Bleach's Thousand-Year Blood War creates controversy through unexpected casting change

The anime community was in uproar when Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War made a sudden recasting decision, causing a heated Twitter debate. Bleach, widely regarded as one of the most popular anime series ever, originated from the manga series by Tite Kubo. It ran from 2004 to 2012, accumulating a dedicated global fanbase. Consequently, fans were ecstatic to learn that the manga's final story arc, Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War (TYBW), was getting its own anime adaptation.

Why did this sudden change occur and why has it caused such strong reactions within the anime community?

Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War controversy explained

In an announcement made on October 7, 2023, Anairis Quiñones revealed on X that she had successfully landed the role of the much-loved character Yoruichi. Yoruichi, widely recognized as a symbol of diversity in anime, generated an enormous wave of enthusiasm among fans who were eagerly looking forward to seeing her being portrayed by a woman of color.

Weeks later on October 21, the actress shocked everyone on the social media platform when she disclosed that she had been ousted from the role. This sudden decision sparked a torrent of frustration and letdown on numerous social media platforms.

In an October 21 tweet, Quiñones announced that she will no longer be voicing the character Yoruichi in Bleach TYBW. The studio and client decided to go in a different direction, resulting in her recordings being replaced. Quiñones expressed gratitude for the opportunity to take on such an iconic woman of color role and thanked her fans for their support. However, she will still continue voicing the character Hiyori.

Quiñones had originally been brought in to replace Wendee Lee, the former voice actor for Yoruichi, as part of a cast update in the anime. Similar changes were made by Viz Media and Studiopolis for other characters. For example, Jamieson Price, who originally voiced Chad, a character of mixed Japanese and Mexican heritage, was replaced by Cuban-American actor Alain Mesa. However, the decision to cast Quiñones as Yoruichi was later reversed by the studios, leading to widespread frustration and disappointment expressed on social media platforms such as X/Twitter.

Original Yoruichi actor responds to uproar

Wendee Lee, an accomplished voice actor with a career spanning over four decades, has gained acclaim for her pivotal roles in English-dubbed anime. Notably, she portrayed Faye Valentine in Cowboy Bebop and Kei in Akira. Previously, she lent her voice to Yoruichi in the original English dub of Bleach from 2004 to 2012, and now she is set to reprise the role for the upcoming season.

The reversal of this casting decision has sparked a passionate online discussion regarding diversity in casting and the portrayal of characters of different ethnic backgrounds in the media. Moreover, the recasting of Yoruichi, a prominent character in the popular anime "Bleach," adds an extra layer of controversy as it is considered one of the "Big Three" along with "One Piece" and "Naruto."

Many fans are showing their support for Quiñones's right to the role, along with emphasizing the significance of providing voice actors of color with opportunities to depict a diverse array of characters. Conversely, some individuals are expressing their opinions on the Bleach Subreddit, asserting that preserving the character's original voice is crucial for maintaining consistency, regardless of the actor portraying them.

Lee faced considerable criticism for her social media reactions to the recasting of her character in Bleach. She received backlash for her deleted posts where she vehemently defended her desire to continue playing Yoruichi, which many fans perceived as toxic. In an effort to address the controversy, she subsequently apologized to Quiñones via X/Twitter and extended a warm welcome to her for joining the cast as Hiyori.

However, the response to Lee's remarks highlights a broader debate concerning the casting of voice actors for characters from diverse backgrounds. Despite Quiñones publicly recognizing that Lee made contact with her, it seems she has not yet accepted his apology.

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"I tweeted on October 23 that I haven't replied privately to Wendee because I lack the energy and interest to engage any further in the matter. I am not prepared to have a conversation on this topic at the moment. Kindly respect my decision."

Amidst the ongoing online discourse surrounding representation and diversity in anime, Viz Media and Studiopolis, the studios implicated in this matter, have not yet released any official statements regarding the situation.

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