Key Takeaways
- Voice actor Masakazu Morita reflects on working with BLEACH creator Tite Kubo for the Thousand-Year Blood War arc.
- Morita’s evolving approach to voicing Ichigo includes using a deeper voice and aiming to embody the character better.
- Cherished interactions with fans, including inspiring a fan to become a firefighter, motivate Morita’s performance as Ichigo.
The 2024 New York Comic Con took place in October and one of its most exciting draws was the BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War panel, which featured voice actors of characters from Tite Kubo’s magnum opus talking about their experiences working on the series’ climactic final arc. The series has been enjoying quite a tour of the United States in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the anime adaptation, and Masakazu Morita, who voices series protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki, spoke to VIZ Media about his own perspective, and his favourite memory of working on the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, while at the LA Fireside Chat event, the veteran seiyu talked about how his voice grew and changed in the twenty years that he has been involved in the production.
Morita’s best memory of working on BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War is something that is sure to put a smile on the faces of fans, particularly those who have had feelings of contempt for how the BLEACH anime was originally handled. So, what was Ichigo’s favourite thing about being on the return of BLEACH?
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Kubo-sensei’s Involvement
Morita Relishes Receiving Guidance From the Author of BLEACH
Morita’s thoughts about his best memory of working on BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War so far were prompted by the question, “What was your most memorable discovery while dubbing BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War?” to which he didn’t have a direct answer because he could not exactly call his favorite thing a “discovery”; however, his favourite thing about being involved in the project is the involvement of series creator Tite Kubo.
According to Morita, Kubo has been intimately involved in the production side of things, and he has been present for the recording sessions for the series from Part 1, which he attended remotely, while he was physically present in the studio for all the voice recording sessions for Part 2. For Morita, being able to ask Kubo questions directly during these recording sessions was “a huge help”.
During the LA Fireside Chat event held at the Japan House in Los Angeles earlier this month, Morita answered a question about his changing vocal range and approach to voicing Ichigo. At first, the voice was created to fit the character, but at the time, Morita didn’t feel like he was truly embodying the character.
He still doesn’t feel like his performance is quite there yet, but he feels closer to the ideal voice for the character and used the iconic “BAN-KAI” line (with the absolutely necessary dramatic pause between the syllables that is quintessential Ichigo) to demonstrate how his voice reaches lower registers compared to before.
“I feel that in every one of you, there’s an Ichigo, there’s a Rukia, there’s an Uryu somewhere deep in your hearts. So we’ll keep working hard on this season and the next, and hope that BLEACH is something you keep in your hearts forever.”
– Masakazu Morita, voice actor of BLEACH protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki
Morita’s Most Cherished Moments
What Fans Take Away From BLEACH
During the aforementioned LA Fireside Chat, Morita had a few words to share with fans of the series, recalling various moments with fans at Anime Expo 2023 that he greatly cherished and appreciated. Fans eagerly told him that they’d been watching BLEACH since they were kids, and grew up inspired by the characters in the series, going on to commit their lives to protecting, caring or being a guiding light for others.
While doing autograph signings at AX 2023, Morita was approached by a large man, and he looked up to see the man in tears, because his decision to become a firefighter was inspired by Ichigo’s fervent desire to protect those close to him and his inability to look away when he feels that someone is in danger. For Morita, there have been no greater moments in the 20 years that he has played Ichigo Kurosaki than these kinds of interactions with fans of the series, and is using that positive energy to buoy his performance as the iconic character going forward.
The currently-airing BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3 is available on Hulu and Disney+.
