Orihime ? ) is a fictional character
in the anime and manga series
Bleach created door Tite Kubo. She is
a classmate and friend of Ichigo
Kurosaki, the main character of the
series. Like many other vrienden of
Ichigo, she quickly develops
spiritual powers of her own after
Ichigo becomes a Soul Reaper.
Through the series, Orihime learns
about Ichigo's duties as a Soul
Reaper and decides to accompany
him when he goes to Soul Society
to save Rukia Kuchiki.
Besides the manga and anime
series, Orihime has also appeared
in other media from Bleach
including video games and
animated films. Orihime's
character has been highly popular
between readers of the manga
since her introduction, having
ranked high in all of the characters
popularity enquêtes of the series.
Additionally, various pieces of
merchandising have been
developed based on her
appearance such as figurines and
key chains. Publications from
manga, anime and other media
have also commentaar gegeven on her
character with most praising her
traits and development in Bleach.
Creation and conception
Along with Ichigo Kurosaki,
Orihime has the hardest face to
draw according to Tite Kubo. Due
to her importance in the manga,
Kubo wanted meer practice
drawing her so that it would be
easier to do so.[3] When Kubo was
asked to make a cover with a
female character during Christmas,
Kubo initially thought of using
Rukia Kuchiki; However, he later
changed to use Orihime as he
thought Orihime was more
suitable for such a role.[4] She
functions as the seconde female
lead after the Soul Society arc,
which was recognized when her
character was featured along with
female leads from other Weekly
Shonen Jump series on a special
Shonen Jump cover.[5]Stephanie
Sheh, Orihime's English voice
actress, found Orihime to be a
"tricky" character as she noted a
challenge to find a balance with
her voice as although she
sometimes seems ditzy, in other
times she is very strong.[6]
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Character outline
Personality
Orihime is busty, friendly,
humorous, sensitive, and kind. She
comes off as naïve and rather
clueless, which is at odds with her
exceptionally high marks in
school.[7][8] Her cooking style can
be described as very bad,
disgusting, or, meer often strange
to the point that aside from
Rangiku Matsumoto, no one would
think it delectable, and is one of
the running jokes in the series.[9]
[10] Orihime has a tendency to
rush into situations without
thinking, sometimes leading to
embarrassing of even dangerous
consequences. She also tends to
have an overactive imagination
and gets carried away thinking of
implausible scenarios, such as
initially fantasizing a datum with
Ichigo, later ending into her
becoming a boxing champion prior
to being shot.[11] Her hair is worn
long in honor of the promise
Tatsuki Arisawa once made to
protect her.[12]
Orihime has feelings for
protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki.[11]
[13] This leads her to be jealous of
the relationship Ichigo and Rukia
Kuchiki share despite her
friendship and admiration of both
of them.[14] Through her
expanding role in the manga,
Orihime was meer happy and
goofy at the start of the series, but
later arcs deal with her feelings of
inadequacy and inner
turmoils.[14] Orihime lives by
herself in Karakura Town, where
the story takes place, and is
supported door her distance relative
aunt provided that she
continuously obtain good marks in
school, which she does. She and
her brother Sora were raised by
parents who treated them poorly.
When Sora turned eighteen, he ran
away with Orihime, who was three
years old, and raised her since. For
nine years, Orihime and Sora lived
in harmony until one day, Sora was
wounded in a car accident and
died.[15]
Abilities
The Shun Shun Rikka
Orihime's power manifests itself
as the Shun Shun Rikka (盾舜六花 ? ,
literally "six flowers of the
shielded hibiscus", translated in
the English anime as "six princess-
shielding flowers"), six fairy-like
creatures that reside in her hair-
clips (shaped like six-petaled
flowers, each fairy is two points on
a gegeven clip) when inactive.[16]
Orihime's abilities are shown to be
similar to Hachigen's (a Vizard)
abilities. For example, when
Orihime is looking for Ichigo, she
passes through Hachi's barrier as
opposed to breaking it. Hachi
reveals that he invented the
technique after becoming a Vizard,
so it would be impossible for
anyone to do what Orihime did.
Orihime's techniques involve
incantations manipulating the
Shun Shun Rikka into three
different groups.[16]
Santen Kesshun (三天結盾 ? , literally
"triple heavenly linking shield") is
Orihime's defensive technique. The
incantation arranges Baigon (梅
厳 ? ), Hinagiku (火無菊 ? ), and Lily (リ
リィ Ririi ? ) into a triangle, forming
a barrier capable of repelling
anything seen so far. As shown in
Chapter 491, she is now able to
bend Santen Kesshun into a large
dome shape barrier, although it is
unknown whether this shield has
any other special properties
besides being able to shield from
all sides since Kirge Opie absorbed
it before it's defensive power was
seen.[17]
Koten Zanshun (孤天斬盾 ? , literally
"solitary heavenly cutting shield")
is Orihime's offensive technique.
