The direction this story takes is deeply unsettling. It starts as an intriguing narrative but unfortunately loses its purpose along the way. Ichigo never really has a goal to begin with, does he? That's where Bleach stumbles right from the start. Ichigo lacks a purpose, a goal, or any real meaning in his life. He just happens to meet Rukia one random day and gets swept into the Soul Society saga and everything else. As the series progresses, the author tries to give the story some meaning but ends up losing the plot. There are claims all over the internet that Tite Kubo only planned the Rukia rescue arc, and that was supposed to be the end of it. But Shounen Jump convinced him to continue. I don't know if this is entirely true, but you can see hints of it when you realize that Ichigo is essentially like a Pokemon character (HE HAS NO IDEA WHAT HE'S DOING ANYMORE).
I truly enjoyed Bleach up until the Aizen fight, and I agree with everyone who says it only gets worse from there. The Thousand-Year Blood War is supposed to be the grand finale, but it doesn't quite deliver. The comedy is good, but the characters aren't as engaging (only in the beginning does the author seem to care about them; by the second half, he seems to have forgotten about them). It's just sad how poorly it wraps up.
Bleach. Essentially, a show with potential that turned into a repetitive cycle.
I remember when I was just a kid and the show first aired on TV. The initial arc was spectacular; the fights and plot were extremely consistent, making the entire show enjoyable. Characters faced challenges that showcased the depth of the story. However, after the first arc, something went wrong. It just... collapsed. I call this phenomenon the "Bleach Effect," where the author rehashes the previous arc's plot but with new characters and powers. While other manga may have done this, Bleach takes it to an entirely new level. Without further ado, let's dive in!
**Story:** The story was consistent and very likable at the start. In simple terms, it revolves around a group of high school students who support the main character, Ichigo Kurosaki. The story is elevated by the concept of shinigami (Death Gods). Unlike Death Note, these shinigami wield swords. Ichigo stumbles upon a wounded shinigami named Rukia, who transfers her powers to him. This sets off an adventurous anime filled with action scenes and plot development. Ichigo and his friends, each with unique abilities, go on adventures and save their friends from peril.
However, after the first arc, the story becomes repetitive. It’s as if the storyline is on repeat. Sure, there are some developments within the immediate story, but from a holistic perspective, the first arc is repeated throughout the series. Imagine a manga with no unique plot after the first arc, just a recurring theme. Moreover, the manga heavily relies on plot armor, constantly needing power-ups or transformations mid-fight. There's nothing surprising after the first arc, and only a few times will you be caught off guard. The lack of an overarching goal makes it predictable. For example, many manga have an ultimate goal that drives the story forward, but Bleach doesn't. It's just about protecting your "nakama" repeatedly.
At one point, you ask yourself why you continue with such a manga, and the answer lies in the next topics.
**Story Score: 4**
**Art:** The art in Bleach is exceptional. Among the few shounen manga I've read, none have such great art. The quality is clear, and the fight scenes are well-drawn. As long as the manga provides a good setting, the art style deserves at least a 6. The artwork is consistent and works well with the atmosphere Bleach sets up. It’s so good that it makes you want to read more, even despite the repetitive plot.
**Art Score: 8**
**Characters:** The characters are well-developed, not the best but definitely not the worst. Their interactions and motives are solidly established, especially in the first arc. Ichigo, who might seem rough and absent-minded, is actually caring and has a strong sense of justice. This sense of justice, though clichéd, drives his actions and those of his friends. Unfortunately, this also contributes to the repetitive nature of the arcs. Despite this, the character development is spot-on and provides a reason for the characters' actions.
**Character Score: 4**
**Enjoyment:** Honestly, I don’t know if I found it fun. Sometimes, I was close to ripping my hair out due to the predictable plotline. Other times, I was confused by the "asspulls" during fights. The battles are so one-sided that you expect changes, but they never come. The plot exists per arc without an overarching goal, rendering the manga endless. My only joy came from the art and the tenacity of the characters. However, the numerous plot holes are ridiculous. If you think otherwise, then you must believe unanswered questions in a manga aren't plot holes (sarcasm). It’s a fun manga to dabble into, and I followed it because it was a childhood favorite. I was determined to finish it, no matter how horrible the ending was. And yes, the ending was terrible. Kubo tried too many things, and it backfired.
