Did Kubo reveal why Mayuri Kurotsuchi hide his real face under mask in Bleach? Explained

Among the many characters Tite Kubo designed in Bleach, Mayuri Kurotsuchi remains an enigma. The 12th Division Captain is often seen wearing makeup, hiding his real face. While the series has shown how Mayuri looks without his makeup, the narrative hasn't given a clear indication of why the Soul Reaper chooses to hide behind a mask.

New fans who began the series with the anime adaptation of the Thousand-year Blood War arc may have the same question. So, did Tite Kubo ever explain why Mayuri Kurotsuchi hid his real face under the mask in Bleach?

Unfortunately, Kubo hasn't directly explained the reason. That said, during an interview for the Jet Artbook Volume 1, Kubo mentioned that Mayuri's face masks/makeup were originally influenced by Marilyn Manson, the American rock musician, who is one of his favorite artists.

In addition to this information, many theories emerged suggesting Mayuri hiding his real face could be distinctly related to his personality as someone who pushes the boundaries of progression and perceives himself as different than others. Since he can never be satisfied with the concept of "perfection," he always experiments with his own appearance, aside from his already existing inventions.

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Exploring Kubo's vision for Mayuri and the Soul Reaper's choice to hide his face behind mask in Bleach

Among the many Soul Reaper Captains from the Gotei 13, Mayuri Kurotsuchi's design in Bleach proves why he's one of Tite Kubo's favorite characters. The mangaka paid extra emphasis to design Mayuri, who hides his original face under makeup. Without his makeup, Mayuri appears as an ordinary person with golden pupils and blue hair.

Having said that, Mayuri never ventures outside without his makeup or a mask. Moreover, he enjoys coming up with new mask choices. Fans who have just started the series may wonder why Mayuri hides his real face. However, Tite Kubo never fully explained the exact reason.

In an interview recorded in the Jet Artbook Volume 1, Kubo revealed that Mayuri's makeup was inspired by Marilyn Manson, one of his favorite rock artists.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi, as seen in the series (Image via Pierrot Films)

However, the actual reason behind Mayuri's mask or makeup could have more meaning than just an "influence." As a work of fiction, Bleach is enriched with multiple layers of complexity. Every character is fully fleshed out with proper motives. Mayuri is no different.

Multiple fan theories circulating in the Bleach fandom suggest Mayuri's choice to hide his real face under the mask could be his way of alienating himself from the rest. The manga has proved from time to time that Mayuri considers himself superior to others and always wears his own identity.

He was also sentenced to 110 years in the Maggots Nest for conducting undisclosed yet dangerous experiments. These are some of the facets that contribute to his character, who walks the fine line between morality and immorality.

Mayuri, as seen in the past (Image via Pierrot Films)

Kubo might have wanted to express Mayuri's vision as an unhinged scientist, and the best way to do that was to have him wear makeup and make him stand apart. Additionally, Mayuri has an obsession with the grotesque. From his inventions to accessories, he enjoys playing with the concept of macabre. His unconventional makeup could be an extension of this.

Besides that, Mayuri's makeup could be a way to dehumanize himself and repel others. Fans may have noticed in Bleach that Mayuri Kurotsuchi doesn't like company that much. He prefers to be engrossed in his research. Therefore, his makeup could be a way to distort himself and intimidate others.

Some psychological interpretations may suggest Mayuri hiding his original face under makeup could be his way of hiding the scars from his past. Notably, Kubo hasn't explicitly revealed Mayuri's backstory, besides portraying him as an unhinged and curious scientist.

Szayelaporro Grantz in the original series (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Moreover, Bleach fans would know that Mayuri constantly changes his makeup and accessories. This might be connected to his vision of how a scientist should be. During the Hueco Mundo arc, Mayuri lashed at Szaeyalporro for seeking perfection. The 12th Division Captain resented perfection because he believed if something reached a state of perfection, it'd be the end.

Rather, he wanted to push the boundaries of perfection and constantly seek progress. Mayuri Kurostuchi perhaps applied that vision to his own appearance, which constantly changed according to the situation and his mood.

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Conclusion

Although Tite Kubo never explained the actual reason behind Mayuri's makeup besides citing its influence from Marilyn Manson, the narrative of his Bleach manga has left many clues for fans to come up with their headcanon regarding the Soul Reaper's choice. Undoubtedly, Mayuri's appearance makes him one of the most unique characters.

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