Are KENPACHI & BYAKUYA the SAME CHARACTER? - How Kubo MIRRORED the Journey of His Biggest Captains 

Kenpachi and Byakuya embark on very similar arcs in Bleach - but what do you think? Am I right about how Kubo uses these two characters, having them mirror one another throughout Bleach, or not? Let me know your thoughts down below!

Pretty dope how one powers up by ascending to the Royal Palace while the other powers up by descending into Muken.

I love Kenpachi's dynamic with Byakuya and Mayuri. Seeing the battle-obsessed brawler bantering with the elegant aristocrat and the sarcastic mad scientist of the Soul Reapers, is always fun!

When you think about it, even their final training is mirrored with Byakuya going to the royal palace or heaven, and Zaraki going to muken or hell

An addition to the Tsukishima fight is the fact that right after making Tsukishima a donut, Byakuya flat out states that it was the first time he felt joy in thr momentary madness that is battle. That's something Kenpachi ALWAYS shouts about except with Giriko

I think the most unique and interesting aspect of this topic is in the soul society arc. Old man Zangetsu is appearing before Ichigo during the fight with Kenpachi, and White appears within Ichigo during the fight against Byakuya

I love byakuya vs tsukishima, "I was gonna let my sister be executed, you think I won't kill my mentor?"

They almost remind me of Zangetsu (The more methodical and thoughtful fighter) and White (the more chaotic destructive fighter). Its two sides of the same coin and foreshadows Ichigos fate.

Byakuya will always be my favorite character. He's cold, calm , calculating, class, and master of all arts.

I've always loved how Kenpachi and Byakuya played the role of mentors of mentors to Ichigo, and reflected opposite sides of the same coin. Kenpachi is wild while Byakuya is orderly.

I see Kenpachi in the title.. i click.. I'm simple like that 🤷🏾‍♂️

Another way of looking at it. Byakuya is more order and tradition, where Kenpachi is more impulse and chaos. But they both navigate the same events and show us the opposing methods at taking on their obstacles.

Im a simple man I see Byakuya i like and enjoy

A couple of notes: in the arancar arc during their fights against 5&7 both captains have to use a technique that they are reluctant to use, and during the TYBW they are mirrored opposites in terms of their zanpaktou growth. Kenpachi learns to depend on and call his zanpaktou whilst byakuga does the opposite. He sees that he relied on his bankai too much using it almost like a crutch, so he seeks self mastery as well as refines his shikai usage.

Young Byakuya and Young Kenny definitely would have thrown hands if they had crossed paths. Would have ended cataclysmically for Byakuya but still

I wish we saw Byakuya get in touch with his Zanpakuto spirit after it broke. Kenpachi did after his development so it would have made sense if this mirrored with Byakuya's journey for redemption in the squad zero palace.

Interesting question, big man. Can't wait to hear the discussion on this one!

Their back and forth banter just is iconic

They're both pretty ruthless in battle, its just how they each execute their ruthlessness is different.

Opposites of the same coin. Two of the best characters in the series.

They are quite opposite yet similar. Be it their mutual battle lust in Hueco Mundo and savoring a fight to the death, to their humiliating near death defeats at the hands of opponents they looked down upon. For being a 'refined' aristocrat or wild barbarian from the slums they share quite a few traits.

Never a non-sense ramble! You could say that both characters represent the ying-yang side of things. Style & grace with extreme speed. Power & barbarism with extreme endurance. Two different characters on different paths walking towards the same goal pretty much.

OMG Yes! I have been waiting YEARS AND YEARS for someone to make this comparison in a better more cohesive way. I simply can't! I have noticed this so early on but I never saw anyone talking about it so its definitely not your imagination.

before watching, i think those two follow different facets of ruthlessness. which is necessary in warfare.

Spider-Man’s pointing at each other meme.

Whoa, two videos between yesterday and today?! Sign me up!!

