'Bleach' Creator Not Yet Retiring, Will Release One-Shot story This Year
Bleach creator Tite Kubo is not retiring yet. He is just enjoying his time off after the success of his hit manga series, Bleach. The 40-year-old Japanese manga writer and illustrator also shared some details about his upcoming project. He also talked about the possibility whether it will be serialized like Bleach or not.
Manga and anime fans alike have been waiting for Kubo to release another manga series. His last mega-hit, Bleach, ended in August 2016. Kubo tirelessly worked on the series for 15 years with little pauses in between. The years of serialization finally took a toll on his health.
Kubo admitted that he is still recovering from those grueling years and he is taking his time in writing his next project. Now, he is just taking pleasure in his time off. He told Fuji TV's variety program A-Chatto WW that he has no plan on starting a new series for now.
There is no reason for Kubo to rush. The Bleach series continues to gain success even though it has been more than 1 year after it concluded. In fact, it was recently declared as one of the Top 10 Best-Selling Manga of All-Time at 120 million volumes sold.
Tite Kubo New Project
Though he is taking a time off, Kubo is working on a one-shot story for Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump's 50th Anniversary. The yet-to-be-titled project is due to debut this year. Kubo has an idea on how the story will flow but he can't give an exact date on when it will be released.
Unfortunately, Kubo also admitted that he doesn't think the upcoming one-shot story will inspire a full series like Bleach. The manga Bleach was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 2001 to 2016 and was collected into 74 volumes. Prior to the live-action venture, the series has already spawned a media franchise.
It includes a Studio Pierrot's anime television series from 2004 to 2012, two original video animations, four feature-length animated films, numerous rock musicals and video games, and different types of merchandise. It was also adapted into English. As of 2018, the series had over 120 million volumes in print worldwide and has sold more than 90 million copies in Japan alone.
The Bleach follows the life of a young delinquent, Ichigo Kurosaki, who had the ability to see spirits. He obtains the power of a Soul Reaper, which is destined to usher lost souls to the afterlife. It is Ichigo duty to defend the living world from monstrous dark spirits known as Hollows.
Bleach Live-Action Film Adaptation
Warner Bros Japan recently dropped the Bleach's first trailer. The whole 30-second clip focuses on ginger-haired teen hero Ichigo Kurosaki as he battles with a deadly Hollow. Ichigo is seen fighting back the Hollow once he draws spiritual energy from a Soul Reaper named Rukia Kuchiki.
Kubo has expressed his support for the Bleach first live-action film adaptation and looking forward to seeing it in theaters. The manga artist also teased that it is close to his original work. So far, the movie trailer has also received positive reactions from fans. Many can't believe how authentic the first teaser feels like.
Meanwhile, the film stars Japanese celebrities Sota Fukushi as Ichigo Kurosaki and Hana Sugisaki as Rukia Kuchiki. Bleach is due to premiere in Japan on July 20, 2018. So far, there is no announcement on when it will be released in other countries.
