Forum:Tite Kubo Interviews

This thread is to keep track of the (numerous) official interviews with Tite Kubo about the Bleach series. New interviews will be added whenever Kubo makes them & someone translates them. Older interviews may also be added when found. Please be advised that new interviews may contain information about upcoming events in the Bleach story. However, these are typically very vague and general, so should not give away key details of the plot. --Yyp 22:00, October 26, 2009 (UTC)

Guidelines

 * To keep this readable, interviews may only be placed in the "The Interviews" section.
 * Comments about the interview may be placed in the "Discussion & Comments" section. Use sub-headings to distinguish between the different interviews.
 * Comments about this page are to be kept to the "Improve this thread" section.
 * If you are adding an interview, please follow this format as best as you can:
 * Place the title in a sub heading (=== ===). The title should be clear and concise. Include the month & year of the interview if possible.
 * Under the heading "Topic", list the main things that the interview deals with.
 * The questions & answers should be clearly distinguishable. I do this by having the question in bold and the answer starting on the next line.
 * It should be clear who is speaking at all times. I do this by placing the bolded initials of the speaker at the start of where they begin to speak. There full name should be given the first time.
 * To further distinguish between interviews, I use indenting & the clear template.
 * As most of these interviews are conducted in Japanese & translated (more often than not by a fan on some forum or other) it would be best to include details of the translator and where you found the interview where possible. This will help us to verify that it is authentic. If you have the original Japanese for an interview, please consider posting it on the Talk Page.
 * I realise that not all interviews are straight forward Q&A format, and as such do not lend themselves to this. Just do your best.
 * If in doubt or having difficulty, feel free to ask for advice.
 * It should be noted that Kubo can easily change his mind about things that he has stated in interviews, or he could have deliberately given vague/misleading/indirect answers to avoid spoiling an upcoming plot-point. As such, it would be best to take everything here with a pinch of salt.

Akamaru Jump Interview, Golden Week 2009
An interview with Tite Kubo and Masashi Kudo (the anime's character designer) by Akamaru Jump in Golden Week 2009. --Yyp 22:17, October 26, 2009 (UTC)

Topic: Art styles & Zanpakuto Filler arc.

Translated by Cezaria of BleachAssylum.


 * About art styles
 * KT says Kudo's art is "cuter" than his own. And that Kudo's Orihime has a suppleness that KT is bad at drawing.


 * KT says his art style always changes in the beginning, and it only started to cement after the anime started to air.


 * KT says his art also gets influenced by Kudo. He used to draw hair behind the ears but Kudo doesn't do that. It was then that KT realized humans don't have hair behind their ears. XD


 * Kudo tries to draw Orihime like KT, but he always ends up drawing her really supple and round. KT seems to like it.


 * KT's favorite picture of Kudo's is that DVD cover with Yoruichi.


 * About the new filler arc


 * They thought about separating Zabimaru into two people because it's a baboon and a snake.


 * The names of Komamura and Hitsu's bankai are all related to hell (it's pretty disturbing too)


 * Ichigo won't appear in the new arc, but Zangetsu will be appearing lots.


 * KT seems to be fond of the filler this time, he says he almost wants to draw them into the manga, but that's going to be impossible.

JUMP Festival, December(-ish) 2008
This one is a bit awkward to read, but I did my best to make it presentable. Originally posted by Melodymix on BleachAssylum (link: ). --Yyp 22:00, October 26, 2009 (UTC)

Topic: Fade to Black, Aizen, SS arc, other misc. things.


 * Starts with the voice actors doing a voice over of the manga WJ 31st JUMP BLEACH316：Swang The Edge Down


 * Kubo appears. They talk about the movie (Fade to Black).


 * Naming the original characters from Rukia’s point of view was very difficult.


 * Orikaksa (Rukia Voice Actor): “A strong yet gentle name Rukia would come up with”


 * Question: What bits do you want everyone to focus on?


 * Kubo: “The relationship between Ichigo and Rukia. Their change in their own feelings”


 * Talk about the manga


 * Question: What will happen in Karakura Town? Tell us sensei


 * The pillars that are broken is paid by the Captains of the division. That’s why everyone is just watching (laughs)


 * Kubo: “The flashback arc had many feedbacks” (Lol, shows how boring the HM arc was )


 * From there “Everything happened from Aizen’s betrayel” and Hayami (Aizen's voice actor) appears.


