10 Best Bleach Characters Who Never Received Dedicated Arcs

10 Best Bleach Characters Who Never Received Dedicated Arcs

Highlights

  • Bleach fan favorite characters like Don Kanonji and Unohana Retsu were criminally underdeveloped in the anime series.
  • The lack of dedicated story arcs for characters like Chōjirō Sasakibe and Tatsuki Arisawa left fans wanting more from the show.
  • The Visored, including Shinji, had potentially great stories that were not explored fully in the anime, disappointing fans.

As a devoted fan of Bleach, I can’t help but feel a pang of regret every time I think about the characters whose stories were left untold or underdeveloped. Among these forgotten souls, there are a few that stand out, like Sasakibe, Kukaku Shiba, Ryuken Ishida, Hirako Shinji, Genryūsai Yamamoto, and Ulquiorra Cifer.


A significant segment of anime enthusiasts found themselves drawn into the community through “Bleach,” a series that served as their initial introduction to anime. Recently, “Bleach” has once again gained prominence with the release of the Thousand-Year Blood Arc, and it’s been making waves with its impressive performance so far.

In the sprawling narrative of Bleach, boasting a multitude of characters, there’s an abundance of tales to be shared. Regrettably, due to this richness, certain characters may not receive their own storyline, leaving fans yearning for deeper connections with these lesser-known figures. It is important to mention that the following discussion will center around the anime version, given its wider recognition among viewers.

10 Don Kanonji

The Affable Spirit Medium Was Nothing More Than A Side Character

10 Best Bleach Characters Who Never Received Dedicated Arcs
Affiliation Ghost Bust TV Show
Anime Debut Episode 10
Location Karakura Town

In the early stages of Bleach, a spirit medium named Don Kanonji made an appearance. At that time, most of Ichigo’s encounters with hollows were limited to Karakura Town. Despite his role as a spirit exorcist, he was unaware that his exorcisms were inadvertently spawning hollows instead.

As someone who has always been fascinated by characters with mysterious pasts and abilities, I must admit that Don Kanonji is one of those intriguing figures that leaves me wanting more. From what I know, he studied abroad and returned to Japan as a celebrity, but his ability to see spirits remains a mystery. It’s hard not to wonder why he possesses this unique gift, especially since it seems the creators have no intention of delving deeper into his character. As someone who enjoys exploring characters’ backstories, I would have loved to learn more about Don Kanonji and uncover the reasons behind his abilities. It’s a shame that fans like me will never get the privilege of knowing more about this enigmatic figure.

9 Ashido Kanō

Fascinating Character That Was Sadly Forgotten

10 Best Bleach Characters Who Never Received Dedicated Arcs
Affiliation Gotei 13 (previously)
Anime Debut Episode 147
Location Hueco Mundo

Few may recall the name Ashido Kanō, yet he was a shinigami who ventured into Hueco Mundo pursuing hollows. Trapped in this realm alongside his comrades, he tirelessly battled the hollows.

In essence, Ashido provided significant assistance to Rukia. Upon learning his tale, she vowed to return for him, but unfortunately, she never did. Moreover, this character, who held immense potential in expanding the lore of Soul Society and providing insights into its enigmatic structure, was not given a dedicated story arc, leaving us with a sense of missed opportunity regarding a fascinating figure.

8 Unohana Retsu

The First Kenpachi Never Tells Her Own Story

10 Best Bleach Characters Who Never Received Dedicated Arcs
Affiliation Gotei 13
Anime Debut Episode 24
Location Soul Society

Spectators were astonished when they unveiled Unohana Retsu’s hidden past. Known as the gentle and nurturing captain of the 4th squad in the Gotei 13, she had a reputation for tending to the wounded. Yet, beneath this compassionate facade, she was a formidable warrior who once bore the title ‘Kenpachi’, a testament to her bloodthirsty fighting skills.

Little is known about her beyond this and that’s a bit of a letdown, especially with how cool she really is. While the incident in which she meets the current Kenpachi is shown and people get a glimpse of her former personality, there could have been much more done.

7 Tatsuki Arisawa

She Never Made It Past The Discarded Side Person

10 Best Bleach Characters Who Never Received Dedicated Arcs
Affiliation Karakura Town
Anime Debut Episode 2
Location Karakura Town

In the initial stages of Bleach, Tatsuki Arisawa is among the characters we meet. She’s revealed to be a long-term supporter and childhood friend of Ichigo Kurosaki, having stood by him for many years.

Initially, we catch glimpses of her past linked with Ichigo’s narrative, but she doesn’t have her own fully developed arc. Instead, she seems to fade into the background and reappears occasionally when there are happenings in Karakura Town.

