8 Bleach characters who were underutilized

Bleach by Tite Kubo is a classic shonen anime that began airing in 2004. It is popular because of how it introduced vibrant characters that fans resonated with and loved. Many of them left a strong first impression, but later, as the story progressed, they were underused or written out without their full potential being realized. While the main cast, like Rukia, Ichigo, and Byakuya, received a good amount of screen time and character development, others were pushed to the sidelines.

In this article, we will explore 8 such characters from Bleach who were underutilized.

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List of 8 Characters who were underutilized in Bleach

1) Kon

First Appearance: Episode 9 (Enter! The World of the Shinigami Arc)

Role: Comic relief, substitute soul

Powers: Enhanced strength in his artificial body (mod soul)

Kon was introduced early on in Bleach as a Modified Soul. He was placed in a stuffed animal toy and was responsible for being Ichigo’s body double when he was away on any mission. Fans saw him as a mascot-like figure owing to his humorous nature and his utilisation only for comic relief.

However, after his initial introduction, Kon was soon sidelined to appear only in filler episodes or be part of a minor gag. Despite being a Mod soul who was capable of taking on battles, no one relied on his powers, leaving him to be an underutilized character.

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2) Retsu Unohana

First Appearance: Episode 32 (Soul Society: The Sneak Entry Arc)

Role: Captain of Squad 4, healer

Powers: Expert healer, master swordswoman, Kenpachi lineage

Retsu Unohana in Bleach had a lot of potential. For most of the series, fans did not know what she was truly capable of due to her pacifist nature. However, the Thousand-Year Blood War Arc revealed her to be the first Kenpachi and one of the most dangerous fighters in Soul Society’s history.

This plot twist was indeed a shock to fans, but it raised questions as to why her character's true powers were hidden. Despite her late reveal, the fight with Kenpachi Zaraki was interesting, but her whole character arc felt rushed. Unohana deserved more narrative buildup and screen time that explored her inner conflict and past in greater detail.

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3) Tatsuki Arisawa

First Appearance: Episode 1 (Agent of the Shinigami Arc)

Role: Ichigo’s childhood friend, martial artist

Powers: Spiritual awareness, superhuman strength

Tatsuki Arisawa in Bleach was one of the closest human friends of Ichigo. She was a martial artist with the ability of spiritual awareness. What made her character stand out from others was her tough, no-nonsense outlook on life, especially among Ichigo's human companions.

Yet, after the Soul Society arc, her presence in this series felt small. While other spiritually aware humans like Chad and Orihime gained powers and joined major battles, in comparison to them, Tatsuki was left behind. She was a powerful fighter, especially given that her physical abilities were commendable. But she felt completely ignored and underutilized.

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4) Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck

First Appearance: Episode 146 (Hueco Mundo Arc)

Role: Former Espada No. 3, ally to Ichigo

Powers: Cero Doble, immense speed and strength, defensive combat

Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck was introduced as a childlike character in Bleach who accompanied Ichigo in Hueco Mundo. Interestingly, she later revealed her true form, Espada form. She was an elegant and powerful warrior. And her major fight against Nnoitra Gilga highlighted her combat abilities and her status as a fighter.

Her character seemed to show a lot of promise, but it ended pretty quickly. After her epic battle, she reverted to her childlike form again. Even during the final war, she appeared briefly but didn’t participate in any significant way.

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5) Rangiku Matsumoto

First Appearance: Episode 33 (Soul Society: The Sneak Entry Arc)

Role: Lieutenant of Squad 10

Powers: Haineko (ash-type Zanpakuto), skilled manipulator and combatant

Rangiku Matsumoto in Bleach is known for her lethargic personality and being a huge flirt. But underneath her carefree exterior is a strong and capable fighter. She has one of the most unique Zanpakuto called Haineko. It can turn into ash and allows her to hit her opponents from a distance.

While she did play a supporting role in a few arcs, her combat potential and personal history were underexplored. Tite Kubo missed allowing her character a spotlight where she could unleash her potential in a battle. It would have been great to add layers to her character beyond fan service.

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6) Sado Yasutora (Chad)

First Appearance: Episode 2 (Agent of the Shinigami Arc)

Role: Ichigo’s best friend, Fullbringer

Powers: Brazo Derecha de Gigante, Brazo Izquierda del Diablo (spirit-arm-based strength and attack)

Chad was on his way to becoming a powerhouse of a character in Bleach. He was one of a kind, as he had immense physical strength and a kind heart. His Fullbring abilities gave him a unique fighting style based on armored arms. Also, Sado Yasutora fought alongside Ichigo during the initial arcs, like the Soul Society arc and Hueco Mundo missions.

However, from the Arrancar arc onwards, it was evident that he was overshadowed by the boundless power levels of other characters. He was easily defeated multiple times and pushed out of the main conflicts. In the final arc, he had a minor role despite years of loyalty to Ichigo.

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7) Lisa Yadōmaru

First Appearance: Episode 122 (Arrancar: The Arrival Arc)

Role: Former lieutenant of Squad 8, Visored member, later Captain of Squad 8

Powers: Zanpakuto Haguro Tonbo (bladed war fan in Shikai), Hollow mask (Visored abilities)

Lisa Yadōmaru is a former lieutenant of Squad 8 under Captain Shunsui Kyōraku in Bleach. She was a calm and analytical fighter, and her abilities made her a formidable fighter. After the Visoreds reconcile with Soul Society, Lisa is promoted to Captain of Squad 8 in the Thousand-Year Blood War Arc.

Her Zanpakuto is called Haguro Tonbo, and she is also capable of donning a Hollow mask, which enhances her speed, strength, and spiritual pressure. Despite these impressive qualities, Lisa Yadomaru was given limited screentime, and her full combat potential remains largely unseen.

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8) Shuhei Hisagi

First Appearance: Episode 24 (Soul Society: The Sneak Entry Arc)

Role: Lieutenant of Squad 9, Kensei’s protégé

Powers: Zanpakuto Kazeshini, later learns Bankai (in novel)

Shuhei Hisagi was introduced as a cool, composed lieutenant in Bleach. He had a powerful Zanpakuto known as Kazeshini, and it had a deadly scythe-like shape. Fans had high hopes for him. However, in the anime and manga, Hisagi never used Bankai, and his fighting moments were brief.

Interestingly, in the light novel Bleach: Can't Fear Your Own World, Shuhei finally achieves Bankai and plays a central role. But this was not canon and has not been adapted in anime. Hisagi is a perfect example of a character with untapped potential, limited not by power but by narrative neglect.

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In conclusion, Bleach has an extensive range of characters introduced when compared to other shonen anime. While a high quantity of characters are being added, it is a double-edged sword because it gets very difficult to utilize every character to their potential.

Whether due to pacing, editorial interference, or a shift in narrative priorities, the eight characters listed above never received the arcs they deserved. Fans do hope that, as the Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War anime adaptation continues, there is hope that some of these underutilized characters might get a chance to shine.