Rangiku Matsumoto/Anime Continuity

is the lieutenant of the 10th Division of the Gotei 13, serving under Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya.

Bount arc (anime only)
When the Bounts begin attacking living Humans, Tōshirō Hitsugaya puts together a team of Shinigami consisting of Rangiku, Izuru Kira, Shūhei Hisagi, and Yumichika Ayasegawa. Although a little confused as to why she is been sent to the Human World, Rangiku arrives and is shocked when both Hisagi and Kira run off to do their own thing, leaving her alone. While there, she moans about how she should technically be the leader as it was her captain that ordered them on this mission. She then runs into Yasutora Sado, Ururu Tsumugiya, and Noba as they battle Sawatari. The Bount recognizes her as a Shinigami and tries to have his doll, Baura, steal her weapon. Aggravated, Rangiku begins fighting the Bount, but realizes she is really no match for him and his phasing capabilities as he keeps dodging her attacks and then counters with one of his own, almost being swallowed by the doll at one point, but being saved by Noba. Deducing the situation, she tries to keep everyone above ground in order to prevent the Bount from attacking, but realizes that it is not attacking just from the ground, but from solid objects as well. She also tries to cheer up Sado when he blames himself over Ururu's capture. When informed about Noba and his special Bount-detecting abilities, she removes him from his injured Gigai and forms a plan with him in his plush form. After combining her Kidō with Noba's Bount-sensing capabilities, they are able to detect Sawatari's presence, enabling Sado to hit Sawatari's Doll with an attack strong enough to force it to regurgitate Ururu. Sawatari retreats after this, and Sado collapses from exhaustion.

Later, Rangiku and the rest of the Shinigami sent by Hitsugaya attempt to assault the Bounts' hideout, but they are attacked by Ugaki's Doll by surprise and, not knowing where it's attacking from, split up, but are soundly defeated before the others arrive. Rangiku starts out well, but her inexperience against such an opponent allows for her to be captured and injured several times by the doll. However, during this time, Rangiku notices the attacking capabilities of the doll, noticing that it attacks from the shadows it creates. When Ichigo Kurosaki, Renji Abarai, Orihime Inoue, Rukia Kuchiki, and Sado also arrive, they are attacked by Ugaki's Doll as well. Rangiku manages to save Ichigo and Orihime and inform them of how to defeat the doll, but she is unable to continue due to the injuries she's incurred up until their encounter.

The New Captain Shūsuke Amagai arc (anime only)
Rangiku comes into her captain's office as he is doing paperwork and asks him if he has heard the news of a new captain being appointed to the 3rd Division. Hitsugaya continues his work and tells her that he is a captain so therefore of course he knows. When Rangiku begins to muse at the idea of when Izuru mastered his Bankai, Hitsugaya tells her that it is not Izuru and informs her that he himself doesn't know who it is. Irritated at this point, he tells her that they will all find out tomorrow and that she should do some work.

Rangiku leads the Shinigami in her division to fight the fake Menos Grandes that appear in Seireitei that the Captain-Commander released to test the teamwork within the Gotei 13. Eventually they team up with a member of the Third Division to defeat them.

Once Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki make it into Soul Society to rescue Rurichiyo Kasumiōji, the rest of the Gotei 13 goes on high alert as they are given orders to stop Ichigo under suspicion of kidnapping and possible assassination attempts on the noble's life. Hitsugaya along with Rangiku and the 10th Division are given the task of watching over the gate to the Kasumiōji manor. Though Ichigo is hiding, Hitsugaya can still sense his spiritual power and tells him to come out. Though Rukia pleads with him to let them explain, Hitsugaya assures her he will, but only after he has taken them to the Captain-Commander. No sooner than that conversation happens Captain Shūsuke Amagai comes out and Hitsugaya is surprised to see him on Ichigo's side. As Hitsugaya engages in combat with Amagai, Rangiku attempts to block Ichigo and Rukia's entrance into the Kasumiōji Manor under the orders of the Captain-Commander. She engages in a fight with Rukia, only to be stopped by the change of command from the Captain-Commander himself for all Shinigami to invade the noble household instead on the basis of treason.

