Akira Toriyama Saved Bleach: How Dragon Ball’s Creator Rescued Kubo’s Masterpiece

Bleach, the iconic anime about Soul Reapers and Hollows, almost got cancelled. Believe it or not, we might not have gotten Ichigo and his massive zanpakuto if Akira Toriyama, the legendary creator of Dragon Ball, hadn't saved Bleach. Back in 2001, when Tite Kubo first pitched Bleach to Weekly Shonen Jump, the editors weren't convinced. But one person saw its potential - Toriyama himself.

At the time, Kubo was a relatively unknown artist with just one failed series under his belt. His new idea about an orange-haired high schooler who becomes a death god was risky and different. The editors were hesitant, but Toriyama - already a manga god after Dragon Ball's success - gave it his blessing. That single vote of confidence changed everything for Bleach. Talk about anime history being made by one moment!

Want to hear the full story of how Toriyama saved Bleach? Check out our YouTube short for all the crazy details!

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How Akira Toriyama Saved Bleach Before It Began

When Kubo first showed his Bleach concept to Shueisha (the publisher of Jump), the editors weren't impressed. They thought the story was too dark for a shonen magazine, and the art style too unique. Most rookie manga artists would have been told to go back to the drawing board. But luckily for Kubo, Toriyama happened to see his submission and loved it.

Akira Toriyama saved Bleach by telling the editors to give Kubo a chance. That simple comment carried enormous weight coming from the Dragon Ball creator. The editors immediately changed their tune and gave Kubo the green light. Without Toriyama's intervention, Bleach might have been rejected entirely, and we'd never have gotten one of the Big Three anime that defined a generation.

The Dragon Ball Influence You Can Spot In Bleach

While Bleach is completely different from Dragon Ball, you can still see some Toriyama influence if you look closely. Both series feature heroes with spiky, brightly-colored hair, power systems that keep evolving, and over-the-top transformations.

Kubo has admitted Toriyama's work inspired him, especially when it came to character designs. Ichigo's constantly evolving powers mirror how Goku kept achieving new forms. Even the way fights escalate in Bleach feels Dragon Ball-esque at times - just with more swords and less energy blasts.

Release Year	MAL Rating	Animation Studio	Genre	Watch On
October 2004	7.97	Pierrot	Action, Supernatural	Netflix

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