**Enjoyment Score: 2**
Overall, Bleach is a well-done shounen manga. Don’t expect a magnificent plot with surprises. It’s clichéd but well-executed as a clichéd manga. I enjoyed it enough to follow it for nine years, so it can’t hurt you to give it a try.
**Overall Score: 4**
Still, it’s a 5 in my heart. With all its flaws, I sure will miss Bleach.
15-year-old Ichigo "Strawberry" Kurosaki has a unique ability reminiscent of The Sixth Sense—he can see dead people. He tries to help spirits when he can, but his home life is quite chaotic. His father runs the Kurosaki Clinic, and he has two younger sisters, Yuzu and Karin. Things get even more complicated when a beautiful girl in samurai robes wielding a sword appears in his room. Her name is Rukia, and she is a "Soul Reaper," an agent from the "Soul Society" tasked with destroying "Hollows"—spirits of the dead that prey on both the living and the deceased. Apparently, Ichigo acts as a beacon for Hollows due to his powerful spirit energy, and one shows up to devour him. During their battle, Rukia decides to transfer some of her power to Ichigo, but accidentally transfers all of it instead! Will he be skilled enough to save not only himself and Rukia but also his family?
Bleach initially seemed too slapstick for my taste, but once it settled into its storytelling, it became quite engaging. There are moments that feel a bit cheesy, but they don't detract from the overall experience. The artwork is clean and appealing, and the characters are charismatic and likable. The series balances humor with touching sequences effectively. Overall, this is a promising start, and I hope the following volumes continue to develop the plot further.
I began watching Bleach last month and it truly captivated me. The battles, characters, and storyline are all exceptional. I managed to watch around 50 episodes a day and finished all 366 episodes within a week. It's incredibly addictive and stands out as the best anime I've ever watched in my life. Currently, I'm keeping up with the manga and hope the anime returns soon. My childhood was filled with Dragon Ball Z and Naruto, but when I entered high school, I stopped watching cartoons and anime, perhaps due to growing maturity. However, Bleach brought me back to those cherished days. Its level of violence and intensity in fights surpasses that of Naruto and Dragon Ball Z, which suits my current age of 15 perfectly. I'm genuinely glad and thankful for discovering Bleach. It has made my life more meaningful and joyful.
This is my first review; I won't give any spoilers, only what you need to know about it.
I decided to do a Bleach review because this manga made me get into the anime/manga world. So, I have a special affection for it, even though it's not one of my favorite anime/mangas. This will always hold a special place in my heart due to my childhood memories.
Bleach is a traditional shounen that started during the "shounen times." It's about shinigami and hollows. The shinigami are like "police officers," and hollows are the "serial killers." The shinigami have to protect the real world from hollows hurting people and manage the world so that ordinary people don't discover this "other world." I enjoy this type of content where you can't entirely prove it's all fantasy, leaving room for the possibility that some elements could be true, making you ponder what happens after death.
I never liked fillers much, but those in Bleach are genuinely great, among my favorites. They form whole arcs with plots, alternating between main and filler sagas, which balances well and avoids randomness in the middle of primary arcs. This approach works until the arrancar saga, where they start inserting filler arcs within the main arc, dividing it into four parts.
The problem with the series is that combat moves are often repeated, leading to boredom during fights. However, the good thing is that there are no forced moments, such as someone suddenly becoming extremely strong just because the story says so. There are no contrived scenes to prove a character's worth or humor that feels forced. The funny, action-packed, and scary moments all come at the right time.
The story is divided into these arcs, considering both the manga and anime (including fillers):
1. Shinigami Substitute
2. Soul Society
3. Bounts (filler)
4. Arrancars, Part 1
5. Captain Amagai Shuusuke (filler)
6. Arrancars, Part 2, Wekomundo
7. The Past (only the last two episodes are fillers)
8. Arrancars, Part 3, Karakura
9. The Zanpakutou Tales
10. Arrancars, Part 4, The Fall
11. The Invasion Army of the 13 Divisions (filler)
12. Fullbrings
13. The Bloody War of a Thousand Years (manga, last)
When I first started reading manga, one of the initial series I picked up was Bleach. At the time, I thought highly of it and hoped to see it develop into something even better. Unfortunately, the series failed to meet those expectations more often than I care to remember.