6 Chōjirō Sasakibe

The Faithful Lieutenant Deserved His Own Arc

10 Best Bleach Characters Who Never Received Dedicated Arcs
Affiliation Gotei 13
Anime Debut Episode 30
Location Soul Society

Chōjirō Sasakibe served as the right-hand man to Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto and possessed an impressive strength that would have qualified him to lead his own team. However, he chose not to do so because of his unwavering loyalty towards Yamamoto. Unfortunately, he never had a chance to star in his own storyline, which was a pity given the depth of his character.

1. Witnessing Sasakibe’s demise at the King of Quincies’ hands was tough, and the Captain Commander’s fury was justified. It offered a small insight into Sasakibe’s past, revealing his lifelong ambition to serve Yamamoto. However, it could have provided more information about his past.

5 Kukaku Shiba

The Badass Leader Of The Shiba Clan Doesn’t Get Talked About Enough

10 Best Bleach Characters Who Never Received Dedicated Arcs
Affiliation Soul Society
Anime Debut Episode 23
Location Soul Society

As a devoted admirer, I’d like to share some insights about the Shiba clan from the captivating world of Soul Society. Once esteemed among the noble families, they fell from grace due to an unfortunate scandal that tarnished their reputation within the community. Despite their absence in the anime being relatively minimal, the leader of this once-noble family, Kukaku, proves herself a formidable figure in the storyline. Her influence and capabilities significantly shape the narrative’s unfolding events.

The story of Kaien, her brother consumed by hollow energy and perished, was shared alongside the common knowledge of Ukitake. However, Kukaku, a sister who mourned her brother’s loss and led a family diminished in status, is often overlooked in these narratives, which is unfortunate.

4 Ryuken Ishida

Ryuken Is Only Used As A Vehicle To Tell Isshin’s Story

10 Best Bleach Characters Who Never Received Dedicated Arcs
Affiliation Karakura Hospital
Anime Debut Episode 44
Location Karakura Town

Ryuken Ishida is known as the stern yet powerful father of Uryu, a highly respected Quincy. He runs Karakura General Hospital and often clashes with Isshin Kurosaki. Notably, his son, Uryu, has grown into a well-rounded character and had significant moments of triumph, most notably his stunning victory over Mayuri Kurotsuchi.

Instead of primarily focusing on Isshin and Masaki’s tale, it would have been intriguing to delve deeper into Ryuken’s personal life as well. Learning about his feelings towards his family and their restrictive nature could have added another layer to the story.

3 Hirako Shinji

Precious Little Is Known Of The Visoreds

10 Best Bleach Characters Who Never Received Dedicated Arcs
Affiliation Visored
Anime Debut Episode 109
Location Soul Society

Shinji serves as the chief among the Visored, a band of Shinigami who possess the ability to harness both Shinigami and Hollow powers. They played a crucial role in guiding Ichigo through understanding and managing his Hollow abilities.

Each one of them exhibits vibrant personalities, hinting at possibly fascinating backstories, yet much remains unknown beyond the fact that several were once commanders within the Gotei 13. Notably, Shinji appears to be underutilized given his immense power; he could have benefited from a focused narrative exploration of his own.

2 Genryūsai Yamamoto

The Most Powerful Captain Is Still Shrouded In Mystery

10 Best Bleach Characters Who Never Received Dedicated Arcs
Affiliation Gotei 13
Anime Debut Episode 24
Location Soul Society

Among the memorable instances in Bleach, one particularly significant event was the Captain Commander’s demise at the hands of the Quincy King. This dramatic scene showcased immense power, standing out as a spectacular moment within the Bleach series and one of the high points of an already exceptional season.

As a devoted fan, I found myself yearning for more insight after the demise of Sasakibe, when a flashback sequence unfolded, offering glimpses into Genryūsai’s past, such as the origin of his famous scar. However, I craved so much more! I wondered about the true reasons behind the formation of the Gotei 13, the initial harshness that defined Genryūsai, and the path that led to his incredible power. These questions remained unanswered mysteries, ones that could have been unraveled through a compelling story arc.

1 Ulquiorra Cifer

The Number 4 Espada Is Criminally Underdeveloped

10 Best Bleach Characters Who Never Received Dedicated Arcs
Affiliation Espada
Anime Debut Episode 113
Location Hueco Mundo

Among the most striking members of Espada, Cascada, Baraggan, and Starrk certainly grab your attention, but many viewers were equally captivated by the consistently gloomy Ulquiorra. This character who declared himself a nihilist was always intriguing to observe.

Regrettably, his personal narrative didn’t unfold in the anime, although the manga provided some background information. This character, known for his firm beliefs, left fans yearning to understand what shaped him into who he was, but unfortunately, this aspect wasn’t fully developed in the anime series.

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2024-08-11 06:24