With Bleach's new anime installment Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Arc set to air in Fall 2022's anime season, the series has resurfaced to the forefront of the anime community, as fans will finally be able to see the conclusion of the formerly unfinished anime adaptation of the manga.
With Bleach's last episode having aired years ago and the manga completed in 2016, a refresher on these characters and who they are is no doubt needed. These are Bleach's most popular characters based their impact on the story and the character traits that define them according to voting fans on MyAnimeList.
Orihime Inoue
Orihime is a classmate and one of Ichigo Kurosaki's best friends. Even though Orihime has faced true hardship with the estrangement from her parents and loss of her brother Sora, she is rarely if ever seen depressed due to her choice of being positive even in difficult situations. Her upbeat attitude has been a source of salvation for Ichigo many times.
Initially, many readers of Bleach didn't have a great impression of Orihime, as she seemed to be yet another generic friend with ambiguous feelings towards the main character. The caring attitude Orihime shows her friends and willingness to risk herself to save others endeared her greatly to fans and showed her to be among Bleach's bravest characters.
Gin Ichimaru
Gin Ichimaru is the Captain of the 3rd Division of the Gotei 13 and serves as a major obstacle to Ichigo and his group. Even when his actions are earnest, they always have an air of suspicion to them due to his sly attitude and sarcastic way of talking, which often calls his character into question.
Gin is portrayed as someone who is just as likely to risk his life to save someone as he is to be the one to stab them in the back. However, as the secrets of the Soul Society are brought to light, his personality is revealed to be a calculated ruse to confused friends and foes alike.
Yoruichi Shihouin
Yoruichi is the best friend and potential partner of Kisuke Urahara, and trains Sado, Orihime, and even Ichigo for a short time. She is revealed to be the former leader of the Soul Society's Onmitsukido (Stealth Force) as well a former Captain of Division 2 of the Gotei 13. Interestingly, while her former titles have been revealed, her Zanpakuto hasn't.
Yoruichi as a character is well known for her sarcastic attitude, alluring beauty, and propensity to take on the form of a cat. Her confident, sarcastic attitude comes from many years of difficult training to achieve her skills. The scenes she appears in, both in the manga and anime, display her characteristics well, either through spectacular fight scenes or her "bullying" of Ichigo.
Byakuya Kuchiki
Byakuya Kuchiki is the older brother of Rukia Kuchiki and serves as the Captain of the 6th Division of the Gotei 13. As a Captain and the head of the Noble Kuchiki house, Byakuya is well known for his strict and seemingly cold personality. His interactions with everyone are cordial at best, and he has no qualms executing even family should they break the law.
Byakuya's well-composed personality gives him a confidence and maturity that resonates well with fans, setting him apart from the generally wacky cast. As his backstory was explored further, Byakuya gathered much sympathy, as the actions which were previously thought of as uncaring came from a place wishing to nurture growth.
Rukia Kuchiki
Rukia Kuchiki, Bleach's potentially most likable character, is the younger sister of Byakuya Kuchiki and the female protagonist of Bleach alongside Ichigo. Rukia is also the reason why Ichigo became involved in the world of Soul Reapers and Hollows to begin with. After she was injured, she imparted Ichigo with her powers to allow him to save his family, only for him to accidentally take her powers entirely.
As a member of the Kuchiki household, Rukia had a strict upbringing in an attempt to mold her into a proper noble. However, when with Ichigo, Rukia quickly loses her composure and often acts childish, getting easily upset. Her constant outbursts which she attempts and fails to stifle bring an element of comedy to Bleach.
Sousuke Aizen
When introduced, Sousuke Aizen, the Captain of Division 5, exudes a calm and intelligent air and is seemingly a genuinely good person who is well-beloved by his squad. However, after his apparent death and then the revelation that he was in fact working to destroy the Soul Society, he quickly becomes one of the best villains in anime.
Hilariously, the majority of Aizen's popularity came after he revealed his evil intentions. The sense of utter superiority and danger he exudes, fueled by his calculating mind, made him an intelligent villain who single-handedly overthrew the entirety of the Soul Society. In Bleach's world full of grotesque monsters, Aizen stood out.
Toshiro Hitsugaya
Toshiro Hitsugaya is the Captain of the 10th Division of the Gotei 13 and is credited as the youngest person to achieve the rank of Captain. Though he is younger than Momo Hinamori, a young Soul Reaper and his older sister, his exceptional talents and intelligence make him feel that he must protect her. Though typically maintaining a cool persona, when it comes to Momo, he easily becomes angered when she is hurt.
Hitsugaya's attempts to seem older and more dignified are often comically brushed aside by people pointing out his short stature and young age. Toushiro is easily one of the more animated Captains, often leading to slapstick and sarcastic jokes when he is around.
Kisuke Urahara
Urahara, also known as "Mr. Hat and Clogs" by Ichigo, is a quirky middle-aged Soul Society shop owner whose lazy attitude expertly hides his complicated past and the peerless intelligence as Bleach's smartest character. While Kisuke very rarely if ever gets involved in major fights, he prefers to coach the main characters so that they have the skills to defend themselves rather than always rely on others.
Bleach is a more serious series, especially in the latter half which is marked by an exorbitant amount of dangerous battles. Luckily, Kisuke is a character that can always be relied upon to break the tension and crack a few jokes. He always appears exactly when he's needed and is by far the funniest character in the series.
Kenpachi Zaraki
Kenpachi Zaraki is the 11th Division Captain of the Gotei 13 and is always seen in the presence of his Lieutenant and mascot Yachiru. Kenpachi's actual name is never revealed and it is believed he has no true name. The name Zaraki comes from the district he was born, and Kenpachi is the title he took that signifies the strongest swordsman who has killed the most.
Kenpachi is infatuated with fights to the death. When he first faces Ichigo, he forgoes the duty of capturing him and instead challenges Ichigo to a fight. His insatiable bloodlust, along with the stellar voice acting from both his Japanese VA and English VA, has put him head and shoulders above most of the cast in of popularity as well as made all of his interactions with other characters highly memorable.
Ichigo Kurasaki
Ichigo "Strawberry" Kurosaki is the main protagonist of Bleach. After having his Spirit Powers unlocked by Rukia, Ichigo embarks on world-saving adventures both in the Soul Society and the real world. He has become one of the most recognizable faces in all of Manga and Anime as a part of the Big Three consisting of Bleach, Naruto, and One Piece.
A part of the Big Three, Ichigo has become known, both famously and infamously for his absolutely massive amount of awakened powers throughout Bleach's run. As a relative novice to the Soul Society, Ichigo is constantly baffled by the Soul Reaper's customs and world which often leads to the slapstick comedy that makes Bleach as enjoyable and beloved as it is.