Series: Bleach – Series 06: Part 02
UK Release date: 13th June 2011
Distributor: Manga
Certificate: 15
Running time: 100 mins
Director: Noriyuki Abe
Genre: Anime
Format: DVD
Country of Production: Japan
Language: Japanese
Review by: Kevin Ilett
The sixth series of the epic action fantasy anime series Bleach is named “The Arrancar”. Directed by Noriyuko Abe and produced by TV Tokyo, Dentsu and Studio Pierrot, the series’ twenty-two episodes are based on Tite Kubo’s Bleach manga series. The series covers chapters 183-229 of the original manga. Bleach is known as Shonen anime, aimed at young males between 10 and 18 years, with an emphasis on action-oriented male camaraderie and battle. This volume, Series 06: Part 2, covers the second half of series 6, episodes #121 (‘Clash! The Protector vs. The Bearer’) through to episode #131 (‘Rangiku's Tears, The Sorrowful Parting Of Brother And Sister’). Series 6 originally aired in Japan all the way back in 2007, and the UK is gradually catching up with this new release through Manga Entertainment.
In the highly developed and complex mythology of Bleach, there is the real world and there is the Soul Society, an afterlife world where departed souls dwell. Within this world lies the Shinigami, or Soul Reapers, enforcers of the Soul Society with special powers. The Shinigami’s arch-enemies are the Hollow, corrupted and evil spirits borne from deceased human souls. For one reason or another, these souls have not passed over to Soul Society and they devour the souls of living and deceased humans. Bleach’s long-term hero protagonist is Ichigo Kurosaki (voiced by Masakazu Morita), a human teenager gifted with the ability to see spirits. Ichigo becomes a Soul Reaper, and an important individual in the Shinigami’s struggle against the Hollow.
The second half of series 6 involves the ongoing development of a war between the Soul Reapers and the Arrancar. This group are Hollows who have removed their masks and gained Shinigami-like powers. They are led by the sinister and brilliant Sōsuke Aizen (Shō Hayami).
After a close battle with the Arrancar, Ichigo tracks down another faction called the Visored, ex-Shinigami who have acquired Hollow powers. The Visored help Ichigo control his inner Hollow, through a series of battles, whilst his companions start spiritual and physical training for the war ahead.
The final four episodes focus on a somewhat irrelevant subplot involving the Soul Reapers Rangiku and Hitsugaya, a mysterious singing Arrancar and a puzzling lost child, Shōta Toyokawa…
This release will please fans of the series, but would certainly not be recommended for those uninitiated into the dense and fantastical world of Bleach. Over the years, the franchise has developed a giant, sprawling and wildly complex storyline, creating an entire universe of different characters, traditions, histories, wars, politics and peoples. Manga creator Tite Kubo and anime director Noriyuko Abe have created an entire mythology, with its own language, its own codes and its own hardcore followers. The action found in this volume is fast, loud and intense, but is intermixed with surreal asides, wacky humour and inventive, involving animation which should appeal to all audiences.
The initial story arc of Series 06: Part 02, involving Ichigo’s dealings with the Visored, is undoubtedly the set’s most interesting and absorbing feature. Whilst aimed at boys and teenagers, Bleach should be praised for its complexities and its shades of grey regarding the morals and intentions of its various groups of characters. The Visored are a perfect example of this ambiguity. Supposedly outlawed traitors to the Shinigami and denizens of Soul Society, the Visored initially come across as untrustworthy, possibly in league with the bad guys, but the story eschews such a simple formulation. Led by the powerful yet quite dandyish Shinji (Masaya Onosaka), the colourful gang have different motivations.
The Visored’s character design is great fun, with each member of the gang distinct and intriguing visually, and the characterisation dripping with humour – both dry and madcap – and pathos. Over the course of five or so episodes, the dynamic between Ichigo (a rather bland and self-indulgent protagonist) and the mysterious group shifts entertainingly. At first, Ichigo tries to force the knowledge of how to control his inner-Hollow out of the group through battle, but soon realises his mistake. Shinji, along with the feisty and hilarious Hiyori (Reiko Takagi) agree to help Ichigo their way, by forcing him to ride an exercise bike for days on end in order to see how much spiritual energy he holds. Ichigo must then enter his subconscious and battle his inner demons, whilst the Visored, in a dazzling sequence of action scenes, must fight the deranged and powerful version of Ichigo in the real world.
This arc aside, Series 6 Part 2 feels somewhat stop-gap. Great battles and storylines have passed, and a great war is building between the Soul Reapers, the Visored and the Arrancar, but one must wait to have his fill. This series of episodes helps to build the scene, and gradually develop the already convoluted storyline further. Bleach’s greatest flaw, however, is its overuse of internal jargon and terminology, with each fighting technique and special power holding many special names and being referred to constantly with little explanation.
Often watching Bleach feels like being smacked over the head by a hyperactive child with a very developed imagination. Despite these reservations, the voice talent is enthusiastic, the artwork varied and impressive and the tone, whilst lurching rather oddly from serious action to bizarre humour, is dark and distinct. This set plays its part in an epic story, but greater treasures lie ahead. KI
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