Have you ever watched the anime Bleach? I remember discovering it back in middle school. The dedication of Rukia, the fiery spirit of Ichigo Kurosaki – these were just some of the reasons why I was drawn to this Japanese anime. Their actions and personalities kept me hooked and eager to see what happened next. Today, I want to share my thoughts on this long-running, action-packed Bleach series.
Adapted from the manga of the same name by Tite Kubo, the Bleach anime, produced by Studio Pierrot, premiered in 2004. It boasts a total of 366 episodes and four feature-length movies.
The Storyline
The core of the story revolves around the duties of Soul Reapers: protecting normal souls and humans, while also purifying “Hollows,” which are essentially corrupted spirits. Our protagonist, Ichigo Kurosaki, unexpectedly gains the powers of a Soul Reaper from Rukia Kuchiki, who is then deemed a criminal for this act. To rescue his friend Rukia, Ichigo seeks the help of Kisuke Urahara (a former Captain-level Soul Reaper exiled to the human world), significantly enhancing his abilities. Ichigo’s actions alert the Gotei 13, and he battles several Captains in his determined pursuit.
Just as they are about to succeed in rescuing Rukia from her execution, Captain Sosuke Aizen of the 5th Division, who was believed to be dead, suddenly appears. Aizen steals the “Hogyoku” (a substance containing immense power) hidden within Rukia. He then defects to Hueco Mundo (the realm of Hollows) with Captain Gin Ichimaru of the 3rd Division and Captain Kaname Tosen of the 9th Division, where he establishes himself as the ruler. Aizen uses the Hogyoku to create a powerful army of Arrancars (Hollows with Soul Reaper powers) to fight against the Gotei 13, all in an attempt to forge the “Oken” (King’s Key) and access the dimension where the Soul King resides, ultimately aiming to become the king of the entire world.
The Impact of Bleach
Bleach redefined the image of Soul Reapers for many young viewers. Before, the typical image of a Soul Reaper was a cloaked figure with a scythe. But Bleach showed us that Soul Reapers could be cool and that their job wasn’t just about collecting souls, but about fighting evil Hollows, turning them into righteous protectors.
The world-building in Bleach is exceptional. Souls that pass away peacefully ascend, while those with regrets or malevolent influences become Hollows. Soul Reapers are sent to the human world to eliminate these Hollows. The Soul Reapers reside in the Soul Society, while the Hollows dwell in Hueco Mundo. From the very beginning, the series establishes the conflict between these two opposing forces. What’s unexpected is that the leader of Hueco Mundo is Aizen, a defector from the Soul Society. Aizen is a compelling villain with a high level of charisma.
When Ichigo and his friends first venture into the Soul Society to rescue Rukia, I had many expectations. Would it be like the underworld or a Western-style hell? After all, the home of the afterlife should have that kind of atmosphere. But Kubo’s boundless imagination showed us that the Soul Society is just like a normal human society, where people exist as spiritual bodies. Soul Reapers aren’t born that way; they are trained. Being a Soul Reaper is a profession that requires combat, much like a hunter’s guild in a novel. Hueco Mundo, on the other hand, lives up to its name, with a desolate and empty landscape.
Ichigo, the protagonist, doesn’t stray from the typical shonen anime trope of having a powerful lineage, but his power-ups never feel forced. The concept of Zanpakuto (Soul Reaper swords) is also fantastic. I’ve always thought that swords should have a spirit, and in Bleach, to achieve Shikai (initial release) and Bankai (final release), one must communicate with their sword. I loved watching Ichigo enter his Zanpakuto’s inner world and talk with Old Man Zangetsu, who is enigmatic and guides Ichigo like a mentor. Other characters’ swords also have souls, and they achieve unity with their swords. The only exception might be Kenpachi, who could use anything as a weapon.
The Disappointing Ending
Despite its popularity, Bleach had a disappointing ending, quietly concluding without much fanfare. The downfall was the “Thousand-Year Blood War” arc. Kubo originally wanted to end the series after defeating Aizen, but due to contractual obligations with the editorial department, he was forced to continue. With no new ideas, Kubo created the “Thousand-Year Blood War” arc, which was so unsuccessful that it wasn’t even animated. It’s best to remember Bleach as ending after Ichigo defeats Aizen.
The Movies
Let’s talk about the four Bleach movies:
Bleach: Memories of Nobody (2006)
This movie tells the story of “Blanks,” mutated beings wandering around Karakura Town. A Soul Reaper girl named Senna, wielding the Zanpakuto “Mirokumaru,” appears. However, Senna can’t remember anything about herself. She is then attacked by a mysterious man. It turns out that Blanks are souls that have fallen into the “Valley of Screams,” the space between the world and the Soul Society. As they increase in number, the memories of the souls are condensed into “Memory Spheres” and return to the world. Senna is a Memory Sphere.
Bleach: The DiamondDust Rebellion (2007)
During the transportation of the Soul Society’s treasure, the “King’s Seal,” Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya’s 10th Division is ambushed. Hitsugaya’s subordinates retreat on their own while he fights the enemy leader. During a battle between Ichigo and Hitsugaya, a Hollow suddenly appears to help Hitsugaya, who doesn’t deny the Hollow’s claim that he came to retrieve him. At the same time, Captain Shunsui Kyoraku is seriously injured in an attack, and traces of Hyorinmaru (Hitsugaya’s Zanpakuto) are found at the scene. The Seireitei is forced to order Hitsugaya’s execution.
Bleach: Fade to Black (2008)
Homura and Shizuku are two children Rukia met in Rukongai. They died protecting Rukia but were corrupted by Hollowfication and went to Hueco Mundo. They reappear after 100 years to see Rukia again. When she returned to the Soul Society from Hueco Mundo, she took Rukia with her. Because Homura and Shizuku believe that Soul Reapers stole Rukia, they want to eliminate all Soul Reapers.
Bleach: Hell Verse (2010)
To protect Ichigo and his friends, Kokuto takes them to Hell, leading to a fierce battle.
I think all the Bleach movies are great, but the first one is the most nostalgic, as the title suggests. The second one is decent, the third one is quite exciting, and the fourth one is the most thrilling. I recommend checking them out.
That’s all for my thoughts on the Bleach anime series. Feel free to share your opinions in the comments below. Thanks for reading!