Tite Kubo’s hit anime series Bleach features some of anime’s most popular characters of all time, judging by how often those characters appear in fan art, fan fiction, social media posts, and more. Anyone who joins the Bleach community will get a general idea of which characters are ignored or disliked versus those the fandom loves the most.
The results of official Bleach character popularity polls also say much about how the fandom feels about these characters. The results may change from year to year, but according to the most recent Bleach character poll, these particular cast members have risen to the top as this anime’s most popular and reputable characters of all.
Update April 23rd, 2023 by Louis Kemner: with the Thousand-Year Blood War anime well underway and with more episodes coming this summer, it’s a fine time to review which Bleach characters rank among the fandom’s favorites of all. Fans may love a Bleach character for many reasons, from that character’s sympathetic personal arc to their cool combat abilities to their fun personality and memorable dialogue. Plenty of Bleach heroes and villains alike have risen to the top, and fans can’t wait to see them again as the TYBW anime continues.
15 Isshin Kurosaki
Ichigo’s deredere father, Isshin Kurosaki, was introduced as a “normie” civilian character but was later re-introduced as Captain Isshin Shiba of squad 10. Before long, Bleach fans realized there’s far more to Isshin than his dad jokes, most of all when he slew Grand Fisher with a single attack.
Isshin is lovable and funny as a goofy single father, but he is also a formidable fighter and can be surprisingly serious where Aizen is concerned. Isshin is also kept grounded with his intense grief for his late wife Masaki, which makes him sympathetic to every single Bleach fan.
14 Coyote Starrk
The 1st Espada, Coyote Starrk, was totally different than what the Soul Reaper Captains expected from Aizen’s strongest minion. Coyote Starrk is an easygoing, even lazy Arrancar who only reluctantly fought Captains Kyoraku and Ukitake, where he demonstrated his incredible strength and instincts.
Coyote Starrk amused Bleach fans with his lazy antics and deadpan comic relief, but he was also sympathetic because he wanted friends more than anything. He even viewed his fellow Espadas as dear friends who eased his loneliness, even if the other nine Espadas don’t view each other that way.
13 Uryu Ishida
Uryu Ishida is Ichigo’s classmate at school and a skilled Quincy archer. At first, Uryu wanted to be Ichigo’s bitter rival and prove the Quincy way superior, but then they became good friends and teammates. Uryu proved his worth over and over, but he felt more conflicted when the Wandenreich appeared.
Bleach fans love Uryu for many reasons, from his adorable crush on Orihime to his unique powers and cool tsundere attitude. Uryu takes himself more seriously than anyone else does, but Bleach fans still like how dramatic and showy he can be in most arcs.
12 Ulquiorra Schiffer
Ulquiorra Schiffer was the cold-hearted 4th Espada and Sosuke Aizen’s most loyal and reliable subordinate. At first, he was just another powerhouse villain for Ichigo to fight, but then Ulquiorra spent time with Orihime in Las Noches and learned that humans have an intangible “heart” that links them.
Ulquiorra, as a nihilist, doubted Orihime’s sentimental words at first. Then, in his dying moments, Ulquiorra changed his mind and desperately wanted to see the wonderful “heart” that gave humans such strength and hope around each other.
11 Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto
Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto is a strong contender for Bleach‘s Best Girl, mostly because of her entertaining personality and her mature beauty. Rangiku is a fun-loving extrovert who loves to tease her Captain like a playful big sister, and she also makes friends easily and tends to goof off whenever she can.
Rangiku isn’t a total gag character, though, because she is serious about providing emotional support to anyone who needs her, such as Momo Hinamori and Orihime Inoue. She also has a complicated relationship with Gin Ichimaru, adding some much-needed depth and weight to her character arc.
10 Yoruichi Shihoin
Yoruichi Shihoin once commanded Squad 2 as its cat-themed assassin Captain, but she gave it all up to save her scientist friend Kisuke Urahara from certain doom. That endeared Yoruichi to Bleach fans since she will gladly risk everything for a friend.
Yoruichi is also loved for her goofy but confident attitude, with her delivering one-liners and deadly kicks with equal ease. She also amused Bleach fans with her antics in that cat form, and she also cheers up everyone with her easygoing personality and cheerful ways on and off the battlefield.
9 Captain Byakuya Kuchiki
Captain Byakuya Kuchiki made a scary first impression when he easily defeated Ichigo and coldly dragged Rukia back to the Soul Society to meet her fate. Then, Byakuya served as the Soul Society arc’s most formidable antagonist, but he was never a bad person, just a misguided one.
Byakuya is still a stern kuudere, but he also redeemed himself to become the foster brother Rukia always needed. Bleach fans love Byakuya now that he fights for his family and friends instead of his selfish pride. He also has impressive, dazzling combat skills and a tough but fair attitude to match.
