"Bleach" (2004) TV series 2004-????

Creator:

Tite Kubo

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 10 | unknown

Release Date:

5 October 2004 (Japan)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Thriller

Tagline:

Possessed!

Plot:

High school student Kurosaki Ichigo is unlike any ordinary kid. Why? Because he can see ghosts. Ever since a young age...

Plot Keywords:

Death | Fight | Life After Death | Shounen | Family Relationships

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Jan. 3	12:30 AM	TOON
Sun. Jan. 3	1:00 AM	TOON

Cast

Johnny Yong Bosch	...	Ichigo Kurosaki / ... (98 episodes, 2004-2006)
Masakazu Morita	...	Kurosaki Ichigo / ... (88 episodes, 2004-2007)
Fumiko Orikasa	...	Kuchiki Rukia / ... (63 episodes, 2004-2007)
Stephanie Sheh	...	Orihime Inoue / ... (63 episodes, 2004-2006)
Michelle Ruff	...	Rukia Kuchiki / ... (62 episodes, 2004-2006)
Yuki Matsuoka	...	Inoue Orihime (53 episodes, 2004-2006)
Noriaki Sugiyama	...	Ishida Uryu (52 episodes, 2004-2007)
Derek Stephen Prince	...	Uryu Ishida (51 episodes, 2004-2006)
Hiroki Yasumoto	...	Sado 'Chad' Yasutora (48 episodes, 2004-2006)
Jamieson Price	...	Yasutora 'Chad' Sado (45 episodes, 2004-2006)

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Australia:M (some episodes) | Australia:PG (some episodes) | Canada:14+ (TV rating) | South Korea:15 | UK:12 | UK:15 (volume 1) | USA:TV-14 | USA:TV-PG (some early episodes) | New Zealand:M

Company:

DENTSU Music And Entertainment

Quotes:

Ikkaku Madarame: You're pretty good, Ichigo. But the real battle starts now. And it's to late to come crying with apologies!
Ichigo Kurosaki: Hey! That's my line! Fight!
Ikkaku Madarame: Hit it, cover it, rock paper, scissors!
Ichigo Kurosaki: No not that kind of battle!

Movie Connections:

Spin off Gekijô ban Bleach: The DiamondDust Rebellion - Mô hitotsu no hyôrinmaru (2007)

Soundtrack:

Sakura Biyori

Excellent Versatile Anime

I first heard the title "Bleach" in a newspaper article covering Otakon in Baltimore, and I sought out the series with nothing but what I thought was a cryptic title.

The 108 episodes of Bleach that are out so far comprise more than 80 hrs of action, the careful fleshing-out of richly detailed main characters and a HUGE cast of supporting characters, multi-layered conflicts, and a solid soundtrack.

Every episode leaves you knowing a little bit more about the Bleach universe, while doing a great job mixing often operatic drama with manic comedy. Bleach knows 90% of the time when to not take itself too seriously, and the comic timing is usually on the money.

As for the best way to watch Bleach, I've recently gotten used to the English voices and they're not THAT bad, its just there's so much in the original Japanese that is left out. It's not as natural or well-flowing as the Japanese, but after closer inspection, it is tolerable for those who cannot abide subtitles.