Summary
- Bleach's Zanpakutou power system is intricately tied to character writing.
- Characters grow stronger through self-acceptance, not conventional training.
- Soul Reapers at peace with their Zanpakutou reach their true power potential.
Unlike many other famous Shōnen series, Bleach is a character-driven story. The nuanced characters crafted by Tite Kubo move the plot forward. Everything in Bleach revolves around them. Kubo's talent for character writing is so intrinsic to Bleach that the main power system is directly linked to it. A Soul Reaper's Zanpakutou is not simply their weapon, but an extension of their own selves. The Soul Reapers become stronger not just through training, but by self-discovery and acceptance.
Zanpakutou is a power system that's all about character writing. Let's explore how the major Soul Reaper characters demonstrate this. Ichigo, Renji, Rukia, Kenpachi and more. The Soul Reapers grow as people, and then as warriors.
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The Zanpakutou True Nature
An Extension of One Self
Every Soul Reaper is given a blank katana called an Asauchi. These swords were forged by the Royal Palace's O-Etsu Nimaiya, the creator of Zanpakutou. During their training, every Soul Reaper imprints themselves onto their Asauchi, until eventually, the Asauchi develops into a Zanpakutou, and manifests an extension of their master's soul as an independent spirit. This process is not the exact same for each person, however. Ichigo manifested both Zangetsu without ever having an Asauchi, as he's not a regular Soul Reaper. While Toushiro Hitsugaya manifested Hyorinmaru much before he even became a Soul Reaper.
Thank you, Zangetsu, you are...me
In Ichigo's case, it is explicitly stated that Zangetsu are an extension of Ichigo, and are the same as him. They represent the two sides of him. So, while Ichigo and Zangetsu's relationship isn't the same for everyone, the nature of the Zanpakutou is identical for each Soul Reaper. Renji is Zabimaru, Rukia is Sode no Shirayuki, and Byakuya is Senbonzakura. The Zanpakutou are both companions as well as the same as their masters. How the Soul Reapers get along with their Zanpakutou reflects how they get along with themselves. Accepting themselves is accepting their Zanpakutou.
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True Growth Leads to True Power
Only As Strong as They Let Themselves Be
Ichigo is seen to enter a world of massive skyscrapers with no floor in sight. This is Ichigo's inner world, where he meets and converses with Zangetsu. While this is only seen with Ichigo in the manga, the novel "Can't Fear Your Own World" shows that Shuuhei Hisagi also has an inner world, where he meets Kazeshini. Therefore, every Soul Reaper has an inner world of their own. Most Zanpakutou spirits are not shown in the manga besides Zabimaru, Nozarashi, Katen Kyokotsu, Hyorinmaru and Kazeshini. But every Soul Reaper has one.
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How a Soul Reaper gets along with their Zanpakutou dictates how powerful they become. Yumichika Ayasegawa actively hates his Ruri'iro Kujaku for his unconventional ability that is ill-suited to the combat style of Squad 11. Yumichika is obsessed with beauty, and since he deems Ruri'iro Kujaku ugly, the two are often at odds. Because of this Yumichika can't access the full extent of his power. The Soul Reaper must be at peace with his Zanpakutou to achieve full power. Yumichika has an unspoken inner conflict with himself, he is ashamed of his power considering his position.
The same applies to Shuuhei Hisagi and Izuru Kira. They both hate their Zanpakutou because of their sinister appearance and abilities. They wish to have more heroic abilities, and instead, they have dark weapons made for killing. Renji Abarai is a lieutenant with great ambition and yet, he doubts himself more than anyone else. He doesn't see himself capable of the greatness he could achieve. He limits himself to living in Byakuya's shadow, and thus, Zabimaru didn't fully accept him for years. Renji forced himself to get stronger without fully conversing with Zabimaru, he stifled his own growth, and when he achieved Bankai, Zabimaru merely told him half of his name. Once he knew the true name, he unlocked his true Bankai, the powerful Söö Zabimaru. Ichigo is the best case of this system. He lived for years rejecting Zangetsu, limiting his own power. Once he accepted him, he reached his true power.
It is a pleasure to meet you, Kenpachi Zaraki, my name is...
While in most other Shōnen series, the characters grow stronger through conventional training, Soul Reapers grow stronger by understanding and accepting themselves. This is one of Bleach's core themes: self acceptance. Tite Kubo reflects the journey of self discovery real people go through in his characters. The process of conversing with their Zanpakutou acts a narrative image of self discovery. Soul Reapers talk to their own souls, searching for answers deep within themselves. People go through important transformations through significative experiences, after which they emerge more confident and in control of themselves. Ichigo accepts Zangetsu, Zabimaru accepts Renji and after accepting themselves, and finding themselves, they grow stronger. The Zanpakutou are much more than a power system, they're heavy narrative devices. Bleach's narrative is the characters, and its main power system is made to enforce this idea.
A Soul Reaper's Zanpakutou isn't just a weapon and its special powers, It's how they perceive themselves and imprint themselves onto their world. Their powers reflect their own personality and relationships with themselves. A Soul Reaper at odds with themselves will never reach their true power. A Soul Reaper at peace with their own soul will be a force to be reckoned with. A character-driven story, with a character-driven power system.
Bleach
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- 2004 - 2012-00-00
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.