Rangiku and Rukia are suddenly attacked by dozens of Kumoi's soldiers, each wielding a Bakkōtō. Rangiku proceeds to attack with her Shikai, but is outnumbered by the henchmen, who seem to have lost control of their souls and therefore their sense of pain, as Rangiku deducted herself. She is joined in the fight by Shūhei Hisagi among others. Shortly thereafter, Hitsugaya and 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki are waiting atop of a roof when Rangiku arrives and asks what is going on. Hitsugaya tells her that the strategy they are using was set up by the Captain-Commander. Byakuya explains further that since the Kasumiōji Clan are a noble family with special status, the Gotei 13 could never interfere with them unless they violated a serious law.

She later appears with the rest of the Gotei 13 at the battle between Amagai and Ichigo, watching as Amagai goes and tries to attack Captain-Commander Yamamoto. She bears witness to Yoruichi explaining the details behind what truly happened to Amagai's father years ago under the Captain-Commander's orders. Rangiku and the others then witness Amagai committing suicide because of his disgraceful actions.

Zanpakutō Unknown Tales arc (anime only)
Rangiku is first seen trying to get her Zanpakutō, Haineko, to come out, since she wants to reach Bankai in order to fight on an even level with the opponents Soul Society has been fighting recently. At night, when most of the high-ranking Gotei 13 members are gathered at Sōkyoku Hill, Haineko passes her and tells her former owner to move.

She later sets out with Momo in search for the Zanpakutō Spirits. They then find Ichigo being attacked by Haineko and Tobiume, and engage them in battle, while telling Ichigo to go. Quickly, Rangiku and Haineko get in another argument about each others' appearances. After it becomes clear that Rangiku and Momo are at a disadvantage against their personal Zanpakutō partners, the two Shinigami target the other spirit with a Kidō attack to finally subdue Haineko and Tobiume.

After the battle, Rangiku and Momo have a few Shinigami take their Zanpakutō spirits to the 4th Division and begin to travel again, until they run into Ichigo, whom Rangiku collides with. Ichigo explains to Rangiku and Momo that Hitsugaya has fought his Zanpakutō Spirit, which returned to him, and he left Hitsugaya to rest. During their conversation, Muramasa arrives at their location through a Garganta. Muramasa begins to fight Ichigo, but is having trouble adjusting to his "new" body, something both Rangiku and Momo notice. Muramasa then decides to restrain them with a binding attack, but his weakened condition causes the effect to wear off. As Ichigo tries to fight Muramasa again, Senbonzakura arrives and fights Ichigo instead. Senbonzakura activates his Bankai and attacks Ichigo, as well as Rangiku and Momo. Momo, however, protects them with a Kidō spell, and they watch Ichigo and Senbonzakura fight, until Captain Byakuya Kuchiki arrives and stops Senbonzakura from fighting. However, Byakuya reveals to them that he is not there to fight his Zanpakutō, but is following his inner desires: to protect his pride. Byakuya then retreats along with Muramasa and Senbonzakura, the latter using his technique to cover their escape.

Later, after learning that their Zanpakutō had escaped again, Rangiku went with Momo to retrieve them again. They found them along with Ashisogi Jizō attacking Lieutenants Iba and Isane. While managing to escape the rampage of Ashisogi Jizō's Bankai, Rangiku and her fellow lieutenants soon succumbed to its poison. They were found and treated by the 4th Division.

After recovering, Rangiku goes to the Human World with the other Shinigami to help battle Muramasa. Rangiku joins her allies in destroying several Gillian attracted by the unstable Muramasa. When it becomes clear that their key problem is Muramasa's Garganta, the Shinigami and Zanpakutō spirits combine their Reiatsu to seal the Garganta. After Rangiku and her allies defeat the remaining Gillians, Ichigo emerges from the destroyed dome with a defeated Muramasa, as Haineko returns to Rangiku's sword.