They're the representations of order and chaos

They are different characters with different motivations that fill the same role in the story.

Your videos butter My biscuits thank you

They are great foils to each other.

Tesla's resurrection design based on Minotaur was so cool. And he was so emotional and loyal towards Nnoitra. My favourite Fraccion member despite his brief appearance.

Make more Toshiro videos!!! He feels like a main character among captains

I always knew that they were integral to Ichigos growth throughout the series, but I NEVER realized how much they effected each others growth so much....hell I never realized they even effected each others growth AT ALL to be completely honest. That was a really interesting little tidbit to learn, although it was pretty much in my face the whole time lol

They basically bounce off each other

I love content like this. You are answering a question I never had, but it's such an interesting one to think about. Keep up the amazing work!

im a massive massive fan of bleach (and of the channel!). I grew up on the Anime, and when I reached the end of the fullbringer arc...i couldn't watch the last few episodes, I didn't want there to be no more bleach episodes...so I actually have only ever seen up until Ichigo gets his powers back. So videos like this are just so cool to see, because as you said, up untill the point I watched, nearly the ground works have been laid. so as much as id like to watch the rest of the video...i am FANCINATED, and surprised that you say Kenny and Byakuya have simular arcs and development. as I always saw them as opposites, begrudged and diametrically opposed. The only connection I've felt in their character is byakuya's surprising hot headedness we see in his younger self and his Zanpakto. And that slight roudyness + his stuborn pride coming out in the surprising vs with Kenny when in the midst of Yammy Llargo. Ive been rewatching bleach for the last few years, hopefully by the time I'm done the TYBW arc will be concluded and I can watch that too! :)) Ive also been LOVING the manga, as I've started reading that the last couple years also...it is so outstandingly excellent. Thank you for the As-Always interesting topics! one day ill be able to freely rewatch all your vids in complete without having to dodge around spoilers :^)

I’ve been waiting for this analysis for years!!

1 view in 55 seconds thats great im really proud of you tommy

great video!

one thing i would say to mention is in the soul society arc kenpachi and byakuya also represent the two extremes of power kenny being raw power while byakuya represent the full power of skill and dextery pushing ichigo to the extreme in both those fights in those apects

Videos like this are how you earned my sub🗣

I like that Byakuya is an Angel and Kenpachi a Demon.

10:45 you know this makes me wonder... Was this a one off or could Ichigo theoretically come back from something like this again?

Even in the filler episodes, they do something together. Do you remember Shūsuke Amagai? (a captain of the 3rd Division, succeeding Gin Ichimaru) Guess who tested him for suitability? Zaraki and Byakuya.

Byakuya and Kenpachi are also somewhat mirrored in terms of their fighting styles in the Lost Agent Arc. Kenpachi ends his fight instantly while Byakuya enjoys his.

In the Soul Society arc they both do the most to progress Ichigos own story

Both give off "I believe in Ichigo because he defeated me." vibes... I think that they respect him enough for him to hang with their groups generally.

notice how we’ve never seen kenny and byakuya in the same place at the same time?!? Coincidence? I think NOT!!

Who remembers when it was actually a debate who would win in a fight 😂

So proud of myself to have MrTommo confirming my thoughts about these two captains! I’ve always thought why these two captains are so similar in some ways and why kubo keep pitching them against each other

I see Byakuya and Kenpachi together (or with Toshiro, too) I click

i never noticed this but now thinking about it, thats so trueee, they do mirror each other so well.

two of the strongest and best of the whole bleach series…In glad kubo never killed either of them off..they always take over a scene when they show up. Perfect example of Yin and Yang

Tesla survived. He and nel saw nnoitora die as he fell from kenpachi's swing of his zanpaktou.

Haven’t watched any of this yet 0:00 very interesting topic I’m excited for the vid

Yup and the both fought characters that mimic their appearance kenpachi and nnoitora and byakuya and sukashema

Damn 1 min? I caught this one fast.

