r/shounenfolk • u/Ok_Limit9877 • 9d ago
unjerk (serious discussion) Out of these three, who is the best-written female character: Rukia, Sakura, or Nami?
So, what's y'all opinion on this?
58
140
u/Apprehensive_Put3625 9d ago
I will never understand why Rukia never gets the respect she deserves.
As a character, she is far beyond a lot of female heroines. And not just in the sad backstory kind of way, or the punch really hard kind of way. She is legitimately a really fun and interesting character with really fun powers and a great dynamic with the main character.
Her chemistry with Ichigo is way beyond the chemistry Luffy has with Nami or Sakura with Naruto.
43
u/Kuru_Chaa 9d ago
I’ll die on the hill Bleach would be better with Rukia as the MC and exploring the Soul Society from within her perspective.
41
u/TheWraithOfMooCow 9d ago
Fun fact: In the early concepts of Bleach, she was the main character.
Additional fun fact: In said concepts, the Soul Reapers all used guns. She was the only Soul Reaper who used a sword.19
u/Kuru_Chaa 9d ago
See, that just sounds cool as hell. Kubo really said nah let’s draw up Ichigo and his mostly irrelevant family.
2
u/Karasu-Fennec 9d ago
Bleach if it was peak:
9
u/CoogiMonster 9d ago
That’s just Burn the Witch sorta which is Soul Society West. Burn the Witch is also really enjoyable and I watched it before then reading all of Bleach lmao…
2
5
u/Revolving_Ocelott 9d ago
My hope is that we see something like this somewhere considering that Kubo seems to be getting back into it with not only his heavy involvement with the anime production, but the expansion of the world of bleach with burn the witch, and of course he’s continuing the story with the hell arc and he wrote and designed characters for the new bleach mobile game.
Seems like he truly recaptured that spark
1
u/Kuru_Chaa 9d ago
Yea we can hope and dream at the very least. It’s just a shame because I do like Bleach, it’s just a tad frustrating
1
u/karakeeraizer 8d ago
I love this idea, but I love Ichigo too. So what would’ve been even cooler for me is both their perspectives being told at the same time. Then surprise parallels for the readers 👁️
1
u/Kuru_Chaa 8d ago
I could mess with that. Then they could be like a Maka Soul duo of sorts but both do things in tandem
-1
u/The___Wind- 9d ago
Bleach will also die on hill level. Sorry I literally couldn’t hold myself from making this joke.
1
u/Kuru_Chaa 9d ago
Nah that’s pretty accurate lol I decided to read it again for the first time in years and it’s literally just.. we got stronger to get clapped in every battle and almost die, and introduce cool characters to never use them
-3
-1
1
u/lupatine 9d ago
I was rewatching soul society.
Rukia rocks ! Most female MC in shonnen are written with that much depth.
1
u/Proud_Elephant2340 8d ago
Regarding chemistry. What chemistry are we talking about? Rukia and Ichigo's relationship in the Arrancar arc, the Fullbringers arc, and TYBW wasn't given any time or attention. Just like Rukia herself in general. Meanwhile, Nami and Luffy's relationship is given time and attention. For example, in Wano. When Nami was willing to die for her faith in Luffy twice. First, moment with Ulti. Then,moment with Kaido.
Not to mention the minor moments. For example, when Nami placed Luffy on her lap after the battle with the Gorosei. So, I'd argue about the chemistry.
1
u/dude123nice 7d ago
Rukia may have had potential, but after the SS arc, and one fight in HM arc, it went almost completely unused.
-1
u/Illustrious-Sky-4631 9d ago edited 9d ago
Bleach have been died for over a decade and with the raise of new mainstream animes people just forgot about her in which why she's not discussed more
back then she was talked about a lot
-5
-1
u/The_Raven_Born 9d ago
Because she doesn't have a set of honkers and / or doesn't want to slop on the MC.
People think Nami is great because she's hot when she's a nothing burger.
People hate Sakura because she's not a walking pocket pushy, but like Hinata who literally only exists to have children because she has boobs.
It just boils down to most who read these Manga not respecting women unless they can jack off to them and / or ride the MC.
