talked about is how they gain a new appreciation of Ichigo as they grow older. For younger audiences, Ichigo’s grounded motivations and personality are boring as audiences look for greater-than-life adventure and characters. But as they grow up, they understand Ichigo better than before. As adults, it’s hard to desire to be world leaders or have great fame and fortune. However, the safety and protection of family and loved ones is a universal desire. Ichigo, through his background, personality, personal growth, and goals, reflects the real-life audience better than most other Shōnen protagonists. Fans see themselves in Ichigo and can relate to him deeply.

Ichigo Kurosaki is an everyday hero, a real person pasted into the pages of a fantasy battle series with monsters and supernatural powers. Ichigo is boring in the same way a real human is boring, but that’s what makes him special, a human character that stands the test of time as media becomes more mature and realistic.

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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.

Release Date

October 5, 2004

Main Genre

Animation

Studio

Pierrot

Streaming Service(s)

Hulu

See at Hulu