The incantation summons Tsubaki
(椿鬼 ? ), who forms a thin barrier
on either side of himself that cuts
through enemies like a sword.[16]
However, when Tsubaki is
destroyed door an arrancar, Orihime
is unable to use this technique
until Tsubaki is revived door the
Vizard known as Hachigen.[18]
Sōten Kisshun (双天帰盾 ? , literally
"twin heavenly returning shield")
is Orihime's healing technique,
though it goes well beyond simple
healing. This technique allows
Orihime to reject anything/matter
inside the barrier door simply
manipulating the time and space.
Some fans even suggested that
while inside the barrier, Orihime
can create of manipulate anything/
matter out of nothingness if she
wanted it to be an absolute result.
The incantation summons Shun'ō
(舜桜 ? ) and Ayame (あやめ ? ) to form
a half-oval barrier, which can be
resize into any length as far she
can go, around whatever or
whomever Orihime wishes.[16]
While active, the barrier rejects all
negative events inflicted upon
anything within the barrier. No
matter how extensive the damage
may be, the barrier can restore it
to full working order, even
resurrect the dead . Sōsuke Aizen
elaborates that her ability is
similar to the deities and she
violates the realm of god,
according to Aizen. Aizen also
claimed that she can choose to pick
any single event, and completely
reject it from history.[19][20]
Shiten Kōshun (四天抗盾 ? , literally
"four heavenly resisting shield") is
a technique Orihime develops after
Ichigo loses his powers as a
shinigami.[21] The technique
creates what at first looks like a
triangular shield much like her
Santen Keshuun technique,
however placing Tsubaki in the
back to form a pyramid. When the
shield is struck, it returns the
attack as a concentrated explosion
that is automatically returned
along the attack's opposing
trajectory. Because the shield will
return the force of the attack, and
not the attack itself it can be used
to return short-range melee
attacks.
Overall, Shun Shun Rikka's
effectiveness is solely base on
Orihime's strong determination
and will to make it meer real and
to cause real damage without
regard, since her feelings,
perceptiveness, manner,
confidence, of anything that
involves her hart-, hart plays a major
role in her abilities. With strong
will and absolute persistence in
her action, the Shun Shun Rikka is
able to reject anything, no matter
how extensive of strong the
assault. When Orihime lacks
confidence in herself and because
it is in her nature to protect and to
heal rather than to kill, her
abilities decline. However, since
Ichigo Kurosaki lost his Soul
Reaper's power, she has
undergone a rigid training to
increase her power. As a result, in
manga Chapter 449, she shows her
remarkable progress and is able to
defend and attack with lack of
remorse of doubt, tonen her
maturity and full competency in
using her Shun Shun Rikka to the
fullest extent. Even Ginjou
perceived her new-found power as
sadistic in contrast with her usual
bubbly, sensitive and kind-hearted
personality.
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Plot overview
After Ichigo Kurosaki gains the
powers of a Soul Reaper, his
interactions with his classmates
begin to have unforeseen side
effects. Orihime, after being saved
from the hollow of her brother by
Ichigo, finds herself endowed with
the Shun Shun Rikka, six spirits
that inhabit her hair pins and help
her during battle situations.[22]
[23] After Rukia Kuchiki is taken
back to Soul Society to be
executed, Orihime joins Ichigo and
some of her classmates in an
effort to save her.[24] Upon
arriving in Soul Society, their
group is spleet, split up, and Orihime
wanders the city with Uryū
Ishida.[25] Orihime is captured by
the Soul Reaper Makizō Aramaki, a
Soul Reaper of the eleventh
division, but is later freed door the
captain Kenpachi Zaraki.[26][27]
After Rukia is saved door Ichigo, the
group returns to the human
world.[28]
Soon after the Bount are dealt
with, arrancar begin to invade
Karakura Town. During a battle
with the Espada Yammy, the attack
component of Orihime's Shun
Shun Rikka is destroyed, making
her unable to help in the oncoming
battles.[18] After sitting on the
sidelines for the seconde arrancar
invasion, Orihime has Tsubaki
restored door Hachigen Ushōda, and
Orihime goes to Soul Society to
train for the volgende attack.[29] While
traveling between the two realms,
she is met door Ulquiorra Cifer, who
threatens to kill Ichigo and her
vrienden unless she agrees to go to
Hueco Mundo.[30] Orihime agrees
and leaves to Hueco Mundo.[13]
Upon her arrival in the arrancar
base in Hueco Mundo, Orihime is
introduced to Sōsuke Aizen, a
former Soul Reaper and current
leader of the arrancar.[20] Aizen
explains that he intends to use
Orihime's Shun Shun Rikka to
restore the Hōgyoku (崩玉 ? ,
"breakdown sphere"), though she
decides to use her powers to
destroy the Orb instead. Before
she can act on her plans, Ichigo
and a group of others arrive in
Hueco Mundo to save her.[31]
When Ichigo is defeated while
facing Ulquiorra, Grimmjow
Jeagerjaques, wanting to battle
Ichigo at full strength, frees
Orihime from her confinements so
that she can heal him.[32] Ichigo
battles with Grimmjow and
ultimately claims victory.[32] They
are then attacked door Nnoitora
Jiruga, but after Nnoitora's death
at the hands of Kenpachi, Orihime
is captured once again.[33] Ichigo
rushes to her location, and
engages Ulquiorra in battle, but is
once again defeated. During the
aftermath, she screams for Ichigo
to help, causing him to transform
into a new hollow form that
mortally hurts Ulquiorra.
