The TV anime BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Conflict Arc recently aired its finale, and the final chapter, BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Cour4 - The Calamity Arc, has been confirmed. In light of this, a special interview featuring Masakazu Morita (voice of Ichigo Kurosaki) and Noriaki Sugiyama (voice of Uryu Ishida) has been released.

Who are your favorite characters in 'BLEACH'?

Sugiyama
t's difficult to choose just one since BLEACH has so many appealing characters. If I had to pick someone from "The Conflict Arc," I’d say Kyoraku left a lasting impression.

Morita
As a fan myself, I’ve always admired Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto. However, each arc introduces memorable characters. In "The Conflict Arc," like Sugiyama, I think Kyoraku is particularly striking. Beyond his character's appeal, I realized, as a fellow voice actor, that Akio Otsuka’s portrayal of Kyoraku makes him truly impressive.

Sugiyama
Otsuka’s “dandy charm” becomes more evident as I age, and I deeply admire it.

Morita
I hope to deliver a voice like that in the future.

Sugiyama
That’s a high bar to set! (laughs)

Morita
Well, it’s a dream! I aspire to have the kind of "dandy charm" in my voice that Akio Otsuka and Sho Hayami (voice of Sosuke Aizen) bring.

What lines from 'BLEACH' left a strong impression on you?

Morita
Mayuri’s line to Szayelaporro, “Enjoy The Next Hundred years” (Volume 34, Chapter 305), left me stunned. While I’d love to use it someday, I have no idea when it would be practical in real life! (laughs)

Sugiyama
(laughs)

Morita
In "The Conflict Arc," Kyoraku’s line, “Alright, everyone, let’s go,” before the Gotei 13 charges toward the “Soul King Palace” is one of my favorites. The way Akio Otsuka delivered that line caught my attention. It stood out because, unlike Kyoraku's usual calm demeanor, this line ends on a rising note, inspiring those around him. It was a new side of Kyoraku. When I heard it, I think both viewers and the Gotei 13 members felt motivated.

And, of course, there’s the incantation for Kido spell Kurohitsugi (Black Coffin). I often feel like doing a full incantation myself! There are countless other lines I love.

Sugiyama
I have many favorites too, but from "The Conflict Arc," I’d choose Nakk Le Vaar’s “That’s fatal!”

Morita
That’s a great one!

What are your thoughts on Ichigo’s iconic line?

Many cast and staff members have mentioned Ichigo’s line from Volume 68, Chapter 618: “Even if somebody besides me could..., that's not a reason for me not to!” What was your approach to delivering this line?

Morita
For heroic lines like this, I consciously try not to act. If I put emphasis on any part of the line, it might come off as overly dramatic. Ichigo’s words aren’t calculated—they’re spontaneous. As his voice actor, I aimed to deliver them naturally, as if it were the most obvious thing for Ichigo to say.

Sugiyama
That happens quite often. Even if a scene is important from the perspective of the production team or the audience, overthinking it as an actor can make it feel unnatural. Sometimes, it's better to go with the flow and let the scene unfold naturally. That's why, after the broadcast, when someone tells me, "That scene was amazing!" I often don’t even remember which scene they’re referring to (laughs).

Morita
Scenes performed “in the flow” heavily rely on the power of your co-stars. Even if you’ve fully embodied the character, interacting with other actors on set can bring out something completely unexpected that wasn’t within you before.

Source : ORICON NEWS