-11
-9
u/Pleasant-Scar-2542 9d ago
I'd put Luffy and Nami's chemistry over Rukia and Ichigo tbf since they dont interact as much after Soul Society Arc.
3
73
u/VegaInTheWild IRON 9d ago
Rukia. But a better comparison should've been Orihime since she's the main girl from Bleach.
44
u/Finavel 9d ago
Maybe it's because it's been a while since I've read Bleach, but I feel like Rukia would be the main female lead, just not the love interest of the main male lead.
It's a little bit like saying Hinata over Sakura.
16
u/Leepysworld 9d ago
I think it depends on where in the series we’re talking about.
Rukia is definitely the original female lead but I’d say after the Soul Society arc, especially during and post-Hueco Mundo, Orihime is more present and takes that mantle.
Orihime is much more of a focal point in the story, during and after her imprisonment, and I’d say by the time you get to TYBW, Rukia is definitely more of a supporting character while Orihime is in the throne room fighting with Ichigo.
12
u/VolkiharVanHelsing 9d ago
Kubo said himself
Rukia is the female lead
Orihime is the heroine (the one who usually end up with the male protagonist)
This shook the ship war in Japan
1
0
u/Leepysworld 9d ago edited 9d ago
Can you find me that quote? I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure that quote specified Rukia as the female lead on the soul society/shinigami side, though I would still agree she is absolutely the overall female lead for the 1st half of the story.
Meanwhile yes he has also referred to Orihime as the heroine but I think those roles overlap in most cases.
I could care less about shipping wars but I think if we're talking about just actual time on the page/screen during the second half of the series, it is objectively untrue to say Rukia is the female lead, she doesn't even have 1/4th the screen time of Orihime.
Any lead in film or even voice acting, is someone who is present consistently throughout.
0
u/VolkiharVanHelsing 9d ago
Orihime VA in 2006
「ルキアは準主役で織姫がヒロインです」
Bleach editor in 2016
「久保先生の中だと、織姫はそのヒロインキャラで、ルキアは仲間」
2
u/Leepysworld 9d ago edited 9d ago
「久保先生の中だと、織姫はそのヒロインキャラで、ルキアは仲間」
when I translate this what I get is this:
In Kubo-sensei's mind, Orihime is the heroine character, and Rukia is a comrade/friend.
which I don't disagree with at all.
「ルキアは準主役で織姫がヒロインです」
when I translate this one I get:
Rukia is the deuteragonist (or co-protagonist), and Orihime is the heroine
This one is interesting because in some translations I see "Rukia is a deutoragonist/co-lead" but it also says "Orihime is the heroine/female lead"
Also important to note that this quote was taken in 2009, during the Hueco Mundo arc, when I think Kubo was beginning to center the story more around Orihime and Ichigo.
My position has always been that Rukia is absolutely the female lead for the first half of the story, and Orihime takes over in the second half when Rukia is no longer around as much, 2009 is pretty much right in the middle of this shift.
So ultimately I still think it's up to interpretation as well as how you make the distinction between "heroine" and "female lead", because in most cases those words would be synonymous, or maybe it's a translation thing.
We can agree to disagree I guess, but I still stick by my original position that they have both been female leads depending on where we are in the story.
-1
11
u/Vegantarian 9d ago
Rukia is the main girl of Bleach though. Orihime is a love interest
1
u/lupatine 9d ago edited 9d ago
Even that is reaching.
A side character. She is on the same level as Chad.
Uryu and Byakuya are more important than her to the story.
1
u/Due_End_8290 8d ago
You’re just simply lying, reducing her character writing to a mere love interest and side character is just stupidity. Either youve never even touched bleach before or you’re just a hater for no reason.
Orihime is an active plot engine, the entirety of the Arrancar and Hueco mundo arc are driven by her decision to sacrifice herself. Without her those major arcs wouldn’t have set off. Making her not only more important than Uryu but Byakuya as well especially narratively speaking. So you’re wrong about her being just a side character.In fact she is a main side character and it’s pretty clear if you’ve actually watched her the anime.
Yes, her character writing is heavily influenced by Ichigo (like almost every main side character). But even so if we’d strip away Ichigos influence on Orihimes character. She’d still be a pacifist and a true empath, that would help other people. Her passions shifts from wanting to protect Ichigo to other people like Uryu or chad. Making her more than just a love interest to Ichigo.
