Board Thread:New on Bleach Wiki/@comment-5486822-20170807222606

Note : Interview is from 2014, the manga isn't finished by this point.

Preface :

Ichigo : A shinigami only popularity poll, a manga chapter and a new novel ? Datas about Renji, Rukia and everyone else for Bleach's 13 anniversary ? Why do I have the feeling nobody is going to talk about me ?

I : When Bleach's serialization started, where did you think you would be 13 years later ?

Kubo : I already saw myself two series ahead. During the publcation of my second series after Bleach ended. My first editor told me Jump wanted to do a 30 Volume series out of Bleach. But 30 Volumes is about 6 years worth of work and he was always telling that, since I'm bored quickly, it would be very out of character for me to work on the same manga for even 3 years. He told me that as soon as I started Bleach.

And to tell the truth, knowing my own personality back then, he was probably right. That's why, even thought I had a vague idea of Bleach's general story, I started the manga with the idea that it was just gonna last 3 years. Because running out of idea during a manga already happened to me before. But eventually, working on Bleach slowly became more fun and I wanted to create more chapter and that's why the manga is still running in 2014.

I : At what point did you wanted Bleach to last longer than originally ?

Kubo : When Aizen faked his death during the Soul Sociery Arc.

I : If you look back on those 13 years, what was nice and what was hard to you ?

Kubo : Oh, there was a lot of nice moments. I was happy to see my manga going anime or musical play. I think the fans were happy with those too, because the directors used actors that looked like the characters. What was hard, was to keep being healthy during those 13 years. There was that one time when I kept getting sick. If you want to start a manga, be really careful about staying healthy.

- About the Shinigamis and the Gotei 13.

I : What gave you the idea to create a manga about the Shinigamis ?

Kubo : All of this started with a sketch of Rukia. I created the character and she gave me "Shinigami" sort of vibe. That how I decided to stick with this theme for my manga.

I : Did Rukia had the same look as she does in the manga ?

Kubo : No, at first she was wearing some kind of black schoolgirl uniform with a chain. First she had a skirt. I created Rukia with this look ( Uniform Top, Skirt & Black socks ). And after I gave her a chain, it made me think about a shinigami. That's why it's the theme of the manga.

I : How did the design evolved to its current form ?

Kubo : At first I imagined the Shinigamis in Men's Three Piece Suits. The men dresses in black with suits and the women with uniforms you see in catholic schools. But back then there was already movies about Shinigamis dressed in suits, for exemple. So there was already a modern image of the Shinigami, addying to the traditional skeleton image under his black hood. So I wanted to design an original shinigami that was never done before, that's how I went for a black kimono.

I : Is it because of that, that they all have a Zanpakutou instead of the original chain ?

Kubo : Yes. When I imagined my first shinigamis in suits, they had guns. So I already changed my original weapon idea back then, which was a chain and since I wanted a weapon to go with the new design, I went for a Katana.

- Gotei 13 character creation

I : In which order did you came up with the shinigamis ?

Kubo : Rukia was first, of course. Then came Renji & Byakuya. It came in order to which was going to be in the story. And then I started to think about the Gotei 13.

I : How did you create those characters ?

Kubo : For their design, this is how it goes : I always have many character designs in mind and among those I choose those who can look cool in a team or when they stand aside eachother. That's why, for the Gotei 13, I went for a visually balanced team design.

First I create the look of the character and then I start thinking about the character's personality based on his look. Since the character design is usually finished a long time before the character appear in the story, I keep thinking about their personality before the character actually does appears. Then when I finally finds a name, the character's creation is completed.

Kubo : Only two Gotei 13 characters were created without this method : Sousuke Aizen & Toushiro Hitsugaya. This was deliberate. Aizen wasn't there when I first imagined the Gotei 13. I designed Aizen to create some troubles in the Seireitei, and I made him the 5th Division Captain, since I didn't decide each division's members back then. As for Hitsugaya, I wanted a kid. Those two were created specifically to be part of the Gotei 13.

I : During those 13 years, did changed your method on how you create the characters ?

Kubo : When the chapters were in the real world, I was holding back ... I still went for some realism. Then when we went in Soul Society I allowed myself a little more liberty. Then I stopped holding my designs back for the Arrancars with colored hairs and all.

I : Did you add character design elements after the character was finished ?

