“I must reach the end with Ichigo”: Bleach Voice Actor Masakazu Morita Took up Training for Another Profession to Escape the Manga’s Shadow

Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War– Part 3 is arguably the most anticipated series for the 2024 fall season. Season 2 majors focused on highlighting each Zero Squad’s members, with Ichibē Hyōsube emerging victorious against Yhwach. However, Tite Kubo has some unique plans to unfold in Part 3 with Yhwach again overcoming his doomed fate.

The Wandenreich from Bleach: TYBW | Caption: Studio Pierrot

Regardless, Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War is currently making waves online despite the long anxious delay of 10 years. Although TYBW had one of the grandest returns, the production team was under immense pressure to meet fans’ high-end expectations. Ichigo Kurosaki’s VA has opened up about the challenges he faced during the production. Surprisingly, after the end of classic Bleach, Masakazu Morita ventured into a new profession, perhaps to step out of Ichigo’s shadow.

Ichigo Kurosaki’s Voice Actor Reveals Interest in Narration

With the teaser of Grimmjow in TYBW Part 3’s trailer, fans are eager to see Ichigo’s return and his showdown with Yhwach. Ichigo’s comeback was met with positive feedback, earning widespread applause for its improved animation and refined picture quality.

Kurosaki has again deeply moved several fans with his return to TYBW. Owing to Ichigo’s VA’s immense efforts, our beloved protagonist left a memorable impression on the audience. However, returning to TYBW hasn’t been a smooth ride for either Ichigo or his voice actor.

Ichigo in TYBW | Credits: Studio Pierrot

Masakazu Morita, the voice actor behind Ichigo Kurosaki, receives tons of praise from the Bleach fandom for his compelling voice work, bringing the fan-favorite protagonist to life. Because of Morita’s persistence in capturing every emotion of Ichigo, the voice actor constantly explores new creative ways to add more depth to Tite Kubo‘s creation.

In an interview, Morita talked about their sudden interest in narration an opposite career path for any voice actor. He said:

That’s right. I’m learning ways of speaking and looking at things that are slightly different from those of a VA. Narrators interpret words differently. So when I’m given a manuscript for narration work, sometimes it’s hard to know just how the words should sound. In a play, you find a cue and use it as a lead-in, so you know the course of action.
But with narration, I find it hard because I don’t have the necessary skills to draw from. That’s what I’m trying to learn right now. By studying narration, I’m learning new information, I’m acquiring new wisdom, and I’m developing a new eye for things. And in the end, make use of it in the field of acting.

Interestingly, the voice actor also reveals their plans to use their learning to add more life to Kubo’s beloved protagonist, Ichigo. He adds:

If I had an identity that would allow me to inject my personal brand while respecting Kubo Sensei’s vision, I think I could continue doing this until the end. Rather than continue to chase after Kubo Sensei’s Ichigo Kurosaki, I must reach the end with Ichigo. That is the battle I’m fighting against myself and that is my “fate.”

Ichigo in TYBW | Credits: Studio Pierrot

Masakazu Morita has earned a soft spot among fans with their voice acting skills behind Ichigo Kurosaki. However, the voice artist has been very vocal about their struggles during the production of Bleach: TYBW.

Masakazu Morita Opens Up About the Challenges Faced During Bleach: TYBW

Bleach is one of the Big 3 of Jump’s Shonen along with One
Piece and Naruto. Similar to Luffy and Naruto, Ichigo has also left a lasting impression in the community, captivating several fans with his character. Thanks to Masakazu Morita’s efforts behind Ichigo’s voice actor, our beloved protagonist’s iconic catchphrase, ‘Bankai’, has become a global sensation, continuing to resonate with fans and create buzz online.

Every voice actor faced several challenges to bring out most of Tite Kubo’s creations after a decade-long hiatus. Surprisingly, Morita also opened up about his initial struggles with voicing Ichigo in TYBW Arc. The voice actor reveals that he couldn’t cope with Kurosaki’s personality in The Thousand-Year Blood War Arc. However, all such challenges helped Morita grow closer to his fictional character and uncover an unexpected similarity to Ichigo.

Bleach and Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War are available for streaming on Crunchyroll