**STORY:**
Bleach follows the typical shonen manga formula: fight after fight after fight. There's nothing inherently wrong with simplicity or fighting manga in general, but there needs to be more substance in the plot and characters. The problem with Bleach is that it doesn't compensate for its simplistic formula and instead tries to craft storylines that often fall flat. It employs an arc system where the overall goal is achieved through a series of arcs. The first major arc, the Soul Society arc, marked the peak of the series. However, after that, a significant issue became apparent. Almost every subsequent arc reads like a retread of the Soul Society arc, making Bleach so formulaic that predicting what happens next isn't challenging.
There will always be a character whose main goal is to fight Ichigo, regardless of the boss's plans. There will be a stoic character who initially sticks to the plan but experiences an emotional epiphany by the end of the arc and acts against it. One or more of Ichigo’s friends (usually female) will get kidnapped, attacked, brainwashed, or some other contrived scenario to give Ichigo a reason to rescue them. Instead of developing their existing abilities, Ichigo and his friends (those not in danger) receive power-ups that become obsolete by the next arc. Rinse and repeat ad nauseam. Formulaic plots can work if the formula is simple and each use of it feels unique. If you can describe an arc in such vague terms that it applies to any other arc, your formula is too complicated.
Another significant issue is Bleach’s frequent use of the "tell, don’t show" method. Many things are hyped up beyond belief or characters are established as great, but these elements are only discussed through dialogue rather than shown. When we finally see what has been hyped up, it rarely lives up to the hype and sometimes fails to do so even before the hype begins.
**ART:**
I’ve never been particularly interested in the art of manga or illustrated works unless it’s horrendously bad, but I feel the need to give credit where it's due. The art in this manga is actually quite good. Some character designs look excellent, though at times it feels like the same few characters drawn with different hairstyles, clothes, etc. Hollows look threatening without entering nightmare fuel territory or looking too cartoony. However, the manga struggles with backgrounds, which are often just black or white when present.
**CHARACTERS:**
Now, let's discuss the characters. There are a lot of them—too many, in fact. Every arc introduces around 20-30 new characters who receive very little screen time, exist just to fill space, and move on without us learning anything about them. The characters that do get focus can barely be called characters; they are essentially one-dimensional archetypes. Each fits into a general archetype (stoic, hero, etc.) and receives no development beyond that.
**OVERALL:**
I've pointed out many flaws, but at its core, Bleach is a lot of cliché and mediocre work, especially in later chapters. Still, I’d be lying if I said I never enjoyed the series. It has a promising start, but the problems become clear as it drags on. If you don’t mind a repetitive plot, you might enjoy it, but otherwise, I’d advise staying away from it.
This is my first review, and I'll do my best not to spoil anything. I'll try to keep this short so you won't have to read paragraph after paragraph.
Story: 6/10
The story follows a freshman in high school who becomes a Shinigami after trying to protect his friends. It's somewhat cliché but not in a bad way. As the story progresses, battles become less interesting, dragging on to the point where you might feel the urge to skim through chapters. Like many manga with overpowered characters, there are some plot conveniences and unresolved questions. If these aspects don't bother you and you just want to enjoy the series, you should be fine.
Art: 8/10
There's not much to say about the art—it was great. It enhanced the fighting scenes, making them more intense and engaging. You can see how the art evolves throughout the manga.
Characters: 6/10
Firstly, there are too many characters with complicated names, often requiring me to Google them. Many characters were unlikeable, serving mainly as plot devices to boost the main character's power. They seem useless otherwise. The author seems to struggle to make secondary characters relevant to the main plot. I could say more, but it would involve spoilers.
