Tite Kubo's smash hit manga series Bleach concluded in 2016 with 74 volumes, and many fans have been on board with this series since its launch in 2001. The manga, anime, games, and figurines are a major part of today's anime fandom, and for a time, Bleach was one of the "big three" alongside Naruto and One Piece.
The series is over, but the fan's love for Bleach continues. Online, many talented artists create their own drawings (digital or physical) of their favorite anime characters. Some art pieces are a tribute to the main hero and supporting cast, and naturally, Ichigo is the subject of many fan art pieces. So, let's browse a gallery of ten outstanding Ichigo fan drawings and images.
10 Ready for battle
We begin with this lovely hand-drawn and colored image of the hero himself. The artist opted for a fairly straightforward pose for Ichigo, but the piece is no less remarkable for it. Ichigo is treated to rich and well-balanced colors, with his orange hair and red sword strap really standing out.
The rough and aggressive lines in Ichigo's Soul Reaper robes set the tone just right, since Bleach is an action-packed manga series that isn't afraid to get gory during battle scenes! The swirling blue lines help fill up the negative space, which is a nice effect.
9 Ichigo's Day Off
In a way, Bleach is a partial isekai anime, since Ichigo Kurosaki and his classmates are ordinary Japanese high schoolers who get wrapped up in fantastic spirit worlds such as the Soul Society and Hueco Mundo. But in this case, they are able to return home, so it's like an action-packed day job to go fighting somewhere.
Ichigo is ultimately a mortal man, and he really only fights when his friends are in danger. In this piece, we see Ichigo's default state: an easygoing but introverted fellow who likes a little music to brighten his day. Official Bleach art also shows Ichigo, Uryu, and Orihime in everyday clothes, simply being ordinary teenagers. It helps balance out the supernatural aspects of the series.
8 Intense eyes
Maybe Ichigo is has a secret life as a mummy, since he keeps showing up wrapped in bandages! More than once in the series, Ichigo is doing battle while his arms, chest, or face are wrapped up tight in bandages, such as during his various training sessions or when he fought Aizen for the first time.
Now, this artist imagines Ichigo all wrapped up, so he can heal after training that is just as brutal as battle itself. The color scheme here is quite inventive, giving Ichigo dark and unreadable eyes and shading in his hair purple rather than its trademark orange. His hair also has a great "windswept" look to it for a dramatic effect.
7 Kitten boy
Well, isn't that touching? Some fan art includes bonus characters, and this time, Ichigo assumes the role of... kitten! During the arrancar arc, one of Ichigo's fiercest rivals was the sexta Espada, Grimmjow Jaegerjaques. Grimmjow can morph into a jaguar-like hollow when he releases his sword.
Fan art likes to reimagine some characters' relationships, though, and sometimes, enemies become best friends. Grimmjow is well drawn in his original hollow form, and he's such a doting parent, carrying around our carrot-haired hero like that. Ichigo doesn't look as enthused, though!
6 Cat dad
Did you like Ichigo's cat picture? How about another one? This time, Ichigo is the one who looks more like a parent, and some pet owners proudly declare themselves "cat dad" or "dog mom" to show how much they love their pets.
Ichigo is in a pretty good mood today, and not only is this scene a cheerful one, but it is drawn with remarkable detail and realism, too. See those books? They're slightly out of focus, being close to the camera, and the sense of depth in this picture is astounding. We can feel the warm sunlight from here!
5 If Looks Could Kill
Uh-oh! Ichigo is in a bad mood again! Normally, he keeps to himself, but if one of his friends is in mortal peril, Ichigo's protective side will go to any lengths to right that wrong. Here, Ichigo is realized with gritty and immaculate detail, and he truly looks like a death god, and not just some teenager with a sword.
In fact, the way his head is tilted, that wicked grin, and his glowing eyes... the effect is positively horrific, and in the best possible way. This could be the cover of a more M-rated edition of Bleach, and that idea sounds pretty intriguing, actually...
4 Me vs Me
Once in a while, you get that insidious inner voice that urges you to just cut loose and do something insane, to break free of society's polite rules. We all get that sometimes. But at least you don't have a full-blown hollow inside you, dying to control your entire being!
This fan art piece perfectly captures Ichigo's internal struggle, and more than once, he's had to contend with the untamed power inside. Hollow Ichigo is everything that he is not: brutal, selfish, reckless, bloodthirsty. Now, we get a real battle of black vs white, yin and yang, a hero vs a monster. Who will win?!
3 Stone Cold Ichigo
Now here's another stunning piece of Bleach fan art that was drawn by hand, right there on a sketch pad. Ichigo is realized in full and vibrant color, from his orange hair and eyes to the blue parka that he is wearing.
This piece also has an air of mystery about it, since the background is a deep blue and we can't actually see whatever is making all that light. Did Ichigo get caught in the headlights? Whatever the case, the lighting effect is astounding, and really gives a sense of illumination. The shadows make it look so real!
2 Over-the-shoulder glance
Whoa! This is one chaotic piece of Bleach fan art. But then again, when you take a minute to look it all over, it's also just as simple and elegant as it is chaotic. Ichigo stands tall, looking at you over his shoulder as you daring you to come closer.
We can't even begin to describe those effects fully, but we can say that the chaotic splashes of red and white are a stunning effect, to give this piece a sense of action and toughness that defines Bleach. And do those white lines at the lower right look like sword blades? Maybe!
1 The monster
We wrap up this list of Ichigo Kurosaki fan art with another terrifying piece that shows off this boy's true power. He's got an inner hollow, and now, more than ever, it has manifested to take the fight to the bad guys.
This art could easily be mistaken for official art, given its detail and accuracy to canon art pieces. And what's most interesting is that while Ichigo's full power is on display, he looks oddly calm and meditative, as though savoring the thought of a battle. The effect of hollow Ichigo's brutality being balanced with a meditative air is remarkable.