Bleach is a shonen action series with Ichigo Kurosaki as the star, but this series wouldn't be the same without stellar supporting characters such as Rukia Kuchiki, Uryu Ishida, and Yasutora "Chad" Sado. Rukia was the Soul Reaper who gave Ichigo his powers and introduced him to the world of zanpakuto and deadly Hollows. Are there any other anime characters like her?

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There's plenty, and Rukia's biggest fans can find all kinds of cool characters in similar anime series who are like her spiritual twin sister. Rukia is tough and brave, and she doesn't take any nonsense from her friends or enemies. She does have a good heart, though, and she'll risk it all to protect the people dear to her. Let's meet ten more anime characters who are just like Rukia Kuchiki.

10 Arisa Uotani (Fruits Basket)

arisa uotani fruits basket

Strictly speaking, Fruits Basket is shojo, not shonen, but some of its characters would fit fairly well in a shonen series, too (such as Kyo Sohma, who's always looking for a fight). Arisa Uotani was once in a girl gang, but she reformed herself into a good friend and upstanding citizen.

Arisa is tough and cool, and she is quick to protect her best friend (and personal savior) Tohru Honda from any harm. She also has a soft side; she developed strong feelings for the handsome and mysterious Kureno Sohma.

9 Tomoko Higashikata (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)

tomoko higashikata

Although Tomoko Higashikata only had a minor role to play in the Diamond is Unbreakable story arc, she was still a distinct character who raised herself a fine boy. She is Josuke Higashikata's mother, and she has a tough side that rivals her son's.

Tomoko doesn't have a Stand of her own, and yet, she is brave enough to stand up to a home intruder and draw a knife on him rather than back down or cower in the corner. She is also kind and gentle to her friends and family and supports her son 100%.

8 Erza Scarlet (Fairy Tail)

Erza Scarlet in Fairy Tail.

If Rukia ever met Erza Scarlet, they would instantly become the best of friends. Erza is among the most powerful wizards in the Fairy Tail guild, having the rank of S, and she uses special suits of armor to protect herself and get elemental resistances.

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Like Rukia, Erza is a master of the sword, and she didn't have the best of childhoods, either. But now, Erza has a new and loving family in her guild, and she will fight hard to protect those bonds. She's a no-nonsense fighter with a huge heart.

7 Maki Oze (Fire Force)

Maki Oze preparing to fight Arthur and Shinra

Next up is a member of the 8th company of the Fire Force, Maki Oze. She is a former soldier like Lieutenant Hinawa, and she is a second-generation pyrokinetic. Her ignition ability allows her to finely control fire around her, and she likes to create two adorable but deadly fire spirits in battle.

Like Rukia, Maki is a no-nonsense fighter who can punch well above her weight, but she does have her soft side, too. She loves a good romance story, whether in real life or in a book, and she makes sure that her fire spirits always look their cutest.

6 Kyoka Jiro (My Hero Academia)

kyoka jiro

Kyoka Jiro is a student at the elite U.A. school, and she may not be the most powerful member of class 1-A, but she gives it her best shot. Kyoka has a strong heart, and she will bravely do her part to face the villains and vanquish them. Her tough-girl attitude is endearing and works well for her hero image.

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As for combat abilities, Jiro compensates for her modest physical power with her formidable Quirk, called Earphone Jack. She can overwhelm enemies with sound waves, or plug her jacks into a surface and listen to distant enemies to track them. She's a great support hero with some offensive capabilities on the side.

5 Tsunade (Naruto)

Tsunade using her jutsu in Naruto

Now it's time for a true powerhouse: Lady Tsunade of the sannin, and the 5th Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village. She appeared soon after Orochimaru's failed conquest of the village, and Naruto and Jiraiya made sure to find her after the Third Hokage lost his life in battle.

Tsunade was a worthy successor to the Third Hokage. She is deeply compassionate to her friends and has nerves of steel when facing her enemies, and her punches hit like a freight train. She's also got a quirky and fun personality that involves a gambling streak (even if she's no good at gambling).

4 Ikumi Mito (Food Wars!)

Ikumi Mito talking on the phone and on a lap top while sitting in a limousine from Food wars

Who doesn't love a good tsundere character? That describes Ikumi Mito, a first-year at Totsuki, but there is more to her than that. Ikumi isn't the flashiest student in her year, but she is always ready for a challenge and has a go-getter personality that's infectious.

RELATED: My Hero Academia: 10 Anime Characters Bakugo Fans Will Love

Like Rukia, Ikumi is tough to her enemies and a bit gruff to her friends too, but she cares deeply for them, and she gets a bit flustered when her crush, Soma, gets close. Ikumi lost to him once, then became his trusted friend and ally for years to come.

3 Tatsumaki (One-Punch Man)

Tatsumaki from One-Punch Man.

Also known as the Tornado of Terror, Tatsumaki is the second most powerful member of the entire Hero Association. Her abilities are rather different than Rukia's; instead of swords and cold, she is the master of telekinesis, and she can even fly around.

On a more personal level, though, Tatsumaki is like Rukia after all, being a petite but formidable young woman who will bravely face the forces of evil while being gruff but ultimately caring for her allies. At least, she cares deeply for her sister, Fubuki who is also a hero.

2 Mikasa Ackerman (Attack On Titan)

Mikasa Ackerman

Here's another cool girl with a cool sword: Mikasa Ackerman, of the Scouts. She grew up with little, but she did have a good friend in both Eren Yaeger and Armin Arlert. She is warm to her friends (especially Eren) and turns into a battle maniac anytime he's threatened.

Mikasa is among the best at what she does, showing off incredible grace, skill, and ruthlessness when the fighting starts. If Rukia fans want another cool, dark-haired girl with a sword, they got her.

1 Major-General Olivier Armstrong (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)

olivier fullmetal alchemist

Major-General Olivier Armstrong just might be the most fearsome character on this list, but for all the right reasons. Like Erza, Rukia and Mikasa, she has a sword, a ceremonial saber that she takes with her everywhere. With it, she can even challenge the homunculi.

She also has a great burden: commanding and defending the dam-like Fort Briggs, on the border with the hostile Drachma nation. Olivier is unforgiving to friend and foe alike, but she's an immaculate professional and looks out for her younger brother, the burly Alex Armstrong. She may rough him up, but she'll take on anyone else who might do him harm.

NEXT: Bleach: 5 Things Rukia Can Do That Orihime Can't (& Vice Versa)