Enjoyment: 4/10
As mentioned before, there were many moments where I skimmed through chapters because fights dragged on and there were numerous plot holes and unanswered questions. These elements left me feeling unsatisfied and forced to fill in the blanks myself. There are other personal reasons why I didn't enjoy the series, but discussing them would involve spoilers.
Overall: 6/10
Too many plot holes, unanswered questions, unlikeable characters, and plot conveniences. If these issues don't bother you, you might enjoy Bleach. The story was decent but wasn't enough to keep me fully engaged, especially during drawn-out battles.
If you're looking for something to pass the time, Bleach might be good for you, but don't expect too much.
Bleach. Use it only on your clothes, not on your eyes or mind. Bleach was a great manga/anime until the end of the Soul Society arc. After that, numerous sudden and raw characters are introduced without any background explanation, bringing along their so-called "interesting" plot devices. However, these elements turn out to be repetitive and confusing instead. To make matters worse, the protagonist, Ichigo, loses his edge after the conclusion of this arc; all his previous training and efforts become futile as the new arrivals seem overwhelmingly powerful, making him appear weak and unprepared. In sync with Ichigo's diminishing strength is the noticeable decline in plot coherence and originality. Definitely worth reading up until the end of the Soul Society Arc.
For those who share my perspective, the journey of Bleach mirrored Samurai Jack's impeccable path to a disastrous finale. I was so furious with the poor ending that it nearly drove me to throw all my Bleach volumes out the window. But at the last moment, I realized that life isn't always fair, and the one you entrust your time to can disappoint you in ways no human being should ever do. Thank you, Tite Kubo, for ruining my favorite manga, anime, and heroine in a single chapter. Goodbye, world; it was a pleasure and worth living while Bleach still made sense.
It's addictive (I won't comment on what others have said). There are two arcs so far, as the manga is still ongoing. While some may not prefer this Espada saga compared to the Soul Society arc, I think this arc is just as great as the previous ones. The fights, sacrifices, and hardships all contribute to its appeal.
What I believe the author is trying to achieve is to create different perspectives for each character. It's about how they feel the pain when another is suffering. In this Espada arc, there is a distinct space created for each battle and their distances from one another. Their perseverance and determination to reach their comrades' sides again are remarkable, even though they know they might not stand a chance against the captain-level Espadas. We also get to understand how they truly feel for each other.
For instance, when Rukia fights, she thinks and places herself in Inoue's position and makes an effort to reassure her that 'she won't be alone for long.' This approach can seem lengthy and drawn out, but it effectively conveys the intended emotions. Additionally, we see the captains sharing their points of view. Although it might seem boring at times, the manga has genuinely brought the concept of 'comrade' into play and used it well.
One of the best mangas I have read.
Bleach, a popular manga and anime series created by Tite Kubo, aired from 2001 to 2016. It was part of the Shounen Big Three, alongside Naruto and One Piece, which were the best-selling manga in Shounen Jump Weekly at the time.
Story: 7/10 Initially, the dialogue can feel somewhat forced, particularly when Rukia is explaining things. However, as the plot progresses, it improves significantly. The story's structure is decent overall, although it starts to decline towards the end. I initially tried watching the anime but found it too slow-paced for my liking. Switching to the manga made the experience much more enjoyable.
Art: 7/10 The artwork is impressive from the beginning, especially considering Bleach is Tite Kubo’s second manga. While some early chapters have odd proportions, by chapters 50 to 70, the art becomes detailed and distinctive. The proportions, facial expressions, subtlety, fight scenes, and character stances are all well-executed.
Characters: 8/10 The characters are one of the strongest aspects of Bleach. The main character, Ichigo Kurosaki, is well-developed, as are the supporting characters. Rukia has her own unique backstory and personality, distinguishing her from other tsundere characters. Orihime is also well-rounded, with a touching early fight scene that reveals her true nature. Uryu stands out with his intelligence and kindness, while Chad is my favorite character due to his cool powers, kind personality, and uniqueness among typical bulky anime characters.
Almost every character is well-fleshed-out, making you eager to learn more about them. What sets these characters apart is their avoidance of clichés. Uryu is smart yet kind-hearted, Chad is strong yet gentle and pacifistic, Rukia is a tsundere who doesn’t resort to excessive violence, and Orihime is shy but resilient. Overall, the characters are spectacular.
