Movies / Animé and Toons

Bleach DVD 26 and 27

By Chris Zimmerman
May 12, 2010 - 17:39

Tite Kubo’s supernatural fighting series has more often than not boasted style over substance. While the series started off focusing on a group of characters whose lives were affected by the sudden appearance of a “Soul Reaper” named Rukia, it has since shifted its focus toward a more action oriented show. These two latest releases perfectly exemplify why the series that was once hailed for its ability to stick characters in emotional circumstances that conflict with what they perceive to be right and wrong.

For those not in the know, Bleach follows the life of Ichigo Kurosaki, a high school teenager dealing with the stressful life of being teased for his unusual hair color, the fact that his mother died saving him from an evil spirit, and that he can see said spirits. One day he finds himself once again on the receiving end of an attack from a wicked spirit, referred to as “Hollows”, when he is rescued by Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper. The Soul Reapers as a governing force in the afterlife, keeping order and balance so that our world doesn’t come into conflict with their own. 

Unfortunately, Rukia is injured in the squabble, and see’s no other option than to transfer her powers to Ichigo. He agrees, accepting his duty as a substitute Soul Reaper. Over the course of time, the powers of the Soul Reaper begin affecting those around Ichigo. His friends begin demonstrating unique powers of their own and more and more, Hollows become drawn to their location.
Making matters is the fact that Rukia is now branded a criminal and a traitor, with her own brother, Byakuya being sent to retrieve her. Ichigo confronts him but is soundly defeated and Rukia is swept away for execution.

This leads to a storming of the Soul Reaper’s base, known as the Soul Society, by Ichigo and his friends in an effort to save Rukia. This is considered by many to be the best arc of Bleach, for its ability to introduce new characters who were fun and stood out, and doing so in a way that each one felt important and contributed to the story. There was also the impending battle between Ichigo and Byakuya. On one hand, Ichigo wanted to save Rukia, willing to sacrifice his life to do so while Byakuya was the opposite, refusing to break the law for fear that he would dishonor his family and his long dead wife.

What came afterwards wasn’t quite as satisfying as it was a “filler” arc to give the manga more time to get ahead of the anime. This saga introduced the “Bounts”, a group of Soul Society outcasts seeking to over throw it, claiming it to be corrupt. While later on in the series we do see that portions of the Soul Society were indeed two faced, the Bounts don’t really come off as sympathetic as they are willing to kill just about anyone.

Volume 26 details the final episodes of the arc, pitting Ichigo against the Bount leader, Jin Kariya. For being filler, these are actually quite enjoyable. While the rest of the Bounts came off as cheap villains, Kariya has a back story to him, having witnessed everyone he cares about murdered before him. To this end he obtains a power that enhances his strength, leading to an explosive battle between Ichigo. It’s not the worst fight but it doesn’t hold a candle to what has come before. This is part of Bleach’s biggest weaknesses. Every fight tries to outdo the previous one but falls short because of the emotion that is lacking.

Afterward, Ichigo and the gang decide to take a breather when their world is threatened by a new species of Hollow called the Arrancar. These Hollows not only are stronger than the previous ones, they also are humanoid, possessing the abilities of a Soul Reaper. Making matters worse is the fact that the Hollow that originally killed Ichigo’s mother returns with these powers, with the intent to finish Ichigo. Two more show up later, boasting even stronger abilities, prompting a confrontation that is cut off by the end of the disc.

Volume 27 is the superior of the two, mainly for its return to the main story and the surprise reveal of a character’s secret powers. That said these two volumes are really just one fight after another. No matter the characters, it seems as though their back stories are merely devices to pit them against Ichigo. While this has worked for other series like Dragon Ball Z, One can’t help but be disappointed considering the high note Bleach started off on.

Also frustrating is the fact that because of the sheer number of characters introduced, many are reduced to getting short cameos or not appearing at all, reducing the chances of character development.

On the animation front, Bleach ranges from average to gorgeous. It’s clear that a great deal of effort went into this series, with the bulk of the effort relegated to battle sequences. 

As good as Bleach once was, it’s disheartening to see that it has degenerated into a series of fights. The episodes featured here are compelling in their own right but not enough so to capture the magic of the previous three seasons. Still, if you’re a fan of fighting anime that blends emotion and otherworldly combatants, Bleach is the perfect series. Just don’t go in with high expectations.

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12