Ikkaku Madarame/Anime Continuity

is the 3rd Seat officer in the 11th Division of the Gotei 13, under Captain Kenpachi Zaraki.

Bount arc
Note: Events occurring in this arc are only in the anime and do not constitute canon material.

Along with Yumichika, Ikkaku leads the 11th Division after the Bount invade Soul Society. Sensing Maki Ichinose's presence, Ikkaku, preparing to fight him, is unable to strike back, since he is invisible, and is defeated. Approaching him after Ichinose's escape, Kenpachi states the intruder is a coward to fight in that manner.

The New Captain Shūsuke Amagai arc
Note: Events occurring in this arc are only in the anime and do not constitute canon material.

Leading the 11th Division around Seireitei in order to respond first to a report of Menos invading the court, Ikkaku begins quarreling with Iba, who is attempting to do the same. Ikkaku and Iba head northeast upon an update via Jigokuchō. The cluttered divisions end up disoriented and unorganized, clumped together in a enclosed space. After Captain Shūsuke Amagai takes control of the situation, Ikkaku and the 3rd Division are coordinated to attack the Menos alongside Izuru Kira. Following Kira's lead, Ikkaku slices apart a Menos with his scabbard. Later, Ikkaku comes into conflict with Shūhei Hisagi over the orders to arrest Ichigo and his friends.

Zanpakutō Unknown Tales arc
Note: Events occurring in this arc are only in the anime and do not constitute canon material.

Along with all other Shinigami who have learned their Zanpakutō's name, Ikkaku is called to Sōkyoku Hill believing Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto called them, which proves to be a trap set up by a rogue Zanpakutō Spirit named Muramasa, who, having called them and captured Yamamoto, somehow "frees" all the Zanpakutō Spirits from their spiritual bond with their Shinigami partners. The spirits begin to attack the Seireitei. Later, after hearing Ichigo got his Zanpakutō Spirit back, Ikkaku goes to Ichigo for answers. Together, they find Hōzukimaru. To prove to Ikkaku he is who he claims to be, the two of them do their "lucky dance" together, and Hōzukimaru agrees to fight one-on-one. As Hōzukimaru takes control of their battle with his Bankai, the Onmitsukidō, appearing, drives Hōzukimaru away.

Later, at the 6th Division Barracks, some of the Zanpakutō show up for Byakuya. The Zanpakutō are surrounded by the Onmitsukidō, Suì-Fēng, Ichigo, Yumichika, and Izuru. As Ikkaku and Hōzukimaru take their fight outside of the area, Ikkaku, able to release his Shikai, gains the upper hand, cutting Hōzukimaru on the shoulder. Hōzukimaru retaliates by releasing his Bankai, using the three weapons separately. When Hōzukimaru's dragon crest finally lights up, signaling full power, he, using his axe-like weapon, unleashes a large amount of spiritual energy. As he and Ikkaku clash, creating a giant crater in the ground, Ikkaku wins using his Shikai. He grin happily when he senses Kenpachi's Reiatsu. After the battle ends and the remaining Zanpakutō Spirits escape, Ikkaku is found by the 4th Division and taken in for treatment.

After recovering, he joins his fellow Shinigami in the Human World to fight Muramasa again. Both he and Hōzukimaru fight the numerous Hollows which arise from Muramasa's unstable form.

Beast Swords arc
Note: Events occurring in this arc are only in the anime and do not constitute canon material.

After Muramasa is defeated, Ikkaku resumes his day-to-day activities. When the Gotei 13 learns there are rampant Zanpakutō known as Tōjū running around, due to their Shinigami being unable to force them into submission, Ikkaku assists in dealing with this threat. When it is discovered several items from the 4th Division barracks have gone missing, Ikkaku is recruited to be part of a team consisting of 7th Seat Hanatarō Yamada, Lieutenant Nanao Ise, and Hōzukimaru to investigate and find the culprit in the underground waterways. When Ikkaku asks why he has been called on, Captain Shunsui Kyōraku states it is simply a precaution, due to the possibility of the culprit being a Tōjū. When Hōzukimaru states it might be a good way for the two to kill some time, Ikkaku agrees.

In the sewers, Hanatarō accidentally triggers a trap, creating an explosion and prompting them to take extra precautions. Hanatarō accidentally triggers another trap, releasing a large amount of water which whisks them to a large open chamber. While they argue, Ikkaku, grabbed by a large tentacle, is pulled out of sight. After Hōzukimaru tells the others Ikkaku is fine because he, Ikkaku's Zanpakutō, is still alive, they continue without Ikkaku. After the group finds the thief, they are interrupted by Ikkaku being sent flying down the waterway. Emerging, the Tōjū reveals himself to be a large monster with tentacles. Using his Bankai, Ryūmon Hōzukimaru, Hōzukimaru is knocked away. With Nanao's Kidō rendered ineffective as well, she asks Hanatarō to use his Zanpakutō, but he states it is a healing type and he had left it back above ground, thinking he would not need it.

