Key Takeaways:
– Bleach has made a thrilling return in 2022 with the Thousand Year Blood War arc.
– Creator Tite Kubo’s unconventional creative process sets him apart from other manga artists.
– He associates his characters with songs, either playing in the background or in his head as he invents them.
– Kubo already visualizes each scene as if it was animated.
The Exciting Return of Bleach
In recent years, one of the big highlights in the world of shonen anime is the triumphant comeback of the hit series Bleach in 2022. Full of fascinating characters and an engaging plotline, the Thousand Year Blood War arc is lauded as a great addition to its legendary roster. Despite intermittent criticism, one can’t deny that Tite Kubo, the creator of Bleach, has masterfully woven a tale with mesmerizing characters, even the secondary ones, each exhibiting distinctive traits and motivations.
Tite Kubo’s Unique Creative Thought Process
In an illuminating interview, the editor of Bleach shared an intriguing insight about Kubo’s out-of-the-box creative style that separates him from his peers. They discussed how the mechanics and ideation of Kubo’s manga development is uniquely distinctive to other creators.
Kubo and Voice Actor Morita Discuss Creation Procedure
During the conception of the Thousand Year Blood War Arc, Tite Kubo and voice actor Masakazu Morita, who voices the protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki, shed insight on the process behind bringing these characters to life. Kubo shared that he does not actively hunt for ideas. Instead, they naturally come to him during unrelated activities.
A random word that he hears during a conversation or while watching something can stir his creative energies. This word often becomes the inspiration for a new idea or character—though it may not always reflect the original conversation where it was picked.
Associating Characters with Music
During the interview, Morita probed Kubo about his habit of linking characters with particular songs. Kubo revealed that these songs either play in the background or loop in his mind when he brings a character to life. He confesses that he doesn’t necessarily need to listen to music, as his favorite tunes play spontaneously in his mind. This subconscious association of melodies and rhythms leads him to associate tunes with his manga characters, proving to be a delightful initiation to his creative craft.
The Visionary Artistry of Tite Kubo
When asked about his visualization techniques, Kubo mentioned already having clear visuals in his mind while drawing. He tries to capture and present those precise moments he sees in his mind to his audiences. He believes in viewing each scene as if it’s already animated. This intuitive understanding of camera movements and angles, despite having no formal training, struck Morita as a distinctive feature of Kubo’s creative process.
Switching gears to understand if other manga creators also worked similarly, the response they received was fascinating. The editor revealed that Kubo’s method of visualizing scenes was uniquely his.
The Anime Magic Behind Bleach
Bleach’s engaging moments are the result of Kubo’s special ideation exercise that eludes other creators. Throughout the interview, Kubo continuously emphasizes how his creative journey intertwines with his enduring love for music. While his stories may lack stringent structure, their unique charm is sure to captivate the readers.
The enchanting world of Bleach and its engaging Thousand Year Blood War Arc are available to stream on both DisneyPlus and Hulu. While some may argue over the position of Bleach within the ‘Big 3’ of anime, it remains undeniable that Tite Kubo’s unique creative approach and detailed envisioning of characters make Bleach an unforgettable part of the anime universe. Whether you’re a long-time fan or a newbie, delve into this fantastic adventure, and brace yourself for a thrilling ride.