Enjoyment: 8/10 I thoroughly enjoyed Bleach thanks to its great characters, good art, and engaging story. It’s a solid manga worth reading or watching if you have the time.
Overall: I give Bleach a 7/10. It’s a good series, so go ahead and read or watch it if you get the chance.
OMGZ ANOTHER BLEACH REVIEW. At least I'm not giving out mostly 10s for some strange reason! *Chapter 355 is the latest chapter, excluding all sidestories such as the Hitsugaya sidestory and the Pendulum Arc*
Bleach is an ongoing manga by Kubo Tite. It is part of the holy trinity of never-ending shounen manga (along with Naruto and One Piece). I haven't read One Piece but I believe Bleach is superior to Naruto in many ways. It does not feature orange jumpsuits or straw hats but a black-robed GOD OF DEATH AKA a Shinigami.
The anime is mediocre at best, but like every other show based on never-ending manga, this show has its fair share of fillers.
Story: The story flows through two main arcs, with several smaller arcs in between. The first arc, called the Soul Society arc, introduces readers to the world of Bleach and its many supporting characters and lore. It pits our protagonist characters against the denizens of Soul Society in what seems to be a rescue mission with an ulterior motive by some of the other central key figures.
The second main arc (which is still ongoing) seems like a rehash of the first arc, but there is yet to be seen if some huge plot twist will occur or not.
The pacing of the story can sometimes get dragged out, but that is to be expected in a shounen manga that has yet to end. There is plenty of dialogue, and sometimes there's too much of it. The same can be said of the action. Countless battles one after another can get a bit tiring, but it's acceptable once Kubo Tite inserts a twist here and there.
The story basically stars Kurosaki Ichigo, who at an early age could see spirits. He gets attacked by a corrupted spirit called a Hollow and is saved by a Shinigami named Kuchiki Rukia. With a little help from Rukia, Ichigo manages to become a Shinigami himself. His Shinigami influence gives birth to unique latent powers in two of his friends, Yasutora Sado (Chad), and Inoue Orihime. Along with the Quincy (a group of humans who possess supernatural powers now nearly extinct) Ishida Uryuu, the four of them enter Soul Society to rescue Rukia after she was questionably imprisoned by the Soul Society government.
Art: The art in this manga is probably some of the best I've seen. They have a unique appearance that is quite recognizable, and the characters are very detailed on their own. From huge bulking muscles on the body of the old Shinigami commander to the large-chested females running around, each character has their own distinct appeal. Not to mention, Kubo Tite really likes to draw large-chested women... not that it's THAT bad of a thing.
Character: Like every other never-ending shounen, Bleach has a very large cast of characters. The manga focuses mainly on about 5 or 6 of these characters, but the other supporting cast gets a fair amount of screen time when the moment comes. In the more recent chapters, several of the supporting characters are finally getting their 15 minutes of fame in battle.
There is quite an amount of development for many of the characters in Bleach. There's pretty much every character archetype possibly found in Bleach. Whether you like the short-tempered guy who always starts the fights, or the arrogant-looking guy that doesn't say much, to the flirtatious endowed women, there is enough personality to go around.
Enjoyment/Overall: Bleach is one of those shounen manga that gets criticized for being generic and never-ending with a crappy plot or ridiculous characters. Even if that may be true to some eyes, Bleach is also a manga that caters to the fans. It's filled with action (although somewhat dragged out sometimes) and it has its fill of dramatic and emotional moments. I enjoy Bleach much more than I do Naruto because it simply catches my interest with its artistic style.
Popular Reviews
The direction this story takes is deeply unsettling. It starts as an intriguing narrative but unfortunately loses its purpose along the way. Ichigo never really has a goal to begin with, does he? That's where Bleach stumbles right from the start. Ichigo lacks a purpose, a goal, or any real meaning in his life. He just happens to meet Rukia one random day and gets swept into the Soul Society saga and everything else. As the series progresses, the author tries to give the story some meaning but ends up losing the plot. There are claims all over the internet that Tite Kubo only planned the Rukia rescue arc, and that was supposed to be the end of it. But Shounen Jump convinced him to continue. I don't know if this is entirely true, but you can see hints of it when you realize that Ichigo is essentially like a Pokemon character (HE HAS NO IDEA WHAT HE'S DOING ANYMORE).