 * Kubo: “Aizen will become more evil"


 * Kubo: “At first I did not plan Aizen to become the shadow behind everything. I just thought he will become the enemy after he was killed


 * The flow to Kubo’s plan:
 * There was trouble in Seireitei--> that’s it! Lets kill Aizen!--> The most exciting person to make him/her the culprit--> That’s it! Let’s make himself the culprit!


 * On the screen shows the present Captains and the past captains
 * In the past there was no Captain for the 10th division and the 11th division
 * Kubo: “In the 10th division during the flashback arc the Captain just pasted away”


 * Orikasa: “In the flashback arc there is a scene where Hirako goes “Lets go then” but where did they go? When will they appear again?” (end of TBTP arc)


 * Kubo: “I want the Vizards to appear all at once. So I am preparing a stage for them now. I can’t say when they will appear. Not anytime soon.


 * Morita (Ichigo's voice actor): “When will Ichigo, Rukia and Renji appear?”


 * Kubo: “Ichigo will appear next week”


 * Sambomaster appear (the band who did the Diamond Dust Rebellion theme song)


 * Yamaguchi (band member): “What will happen to Chad?”


 * Kubo: “He will have an active role. I am still planning”


 * The drummer fell in love with Rukia after watching the movie. After seeing Orikasa-san he said “She’s real!” at back stage.


 * They sing enthusiastically “Hikari no rock” and 2 other unpublished songs


 * The comment from voice actors and Kubo


 * Orikasa: “Coming to JUMP festival makes me feel like you guys are sharing your energy with me. I will do my best in Bleach next year as well. Thank you so much”


 * Kubo: “Thank you all for coming today. When I went to America it made me feel that there is not much difference between the American fans and the Japanese fans as they both have no boundaries to something they love.

San Diego Comic-Con 2008
Topic Bleach in America, Beginnings & drawing Bleach, meeting fans, characters, future of Bleach Interview by Deb Aoki of About.com


 * Q: First of all, welcome to San Diego. It's been so exciting to have you here at Comic-Con!


 * Tite Kubo: Thank you! It's great to be here. I was really looking forward to coming to America. This is really my dream come true.


 * Q: You got this incredible rock star-type reception from your fans today! Did you expect that?


 * TK: I had heard before that American fans are very, very enthusiastic, but I didn't expect this much!


 * Q: When did you realize that you had such a broad fan base in America?


 * TK: Yesterday. (laughs)


 * Q: What are your impressions of San Diego Comic-Con so far? Is there anything like this in Japan?


 * TK: This is really impressive. Compared to Japanese events, Comic-Con is immense! I go to Jump Festa, but compared to that, Comic-Con is many times larger.


 * Q: Is this your first visit to the U.S.? What do you think?


 * TK: It's the first time for me to be abroad from Japan. I got my passport just so I could come to this event. Compared to Japan, the sunlight is very different and it's very strong. It makes things look very colorful as well.


 * Q: I heard that you have to draw 19 pages of manga every week, and that you drew ahead so you could take a break to come out to San Diego. Have you done any drawing since you've been here?


 * TK: I worked really hard so I could take the time to come here, so no, I haven't worked on any drawing since I've been here (big smile).


 * EARLY INFLUENCES AND THE BEGINNINGS OF BLEACH


 * Q: When did you decide to become a manga artist?


 * TK: I had already decided when I was in elementary school. When I became a manga artist, I became interested in architecture and design, but I've really only wanted to become a manga artist.


 * Q: Which artists influenced you then, made you feel like it would be really cool to become a professional manga artist?


 * TK: Hmm. My number one favorite manga then was Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro (by Shigeru Mizuki)! I've always liked the yokai (monsters) in that series. The other one that I liked a lot is Saint Seiya (a.k.a. Knights of the Zodiac by Masami Kurumada) -- the characters all wear armor and have interesting weapons.


 * Q: Huh! I guess that makes sense. I can kind of see some of the influence of both series in Bleach -- the Japanese supernatural themes from Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro and the weaponry and battle scenes from Saint Seiya.


 * TK: Yes, I think so, definitely.


 * Q: What was your inspiration for Bleach?


 * TK: I wanted to draw Soul Reapers wearing kimono. When I first designed Rukia, she wasn't wearing kimono, but i wanted to create something that no one has seen before. From there I created the world of Bleach.


 * '''Q: You've been drawing Bleach since 2001, seven years now. Has it changed dramatically from what you thought this story would be when you first started drawing it?


 * TK: At first, I didn't plan that there would be Taicho, the head Captain of the Soul Society. The captains, they didn't exist at first.