Beast Swords arc (anime only)
In Soul Society, the Shinigami of the Gotei 13 are allowed to enjoy a day of relaxation and partying to recuperate from the recent chaos. Rukia, Sode no Shirayuki, and Senbonzakura throw a party to try to lure out a rampant Tōjū, during which Rangiku holds nothing back as she enjoys drinking large amounts of drinks with Haineko, resulting in her inebriation. Later, Rangiku decides to follow her captain to the Human World to help him, but not without having some fun first. Later, she along with Orihime and Haineko are attacked by a Tōjū that has transformed by fusing with a Hollow. During its attack, Rangiku loses her Soul Candy, preventing her from accessing her Shinigami powers. Ichigo Kurosaki interrupts the Tōjū's attack and chases it away from them.

While searching for Tōjū with Haineko and members of the 10th Division, Matsumoto helps defeat several Tōjū. When Haineko returns, she tells her that she found and killed a Tōjū. Later, Haineko asks Rangiku the possibility of having someone's Tōjū status revoked. Rangiku says it cannot be done, as based on a report from the 12th Division; most Tōjū will eventually lose control and attack. When she asks why Haineko brought it up in the first place, she nervously claims that it was just out of curiosity. Hitsugaya and Hyōrinmaru inform Matsumoto that supplies have been disappearing from the Division. Matsumoto denies knowing who could be behind it. However, she is suspicious that Haineko is behind the thefts, and so asks where Haineko was at during all the times she was not in Seireitei. Haineko says that she was simply "out". Unable to get a clear answer, Rangiku tells her of how a thief has been stealing supplies and asks if Haineko knows anything about it. Unconvinced by Haineko's denial, Matsumoto states that it is kind of scary, prompting Haineko to leave almost immediately.

Matsumoto follows Haineko to a hut, where she finds the Zanpakutō with the Tōjū Narunosuke, who is suffering from painful migraines. She tells him that he is losing control and becoming a Tōjū. She asks why Haineko chose not to tell her. When she does not receive a reply, she reminds her of the position they are all in; as a Shinigami and Zanpakutō, they are obligated to kill any Tōjū for the safety of Soul Society's residents, and tells Haineko to get away from him so that she can kill him. As Haineko refuses, Narunosuke's pain and anger quickly transform him into a Tōjū. He destroys the hut, forcing all of them to flash-step away from the wreckage. He remains on the ground in pain, enabling Haineko to challenge Matsumoto, stating that she will have to kill both of them as Tōjū. When Haineko and Matsumoto attack each other with their Shikai, Narunosuke, now a fully-transformed Tōjū, knocks Matsumoto away and attacks Haineko, but is blocked by Matsumoto, whom he knocks away once again. Haineko envelopes herself and Narunosuke in her Shikai and kills him. Later, Haineko explains to Rangiku that the reason she kept quiet about it all was due to her crush on Narunosuke, which Rangiku says she already knew about. Still concerned for her Zanpakutō's well-being, Rangiku asks if Haineko would be alright later on. When Haineko confusedly asks what she means by that, Rangiku claims that it was nothing, prompting Haineko to state that Matsumoto is just teasing her. When Haineko says that she's "kinda glad" that she's still young, and Rangiku asks her why, Haineko playfully stats that she still has "plenty of time until I become an old hag", prompting Rangiku to warmly smile at her in response.

Gotei 13 Invading Army arc (anime only)
In the Human World, Rangiku and Nanao complete their share of the cleansing of the area around Karakura Town. They had been setting up barriers for the past month. Rangiku suggests that they celebrate, prompting Nanao to note that Rangiku has seemed somewhat depressed recently. She receives a call from Hitsugaya on her Denreishinki, with her captain criticizing her for not making regular progress reports. When she informs him that they are finished, he orders her to return. Nanao opens a Senkaimon and the pair enter the Dangai, noting that while it is the designated path, it is creepy. As Rangiku notices something odd, their Hell Butterflies turn into energy. The following day, Nanao and Rangiku arrive in Seireitei and are brought before Captain Yamamoto. When questioned, they insist that only three hours have passed since Hitsugaya ordered them to return.

