Bleach: The Thousand-Year Blood Waris one of the most requested adaptations of all time, with many fans being pretty peeved by the fact that the original anime ended its run right after the Fullbring arc. This wasn’t the best place to end the anime anyway, even if the situation was understandable followingBleach’s dwindling popularity and Kubo’s feud with his editors at Shonen Jump.
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Now, all of this drama is in the past, and people who just want to see one of the Big Three shonen anime get the love they deserve will be more than happy withthe latest adaptation ofBleach’s final arc. The animation is amazing, and seeing these Shinigami in action once again is something no one can complain about. These Soul Reapers are pretty old, but there is some young blood in the mix too.
7Ichigo Kurosaki (17)
Not only is Ichigo one of the strongest Shinigami of all time, but he’s also extremely young. He’s an anomaly in the truest sense, and it’s easy to see why Soul Society was up in arms about this teenager acquiring the powers of a Soul Reaper. However, despite his young age, Ichigo had shown that he more than deserves these powers, given how he’s tackled some of the strongest characters in the series and emerged victorious.
Ichigo’s power seemingly knows no bounds, and it helps that he has the powers of a Shinigami, Quincy, and Hollow as well. Some people complain that this character is a bit too overpowered for his own good, but most people don’t mind wheneverBleachpulls out its epic moments with this protagonist at the helm.
6Hanataro Yamada (80)
Hanataro is a character who doesn’t look like a Soul Reaper in the slightest. He’s definitely quite weak, and his meek personality makes him the butt of all jokes time and time again. However, despite not really having an imposing aura, Hanataro doesn’t shy away from protecting his friends if the need arises.
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This can be seen in how fiercely loyal he is towards Rukiaduring the Soul Society arc, going out of his way to help Ichigo break into this place and save Rukia once and for all. It’s a character trait that makes him quite likable, with this character’s presence adding to a ton of much-needed levity in the series.
5Toshiro Hitsugaya (110)
Hitsugaya is one of the coolest characters inBleach. Despite being relatively young for a Shinigami, he’s one of the Captains in the Gotei 13, showing just how powerful this unique character really is.His Bankai may be overused a bit too much for its own good, but that’s a small complaint for what is otherwise a pretty fun personality to see blossom on screen.
Fans of this enigmatic character will love what’s in store for him during the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, with one particularly excellent moment proving to be a treat once it’s adapted. Anime fans can only wait and see what happens, while manga fans have the opportunity to be pretty arrogant about it.
4Nanao Ise (120)
It’s hard to call any Shinigami forgettable, but it must be said that Nanao Ise doesn’t do herself any favors when it comes to being memorable in any way. This is pretty surprising, given that she’s the Lieutenant of the esteemed 1st Division!
Her interactions with Shunsui are pretty interesting, with this Captain trying his hardest to irritate his Lieutenant as much as possible. She’s not a competent swordsman,relying on her Kido powers insteadto assist people.
3Shuhei Hisagi (130)
Just like most other characters inBleach, Hisagi’s character design is one of the first things that people will notice about this individual. His intimidating face tattoos and scars make him look pretty powerful, and he certainly shows off just how strong he is whenhe and Komamaru face off against their ex-comrade, Tosen.
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It’s genuinely surprising that Hisagi is one of the youngest Shinigami around, given that he looks older than most other Lieutenants and Captains in the Gotei 13. It’s a shame that his Bankai hasn’t been revealed yet, and it doesn’t seem like fans will get to enjoy this reveal anytime soon.
2Rukia Kuchiki (150)
Rukia is the first Shinigami thatviewers witness inBleach, with this character inexplicably losing her powers early on in the first episode. This makes her seem rather weak and inexperienced…but it doesn’t take too long after the Soul Society arc to prove just how strong Rukia is.
Her strength may pale to that of her brother, but this Soul Reaper is pretty competent in battle and uses her icy powers to great effect against her opponents. It’s been a while since fans have seen this Shinigami in action, and The Thousand-Year Blood War arc is the best place for this Shinigami to show off just how strong she’s become once again.
1Renji Abarai (150)
A hot-headed character who initially seems like he’s all for Rukia’s execution during the start of the Soul Society arc, Renji’s true personality is revealed during his battle against Ichigo. Just like most other Shinigami, the chains of honor bind him to such an extent that he simply can’t follow his heart, and begs Ichigo to save Rukia after he’s felled in battle.
It doesn’t take long forRenji to endear himself to audiencesas a hot-headed goofball with a heart of gold. He may not be the most powerful or notable Shinigami around, but that shouldn’t take away from his allure as a fun character in the slightest.