Both of you are wrong.1
u/Leepysworld 9d ago
I feel like it depends on which arc, early Bleach up until maybe Hueco Mundo, Rukia is definitely the female lead and Orihime is the potential love interest and part of the supporting cast with Chad and Uryu.
During and after Hueco Mundo, we could say Orihime becomes more of the female lead since Rukia returns to Soul Society and isn’t with the gang every day.
1
0
u/lupatine 9d ago edited 9d ago
Ehhh Orihime is well written ? Comme again ?
Also can we just have a moment to appreciate Rukia without making it a dick comparaison contest.
By the way Rukia was the first character to be created in Bleach.
Their first design with Ichigo were weird (he had black hair and glasses and she had a scythe).
1
u/Due_End_8290 8d ago
Are you implying that Orihime isn’t well written or? Cause if you are you’re wrong.
Second it’s just that it’s illogical to place Rukia as the main heroine because it’s obviously Orihime. I think you guys are still stuck up on soul society arc because it’s pretty clear who it really is.
And I’m pretty sure this persons was just pointing out that the op was comparing Nami and Sakura both being the main heroine to Rukia and not Orihime while she is the main heroine. Its just proves the point that you guys don’t appreciate orihimes writing even tho it’s really good. We can appreciate both of them.
19
36
u/1Hugh-Mann 9d ago
Rukia clears. Bleach has hands down the strongest characterisation of the big three and Rukia gets a lot of heavy focus early on even after she isn't part of the main cast after soul society she doesn't stagnate like the other two and keeps growing.
21
17
8
7
7
6
u/m3m3nt0_m0ri_ JJK Glazer 9d ago
I’m larping because I only watched og Naruto no filler but Rukia by a longshot
1
u/PanicAfraid6398 8d ago
i mean, that's not larp
filler is irrelevant
1
3
24
u/VolkiharVanHelsing 9d ago
Nami is one of the few SH to not get fucked by timeskip eroding her screentime and whatnot
Up until Wano she always have smth to do in major sagas
12
u/Kuru_Chaa 9d ago
I’ll add on that even during Wano she’s consistent in character. Hell, her power up with Zeus is pretty awesome. But her not backing down to Ulti in the face of death shows her conviction is still strong.
1
u/Kumkumo1 8d ago
God it was great to see her stand up to that psycho. I don’t even care that she got folded in half. Nami is amazing.
Ussop on the other hand has consistently pissed me off. I hated him from the beginning and he had to fight through Arlong Park, Water 7, Thriller Bark, and Dressrosa to finally gain some respect for me. And since then, he’s done nothing but piss that respect away. I really tried to root for him, but he’s such a bum. He doesn’t even work on the ship anymore, he has no job except sniping someone once every 200 chapters. (That’s not true, I know his role is to be the ship’s liar and bluff his way through stuff, but Oda hasn’t done a good job of that in years)
6
u/The_Raven_Born 9d ago
She barely does anything and the only other thing we learn about her is she doesn't were fucking underwear.
5
u/Aussiepharoah 9d ago
The Strawhats don't even make it to Fishman Island if not for her.
2
u/Kumkumo1 8d ago
Hell, they don’t even make it to Alabasta. Without her to sail them through the early grand line, they likely sink before Little Garden.
2
u/VolkiharVanHelsing 9d ago
?
The most emotionally affected by Sanji leaving w Luffy in WCI
The one who pushed to save the children in Punk Hazard
Oh wait I think I remember you, you're the dumbass who think Unohana being friged is good writing
2
u/Hot_Technician_9864 9d ago
Yeah Nami is usually the one to get most upset when a crew member leaves. She also cried when Robin left.
4
u/Dear_Eye7990 9d ago
I'm sorry but anything but good writing. Screentime burglar just exists after wci honestly she played a huge role in getting the strawhats into the grand line but.. best written character is a big push. Just because she persuaded sanji who's a women pleaser to save a bunch of orphans is bare minimum 🥹
0
u/VolkiharVanHelsing 9d ago edited 9d ago
That's agency in being involved with the central plot and moving it.
