The Ultimate Ranking of Bleach's Original Gotei Captains: Unveiling the Most Stunning Designs!

Highlights

Bleach

The Thousand-Year Blood War arc of 's series has surpassed expectations and brought back the beloved original Gotei 13 Captains, much to the delight of fans. To celebrate the anime's revival, Tite Kubo, the creator of the series, has revealed character designs, displaying his ongoing passion for this beloved franchise.

The original Gotei 13 Captains possessed distinct appearances, ranging from Danjiro Obana's concealed face to Chika Shihouin's unkempt white hair.

After Bleach's conclusion, countless fans felt let down, as they believed the final arc would never be depicted in animated form. However, everything changed when news broke that The Thousand-Year Blood War would be adapted. The arc made its debut in October and has far exceeded expectations thus far. Many fans were overjoyed to witness the original Gotei 13 Captains from Bleach in action. These Captains were only on screen for a brief two-minute duration, effortlessly dispatching Quincies one by one.

In the manga, except for Yamamoto, the original Gotei 13 were just silhouettes. Bleach is famous for its well-crafted characters, and Tite Kubo, the series creator, recently shared the designs for the initial Captains to celebrate the anime's return. Kubo's passion for the franchise is evident, despite his disagreements with his editors regarding the creative direction of his series.

Updated on August 11, 2023, by Ritwik Mitra: Bleach: The Thousand-Year Blood War is generating a lot of buzz in the anime world. The show's new approach of shorter and more focused episodes eliminates the concerns of long, dragged-out scenes or filler content. Yhwach, the captivating antagonist, awaits defeat after killing Genryusai Yamamoto, the Captain-Commander. As a special treat for fans, Kubo has shared the outstanding character designs of the original Gotei 13 members, showcasing his talent at its finest.

13 Danjiro Obana - Squad 5 Captain

Aizen and Hirako are well-known Squad 5 Captains amongst fans, but the original Captain, Danjiro Obana, was a true fighter. Details about his full appearance remain elusive as his face is consistently concealed or unclear.

However, it is evident that Danjiro is a tall individual with brown eyes and thick eyebrows. His hair is characterized by its wavy and shaggy texture, often tied up in a short ponytail. Notably, he dons blue gauntlets on his forearms with distinctive gold trim, serving as his most noticeable attribute.

12 Kinroku Izuhara - Squad 3 Captain

Squad 3 has been commanded by renowned leaders such as Gin Ichimaru and Rojuro Otoribashi, but the squad's initial Captain had a strikingly dissimilar appearance. Kinroku Izuhara, the original Captain, possessed the visage of an average middle-aged man, with fair complexion, a slender mouth, a pointed nose, prominent cheekbones, and a defined jawline. Additionally, he sported short, grey hair neatly parted to the right side. The distinguishing characteristic that set him apart was the yellow tinted lenses of his glasses.

11 Chigiri Shijima - Squad 4 Captain

When Gotei 13 came into existence, Squad 4 did not go by the name Healing Corps, as it would later become. The initial Captain of the Squad was Chigiri Shijima, a skilled combatant. In the midst of the first Quincy invasion, he decapitated numerous Quincy using his sealed Zanpakuto.

Regarding his appearance, there is limited information available regarding his face, as it is concealed by his lengthy, grey hair. However, he possesses fair skin and features a sharp nose, as well as intimidating eyes.

10 Furuoki Otogawa - Squad 10 Captain

Furuoki Otogawa was mistakenly thought to be a member of the Kuchiki Clan and the former Captain of Squad 6 upon his revelation. However, he actually held the esteemed position of the original Captain of Squad 10. With his tall and slender frame, fair complexion, and perpetually calm demeanor, he often gave off the impression of being an ancestor to Byakuya.

Sporting long black hair fashioned into chest-length bangs, Furuoki occasionally adorned himself with a distinctive straw rice hat, setting him apart from the other illustrious members of the initial Gotei 13.

9 Batsunsai Katori - Squad 8 Captain

Squad 8 in the world of Bleach is often associated with the charming Shunsui Kyoraku, but the original Captain was a female. Although she may initially appear similar to Lisa Yadomaru or Nanao Ise, her true name is Batsunai Katori. With her fair complexion and striking eyes, Batsunai adorned large, sleek-rimmed glasses. Her flowing black hair was elegantly styled with front bangs and a segmented ponytail cascading down her back. Despite her pleasant appearance, Batsunai possessed the demeanor of a ruthless assassin, swiftly piercing through adversaries with her spear-like Shikai.