As the Tōjū grabs Nanao in its tentacles, Hanatarō, going over to Ikkaku, sees the mysterious being stab the latter with a sword. As Ikkaku relishes the feel of being healed, Hanatarō recognizes the sword as his own Zanpakutō, Hisagomaru. As the gauge on the sword fills to the top, a large ray gun, popping out of Hisagomaru's chest, fires a beam at the Tōjū, killing him and rescuing Nanao. Later, after making it back to the surface to report the Tōjū's death, the group, stating Hisagomaru had been the one stealing the items from the 4th Division, realizes he must have gotten lost yet again.

Later, Ikkaku, along with a number of other officers of the Gotei 13 and their Zanpakutō, confront Zabimaru and Senbonzakura when they accidentally destroy the buildings of the SRDI. Like many other Shinigami, Ikkaku has his Zanpakutō return to its original form when Hōzukimaru runs out of Reiryoku from helping defeat the final Tōjū.

Gotei 13 Invading Army arc
Note: Events occurring in this arc are only in the anime and do not constitute canon material.

Alongside other members of the Gotei 13, Ikkaku appears in the Human World as they, escaping the Dangai, fend off Kagerōza Inaba. After fending off Inaba and forcing him to retreat, Ikkaku joins other members of the Gotei 13 as they hold a meeting in Ichigo's room. Later, he joins the others for a barbecue. Leading a group of Shinigami to face off against their Reigai in a forest area, Ikkaku fights against Reigai-Ikkaku, the fight being equally matched with their Shikai. Overpowered by his Reigai counterpart, who is not hesitant to use his Bankai, Ikkaku is saved by the intervention of Uryū Ishida, who tends to his severe injuries. After Ichigo defeats a Hollow, Ikkaku and Yumichika ask him how Nozomi Kujō is doing. As Ichigo tells them she seemed a bit tired, Rukia asks why they are interested, but they do not reply. At Ichigo's house, Yumichika, Renji, and Ikkaku tell Ichigo they wish to question her. When Ikkaku states they know too little about her, Ichigo asks if him protecting her is not enough. As Yumichika tells Ichigo the Gotei 13 captains were defeated by Inaba's invasion force, Ikkaku states they will now have to face this same army in Karakura Town.

Later, the Shinigami who stayed in the Human World hold a meeting in Ichigo's room regarding the current status of the captains who are in Soul Society. When Marechiyo Ōmaeda suggests they are all dead, an angry Ikkaku, stating his captain would not have been defeated so easily, reveals he would rather fight the Reigai than protect Nozomi. While she is training with Ichigo and his friends, Ikkaku, watching quietly from the side, is approached by Yumichika. Confronting Nozomi as she is washing her face, he tells her to start taking the training seriously and hit back just as hard as she is getting hit. When Reigai-Kenpachi enters the Human World, Ikkaku confronts him in order to buy time for Nozomi to learn the name of her Shikai, refusing the help of other Shinigami in the process, and is soundly defeated. As Reigai-Kenpachi prepares to cut him down, Nozomi, arriving, uses her powers to blast the Reigai away. Marveling at her power, Ikkaku collapses. As the unfazed Reigai-Kenpachi is engaged by Yumichika, Ichigo retreats with Ikkaku so he can be healed by Orihime. With the arrival of Captain Retsu Unohana, Ikkaku and the others are taken to the Shinigami's temporary base, where she, treating them, states Ikkaku's condition is very uncertain.

Later, Ikkaku, making a near-full recovery, boasts his remaining injuries are nothing. Returning to Soul Society with his fellow Shinigami, he finds Kenpachi fighting his Reigai counterpart. When Ikkaku insists on helping him, Kenpachi tells him to worry about the "small fries". When the Reigai corner the Shinigami, Byakuya Kuchiki realizes the Reigai share the same trait of self-preservation, and will not attack first out of fear of being outnumbered. Hearing this, Ikkaku and Yumichika join Kenpachi, having resolved long ago to die by his side regardless. Later, the resurrected Ōko Yushima, beginning his endgame, uses Renzan Hajokuri to begin destroying Soul Society. Before the Shinigami can act, the Reigai, stepping forward, say they will stop their fellow Mod-Soul's chaotic plan, for their goal has always been to protect the Soul Society in their own way. The Reigai destroy the technique at the cost of their own lives.

Quotes

 * (To Hōzukimaru) "What you said about me before...you're right, I am pretty stubborn. But still, I'll stick to the way I do things. I'll fight the way I always do and still tear you apart because when you get down to it, a man's not a man if he can't be himself in battle!"