Tite Kubo, the renowned creator of the hit manga series Bleach, has always been known for his intricate storytelling and distinctive art style. His work has brought to life a rich universe of Soul Reapers, Hollows, and spiritual warfare. While Kubo’s manga has been the primary source of the Bleach narrative, the anime adaptation has often taken creative liberties, introducing original arcs to expand the story beyond the manga’s boundary.
Kubo made a startling admission about his favorite arc from the anime series. Contrary to what many might expect, the mangaka’s top pick wasn’t drawn from the pages of his own creation. Instead, Kubo singled out an anime-original storyline, praising its execution and impact.
Tite Kubo’s Praise for the Invasion Army Arc
In a surprising revelation during Tite Kubo’s interview with Viz Media via ComicBook, he named the Invasion Army Arc as his favorite from the anime adaptation. This choice stunned many fans, given that it was an anime-original storyline not featured in the manga. He candidly shed light on his initial skepticism towards anime-original content, “I honestly didn’t have high hopes for the anime-original arcs, but this one really surprised me.”
The mangaka’s praise extended to the arc’s execution, particularly its visual storytelling. “There are some amazingly directed sequences in that arc, and I really appreciate that,” he remarked, highlighting the anime team’s creative prowess in bringing this original story to life.
The Invasion Army Arc, which introduced doppelgangers of Ichigo and key members of the Soul Society, aired after the climactic battle against Aizen. It served as the penultimate major arc of the anime series before its conclusion, which aligned with the manga’s ending in Shonen Jump.
This original storyline introduced a new threat, the Reigai, artificial copies of Shinigami created by the mysterious Kagerōza Inaba. The arc centered around Ichigo and the Gotei 13’s effort to uncover the truth behind these imposters and Inaba’s plan to overthrow the Soul Society.
Bleach Filler Exceeds Kubo’s Expectations
Tite Kubo’s initial skepticism towards anime-original content is not uncommon among mangaka, who may worry about the integrity of his vision being compromised. However, the Invasion Army Arc’s success in winning over Kubo demonstrates the potential for anime adaptations to enhance and expand upon the original material in meaningful ways.
This shift in perspective opens up exciting possibilities for the Bleach franchise and the anime industry at large. Ultimately, Kubo’s perspective regarding anime-original content not only validates the hard work of adaptation teams but also reinforces the idea that great storytelling can emerge from unexpected sources.
The positive experience likely contributed to Kubo’s enthusiasm for the adaptation of the Thousand Year Blood War Arc, released in the fall of 2022.
With the anime’s revival on the horizon and Kubo’s renewed faith in the adaptation process, Bleach fans have much to look forward to, potentially paving the way for more surprises in the series.
Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War is available to watch on Hulu.