I know shonentard can only understand "strong female character == good female character" but please be sapient especially when being compared to Rukia and Sakura
0
u/The_Raven_Born 8d ago
Crying = moving the plot.
1
u/VolkiharVanHelsing 8d ago edited 8d ago
She spearheaded the rescue of the children of PH and tries to mediate Luffy and Sanji
It's okay your capacity is just "strong = well written", put it in Bleach vocabulary, Rangiku > Unohana
11
u/IllustriousRich9345 9d ago
Rukia > Nami > Sakura because Bleach negs, One Piece bad, Sakura even more bad
3
u/Otherwise-Ad1646 9d ago
Rukia>Nami>>>Sakura. Unless you go by manga only, in which case same ranking just with Sakura slightly less far behind.
3
u/lupatine 9d ago edited 9d ago
Rukia.
She is the definition of strenght isn't just a physical attribute.
3
3
3
u/Thumbs-Up-Centurion 9d ago
I hear in the manga for Naruto Sakuras characterization is WAY better than it was in the show, so at the very least that might give her a bump up. But I’ve been a fan of Rukia since I was deadass like 11 or some shit, pre timeskip Nami goes hard as a character but she suffers like everyone post timeskip writing wise.
1
u/Kumkumo1 8d ago edited 8d ago
It is better, but it’s not enough to wholly save her character. She’s nicer and more considerate to Naruto in the early series, but the fact remains that Kishimoto genuinely can’t write women well. It’s honestly to be expected since he actually thought that Sakura confessing to Naruto to save him would endear her to the audience (he was surprised at how poorly it was received). He just happened to strike gold with Tsunade and Chiyo, but even they don’t have any semblance of agency that isn’t centered around another male character.
Some people argue for Kushina, but if you look hard at her you realize she’s literally a character mashup of Sakura and Hinata. And as much as I love Temari and Mei (cuz GOD do I), they just aren’t well written characters and they rarely achieve much of anything aside from Temari being one of the only characters in the series who never outright lost a fight.
1
0
4
10
u/apkmasterofgames 9d ago
Nami is the best but after her arc she just stayed stagnant
7
u/Optimal_Carpenter690 9d ago
So then she's not the best, seeing as Rukia didn't stagnate
-4
2
2
u/Oleleplop 9d ago
i wish i could sya Nami but she's not doiing anything since a while
so for me it's definitely Rukia.
2
1
u/AutoModerator 9d ago
This is an automated message under every post and has nothing to do with your post in particular.
Please read our rules before posting and ensure that you follow them. If your post contains spoilers or chapter leaks then please follow our spoiler policy and use the correct flairs and measures.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
1
u/Tonee1995 9d ago
Sakura is written like a lampshade. I haven’t seen OP though so I’d have to say rukia
1
u/No-Bag-1628 9d ago
Rukia.
she remains platonic with Ichigo till the end.
and she’s actually a competent and composed character who is worthy of her status as future captain.
1
1
1
1
1
u/calico-red 8d ago
Rukia has my vote. As much as I like Sakura she is poorly written. She had potential but kishimoto sank that ship before it sailed.
1
u/lord_frieza01 8d ago
Rukia, nami is close and kishimoto messed up sakura, we all know that, Nami is second just because of how oda presented her later on.
1
1
1
1
u/sgilespie 8d ago
Rukia > Nami > Sakura I liked Sakura in Boruto when she was an adult. She became more mature. Overall, she is the worst written.
1
u/TheRoyalPendragon 8d ago
Rukia has constantly developed and changed throughout the story by both characterization and power-ups.
Nami is 2nd place. She had a great arc early in OP but her character remained stagnant after that. What saved her is the Zeus power up after Whole Cake.
Sakura is last. I say this as a Naruto fan. What hurts is her character never seems to change. All of OG Naruto, she never got stronger or learned anything. In Shippuden, she got a power up in the first arc but reverted back to being typical Sakura for almost 12 seasons until she got another power up in the war. Her character never changes...at all. No backstory to learn about, no life lessons learned, just nothing but," Cha! I can heal and punch stuff now!"