8 Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya
Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya commands Squad 10 as a white-haired tsundere boy with an icy sword, a memorable and fascinating combination. Toshiro balances his incredible talent with his charmingly bratty attitude as the Gotei 13’s youngest Captain, making him oddly vulnerable at times.
Toshiro and his Lieutenant, Rangiku, have wonderful chemistry, acting like a goofy sister teasing her kid brother, which endeared them both to fans. Bleach fans also admire Toshiro for his reckless determination to protect all his friends, most of all Rangiku and his childhood friend, Momo Hinamori.
7 Grimmjow Jaegerjaques
Grimmjow Jaegerjaques is to Bleach what Akaza is to Demon Slayer, a brutal but oddly lovable villain who can’t wait to test themselves against the strongest heroes. Akaza hoped to spar with Kyojuro Rengoku for eternity, and in Bleach, Grimmjow hoped to fight Ichigo as worthy rivals forever.
Grimmjow is clearly a villain, but he also has a hidden noble side, such as when he helped Orihime in Las Noches. Grimmjow also has a cool visual design, excellent combat skills, and a wild, unpredictable attitude that really moves Bleach‘s story in unexpected directions.
6 Orihime Inoue
Many anime fans deride Orihime Inoue for being a “useless” and annoying side character whose sole purpose is to shout Ichigo’s name in worry during battles. Orihime does do that, but she is often underestimated by the anime community.
Orihime isn’t just Ichigo’s cheerleader. She has remarkable spiritual powers no other Bleach character can match, and she’s a very responsible and reliable deredere who’s mature beyond her years. Orihime is also brave and loyal despite lacking a zanpakuto, making her a hugely underrated shonen hero.
5 Captain Sosuke Aizen
Like Grimmjow, the scheming traitor Sosuke Aizen is a notorious villain whom Bleach fans can’t help but love anyway. Aizen committed many crimes, such as exploiting the Visoreds and massacring Central 46’s members, and the charming Momo Hinamori almost died twice on that account.
Despite all that, fans evidently adore Sosuke Aizen, perhaps because of his calm, cool confidence and his sophistication as a brilliant but cold schemer. Aizen is darkly impressive as someone who’ll wait for decades for a plan to pay off, and he’s also highly artistic, such as teaching calligraphy classes.
4 Captain Kenpachi Zaraki
Captain Kenpachi was introduced in the Soul Society story arc as an antagonistic brute, but even then, Bleach fans loved this character. Kenpachi is bloody and aggressive, but he follows a code of honor. Best of all, he’s a protective tsundere foster father for Lieutenant Yachiru Kusajishi.
Bleach fans found a lot to like about Kenpachi, from his emphasis on raw strength and reckless courage in battle to his surprisingly nuanced mentality. He’s not just strong, he’s also afraid that he’ll never unlock his zanpakuto’s true power, and he dreads the idea of anyone, like Nnoitora Gilga, hurting Yachiru.
3 Kisuke Urahara
Kisuke Urahara the goofball scientist appeared early in Bleach as an easygoing fellow who knew an awful lot about spirits and zanpakuto. He was surrounded by mystery until Bleach fans learned the truth piece by piece, such as his former Captain rank and his connection to Yoruichi.
All this made Kisuke more compelling and memorable, along with his funny personality and his creative techniques in battle. Kisuke can also be scarily smart and serious in battle, which stands out all the more when contrasted with his goofy antics as a reclusive inventor. Fans also love Kisuke’s peculiar outfit, such as his striped hat, cane, and wooden sandals.
2 Ichigo Kurosaki
The protagonist himself, Ichigo Kurosaki, has many reasons to be one of Bleach‘s most popular characters. As the hero, Ichigo gets more screen time and development than anyone else in Bleach. He had plenty of opportunities to impress fans with his heroic feats and cool dialogue.
Ichigo may have his faults as a tsundere punk, but when done right, that actually boosts his appeal. Throughout Bleach, Ichigo was equally likely to shield a friend as he is to kick a troublemaker in the face and yell at them. This sets him apart from gentler, more predictable shonen leads like Tanjiro and Izuku.
1 Rukia Kuchiki
Rukia Kuchiki is Bleach‘s #1 character in several different ways. She was the first character to appear in Bleach‘s publication, and she was also the first character whom author Tite Kubo designed. All Soul Reapers were inspired by Rukia’s initial concept as a black-robed, sword-slinging warrior.
Rukia is also the Bleach fandom’s #1 favorite character. Like Ichigo, Rukia is a tough, charming tsundere with a heart, and she is equally likely to yell at and cry for her friends. Rukia also has moe qualities as a petite, beautiful young lady who looks good in many different outfits, and she also has cool ice-based powers and kido.
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