20 Years with BLEACH: Lead Voice Actors Discuss Anime Series and Their Careers

BLEACH first premiered in October 2004, introducing anime fans to the world of Ichigo Kurosaki and the Soul Society. With 366 episodes, the series officially came to an end in March 2012 after eight impressive years. However, the anime doesn’t end there; the sequel series, BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War, premiered in December 2022, revamping the series’ final arc. In October this year, season 3 of the sequel series aired, coinciding with the show’s 20th anniversary. At an event co-presented by VIZ and JAPAN HOUSE LA, voice actors Masakazu Morita (voice of Ichigo Kurosaki) and Noriaki Sugiyama (voice of Uryū Ishida) shared their thoughts on the series and their careers. 

Thinking back to the start of their BLEACH journeys, both actors admitted they feel incredibly lucky to be portraying these same beloved characters. “It’s been 20 years since I started portraying Ichigo, and I think it’s a miracle to be able to work on one title for over 20 years,” Morita began. “Naturally, I’ve aged 20 years myself. I can clearly feel changes both mentally and physically. However, rather than resisting this, I’m fully embracing this, and I’m actively pursuing roles where I can portray characters due to my age, which I may not have done before. I’ve been able to find more key expressions and ways to really communicate what the characters are saying to the audience.” On the topic of Ichigo, he thought he’s really grown into his character, as previously he felt his portrayal was slightly lacking: “We created a voice to fit Ichigo, and at that time, I didn’t feel like I was completely embodying who he is. Even now though, I’m still not quite at the ideal Ichigo voice, but I’m much closer than I was when I started.” To elaborate, Morita gave an example of the word ban-kai: “Previously, I pronounced the word differently. Now, I find myself emphasizing different vowel sounds.” For Sugiyama, he also felt how he’s grown with Ishida: “I think I’m able to portray my character more naturally, compared to the past.”

Though BLEACH‘s main protagonist is Ichigo, there is also a plethora of supporting characters. “I think what’s special about BLEACH is that it isn’t just about the main character,” Morita shared. “Yes, we see him [most], but then we also see everyone else and their backstories, too.” To deliver more natural dialogue, the voice actors usually record together. Although COVID-19 impacted how the cast gathered for joint recording sessions, they still recorded in groups. “We record in small groups of about three people,” Sugiyama began. “It’s definitely easier to act when my fellow colleagues are there.” Agreeing with this sentiment, Morita also shared some more details on how the recording sessions took place. “There are a few microphones, and we are all in the room together. We take turns approaching the microphone, and the rest of us must be very quiet while others are recording,” he said. “We have to walk quietly, and we can’t even allow the script papers to rustle. I think [we] have gotten so good at walking quietly that I could be a burglar if I retire from voice acting,” he finished humorously. 

Reminiscing about stories from recording sessions and the past 20 years, Morita shared a fun anecodte about his recording sessions with Fumiko Orikasa, who voices Ichigo’s love interest, Rukia Kuchiki. “The cast members like to tease me a lot, especially Fumiko Orikasa. When we have recording sessions together, they all poke fun at me. I remember one time when I went to the restroom during a recording session, and when I returned, she had doodled all over my script,” he began. “I hadn’t flipped through the script after returning, so when I started to record again, there was one line that was supposed to be a [stern] let’s go, but she had drawn a heart next to it, so I naturally ended up saying a [cheerful] let’s go instead. It’s fun to think that even now, 20 years later, she’s still doodling in my scripts.” Sugiyama also thought back on the past two decades very fondly: “When Uryu and Ichigo first met at the beginning, they were initially rivals. Then, they had to work together to defeat the hollows. There were so many comical moments [in the script] like one of them was getting a weapon in his head, and things like that.”

Ichigo and Uryu are quite the opposite from each other when it comes to just about any aspect of their personalities, aside from their determination to protect those who they love. Interestingly enough, the two voice actors take different approaches to prepare for their respective roles. “What happens to a character in their everyday life is very fundamental,” Sugiyama shared. “For myself, I look around me on the train, and I start to observe the different types of people and store it in my head, to make sure I can bring them out whenever I can.” For Morita, his background in traditional Japanese performing arts and martial arts helped shape his approach. “I’ve been involved in martial arts since I was a child, specifically kendo and karate. I incorporate some training from kendo into the action scenes in BLEACH,” he started, explaining that his lessons from kendo have taught him how to harmoniously follow through with a physical movement in a way that uses spirit, mind, and body. “I practice this concept when portraying Ichigo.” On the other hand, Uryu is not a character that makes big movements, as an elegant Quincy that uses a bow and arrow. “Uryu is more of a calm, cool character. If Ichigo is representative of movement, Uryu would be more of a representative of stillness,” Sugiyama noted. “For me, especially, I’m very conscious about tempo, and adding beats between words. Uryu is not the type of person in a conversation that would convince the other person by throwing a lot of energy. Rather, it’s about finding those beats that will have the other person more interested in him. It’s a very detailed work about where to place beats and controlling the conversation that way.”

All in all, Sugiyama shared that voice acting is something that he finds quite fulfilling: “I believe the impression that the audience receives through voices is significant. Because of that, my expression can either enhance or diminish the character’s image, which makes my responsibility both challenging and rewarding.  I think my desire to become a voice actor was derived from my love of watching different types of works and talking with people.” While Morita had not intended to be a voice actor in the beginning, voice acting — especially as Ichigo — is something he’s truly grown to love. “In the world of expression, not just voice acting, the creative process itself is important. Using various knowledge and wisdom, we discover great ideas and build upon them. I love this kind of creativity,” he said. One of the most rewarding parts about being a voice actor is seeing how the portrayal of a character inspires fans: “When I was here for Anime Expo earlier this year, I did a lot of autograph sessions and met so many fans. One I specifically remember was a large man, and after signing his things and greeting him, I looked up at his face, and I was so shocked to see he was crying,” Morita started. “This fan told me that Ichigo inspired him and taught him how to protect people, and because of Ichigo, he became a firefighter. There were so many stories like that, where people became nurses, doctors, and teachers, and that’s really the best part [of this job].”

Click on the photo below to view our photos from the event: