"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:

Fight | Death | Manga | Surrealism | Soul Reaper

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Nov. 15	12:30 AM	TOON
Sun. Nov. 15	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:

Rukia Kuchiki: [seeing Claude in his 'stuffed animal' body] He's so-so cute.
[Claude makes puzzled noise; suddenly Rukia grabs & hugs him]
Rukia Kuchiki: [voice higher pitched] Ooh I just love him!
[rubbing her cheek on his head]
Rukia Kuchiki: He looks just like my Chappy!
Kon: Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey! What's the big idea? I thought I was the one you loved the best! How can love be so cruel?
[Rukia keeps cuddling Claude]
Orihime Inoue: [sounding apologetic] You mean alot to me Rukia; but as much as I'd like to, I can't give you 'Claude'.
[gasps; face suddenly looks serious]
Orihime Inoue: We both want the same man; it's a love triangle!
[...]

Movie Connections:

Spin off Bleach: Memories of Nobody (2006)

Soundtrack:

Sakura Biyori

Action, redefined

For anyone who enjoys action anime, this is the stuff to watch. Bleach revolves around Kurosaki Ichigo, a regular always-grouchy high-schooler who for some strange reason is able to see the souls of the dead around him. Although they are not usually dangerous, there are some called 'hollows' that aim to eat the regular ones, and on one fateful night, his entire family is put in danger by them. A death god, Kuchiki Rukia, happens to be there to battle these creatures, and after a dangerous mistake she is forced to give her powers to Ichigo in order to defeat the monster.

Henceforth, Ichigo has to take over her duties as a death god, protecting good spirits and other humans from hollows. The action in this series is stylish and fast paced, and the story line has you wanting more almost every episode. Ichigo is funny because of his ever-grouchy personality, and his friends are just as hilarious in their own way.

If you watch any anime at all this year, make Bleach number 1 on that list.