 * ICHIGO, CHAD, URYU AND KON: CREATING THE MANY CHARACTERS OF BLEACH


 * Q: What comes first? the characters, or the story's plot?


 * TK: (emphatically) Characters first!


 * Q: Bleach has so many characters with so many different powers, weapons, personalities and relationships! How do you come up with them?


 * TK: I really don't intend that characters have certain personalities when I come up with them. Sometimes I can't think of any new characters. Then other times, I come up with 10 or more new characters.


 * Q: Are there any characters that you thought fans would love but didn't, or a character that caught on with fans in a way that you didn't expect?


 * TK: I don't really recall any characters that I've created that I thought fans would love but didn't, but usually I notice that when I start describing a character's personality or back story, the fans start to really respond to them, and really start liking them. However, in the case of Suhei Hisagi (Lieutenant / Acting Captain of Squad 9), fans got hooked on him before I even started describing his personality, so that was very unusual.


 * Q: Are there any characters that are most like you?


 * TK: I feel like all the characters have a little bit of me in them! (laughs)


 * Q: How do you come up with the clothes for the characters in Bleach?


 * TK: I just put the characters in the clothes I wish I could buy, but can't find in stores.


 * Q: What do you consider to be Ichigo's greatest strength and his greatest weakness?


 * TK: His strength is that he is always considerate and thoughtful. He always thinks about other people's needs. That is a great strength, but it's also his greatest weakness, because worrying about his friends puts him in danger too, sometimes.


 * Q: Speaking of Ichigo's relationships with his friends, there seems to be a love triangle between Ichigo, Rukia and Orihime. Do you delve more into this in later volumes?


 * TK: (laughs) I get asked about that a lot! I don't want to make Bleach into a love story because there are much more exciting things about their personalities and things that they can do instead of getting into the romance aspect of their relationships.


 * Q: Your male characters are great, but your female characters are also very strong, interesting women. Are you influenced by strong women in your life when you create these characters?


 * TK: I have quite a few female friends who are not physically strong, but mentally, they are really very strong people.


 * Q: Do you have a favorite female character in Bleach?


 * TK: Hmm. Yoruichi and Rangiku! Their attitude is like, they just don't care what people think of them! (laughs) I have a lot of fun drawing them and creating stories with them.


 * Q: What inspired you to have a Mexican character like Chad and to include Hispanic culture in Bleach?


 * TK: It wasn't something intentional. When I designed Chad, he looked like he had a Mexican heritage, so I just wrote that in.


 * Q: How did you come up for idea of the Quincies?


 * TK: I created Qunicies to be Ichigo's rival characters, so i put Uryu in white clothing (compared to the black kimono worn by the Soul Reapers). Qunicies use arrows because they're long range weapons, so it's difficult for Ichigo to fight them with his sword, which is more for short range combat. The Quincy cross has 5 points, kind of like the the Japanese 5-pointed star. 5 points, quintet, Quincy! Quincies use arrows, so if you call them Qunicy archers, it sounds like a name, so I kind of liked that.


 * Q: Is the Kon doll based on anything from your childhood?


 * TK: I wanted to create something that looks fake, that looks like something that was just random things put together. Normally you don't have a sewing line in the middle of a stuffed doll's face unless it's done to make the face look more three-dimensional. But look at Kon! His face is flat so that line is unnecessary -- so I kind of like that fact. Ichigo and Rukia first find Kon on the street, so I made up a back story about how he got there. At a festival, a child wanted a stuffed animal, but since the one that he wanted was too expensive, so the parent bought a cheap one instead. The child didn't like it and threw it away, so that's why the Kon doll was found on the street!


 * BLEACH STORY DEVELOPMENT AND THE FUTURE OF BLEACH


 * Q: One thing your fans love about your manga is that you always keep them guessing. Do you plan very far ahead how your characters will interact with each other, and the various plot twists you throw into your stories?


 * TK: After I finished drawing chapter one, I already knew that Ichigo's dad Isshin would be a Soul Reaper. At the time, I didn't plan on having leaders in the Soul Society, so I didn't plan on him being one of the leaders.


 * Q: Will you feature a back story about Isshin?


 * TK: Yes, I will draw it!


 * Q: One thing I enjoy about Bleach is that there are many moments of humor as well as drama. Is that intentional to break up some of the heavier moments in the story?


 * TK: I don't really plan on it, but when I get bored drawing battle scenes, then I throw in a joke or two to make it more fun for me.