Later, Rangiku appears with other members of the Gotei 13 in the Human World as they escape the Dangai and fend off Kagerōza Inaba. After fending off Inaba and forcing him to retreat, Rangiku joins other members of the Gotei 13 as they hold a meeting in Ichigo's room. Later, Kon runs into her on the street and realizes the Rangiku he had seen earlier was a Reigai. Rangiku arrives later to defeat her Reigai copy by releasing her Shikai. Rangiku is then confronted by Izuru's Reigai at a construction site in Karakura Town. At first, Rangiku feels overly confidant, given how she easily negated Wabisuke's effects in their previous encounter. However, Rangiku drops her weapon after only a few strikes and the Reigai reveals that his abilities increase the weight of an object by tenfold instead of just doubling it like the original. Unarmed, Rangiku is forced to evade the Reigai's attacks as he moves too fast for her to use Kidō while she tries to get near enough to pick up Haineko. Eventually, she is able to trick the Reigai by covering a metal pole with her scarf so that the weight increase traps his weapon while Rangiku rushes towards her weapon and unleashes her Shikai in his direction, killing the Reigai.

After Rukia Kuchiki's battle with the two Reigai, Rangiku Matsumoto appears, noting that the battles have now ended. Rangiku agrees with Rukia's statement that they should search for Nozomi Kujō, walking alongside Nemu Kurotsuchi. However, Rukia comments that they are full of openings, prompting Rangiku to turn back. She gets slashed across the chest area, as Nemu sprawls onto the ground. Rangiku is surprised that she was a Reigai all along, locking blades with Reigai-Rukia Kuchiki. Eventually, both Rangiku and Nemu are overpowered, falling to the lake below them. They are found by Orihime, who proceeds to heal her comrades. Later, Ichigo overlooks Rangiku's healing process.

Rangiku participates in a meeting in Ichigo's room, where she listens to Nanao reporting on the situation in Soul Society. Later, when the Reigai of Kenpachi Zaraki breaks out of Urahara's trap and arrives in the Human World, Rangiku and the other lieutenants arrive to help Ikkaku fight him. However, Ikkaku warns them to stay out of his fight. Rangiku criticizes him for this, but he tells her they have their own opponents. When more Reigai arrive, Rangiku leaves to fight the new arrivals. Rangiku joins Iba and Sado in facing the Reigai-Komamura, but they are easily overwhelmed and forced back. Upon rejoining their allies, it is decided to rely on Nozomi's energy-absorbing "Arazome Shigure". They all direct their energy into Nozomi's blade, who then launches a powerful blast that defeats all the Reigai, except for Reigai-Byakuya, who retaliates with a blast of his own that knocks out everyone except for Ichigo and Nozomi. Before Reigai-Byakuya can finish them off, Yamamoto arrives and quickly defeats the Reigai.

As the Reigai of Kyōraku and Ukitake arrive, an unconscious Rangiku is taken to Orihime to be healed. With the arrival of Captain Unohana, Rangiku and the others are taken to the Shinigami's temporary base where she treats them. However, she states that their condition is severe. After recovering, she joins the other healed Shinigami in returning to Soul Society, where they assist the captains in facing the Reigai. Rangiku faces off against her own counterpart. Despite evening out the numbers, Rangiku and the other Shinigami are quickly pressured by the Reigai. Byakuya Kuchiki then realizes the truth behind the Reigai's battle style: they value self-preservation the most and won't attack first in fear of being outnumbered. The lieutenants then team up.

Later, the resurrected Ōko Yushima begins his endgame, using his Renzan: Hajō Kūri technique to begin destroying the Soul Society. Before the Shinigami can act, the Reigai step forward, saying that they will stop their fellow Mod-Soul's chaotic plan as their goal has always been to protect the Soul Society in their own way. The Reigai then destroy the technique at the cost of their own lives.

Powers & Abilities
Kidō Expert: As a lieutenant, Rangiku has enough skill in Kidō to use Hadō #31.

High Spiritual Power: Being a lieutenant of the Gotei 13, Rangiku boasts a high level of spiritual energy. She has manifested her Reiatsu and successfully intimidated both Sado and Noba. Her spiritual power is white.

Quotes

 * (To Haineko) "Were you always this talkative? I never noticed."