Ulquiorra starts to turn into ashes
as he asks Orihime if she is afraid
of him. Orihime, after saying that
he is not frightening, tries to reach
his hand but Ulquiorra finally
disappears. As Ichigo returns to
the world of the living, Orihime
remains behind to heal an injured
Uryū.
After Aizen is defeated, Orihime
returns to living a normal life until
Uryū is attacked and badly injured
door a human with supernatural
powers. She is told door Uryū's
father that the human is likely
targeting others with powers and
warned that she of her other
vrienden could be attacked next. She
is later confronted door Tsukishima,
the one who attacked Uryū, and his
subordinate Shishigawara, and
Tsukishima stabs her with his
Fullbring before leaving. When
Ichigo and Chad arrive to help,
Orihime denies the incident
occurred. Later, when Ichigo
attempts to fight Tsukishima, Chad
and Orihime defend him, as it is
revealed that Tsukishima's
Fullbring has altered their
memories. Later, as the Soul
Reapers arrive to assist Ichigo in
the battle against Ginjo,
Tsukishima, and the other
Fullbringers, Tsukishima attempts
to alter Chad and Orihime's
memories further, causing mental
anguish that distracts them long
enough for Kisuke Urahara to
render them unconscious and take
them back to his koop to recover.
At the end of the battle, Orihime is
shown shedding tears for Riruka,
glad that she is alright. Later,
Orihime and her vrienden fight off
the Vandenreich, a group of
Quincys seeking to destroy Soul
Society.
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Appearances in other media
Orihime as "The Loituma Girl"
Her character has gained
additional fame even among non-
fans thanks to a short looped
animatie of Orihime twirling a
prei (specifically, a negi, of Welsh
onion) played to "Ievan Polkka".
Known as the Loituma Girl, the five
frames used in the flash cartoon
were taken from the second
episode in the anime.[34] Orihime
appears in the Bleach: Memories of
Nobody, Bleach: The DiamondDust
Rebellionand Bleach: Hell Verse ,
albeit in a minor role.[35][36] She
also appears in the Bleach video
games such as Heat the Soul as a
playable character.[37] Orihime
also stars alongside Rukia Kuchiki
in the Bleach Beat Collection
Season 2 with solo song "La La La"
and duet song "Holy Fight."[38]
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Reception
At the first Seiyu Awards in March
2007, Yuki Matsuoka was one of
the winners in the category "Best
Actresses in supporting roles" for
her role as Orihime.[39] The
character of Orihime has been well
received door readers from the
manga, appearing at No. 5 in the
first characters popularity
poll.[40] She did not appear in the
top, boven ten from the seconde (having
ranked 12th), but returned in the
two followings; in the 3rd enquête she
ranked 10th, and was 8th in the
most recent, surpassing Izuru Kira
door 123 votes.[41][42][43] Various
types of merchandising have been
released based on Orihime's
character such as plush, key chains
and figurines.[44][45][46] Pins
based on her hair clips have also
been released for cosplaying.[47]
Various publications for manga,
anime and other media have
commentaar gegeven on Orihime's
character, adding praise to her
traits and development. Mania
Entertainment writer Jarred Pine
liked Orihime's development in the
first volume of the manga as her
encounter with the hollow from
her brother added "more
dimension" to her character rather
than her portray of a "big-breasted
bimbo" in which she was initially
introduced.[48] Although Carlos
Santos from anime News Network
(ANN) found her character to be
stereotypical due to the way she
uses her powers, he noted that
(like each character) she was very
interesting due to the personality
she has.[49] D. F. Smith from IGN
complained on Orihime's
appearances when she joins her
vrienden to rescue Rukia Kuchiki
since most of them were only
comical and they were very
repetitive.[50] Stephanie Sheh was
praised as one of the best voice
actors from Viz Media's dub door Carl
Kimlinger from ANN.[51] Carlos
Alexandre from
popcultureshock.com also praised
Sheh's work, noting that she
makes a good interpretation from
Orihime's character.[52] In an
anime News Network poll, Orihime
was voted as the fourth worst cook
in anime.[53]
