Tite Kubo’s creative genius knows no bounds. Bleach rules the world as one of the top shonen mangas, rightfully adorning the crown in the big three. The work put in the series, whether it be of the manga or the anime, has always shown tremendous depth of characters and their intricate designs. With patience and understanding comes mastery of one’s craft.
However, there are always limitations to one’s imagination. These can be of one’s own accord or due to external factors. Either way, they have an impact on the story and how it progresses. There is a clear difference between Bleach and the Thousand-Year Blood War. If it were only about the improved art skills, then the tale wouldn’t be so different and better liked. For the same, Tite Kubo knew he had to put his foot down.
Tite Kubo’s Restriction with Bleach
Tite Kubo has seen the growth of Bleach as a manga and as an anime. He’s seen the difference those two have and understood every stroke and frame that changes. Anime and manga are different mediums. Naturally, the storytelling process also differs. This wasn’t something Kubo was rather fond of, but he did not mind-bending his style too.
I think I started drawing the Thousand-Year Blood War around the time it was decided that the original anime series would end. While the series was airing on television, I was drawing the manga with television guidelines and restrictions in mind. So I didn’t go all out for various things, like the battle scenes.
During the Creator Interview for Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War’s premiere in 2022 (via YouTube), the author spoke up about the changes he saw taking place from the initial series to the latest one. He opened up about how when writing Bleach, he was working with the ongoing anime and thus restricting his own creativity.
There are limations that cannot be overlooked in an anime adaptation and so he incorporated those in his manga as well. While he wasn’t fond of the idea, he did not see much issue in agreeing to such a method, even if it meant compromising on his battle sequences.
Tite Kubo’s Shackles Get Removed
Tite Kubo took the liberty of making drastic creative decisions with Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War. He knew that if the arc would be any different from the previous ones, he had to let go of the shackles binding him to the anime world and finally submit to his true potential.
But I drew the Thousand-Year Blood War arc without having to worry about any of that. Instead, I was worried the scenes might be too heavy if it was ever animated. And I didn’t want them to be cut from the anime.
With the arc, he had only one condition, no limitations to how great the battle sequences could be. Even though they could become difficult to animate, or more gruesome than what fans are used to, he took the risk. Moreover, the compromise wasn’t to come for the anime adaptation either.
Instead, much like how Kubo bent to the anime’s needs, now the anime was to bend to his needs. His faith in Studio Pierrot remained with the fact that they would adhere to what the story told without making any changes to the heavy scenes.
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War is available to watch on Hulu.