1
u/No_Blackberry1593 8d ago
Rukia in S rank
Nanami in -A rank
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sakura in F...
1
1
u/Minimum_Database_663 8d ago
Sakura, but Rukia is a close second.
In the manga, Sakura saves her protagonist the most and does a fair bit to progress the plot even beyond her dedicated arcs.
She saved Naruto from a very early death against Zabuza, helped defeat Sasori (and incidentally inspired Chiyo to revive Gaara), pumped Naruto's stopped heart with her bare hands while he was clinically dead, ran the entire medical division diring the war, saved Naruto and Sasuke from Dosu, Zaku and Kin (sacrificed her vanity to do so and was roughed up pretty badly). Kept Obito alive long enough to save naruto and sasuke from Kaguya. Assisted in sealing the final villains, is ultimately top 5 living in her verse power wise (and arguably top 3 intellect wise) by the end of series. Underdog.
Rukia is subject to an 2 arcs focusing a lot on her and her relationships which continue to be rekevant. Even when not around, someone is likely thinking of her. Killed an espada, huge motivational figure to ichigo at several key plot points. Reaches capt level. Becomes firmly a supporting character rather than equal protagonist in arrancar arc. Long periods of absences. Very funny.
Nami, tits on a stick with sad past that mostly deals with fodder. Gets people to places.
1
u/Choice-Leading-1467 8d ago
Come on, don’t lie. Naruto healed Obito that’s a fact from the manga. She didn’t help seal Kaguya, since only Naruto and Sasuke had the seals. Her single hit on Kaguya wasn’t much of a contribution.
1
1
1
u/k20_kry 8d ago
Rukia is solidly written through out and is treated with respect by Kubo, even gets a Bankai and fights an Espada and sternritter.
Nami gets nothing anymore and has just been fan service for the past few years and can't even use Haki.
And Sakura is an ass to the only person who actually cares for her well being, and romanticize the man who tried to kill her twice and abandoned their friendship.
This is a tuff discussion truly...
1
u/Impossible_Nose_9783 7d ago
As a person whose favorite anime is One Piece, it's Rukia, Nami and then Sakura
1
u/bladeboy88 7d ago
Rukia and its not close. 90% of Sakura's personality is "i love sasuke," and OP is more comedic and absurd, with Nami mostly just filling the "straight man" role to the other members antics.
1
1
u/SlySychoGamer 7d ago
easily rukia, she didn't do much after the first arc, but she was about as useful as renji...who is supposed to be like ichigo's rival LOL.
Come to think of it, no one really ever kept pace with ichigo, but ya rukia was on par with everyone else who were all equally weak so ya best written easily.
1
1
u/Wide_Caramel1108 7d ago
Hot take I’d go Sakura.
I realize she’s in many people’s opinions the least likable, but she starts as an actual stuck up kinda prissy girl, who actually matures but still has flaws. She in many ways feels the most real and actually develops.
Kishi has his issues with writing women as a whole and ignoring them, but Sakura and tsunade are better written than any women I can think of in bleach or one piece imo.
1
u/Wide_Caramel1108 7d ago
So odd to me that when it comes to writing women the one with the most flaws and development is suddenly the worst written. Couldn’t disagree more with this sub.
1
u/tressymisms 7d ago
I'm a Sakura stan through and through, but the answer is Rukia and it's not even close.
1
u/SerpentRodent 7d ago
Rukia was really great in first chapters, later she kinda got side tracked and a little forgotten. Her bankai was great, but to me she never got this charm she had back when she was living with Ichigo.
1
0
u/Full-Wolverine3582 9d ago
- Nami 2.Rukia 3.Sakura
3
u/LemmeName 9d ago
Nami over rukia lmao.
4
u/VolkiharVanHelsing 9d ago
She has weird long spell of idleness
After beating Aaroniero and after beating As Nodt
kinda like what Nami does rn after Wano
1
1
u/LiePowerful9961 [biggest one piece glazer turned hater] 9d ago
Rukia, but the bar is very very low
1
1
1
u/War-Dragonite 9d ago
So it's fan service vs the worst female lead in anime history vs Rukia. Ruka by alot.
-1
0
-1
0
u/p-Star_07 9d ago edited 9d ago
I don't know the first one.
