It's not uncommon for fans to cosplay as their favorite characters, but what's far less common is when creators dress up as one of their own creations. That's what happened with Bleach, as Tite Kubo expressed his love for one particular Soul Reaper.

Tite Kubo is the original creator of Bleach's manga, responsible for both drawing and writing the story. Back when Bleach was nearing the end of its run, Kubo took some time off from social media, possibly due to his health issues. However, in November, he announced his return on Twitter (now X) and Instagram with a surprise: a photo of himself in full cosplay as Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Captain of Squad 12 of the 13 Court Guard Squads. The image, accompanied by a few more in the following days, made the rounds on social media at the time, but has largely been forgotten.

Tite Kubo's Mayuri Cosplay is Impressive

Mayuri May Be the Most Difficult Soul Reaper to Cosplay

For those unfamiliar with the character, Mayuri Kurotsuchi is the mad scientist of the Soul Reapers, constantly experimenting upon himself, his sword, and others. His personality isn't the most likable, as he has a sadistic streak and very few ethical qualms about what he's working on. He has a bombastic, self-aggrandizing personality, and is ready for seemingly anything thanks to his various experiments. Mayuri is a controversial character within the fandom, as many feel he's too evil to truly be aligned with the Soul Reapers, who are supposed to be Bleach's "good guys."

Tite Kubo has made no secret of the fact that Mayuri is his favorite character he's created, particularly when it comes to drawing. Mayuri is instantly recognizable due to the elaborate makeup that he wears, painting his face white and black in various different ways throughout the series. Mayuri's appearance changes far more regularly than that of other characters, to the point where specific arcs can be distinguished by how Mayuri is dressed. Kubo's cosplay, for example, is based on Mayuri's appearance during the Hueco Mundo arc. As such, Mayuri may well be the most difficult Soul Reaper to cosplay, since most others are simply wearing black robes or a captain's haori.

Kubo's Cosplay Represents His Care for the Series

Kubo is Demonstrating How Deeply He Feels

For most fans, cosplay is the ultimate expression of their love for a series. Cosplays are often hard work to create, and can be uncomfortable to wear (one must imagine the Mayuri makeup is a bit much), but fans do it anyway just to be a little more like their heroes. Given that Kubo did this right as the final volumes of Bleach were being released, it could be interpreted as a sign to fans that just because it's over, doesn't mean their love for it has to end. For Kubo to cosplay as one of his own characters is a symbol of how much he truly cares about Bleach, and that he's a fan of the series, just like the rest of us.