When it comes to shonen anime, Bleach is a fan favorite. The hit series is full of everything fans of the genre could want, from over-the-top sword fights to the power of friendship. Bleach's original run spans over 366 episodes for a total of sixteen seasons, meaning there are plenty of binge-worthy moments to enjoy. If that's not enough, the final arc from the manga is finally being adapted after the longest time, which serves as a huge treat for long-time fans of the series.

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Bleach is filled with dozens of unique characters, and the final season will introduce plenty more. While the members of the Gotei 13 and all the antagonists are full of big personalities, the main cast is still full of fan favorites. Viewers who plan on binging the series in anticipation of the final arc will want to become familiar with the main cast of Bleach.

Updated on November 25, 2023, by Ritwik Mitra: Bleach is one of the most beloved manga of all time, even with its writing becoming an awful mess in multiple instances. Still, the likable characters, amazing battles, and incredible art make this series a blast to get through. Ichigo may not be the most intriguing protagonist around, but he still manages to up the ante with a wealth of unique powers that show just how talented he really is, despite being a Substitute Shinigami. Of course, the other characters in the show also deserve their time in the spotlight, with some arguably being more likable than the protagonist himself.

Ichigo Kurosaki

A Substitute Shinigami And The Series' Protagonist

Ichigo Kurosaki in Bleach
  • Age: 17
  • Height: 5'11"
  • Birthday: July 15th

Ichigo Kurosaki is a Substitute Soul Reaper and the protagonist of Bleach. The series begins with Ichigo being a stubborn and impulsive teenager, with a strong will and short temper.

A chance encounter with the soul reaper Rukia Kuchiki leads to Ichigo gaining the ability to become a Soul Reaper. His combat abilities and powers develop further throughout the series. However, Ichigo's impulsive nature does lead to plenty of conflicts with himself and other characters in the series.

Rukia Kuchiki

Lieutenant Of The 13th Division

Bleach-Anime-Rukia-Kuchiki
  • Age: Approximately 150+
  • Height: 4'8"
  • Birthday: January 14th

Rukia Kuchiki is a Soul Reaper and a member of the 13th division. She often has a cool and aloof demeanor, though through the bonds she develops with her friends, she begins to open up more.

Rukia was brought to the Soul Society with her older sister after they died in the Human world. Rukia was abandoned as a baby and grew up on her own until she met Renji Abari and his group of friends. She was later adopted into the Kuchiki family. Rukia is skilled in swordsmanship and Kido, the latter being her greatest strength as a Soul Reaper.

Uryu Ishida

One Of The Few Remaining Quincy Until The Arrival Of Yhwach And The Sternritter

Bleach-Anime-Uryu-Ishida
  • Age: 17
  • Height: 5'9"
  • Birthday: November 6th

The quiet and solitary Uryu Ishida is the only Quincy in the main Bleach group. Uryu strongly believes in the "Pride of the Quincy" and has a strong sense of justice.

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As a child, Uryu spent most of his time training with his grandfather to continue the Quincy legacy. He initially begins the series with a deep hatred towards Soul Reapers, causing plenty of initial conflict with Ichigo and Rukia.

Orihime Inoue

Ichigo's Love Interest Who Uses Shun Shun Rikka

Bleach-Anime-Orihime-Inoue
  • Age: 17
  • Height: 5'2"
  • Birthday: September 3rd

Orihime is naive though optimistic. She is one of Ichigo's classmates and is constantly trying to hide her crush on the protagonist. Orihime is a pacifist by nature, and this does cause plenty of problems when the group encounters opponents who aren't as forgiving.

Throughout the series, Orihime develops her spiritual powers, in the form of six spirits residing in her hairpins. These spirits allow her to negate phenomena and undo events such as injuries others have sustained.

Yasutora Sado

Ichigo's Closest Friend With Fullbring Powers

Bleach-Anime-Yasatora-Sado
  • Age: 18
  • Height: 6'5"
  • Birthday: April 7th

Yasutora Sado, most often called Chad by the other characters, is one of Ichigo's classmates. The teenager appears much older than he is due to his extreme height. He is the quieter member of the group, but his loyalty to his friends speaks volumes.

Sado has superhuman strength, and this strength only increases throughout the series through training. He can manifest armor on both his arms. The right takes on a defensive form, while the left boosts enhanced strength and a powerful spiritual attack.

Renji Abarai

Lieutenant Of The 6th Division

Bleach-Anime-Renji-Abari
  • Age: Approximately 150+
  • Height: 6'2"
  • Birthday: August 31st

Renji Abarai is the lieutenant of the sixth division of the Gotei 13. When Renji makes his debut, he comes off as cocky and smug. Despite this, he can become very serious when facing a challenging foe; however, when defeated Renji can become very depressed.

Renji is skilled in swordsmanship and can hold his own against captain-level threats. When Renji is first introduced in the series, both he and Byakyau Kuchiki travel to the human world to arrest Rukia. His decades of combat skills instantly overwhelm Ichigo and Uryu.

Kon

A Mod Soul Who Covers For Ichigo

Bleach-Anime-Kon
  • Age: Unknown
  • Height: 10 1/2"
  • Birthday: December 30th

Though often forgotten about by the other members of the group, Kon serves as the comedy relief for much of the series. Kon is a modified soul that resides inside a plush toy. Before Ichigo is officially instated as a substitute Soul Reaper, he uses Kon to switch into his soul form.