8 Shigekuni Genryusai Yamamoto - Squad 1 Captain

Yamamoto, the founder of the entire Gotei 13 organization, held the distinction of being its oldest Captain. His unparalleled strength as the strongest Soul Reaper spanned thousands of years, evident in his formidable abilities and devastating attacks.

In his youth, Yamamoto, though already showing signs of age, had a full head of black hair instead of being completely bald. His appearance differed from his later years, sporting a lengthy mustache instead of a long beard, with shorter eyebrows. While his younger self appeared more intimidating, the overall design of his character appeared rather commonplace.

7 Saizou Sakahone - Squad 13 Captain

Jushiro Ukitake, a beloved character among Bleach fans, is often recognized for his striking handsomeness. However, his predecessor in Squad 13, Saizou Sakahone, did not share the same appeal. As the oldest member of the original Gotei 13, his gaunt figure, tanned complexion, and deeply wrinkled skin reflected his age. With a prominent nose, bald head, and sunken eyes, Saizou resembled a lifeless being. Additionally, he had a noticeably hunched back. Despite his elderly appearance, Saizou instilled fear in others, proving his prowess by eliminating a significant number of Quincy during their initial invasion of Soul Society.

6 Entetsu Kumoi - Squad 9 Captain

The Captains of Squad 9 are not typically known for their intimidating appearance, but the original Captain stands out as if he belongs in a horror film. Known as Entetsu Kumoi, he possesses a somewhat imposing presence, being a fairly large man with a bald head and olive-toned complexion.

A noticeable scar runs across his left eye, although his eyes remain concealed behind thick glasses. However, it is Entetsu's striking feature that truly captures attention - his gleaming golden teeth, which are fully exposed due to the absence of lips. Adding to his unsettling aura is his Shikai, which takes the form of a black rod that bears a disturbing resemblance to a spinal cord.

5 Yachiru Unohana - Squad 11 Captain

Unohana, initially the Captain of Squad 11 under the name Yachiru Unohana, has held the position of Captain for Squad 4 since her first appearance. While she presents herself as a composed, courteous, and empathetic individual, it is important to note that she is actually one of the most merciless figures in the realm of Bleach. She deviates from her previous appearance by wearing her hair in a front ponytail, a departure from her initial style, giving her an intimidating and bloodthirsty appearance. Unohana is widely recognized as the most notorious criminal in the history of Soul Society.

4 Uhin Zenjoji - Squad 12 Captain

Kisuke Urahara and Mayuri Kurotsuchi, both former Captains of the 12th Squad in Bleach, are widely recognized as two of the most brilliant characters in the series. However, it is important to note that in the early days of Squad 12, their focus was primarily on combat rather than scientific endeavors. In contrast, Uhin Zenjoji, a formidable melee fighter, preferred to rely on his physical prowess rather than his Zanpakuto during battles. Physically, Uhin is a large and overweight individual with a sinister and almost deranged smile. His face bears a distinctive U-shaped mark, complemented by small gray eyes. While his hair is shaved down the middle, he sports a pair of short braids on either side of his head.

3 Chika Shihouin - Squad 2 Captain

Yoruichi Shihouin, the former Captain of Squad 2, played a major role in the merging of the Squad with the Stealth Force. Interestingly, her family had long been at the helm of Squad 2, with Chika Shihouin serving as its initial Captain. Unlike Yoruichi, Chika had a young appearance with olive skin and striking golden eyes. However, his distinguishing features included short, tousled white hair, a set of gold rectangular earrings, and a vibrant orange scarf adorned with intricate spiral patterns that encircled his neck.

2 Busuna No Shigyou - Squad 7 Captain

Komamura stood out with his resemblance to a dog, while the previous Captain of Squad 7 had a more beast-like appearance, albeit for different reasons. Busuna No Shigyou, tall and gaunt, had a pale complexion and skin that was sunken and contorted, particularly evident in his arms, chest, and eyes.

His facial hair consisted of a lengthy pointed mustache and goatee. His spiky black hair was always bound by a black fabric. Along with black gloves, he adorned a dark brown fur stoat around his neck and draped it over his shoulders. Busuna exuded an aura of danger, suggesting that he was a formidable Soul Reaper.

1 Furoufushi Saitou - Squad 6 Captain

The original Captain of Squad 6 was not a Kuchiki; instead, it was a young woman named Furoufushi Saitou. Among the original Captains, she was the youngest and had a noticeable thirst for battle during the original Quincy War.

Furoufushi has dark pink hair styled in hip-length pigtails, with bangs covering the right side of her face. Her eyes are violet, but one of them is concealed by an eyepatch, while she sports a white cloth around her head. Despite her youth, Furoufushi undoubtedly ranks among the strongest women in Bleach.