I truly enjoyed Bleach up until the Aizen fight, and I agree with everyone who says it only gets worse from there. The Thousand-Year Blood War is supposed to be the grand finale, but it doesn't quite deliver. The comedy is good, but the characters aren't as engaging (only in the beginning does the author seem to care about them; by the second half, he seems to have forgotten about them). It's just sad how poorly it wraps up.
15-year-old Ichigo "Strawberry" Kurosaki has a unique ability reminiscent of The Sixth Sense—he can see dead people. He tries to help spirits when he can, but his home life is quite chaotic. His father runs the Kurosaki Clinic, and he has two younger sisters, Yuzu and Karin. Things get even more complicated when a beautiful girl in samurai robes wielding a sword appears in his room. Her name is Rukia, and she is a "Soul Reaper," an agent from the "Soul Society" tasked with destroying "Hollows"—spirits of the dead that prey on both the living and the deceased. Apparently, Ichigo acts as a beacon for Hollows due to his powerful spirit energy, and one shows up to devour him. During their battle, Rukia decides to transfer some of her power to Ichigo, but accidentally transfers all of it instead! Will he be skilled enough to save not only himself and Rukia but also his family?
Bleach initially seemed too slapstick for my taste, but once it settled into its storytelling, it became quite engaging. There are moments that feel a bit cheesy, but they don't detract from the overall experience. The artwork is clean and appealing, and the characters are charismatic and likable. The series balances humor with touching sequences effectively. Overall, this is a promising start, and I hope the following volumes continue to develop the plot further.
I began watching Bleach last month and it truly captivated me. The battles, characters, and storyline are all exceptional. I managed to watch around 50 episodes a day and finished all 366 episodes within a week. It's incredibly addictive and stands out as the best anime I've ever watched in my life. Currently, I'm keeping up with the manga and hope the anime returns soon. My childhood was filled with Dragon Ball Z and Naruto, but when I entered high school, I stopped watching cartoons and anime, perhaps due to growing maturity. However, Bleach brought me back to those cherished days. Its level of violence and intensity in fights surpasses that of Naruto and Dragon Ball Z, which suits my current age of 15 perfectly. I'm genuinely glad and thankful for discovering Bleach. It has made my life more meaningful and joyful.
This is my first review, and I'll do my best not to spoil anything. I'll try to keep this short so you won't have to read paragraph after paragraph.
Story: 6/10
The story follows a freshman in high school who becomes a Shinigami after trying to protect his friends. It's somewhat cliché but not in a bad way. As the story progresses, battles become less interesting, dragging on to the point where you might feel the urge to skim through chapters. Like many manga with overpowered characters, there are some plot conveniences and unresolved questions. If these aspects don't bother you and you just want to enjoy the series, you should be fine.
Art: 8/10
There's not much to say about the art—it was great. It enhanced the fighting scenes, making them more intense and engaging. You can see how the art evolves throughout the manga.
Characters: 6/10
Firstly, there are too many characters with complicated names, often requiring me to Google them. Many characters were unlikeable, serving mainly as plot devices to boost the main character's power. They seem useless otherwise. The author seems to struggle to make secondary characters relevant to the main plot. I could say more, but it would involve spoilers.
Enjoyment: 4/10
As mentioned before, there were many moments where I skimmed through chapters because fights dragged on and there were numerous plot holes and unanswered questions. These elements left me feeling unsatisfied and forced to fill in the blanks myself. There are other personal reasons why I didn't enjoy the series, but discussing them would involve spoilers.
Overall: 6/10
Too many plot holes, unanswered questions, unlikeable characters, and plot conveniences. If these issues don't bother you, you might enjoy Bleach. The story was decent but wasn't enough to keep me fully engaged, especially during drawn-out battles.
