Ever wondered how your favorite bleach anime figures have transformed over the years? Since its debut in 2001, Tite Kubo’s Bleach has captured hearts worldwide, selling over 120 million manga copies. This popularity has fueled a thriving market for anime figures, evolving from simple toys to intricate collectibles. Let’s dive into the journey of Bleach figures, from the Soul Society arc to the Thousand-Year Blood War (TYBW) arc, and see how they’ve become must-haves for collectors.
Early Bleach Figures from the Soul Society Arc
In the mid-2000s, as Bleach soared in popularity, companies like Toynami introduced the first wave of action figures anime fans could own. These figures, tied to the Soul Society arc, featured characters like Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki. While groundbreaking at the time, they were basic by today’s standards, with limited articulation—often just a few movable joints—and simpler sculpts. For instance, the Toynami Ichigo Kurosaki Series 1 figure, released around 2006, included a sword and stand but lacked the dynamic posing collectors now expect. Despite their simplicity, these anime character figures sparked a collecting frenzy, reflecting the series’ early fanbase growth.
Advancements in Bleach Action Figures
As technology advanced, so did the craftsmanship of anime action figures. By the 2010s, Bandai’s S.H.Figuarts line revolutionized Bleach collecting with highly articulated figures that brought characters to life. The S.H.Figuarts Ichigo Kurosaki -Bankai Tensazagetsu- figure, for example, boasts multiple points of articulation, interchangeable hands, and faces, allowing fans to recreate iconic battle scenes. These figures feature detailed sculpts and precise paint applications, a stark contrast to the Toynami era’s basic designs. This leap in quality mirrors the broader anime figure market’s growth, valued at over 669 billion yen in Japan in 2022.
Scale Figures and Statues in Bleach Collecting
Beyond action figures, Bleach collectors embraced anime scale figures and anime statues for their stunning detail. Lines like FiguartsZERO from TAMASHII NATIONS offer static but breathtaking representations of Bleed moments. The FiguartsZERO Ichigo Kurosaki -Thousand-Year Blood War-, released in February 2024, captures Ichigo’s Getsuga Tensho with dynamic effects, standing at 220 mm tall with meticulous attention to every wrinkle in his uniform (TAMASHII WEB). These pieces appeal to collectors prioritizing display aesthetics over poseability, showcasing the artistry of Bleach’s world.
Thousand-Year Blood War Figures: The Latest Collectibles
The 2022 release of the Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War anime reignited fan excitement, leading to a new wave of bleach anime action figures. These figures reflect updated character designs and leverage cutting-edge manufacturing. The S.H.Figuarts Ichigo Kurosaki -DUALZANGETSU-, released in October 2024, features Ichigo’s dual swords and intricate costume, offering unparalleled poseability and detail. Such advancements ensure durability and fidelity to the anime, making TYBW figures prized additions to any collection. The surge in demand aligns with the global anime figure market’s projected growth to USD 62.7 billion by 2032.
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