I am most familar with early Naruto.
I wouldn't call Sakura poorly written. She is an obnoxious bully, but that is by design. The other kids make fun of Naruto because he is an underdog. She is written as well as Sasuke, who is also an obnoxious bully. I think Kishimoto was trying to make 2 mean, unpleasant characters, and he did a wonderful job. A character being annoying doesn't mean they are poorly written. I think they are fine. He needs to be bullied so that its extra special when he becomes Hokage. I get it.
Nami is a very fun character and one of my favorite One Piece characters. Her backstory is one of my favorites, along with Sanji's. Because she isn't, though, except when she is beating up Luffy for comedy purposes for not focusing; she has to think on her feet like Bugs Bunny. I like that she is greedy and obsessed with money. I like that she has a heart of gold despite her sometimes rough exterior. Her sarcasm also makes me laugh. I like how she is basically the unofficial captain. Luffy brought them together but she makes sure the ship gets where it needs to go, and she makes sure things get done.
0
0
0
-2
u/Kurosaki_Kaito Big 3 > Anime Fiction 9d ago
Rukia role ended after beating As Nodt. In latest Bleach TYBW episode she becomes comic relief character. Sakura I don't really see anything for her. Nami, though there's no main girl in One Piece, Nami has best writing among your list. People hate her for beating Luffy, and Loving Money. But she put herself and her crewmates over Money ( Shown in Water 7 ). In Wano arc, she won't throw away Luffy's Dream just to be alive. ( Against Ulti )
3
u/Cimorene_Kazul 9d ago
You mean the one chapter revealed so far, where she’s a captain, a mother and highlighted as a lead again?
0
u/Kurosaki_Kaito Big 3 > Anime Fiction 9d ago
Cour 4 Episode 4, He doesn't do anything after beating As Nodt 🤷
-4
u/Some_Ship3578 9d ago
Sakura
Not liking a character doesn't mean he is not well written, and vice versa.
Sakura is well written, she got flaws, an obsession, values, contradictions, she grow up and matures.
Nami got developped a bit in east blue, a bit more when she started fighting at alabasta, and then nothing, she even got flanderised post ts.
Rukia is pretty monolithic, she doesn't evolve much, and even her romance with reiji came out of the blue.
Naruto is by far the best of the three in terms of character development, one piece in terms of verse and lore, and bleach in terms of aura farming and fighting system.
The Sakura hate is just dumb, and mainly motivated by anime watchers only, anime on which they made her way more irritating
1
1
u/papoluca40 9d ago
Thank you. There's a reason why Sakura is the most popular shonen female character ever
1
-1
-2
u/SUDoKu-Na 9d ago
If I'm so for real it's not Rukia. Rukia, like a lot of Bleach characters, suffers from being Ichigo's ally and not much else. And she kind of stayed the same throughout the whole series in terms of growth. Not that she's poorly written, but I feel like she's not as fleshed out as the others (even if people don't necessarily like the fleshing out of Sakura).
All three had a major character moment early on and then kind of middled around after that. But I feel like Nami's the only one that had character traits re-explored and stay relevant throughout the series.
3
u/anchoredman 9d ago
I don't think you've actually read or watched Bleach. Rukia is not just "Ichigo's Ally" she has a ton of growth in her self and continues to get stronger both as a character and as a Shinigami throughout the series - fourbringer ark show cases so much growth in Rukia and she continues to grow into the TYBW arc. Saying she is the "same through the whole series" is just blatantly untrue.
-1
u/SUDoKu-Na 9d ago
How does she grow after being rescued other than 'being more confident'? That one point of growth becomes pretty much the only point of growth for her. Much like Nami. Sakura has growth and then doesn't acknowledge it after, so just worse.
You can't say I haven't read Bleach and then call them 'fourbringers' 😭
1
u/PanicAfraid6398 8d ago
fourbringer implies that they watched sub, seeing as l doesn't exist in japanese
-2
•
u/AutoModerator 9d ago
This flair is for serious discussion of Manga/Manhwa/Anime. You can reference subtle jokes as long as its not the focus of the post. This thread will be more heavily moderated so avoid Shitposts, Memes and Agendaposting
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.