This causes plenty of chaos, due to the Mod Soul's personality being drastically different from Ichigo's. Despite Kon's personality, he values all lifeforms, due to living for years with the fear of being disposed of himself. This leads him to constantly risk his own life, and disregard the limitations being a toy gives him.

Sosuke Aizen

Former Captain Of The 5th Division Who Betrays Soul Society

Sosuke Aizen Arriving In Katakura Town
  • Age: Unknown
  • Height: 6'1"
  • Birthday: May 29th

The reveal of Aizen as a cutthroat is one of the best moments in the Soul Society arc and cements this saga as one of the greatest shonen tales of all time. This Commander shows his sinister side with a string of diabolical moments, followed by a change in character design that cements his place as the series' biggest villain at that point.

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The sheer amount of power that Aizen wields is hard to comprehend to this day. He was able to take on the entirety of the Gotei 13 with only minor wounds, making him a pretty exciting character indeed. It's a shame that he was defeated by Ichigo in a manner that completely destroyed his character and the interest that most people had in the series too.

Kisuke Urahara

Former Captain Of The 12th Division Who Was Stripped Of His Rank Because Of Aizen's Treachery

Kisuke Urahara Bleach anime
  • Age: 200+
  • Height: 6'0"
  • Birthday: December 31st

Kisuke Urahara is one of the more mysterious characters to appear in the show. A Shinigami who was banished by Soul Society for reasons that weren't revealed until long after in the anime, Urahara is easily one of the coolest characters in the show who harbors a ton of power.

There's a reason why he was the perfect mentor for Ichigo to learn his iconic Bankai. The Thousand-Year Blood War features the appearance of his Bankai as well, which was absolutely brilliant in the manga as well. Only time will tell whether the adaptation will do justice to this incredible moment.

Toshiro Hitsugaya

Captain of the 10th Division

Hitsugaya, Rangiku, and Ikkaku
  • Age: 100-130
  • Height: 4'4½"
  • Birthday: December 20th

Hitsugaya is one of the more fascinating Shinigami in Bleach. He may be a century old, but that's still considered to be pretty low by Soul Society standards. So, the fact that he's somehow the Captain of a Division in the Gotei 13 is truly impressive in every way.

His reliance on his Bankai can become a bit too much at times, but it makes sense that he needs to whip out his ultimate technique from the get-go to even the odds against his opposition. He's a calm Captain who certainly deserves to lead at such a young age, and fans can't wait to see the true extent of his powers in the Thousand-Year Blood War arc.

Kenpachi Zaraki

Captain of the 11th Division

How Strong Is Kenpachi Zaraki Bleach - Featured
  • Age: Around 1000
  • Height: 6'7½"
  • Birthday: November 19th

Kenpachi is one of the most fascinating characters in Bleach. The fact that he didn't even know the true name of his sword is perfectly in line with his character and shows why people love this Shinigami to bits.

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This has changed in the latest arc, with Kenpachi finally unleashing the power of Nozarashi in an incredible display. Given how strong this monster is, it's easy to see why his blade was so massive. With his Shikai out of the way, the only thing left to be adapted in the manga is Zaraki's demonic Bankai, which may just break the internet.

Ichibe Hyosube

Commanding Officer of the Royal Guard

Ichibe Hyosube Ichimonji – BLEACH Thousand-Year Blood War Part 2 Episode 13
  • Age: 2000+
  • Height: 5'11¼"
  • Birthday: January 1st

While the introduction of Ichibe Hyosube and the Zero Division may seem like a convenient addition to the plot, there's no denying that these characters have been written pretty well. They also add more depth to the world of Bleach, with their powers being truly incredible. No person personifies this more than the Commanding Officer himself, Ichibe Hyosube.

Despite looking like a jovial old man, Ichibe isn't afraid to turn up the heat when the situation calls for it. His powers are truly one-of-a-kind and involve changing the very name of an object or person to fundamentally alter everything about them. He shows off this power against Yhwach, turning him into an ant and squishing him at the end of the arc's second cour.

Yhwach

The Son Of The Soul King And The Most Powerful Quincy In Existence

Bleach Yhwach Soul King Thousand-Year Blood War Arc
  • Age: 1200+
  • Height: 6'5"
  • Birthday: December 25th

The antagonist of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc is one of the most powerful characters Tite Kubo has ever created. The fact that this character is the son of the Soul King should be proof enough of just how powerful Yhwach really is, with his introduction leading to the death of the powerful Commander Yamamoto himself.

Over the course of this arc, establishes himself as a force to be reckoned with time and time again. It's a shame that the final battle against him is just so underwhelming, and fans are hoping that the anime adaptation will possibly rectify this disappointing fight, although it does seem pretty unlikely at this point.

Bleach
Bleach
8.2/10
Action
Adventure
Fantasy

Release Date
October 5, 2004
Studio
Pierrot
Creator
Tite Kubo
Seasons
17
Number of Episodes
392
Streaming Service(s)
Hulu
MyAnimeList Score
7.93 (First Series)