Characters Whose Appearances Have Changed The Most

Summary

• Characters evolve over time in Bleach, with the story’s impact being reflected in appearances.
• Rangiku, Ichigo, Keigo underwent significant appearance changes for various reasons.
• Design changes in Bleach are symbolic of character development and story progression.

While there are many characters in the series of Bleach who could be considered ‘recognizable’ within the wider anime zeitgeist, that doesn’t necessarily mean they have had the same look from beginning to end. Considering author Tite Kubo’s drawing style has changed and adapted over the years, it makes sense that a few Soul Reapers would look a little different from when they first appeared.

However, this can also happen on purpose to illustrate how a character has evolved, and the impact the story has had on them that ends up altering their appearance. Either way, while these characters may have pretty different appearances by the end of Bleach compared to their debut, what does it really say about their characters?

9 Rangiku Matsumoto

Rangiku Seems To Have Gone For A More Practical Look By The Final Arc

• First Appearance: Episode 30

Considering how obsessed Rangiku is with her looks, it makes sense she would end up altering her style by the end of the story, though it can take a few seconds to realize it’s really her. The biggest difference is her hair which, while long ago reached down to her legs, is now cut into a messy shoulder-length bob that looks a lot more practical for battle.

Additionally, Rangiku’s face also became a lot more expressive by the time she appeared in the final war, especially her eyes, which are noticeably wider in some frames than they were before. While Rangiku presumably went with this look to be more suited for combat, her ever-evolving fashion sense is another factor why she looks so different.

8 Ichigo Kurosaki

Ichigo’s Appearance Has Become A Lot More Stoic And Refined

• First Appearance: Episode 1

Ichigo may have retained his plucky orange hair, but aside from that, his look has changed quite a bit as the story has gone on. Ichigo not only used to be a lot skinnier at the beginning of the series, but he also looked a lot more punk-ish and more like a typical shonen protagonist.

After experiencing so many harsh battles and having to save the world numerous times though, Ichigo’s look becomes a lot more realistic and refined. In the anime, it’s also shown that Ichigo has put on a lot more muscle by the final arc, which is another small touch that emphasizes just how long this guy has been fighting by this point.

7 Keigo Asano

Keigo Went From Looking Like A Derpy Goofball To A Stoic Imitation Of Ichigo

• First Appearance: Episode 1

Keigo has always been seen as a form of comic relief in the series, and his old look certainly fed into this with his outlandish facial expressions. However, as time went on, something started to change as Keigo began looking more stoic and mature. At the same time, the character himself, while still goofy, also seemed to have settled down a little and learned how to control his boundless energy.

In fact, by the time the final arc arrives, Keigo almost looks identical to Ichigo with how serious he always looks, just with brown hair as opposed to orange. While Kubo could have easily forgotten about this guy completely, the fact he went through the effort of updating his design to suit his change in personality is a nice added touch.

6 Orihime Inoue

Orihime’s Change In Design Reflects The Ever Evolving Tone Of The Series

• First Appearance: Episode 1

The slow and gradual evolution of Orihime’s design is a testament to just how far Kubo has come in terms of his drawing ability. In the first few chapters and episodes, Orihime could often be seen with a minimalistic and fairly goofy facial design, especially with her high eyebrows and blocky facial structure.

However, throughout each arc, her face became much sharper, and her expressions started to become moodier and more serious to fit the tone of the series. Orihime’s clothing has also changed probably more times than any other character in the series, with her two most notable fits being the Arrancar gown and Urahara’s outfit he made for her during the final war.

5 Zaraki Kenpachi

Kenpachi’s Appearance has Been Tinkered Over Time, Though He Still Looks Just As Intimidating

• First Appearance: Episode 20

It’s pretty hard to confuse Kenpachi with another character given his imposing physical frame and bloodthirsty grin, but there’s no denying he’s had quite a makeover during the timeskip. While he used to don spiky black hair that gave a glimpse into how zany and off the rails he was, nowadays, Kenpachi’s hair is much longer and reaches down his back, which makes sense considering he’s probably too busy fighting to ever think about cutting it.

Additionally, Kenpachi’s eyepatch is now fitted into the eye socket rather than being wrapped around as it was before, and his facial expressions tend to be a lot more solemn and moody, most likely due to losing both Yachiru and Unohana in quick succession. There are only a few small tweaks here, but still enough to show how much has changed for Kenpachi over the years he’s been a captain.

4 Momo Hinamori

Small Alterations Make Momo Hard To Recognize From A Visual Standpoint

• First Appearance: Episode 24

It’s easy to forget Momo is even in the final arc of the series, considering she looks almost unrecognizable compared to her earlier iterations. In the past, Momo stood out for her neatly tied-back hair which stretched down both sides of her head, and the green bun that rested upon her head at all times.

Fast forward to the final arc, and Momo now sports a shorter hairstyle that reaches just above her shoulders, while the cap is nowhere to be seen. Her eyes and general facial features also seem to be a lot more prominent than they were previously. Momo’s choice to change her appearance could be seen as symbolic of her moving past the tragic events that traumatized her early on in the series after she was betrayed by her beloved captain.

3 Sosuke Aizen

Aizen’s Constant Changes In How He Looks Reflect His Status In The Wider Story

• First Appearance: Episode 23

When Aizen first appears in the series, his design gives the impression he’s a closed-off and ultimately passive captain who wouldn’t dare to hurt a fly. The glasses, paired with the messy brown hair, all made him seem like a pretty ordinary guy, which is why when he reveals his plans, the design change that comes with it is all the more shocking.

Once Aizen slicks back his hair and tosses away the glasses, he then throws on a high-collar jacket that emphasizes his newfound authority as the leader of the Espada. He then has yet another appearance change in the final war where portions of his face are covered to highlight his status as a criminal, with his design, therefore, coming full circle from innocent Soul Reaper to a deadly prisoner.

2 Mayuri Kurotsuchi

Only Someone As Weird And Twisted As Mayuri Could Conjure Up Such Outlandish Outfits

• First Appearance: Episode 24

It seems as though every time Mayuri shows up in the series, he’s always got some new and outlandish look he’s decided to throw on. In the Soul Society arc, he wore a pointy hat which was aimed to the side, before then rocking a large blue headdress and golden teeth when he shows up in Hueco Mundo to battle the Espada.

That’s not all though, as he once again transforms his facial pattern and shiny ornaments in the Thousand Year Blood War, and that’s not even mentioning the sunflower suit, which is as outlandish as it sounds. If anything, this constant change in design simply just shows how experimental and crazy this wicked scientist really is, alongside how much he revels in looking as scary as possible to his enemies.

1 Yachiru Unohana

Unohana’s Appearance Goes Through A Full 180 Once Her True Identity Is Revealed

• First Appearance: Episode 24

If there’s any individual in Bleach who looks like an entirely different character by the end of the series, it would have to be Unohana, the former captain of Squad 4. Since Unohana plays the role of a healer for much of the series, she looks fairly innocent as a captain with her delicate braids and endearing smile, alongside her big comforting eyes.

However, once she is revealed to have been a Kenpachi, Unohana’s demeanor and clothes change entirely. Her hair is let loose and her eyes begin to droop, exchanging all the warmth and kindness with utter horror as she reveals her true form. If fans pay close attention during the Thousand Year Blood War anime, they can see hints of Unohana’s appearance changing before this reveal even arrives, such as the scowl that begins appearing on her face when the Royal Guard arrives, and even her eyes becoming lower as the episodes progress.