One Of The Best Captains İn Bleach For Sure

Their first interaction was in the soul society arc where they almost fight each other for seemingly no reason. Only for Kenpanchi to get punked by Gin. Honestly terrifying now that we know what Kenpachi was capable of and foreshadowing how strong Gin was.

Each one is more identical than the other

I find it funny because you say there's not much to mirror in Soul Society and you're right in a way but there actually is a mirror for these two in Soul Society, Renji and Ikkaku. Ichigo fights and marginally defeats both Ikkaku and Renji before they both decide to help Ichigo after the fact. They both have very similar relationships with Ichigo as well as with their respective captains and ultimately, they also turn up everything together in the future too when it comes to needing someone on Ichigo's side. Both have fought and lost against their captains before being praised and spared by them. Both were sent out to aid Ichigo when Yammy and Ulquiorra attack. Both lose against their primary Espada/Fraccione matchup and need to be saved by a captain who isn't theirs. Both come to Ichigo's aid again in the Lost Agent arc. Both are also beaten by Mask deMasculine while having a decent amount of stuff to do away from their captains in TYBW and both are present with Byakuya when trying to block the sternritter from attacking Ichigo at the end there. They're extensions of the mirroring shown in Kenpachi and Byakuya due to being their right hand men.

Remember how Zaraki provoked Byakuya at the very beginning of soul society arc?! Tosen may have been actually right about him. At some point the Gotei 13 won’t be able to contain his indomitable bloodlust for battle

I always liked how opposite these two are. It’s also kinda fitting that we never got to see them fight. It keeps their physical rivalry pretty ambiguous and that’s fine with me. Plus, it gives fans something else to argue about.

I've always noticed they mirror each other but that thought is cemented even more with all the fanfics I've read. They also have a great dynamic and together with Toshiro, they are my favorite characters and in my headcannon a trio. Also... . . . . . . . I ship them

In the manga, Byakuya fought 5 Sternritters at once but in the anime, he only fought 3 at once.

I was just thinking something similar the other day 😅 Byakuya and Zaraki have more than you'd think in common..

Kenpachi and Byakuya’s parallel reminds me of Grimjow and Ulquiorra.

Bleach is great yea but im here just to listen mr tommo talk hahah english is not my first language but i love the vocalbulary

Well they are in some ways Ichigo’s toughest opponents who he has yet to really beat. It usually ends in a draw.

Zaraki is just a badass pyscho from borderlands 2 put into bleach.

I always thought Zaraki and Aizen were strong parallels. Like the Pauper and the Prince. I believe both Aizen and Zaraki were born were extraordinary levels of Spiritual Power but due to circumstances of their environments, they tailored they power to different but similar purposes. Zaraki (The Pauper), born in a violent region of Soul Society, he pooled most of his power to Fighting as a survival mechanism. Aizen (The Prince), born to a well to do live in Soul Society, he was pampered and couldn't being around people he thought were beneath him, he just grew his power diversely due to knowledge and resources at hand. Both Aizen and Zaraki are War Potentials of Reiatsu and Fighting Spirit respectively but ultimately both could be interchangable as a fight between Spiritual Beings is a fight of Reiatsu. Kubo made sure never to have Aizen and Zaraki interact or fight cause it would be a stalemate.

No because their differences are basically take away their powers but not their skill and you have the basis for Samurai Chanploo.