 * Q: How do you draw your action scenes? Do you have models?


 * TK: Nobody poses for me -- I just have rock music going in my head and just imagine the action scenes. I pause the action and rotate the characters and find the best angle, and then I draw it.


 * Q: What part of the creative process do you enjoy most?


 * TK: When I think about the story, if it's something I've wanted to draw for a long time, it's fun. I usually have this rundown of scenes I want to draw in my head. My job is to try to make it interesting. When it comes to drawing a scene I really want to do it's fun. When I draw the connecting scenes, I try to make it lively. And when it comes to inking, I really enjoy doing that work too.


 * Q: You're already up to 33 volumes of Bleach -- how much longer do you think this story will go?


 * TK: I can't really say how long this story will be by the time it ends, but I have a few more stories that I want to tell, so this series will go on for a while. (laughs)


 * MEETING HIS FANS AND A FEW WORDS OF ADVICE FOR ASPIRING MANGA-KA


 * Q: Let's talk a bit about your encounters with your fans this weekend. Are there any memorable experiences, or anything that stands out in your mind as your favorite memory so far?


 * TK: One of my favorite experiences so far was seeing the artwork from the winners of the fan art contest. The color illustration (by Christy Lijewski) was especially impressive. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to meet the artists, but it was really great to see their work.


 * Q: So as you can see, there are a lot of American fans who love manga and who would love to be a professional manga artist like you are. Do you have any advice or secrets to your success that you could share with them?


 * TK: Just believe in your talent. Maybe others will tell you otherwise -- but just believe in it. It's very important for readers to enjoy what you create, so you must do something that you find enjoyable too. Otherwise, it's dishonest to charge people for something that you don't enjoy.


 * Q: Do you have any message that you'd like to pass on to your fans who weren't able to meet you here today?


 * TK: I really get it now that American fans are really enthusiastic (about my work). I would love to come back to America again to meet more of my fans and maybe see them where they live next time.

Shonen Jump Interview, June(-ish) 2007
Posted on BA (link: ). --Yyp 22:00, October 26, 2009 (UTC)

Topic: Characters, drawing, US popularity.


 * SJ: What would you give Rukia as a present?
 * Tite Kubo: A vacation! She's been busy all year.


 * SJ: Is there a character that you enjoy drawing especially?
 * TK: I tend to prefer characters that are rough and tough. They seem more three-dimensional. I'd say someone like Kenpachi. Komamura's fun to draw, too. Behind his headgear, he's got the face of the wolf -- something you normally wouldn't think to draw.


 * SJ: So you like fierce characters?
 * TK: Yes, I like characters that aren't typical or a bit unusual. I enjoy drawing secondary characters. It's also fun drawing Mayuri.


 * SJ: If you could switch places with one of the characters for a day, who would it be and why?
 * TK: I'd switch places with Kon. He seems so carefree, and everybody loves him in one way or another.


 * SJ: What items from the human world does Kisuke sell in his shop?
 * TK: Basically lots of candy and snacks, and household items. Small things, like detergent.


 * SJ: Could we find copies of SJ there?
 * TK: You won't find SJ. Kisuke doesn't have a distribution channel. But he does buy copies from himself at a nearby convenice store. [Laughs]


 * SJ: Are kimono easy to draw?
 * TK: Initially I wasn't all that interested in a traditional Japanese look, so it was hard at the start, but I got used to it. I wanted a kimono style that was slightly different from the usual. For instance, I wanted some decoration along the edges and sleeves that fluttered a lot to make the action scenes gorgeous to watch.


 * SJ: Do you use models or have one of your assistants pose for you? Have you ever dressed as a Soul Reaper and posed for a drawing?
 * TK: I don't do such things. I know in my head pretty much what a character is going to look like, so for any action scene I'll make the character move around in my head, choosing the angle I want and drawing from there.


 * SJ: How can Ichigo swing a sword that looks heavier than he is? Is he secretly working out at home?
 * TK: Well, no. To begin with, a zanpaku-tou isn't something you'd swing with your muscles. Ichigo's zanpaku-tou comes from inside him, so he wouldn't find it heavy. If Ichigo tried to wield Renji's zanpaku-tou, Zabimaru, he'd find it heavy.


 * SJ: So it depends on the person?
 * TK: Yes. Zabimaru looks pretty heavy, too. Ichigo wouldn't be able to wield him. Renji would probably find the same thing with Ichigo's Zanpakutō, Zangetsu.


