In the sprawling world of Bleach, the creators have amazed their audience with hundreds of unique characters possessing mind-bending abilities, whether they be Soul Reapers, Captains, or even Hollows. While most of the spotlight shines on some main characters like Ichigo Kurosaki, Byakuya Kuchiki, and Sosuke Aizen, it is natural for some of the characters to be left out of the glory they deserve.
These underrated characters may not have supernatural strength or born with talent like some of our main characters, but they have left a lasting impression on the fans who look beyond the obvious. With that note, let’s check out en of the most underrated characters in Bleach who deserved far more recognition than they get.
Beyond the spotlight: Characters who deserve their moment
The following list contains characters from “Bleach”, and “Bleach Thousand Year Blood War” manga and animated series.
Lisa Yadōmaru
Lisa Yadōmaru was introduced in Bleach as a member of the Visoreds, a group of lieutenant and captain-level soul reapers who were banished from Soul Society after they underwent hollowfication. Later in the series, it is revealed that Lisa was a former lieutenant of the 8th Division in Soul Society, which makes it easy to grasp how strong she is.
With her calm demeanor and love for erotic literature, Lisa’s more than meets the eye. Her zanpakuto Haguro Tonbo grants her the ability to fight with brute force, where her sword turns into giant clubs. Her mysterious vibe gives her a ton of unmined potential, especially considering she was one of the pivotal characters in the flashback arcs and the battle against Aizen.
Shuhei Hisagi
Shuhei Hisagi is another character from Bleach who was introduced earlier in the series as the co-lieutenant of the 9th Division, who first served under Kaname Tōsen, who, after Aizen’s betrayal, was replaced by Captain Kensei Muguruma. While being more popular than other lieutenants, Hisagi’s character arc had much more depth, which was criminally under-discussed in the anime.
His connection to his former captain, his inner struggles, and his growth into a leader made him a potential favorite character in the story. His Bankai Fuushou Gokui, which is a dual-blade, is one of the most poetic and dark techniques in the series.
Retsu Unohana
Possibly one of the most broken characters in Bleach, Retsu Unohana is also one of the most underrated characters of the anime. Often perceived as the gentle and composed 4th Division captain, Unohana’s past and the revelation of her being the original Kenpachi was a shocker from the Thousand-Year Blood War arc.
Her transformation from a gentle healer to a bloodthirsty swordman opened various possibilities in the development of her character. Her zanpakuto, Minazuki, has 2 sides (complementing her dual personality). First is her Shikai form, which is a flying manta-ray-like creature that heals those it swallows. Second is her Banki, where Minazuki transforms into a blood-red blade with acidic and regenerative properties, which can inflict fatal damage to her target.
Rangiku Matsumoto
Next on this list, we have the trusted lieutenant of the 10th Division of the Gotei 13, Rangiku Matsumoto. Even with a unique zanpakuto ‘Haineko‘, Rangiku was often brought in the series as a comic relief and fan service. The character had all the ingredients for becoming a perfect character, a deep emotional backstory, understanding of loss due to war, and her relationship with Gin Ichimaru adds tragic depth to her character, but it was never explored by the creators.
Coyote Starrk
Being a Primera Espada, Coyote Starrk was one of the main antagonists in Bleach’s Fake Karakura Town arc, but his screentime was awfully low in the anime. Along with his standing on the enemy side, Coyote’s weapon, Los Lobos, adds to his uniqueness, having the ability to split his soul into another being (Lilynette) that can blast on command. Along with this, his lonely past makes him one of the most sympathetic characters among the Arrancars, and potentially an influential character in the series.
Uryū Ishida
One of the original cast members of Bleach, Uryū Ishida, could be called underrated after being hidden under the protagonist’s shadow. While he is in fact one of the main characters in the series, one of Ichigo’s best friends, his talent and significance are often pushed aside.
Ishida is intelligent, loyal, and carries the tragic burden of being one of the last of his kind. While we get a glimpse of what he can do in Bleach Thousand Year Blood War, it was not enough for him to gain the glory her truly deserves, after all, he was the cornerstone in the battle against Yhwach.
Bleach is filled with bold, flashy characters who naturally command attention from its viewers. But it’s in the quieter, overlooked moments that the heart of the series truly lies. These underrated characters each add depth and texture to the Bleach universe, giving a whole new perspective to the story. So the next time you rewatch Bleach, look out for these unsung heroes; you might gain a new favorite character to add to your list.
Bleach is currently streaming on Crunchyroll and Hulu.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