My only question is why didn’t Kenny go/why wasn’t he taken to the royal palace? I literally cannot imagine the upgrade he would’ve received

I have a suggestion for a Video. Can you do an indepth inquisition into renji, ichigo, and ichibei's understanding and using of the real name/ real understanding of a true zanpakto vs a limited or not fully evolved transformation? I feel there is a good deep analysis on the differences and similarities of how the name of a zanpakto vs the acceptance of ones power makes one's true power weaker or stronger. Is knowing ones true name more or less powerful than knowing ones history and who you are? Is a name all powerful or is a family lineage more powerful? Ywach seems to think that a lineage and being connected to reio is the ultimate understanding of a true self. I can make the basic connections and understaning towards the mangas explanation, but it never truly explains if knowing ones zanpaktos name is the same or less powerful as knowing where you came from? I feel Tite Kubo was rushed making the thousand year blood war arc and doesnt fully flesh out this idea. Or in another way, what would ichigos power be if he knew his quincy history but failed to create a new blade from an asauchy? The whole theme of "a name" is something beautiful , simple yet powerful is a japanese tradition. How Sakura is the beautiful name that perfectly embodies cherry blossoms... How no other name would be as beautiful. I feel there is a marriage between Japanese culture and Ichigos journey. I would love an analysis on how those 3 or 4 characters see the world and how you think the author sees the world through their eyes.

The most ironic is that old man zangetsu the calm calculating spirit aids ichigo against Kenpachi, and white the bloodlusted berserker aids him against byakuya

I don't EVER wunna hear anyone compare Byakuya and Zaraki in the same sentence 😂😂😂

Interesting topic but now more than ever, I wonder what would have happened if both Kenpachi and Byakuya died during the first invasion, and how their parallel journeys would have affected the world after their passing

I think another fun bit to note paralleling them is losing Bánkaî which happened to both but in Such Different ways… Luckily Kenny only got Half-Staarked… really would’ve loved to see Sánpō kènjū’s proper form actually used correctly but three blades is a lot to fit through one blade and body when it needed 2 before… & without Yáchírū he’s basically lost the Bánkaî he never knew he’d been using all day every day for however long… which is kinda wild… “Don’t worry I don’t need a Bánkaî so I let it do the lieutenant job for me!” kinda energy right?! : D But wish we got to see him use the ability fully so it’s maybe a combo of him and yáchīrū so he could maybe have two swords and her be the third… but who knows what Kubo wants done there fully… I do wish we got more of his Bánkaî so it wasn’t just treated as an associates shíkaî… But having your Bánkaî you don’t even know you have activated constantly doing everything you aren’t doing Is very Kenny & his means of not being alone above his squad… But would’ve been nice for senbonsakura to have more development… maybe the empty samurai armour wasn’t enough for what he’d have wanted to do? Who knows? Probably only Kubo… : D But nice to see discussion of the fun ways these two parallel eachother & íchígō’s development with Shírō & Kūrō Zángètsū… I suppose is the best names for them at the time if we aren’t gonna call them the other numerous names their powers derive from… But I always did feel like Kenny had more hollow vibes and byakuya more Quincy vibes in their Styles of Battle… & It’s interesting how each half of Zángètsū comes out differently from their nature & lack of a real ásàūchí etc. Quincy & Hollow natures & abilities especially in blade combat seem so different and these captains parallel these inclinations quite well from a far more shinigami focused angle… Love taking note on aspects of the story like this I rarely feel are explored as much by fans as they could be… but I’m no expert on the six paths so what do I know anyway? : D But still always down for Kenny’s unseen Santoryu Kènjūtsū… or I guess it’s only be Zánjūtsū that is likely hypothetical and we only ever see Kenny using Sánpō Kènjū in a form with two swords & no yáchīrū sooo…. Who knows if he even could anymore… I’d imagine the third blade their is her releasing Sánpō Kènjū as though it’s her shíkaî even though she is operating Kenny’s Bánkaî cause Kenny is very busy and having a lot of fun… or something… : D I miss their dynamic but maybes it’s still there with only him able to see her? Who knows… I know… Kubo knows but… he only answers so many of those klub outside questions…

You should do a what if blank fought blank video similar to how you've done the what if blank survived videos. Would Love your thoughts on if kenpachi did manage to fight Tsukishima.