If you're looking for something to pass the time, Bleach might be good for you, but don't expect too much.
Bleach. Use it only on your clothes, not on your eyes or mind. Bleach was a great manga/anime until the end of the Soul Society arc. After that, numerous sudden and raw characters are introduced without any background explanation, bringing along their so-called "interesting" plot devices. However, these elements turn out to be repetitive and confusing instead. To make matters worse, the protagonist, Ichigo, loses his edge after the conclusion of this arc; all his previous training and efforts become futile as the new arrivals seem overwhelmingly powerful, making him appear weak and unprepared. In sync with Ichigo's diminishing strength is the noticeable decline in plot coherence and originality. Definitely worth reading up until the end of the Soul Society Arc.
For those who share my perspective, the journey of Bleach mirrored Samurai Jack's impeccable path to a disastrous finale. I was so furious with the poor ending that it nearly drove me to throw all my Bleach volumes out the window. But at the last moment, I realized that life isn't always fair, and the one you entrust your time to can disappoint you in ways no human being should ever do. Thank you, Tite Kubo, for ruining my favorite manga, anime, and heroine in a single chapter. Goodbye, world; it was a pleasure and worth living while Bleach still made sense.
It's addictive (I won't comment on what others have said). There are two arcs so far, as the manga is still ongoing. While some may not prefer this Espada saga compared to the Soul Society arc, I think this arc is just as great as the previous ones. The fights, sacrifices, and hardships all contribute to its appeal. What I believe the author is trying to achieve is to create different perspectives for each character. It's about how they feel the pain when another is suffering. In this Espada arc, there is a distinct space created for each battle and their distances from one another. Their perseverance and determination to reach their comrades' sides again are remarkable, even though they know they might not stand a chance against the captain-level Espadas. We also get to understand how they truly feel for each other. For instance, when Rukia fights, she thinks and places herself in Inoue's position and makes an effort to reassure her that 'she won't be alone for long.' This approach can seem lengthy and drawn out, but it effectively conveys the intended emotions. Additionally, we see the captains sharing their points of view. Although it might seem boring at times, the manga has genuinely brought the concept of 'comrade' into play and used it well. One of the best mangas I have read.
Bleach, a popular manga and anime series created by Tite Kubo, aired from 2001 to 2016. It was part of the Shounen Big Three, alongside Naruto and One Piece, which were the best-selling manga in Shounen Jump Weekly at the time.
Story: 7/10 Initially, the dialogue can feel somewhat forced, particularly when Rukia is explaining things. However, as the plot progresses, it improves significantly. The story's structure is decent overall, although it starts to decline towards the end. I initially tried watching the anime but found it too slow-paced for my liking. Switching to the manga made the experience much more enjoyable.
Art: 7/10 The artwork is impressive from the beginning, especially considering Bleach is Tite Kubo’s second manga. While some early chapters have odd proportions, by chapters 50 to 70, the art becomes detailed and distinctive. The proportions, facial expressions, subtlety, fight scenes, and character stances are all well-executed.
Characters: 8/10 The characters are one of the strongest aspects of Bleach. The main character, Ichigo Kurosaki, is well-developed, as are the supporting characters. Rukia has her own unique backstory and personality, distinguishing her from other tsundere characters. Orihime is also well-rounded, with a touching early fight scene that reveals her true nature. Uryu stands out with his intelligence and kindness, while Chad is my favorite character due to his cool powers, kind personality, and uniqueness among typical bulky anime characters.
Almost every character is well-fleshed-out, making you eager to learn more about them. What sets these characters apart is their avoidance of clichés. Uryu is smart yet kind-hearted, Chad is strong yet gentle and pacifistic, Rukia is a tsundere who doesn’t resort to excessive violence, and Orihime is shy but resilient. Overall, the characters are spectacular.
Enjoyment: 8/10 I thoroughly enjoyed Bleach thanks to its great characters, good art, and engaging story. It’s a solid manga worth reading or watching if you have the time.
Overall: I give Bleach a 7/10. It’s a good series, so go ahead and read or watch it if you get the chance.
Leave a Review