 * SJ: The relationships between siblings mean a lot in Bleach. Do you have any brothers or sisters yourself?
 * TK: Yes, I'm the eldest of three children. I have a younger sister and a younger brother.


 * SJ: If you could choose a character as a sibling, who would it be?
 * TK: I'd choose Rangiku, I wish she were my older sister. [Laughs] Well, that's because you cna count on her when you're in trouble.


 * SJ: And you want to be Kon, too?
 * TK: Hey, I didn't mean that! [Laughs]


 * SJ: Could you tell us which characters you would want to see fight each other?
 * TK: Hmm...I'd pick Shunsui and Ukitake.


 * SJ: Why is that?
 * TK: Because they're both nitouryuu [two-handed swordmen] which would make for fantastic visuals. Also because I can't imagine a reason they would fight each other in the story. They get along so well; they have been best friends for so long. I'd want to see what I fight between them would be like. If I had to pick one that's simply impossible, then I'd choose Ichigo and (dundundun! ) Kaien. Kaien being dead, that is.


 * SJ: Bleach is increasingly popular in the U.S., now that the anime is airing on TV. What aspect of the anime do you want readers of the manga to enjoy the most?
 * TK: I think what's fun in the anime and what's fun in the manga are two different things. What's fun to see in the anime is, of course, the way things move and sound. What I recommend most is to read the manga first then watch the anime. You'll discover and enjoy how a particular scene in the manga is transformed and how the action is portrayed. Some things in the manga have evolved into something new or have been shown in a way only the anime can achieve. These are the things that I hope readers will enjoy most when watching the anime.


 * SJ: Do you have a message for our readers?
 * TK: I never imagined when writing Bleach that it would be eventually published in the U.S., so I'm really glad that American readers have taken to it and enjoyed my work. Please continue to support Bleach. I've also been told that I shouls visit America someday.

Shonen Jump interview from 2006
Don't know who translated this one, but it was posted on BA (link: ). --Yyp 22:00, October 26, 2009 (UTC)

Topic: Being a manga-ka, the anime.


 * Shonen Jump: How did you get into creating manga?
 * Tite Kubo: The summer of my third year if high school was the first time I’d ever written a manga. I didn’t have any experience or knowledge of how to draw manga – I didn’t know you were supposed to draw rough pages first, so I just drew directly on the paper and submitted to Weekly Shonen Jump for a contest. I didn’t win, but I got a phone call from one of the editors who suggested we work together.


 * SJ: Which comes first, the story or the art?
 * TK: Of course, it’s either the pictures, or the characters – sometimes I have ideas for the characters’ appearances, or sometimes their personality. Once you get those characters set, then the story kind of moves on by itself. The key thing is that I come to love the characters, as if they re real.


 * SJ: If you weren’t a manga-ka, what else would you do?
 * TK: Industrial design, architecture – I never studied them, but I’m very interested in them.


 * SJ: What are Rukia’s favourite manga?
 * TK: She loves horror manga, shojo-orientated horror titles. She’s from the afterlife, but there’s actually nothing scary to read in the afterlife.


 * SJ: How involved are you in making the Bleach animated series?
 * TL: I’m involved with the character designs. Usually the character designs are done with manga artists just overseeing, but in my case I actually draw what all the characters should look like – I am essentially drawing all of the characters that appear in the anime. It is very rare for the artist to be involved this much.


 * SJ: What aould your dream cast be fore a live-action Bleach movie?
 * TK: If it were possible to do Bleach as a live movie, then I wouldn’t have drawn the manga. I want to draw something that can only be done as manga.

Discussion & Comments
Please keep all your discussions and comments here, so that they may be kept separate from the interviews in order to make it easier to read this page. Feel free to discuss any aspect of the interviews you wish. --Yyp 22:00, October 26, 2009 (UTC)

Akamaru Jump Interview, Golden Week 2009
Them saying that Ichigo would not have a major role, while Zangetsu would is proof enough that things said in interviews need to be treated with caution, as that has clearly not come true. The comment about Humans not having hair behind their ears - lol. --Yyp 12:00, October 27, 2009 (UTC)

Improve this thread
Any ideas you have for improving this thread, or better guidelines, please put them here. If people do not like the style I'm using for these interviews, please say so and suggest how it could be better. It is currently far from perfect. I realize also that this thread could end up being rather long. Any suggestions or comments are welcome. --Yyp 22:28, October 26, 2009 (UTC)