to say they are on similar arcs is to completely disregard kenpachi's personality and over all mentality. He has always defended the weak to have the opportunity to fight the strong. That is what his motives are based on and his arc is to come to terms with his true self rather than holding back out of fear of being too powerful. ( A bit like Boros from One punch man for fans of the series) Which is why when he finally did stop holding back and unlocked his shikai/bankai his body couldn't maintain his true power. Similar to a person who trained their body to bench 500lb's but then stops for several years. if they try for that 500lb lift after all that time of lower training, they're going to harm themselves. Byakuya's entire story is about putting his pride aside and coming back from the coldness of losing his beloved brought him, while being a role model and big brother rather than just a superior to Rukia.

Since when were you under the impression they weren't the same person? They are both aspects of one person given form by Kyoka Suigetsu.

aristocracy and brutality are both a kind of savagery

I love it how Kubo used what we criticized about Byakuya originally and then turned it into a good quality like being stern and capable of killing what you feel you need can be useful Zaraki is a child in comparison to Byakuya (despite being much older) he is me me me the character Byakuya is maturity and self sacrifice when Zaraki's dream is crushed by Unohana he started crying "because he was going to die without being able to accomplish his dream of defeating her" Byakuya is in a similar situation against Tsushima he is in that same situation when Rukia was gonna get killed yet *not a single moment for himself*

This is why the Mugetsu plot-point felt odd to me. We initially went into the Arrancar Saga, believing we'd surpassed them, but it gradually became obvious Ichigo and the others were fighting an upscale and hopeless conflict with the Shinigami having to aid them. Ichigo being then held up to a pedestal to beat Aizen through convoluted means, especially the Dangai Training and Aizen's Macguffin-driven decline of his intelligence, it really should've been hammered in, Ichigo is not ready and that he no longer plays a role- maybe the Royal Guard deals with Aizen and then Ichigo having to truly build himself up with the Fullbringers.

Thé goat

Nah but without them, Ichigo wouldn't be what he is to this day.

Ive been wondering since you are quite the bleach fan. Have you played or are you plating BBS? (Bleach Brave Souls)

I hope see how Ichigo new bankai works some people said is fate manipulation

Even their relationships with Ikkaku and Renji, and Rukia and Yachiru are somewhat paralleled.

I hope someone will ask about aizen bankai to kubo

I never saw it this way, but them being the same character WOULD explain why Yachiru loved hanging out at Byakuya's house. And why she got away with it. And if I'm being perfectly honest, Byakuya being another manifestation of Zaraki's power makes more sense to me than the reasoning behind allowing Rukia to be set up for execution. Like, unless his parents hated Hisana, pretty sure they should want her sister to be saved. And even if they did hate her, Byakuya didn't, so reason enough to ignore any promise to them and save Rukia at any cost. And really, what's the worst that would have happened? Byakuya helps Rukia escape, gets exiled, and thus wasn't there when everything goes to crap? I don't think killing Byakuya was part of Aizen's plan at the time. I suspect he knew Byakuya's own principles would keep him from doing anything too disruptive, that was a better restraint than any hypnosis.

Hi

Honestly Stark n Shunsui are more of the same/identical characters

My wife's been trying to get me to stretch more, too

Damn, that's a ''Boruto vs Kawaki'' type full circle. Cause I thought the same thing two decades ago, when I was introduced to Bleach though a Breaking Benjamin AMV in one of the ''Double Dragon Collab'' creator's NG posts

When is cour part 3 coming starting to get impatient 💀

How did Kubo took our attention to make the final battle between Ichigo and biyakuya while there are stronger shinngami like Yamamoto and keuraku might kill Ichigo in seconds

Toshiro reminds me of Kenshin Uesugi in terms of the use of their ice, and style.. except Kenshin's style isn't all the way similar.

Two in the same meaning they got way too many fights, same with toshiro. And what does jushiro get? He gets to scold some 12 year old hollow girl

Sternritter Ichigo: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-DKQBZHgGjOk.html