Kubo : I happened to realize some things that were already there, that I didn't really pay attention to before. By putting two characters side to side, I something think about giving them a special link or relation. This is what happened with Hisagi & Kensei.

I : Okay, so Genryuusai is dead and Kyoraku is Captain Commander now ?

Kubo : I love the old guy, but you know ... the way he was doing things in Soul Society and his pressured leadership made his death that much more impactful. And I used that so the readers would wonder if the other characters were going to live. From an early stage, Genryuusai was going to die either way, but not before the last story arc. But It really wasn't easy to pick someone to take his place. I took Kyoraku since he had the required qualities for a Captain Commander, and Ukitake too ... but I already decided of something else for Ukitake so ...

I : Is there some characters that you're emotionally attached to ?

Kubo : I like them all. But I wanted Hitsugaya to be popular since I created him to be part of the Aizen betrayal plot. He's a character which, even if he doesn't know Ichigo, is still looking for Aizen's murderer. So I'm glad the readers liked him. ( Hitsugaya takes it alone. )

I : Which character is easier to draw or easier to write ?

Kubo : Mayuri. What's good with him and with Zaraki too, is that each time they're on screen, they makes the story advance. One thing I like with Mayuri, is that I have to think about the way he's going to fight. Mayuri doesn't have to use his sword, so I can imagine a lot of things I can't with the other captains. Zaraki is the opposite, I use his when I want great sword duels.

I : Zaraki and Unohana's battle was impressive.

Kubo : I was really troubled during this battle. Because Unohana appears like a completely different person. I felt the readers wouldn't accept this new Unohana. But I did created her with that role in mind so when Zaraki calls for Yachiru, his vice-captain during the Soul Society Arc ... I already decided it would be Unohana's name. That's why when I put the women in swimsuits, I always hide Onohana's scar near her breasts. But she doesn't do that and remove her hairs when she's with Isane, because Isane knows who she really is.

I : A lot of readers likes the bond between Soi Fon & Yoruichi.

Kubo : I created Soi Fon as a former soldier of Yoruichi. I feel like the mangas in Shonen Jump don't have many master / pupils bonds or bond of trusts between women. That is part of the reason that I carefully created the scenes where Yoruichi and Soi Fon are together.

I : Which character or chapter gave you a lot of trouble ?

Kubo : Nobody in particular. That being said, Komamura is more serious and stoic than the others and I wasn't really sure how to make his qualities stand out since the other captains standed out so much. I was midly successful with that. I'm still happy some readers like him.

I : About Komamura, he turned into a human.

Kubo : The basic character concept was a fallen human reincarnated into an animal. I always wanted to draw him with this other form. Komamura's design comes from european knights in armor. I wanted his to have a battle armor, which is why he hides his face under a helmet. When I found the name of Komamura, I already decided of the bamboo helmet. His personality too, reminds me of a knight.

I : When did you decided Gin would be a Fake Defector ?

Kubo : From the start, I didn't know which way to take. Either he was really evil or he was doing all of this for Rangiku. I wrote the character while wondering which way to take with those two choices in mind.

I : When did you took your final decision about Gin ?

Kubo : I really don't remember, lol. I always keep the two choices in mind, but deep down I wanted to him to backstab Aizen. I feel like he gradually went that way ... little by little. But since he had what I call "A villain's face", I wanted him to stay a villain too. ( laugh )

I : Because of the way he was acting during the Soul Society Arc, everyone was convinced he was the villain and Aizen the good guy.

Kubo : That makes me really happy, because that's exactly what I wanted. Readers had to take Gin for the villain only for me to reveal Aizen was pulling the strings all along.

I : In all the 13 Captains, Mayuri's character really stand out.

Kubo : Yes. It's rare to be able to change one's face with just some makeup. In the Arc of the Past, he was in jail in the Nest of Maggots. But I think Mayuri's fan pretends he was just captured or something.

I : What about the Zero Division, the last one to appear.

Kubo : It was deliberate of me, I created them as a group of lunatics. At least that's the vibe I got from their design, which was finished since a long time ago. They're strong, don't you think ?

I : After this last chapter, what is going to happen ?

Kubo : I tell myself that I have to draw multiple characters fighting so I hope I will be able to do that. In a way, this last arc is the one where all the plots threads are coming into one. But it's like a big party too, so I hope I can show everyone.

END 