Product Description

Taking On the Afterlife, One Soul at a Time!

Fifteen-year-old Ichigo Kurosaki never asked for the ability to see ghosts—he was born with the gift. When his family is attacked by a Hollow—a malevolent lost soul—Ichigo encounters a Soul Reaper and absorbs her powers. Now, he’s dedicating his life to protecting the innocent and helping tortured souls find peace.

Bleach anime premiers on the Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim time block September 9th!

Bleach Manga also available from Amazon and Viz Media.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #47263 in DVD
• Brand: WARNER HOME VIDEO
• Released on: 2006-11-28
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Animated, Color, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: English, Japanese
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 100 minutes

Amazon.com
Orange-haired high school student Ichigo Kurosaki, the hero of the fantasy-adventure Bleach (2004) has the unsettling ability to see the spirits of the dead, at least the ones who are unable to rest in peace. Mysterious explosions in his neighborhood lead Ichigo to Rukia, a Soul Reaper whose job consists of destroying Hollows (soul-eating monsters) and ensuring the deceased find safe repose with the Soul Society. When she's injured in a battle with one of the mask-faced Hollows, Rukia transfers her sword and much of her power to Ichigo. The spiritual energy that enabled him to see spirits makes him a formidable substitute Soul Reaper, but he's not sure he wants the job: too many risks and moral dilemmas. A winning combination of supernatural adventure, well-executed sword fights, and fractious comedy (Ichigo and Rukia bicker constantly), Bleach scored a big hit in Japan: the series ran for more than 100 episodes, and was followed by two OVAs and a theatrical feature. It should find an equally enthusiastic audience in the U.S. (Unrated, suitable for ages 13 and older: violence, grotesque imagery) --Charles Solomon

Customer Reviews

The Next Big Anime - be prepared
Yet another juggernaut has made its way across the Pacific - and this time, it has attitude. Another mega-hit manga adapted into a mega-hit Anime series, Bleach brings a whole new definition to the word "Action-Adventure" - and does it with style.

Young Anime artist Kubo Noriaki's (also known as "Kubotite") "Bleach" is the story of 15-year old Ichigo Kurosaki, who is ANYTHING but an ordinary high-school student. Possessing superhuman "Reiatsu" (loosely translated as "spirit force/ability"), he has the ability to see and communicate with Spirits of the recently deceased. However, Ichigo's life is changed forever when an evil-spirit, a "Hollow" threatens his family and friends. In the process, he encounters a young Soul Reaper named Rukia, who after being gravely wounded, entrusts Ichigo with her powers. Becoming a "substitute", Ichigo unwittingly receives the task of performing Rukia's duties on Earth, which include vanquishing Hollows, and "burying" good spirits by sending them to "Soul Society" (a kind of Japanese "Heaven"). And so begins the saga of Ichigo Kurosaki, Substitute Soul Reaper.

Considering the immense fan-base in the US, as well as Japan, it seemed as though it was only a matter of time that "Bleach" The Anime made it overseas. Already a major hit with internet viewers, as well as a best-selling translated-English manga, Bleach takes traditional Japanese culture and heritage and sends it smashing into bold, hip, modern style - and with surprisingly fantastic results. Almost every character in Bleach is interesting, developed, and well-defined. Writing is top-notch, and viewers will certainly find themselves gasping in awe one moment, and breaking out laughing the next.

Refreshing, original, and genre-defining, Bleach is a gem among 21st century Anime. Although a uniquely Japanese anime, this show should prove to win over even the most skeptical viewers in the States - as long as you remember not to judge a book by its bleached cover.

Bleach has it ALL. Better than Evangelion and Dragon Ball.
I have always been an anime fan as it was a natural progression from my Transformers and to a lesser extent Voltron days. Japanese anime seemed to be the next logical step. Maybe each year I go through one series or two series for my anime fix. And I admit that some series hasn't lasted more than 5 shows with me. To me anime is meant to show you some action that can't be done with film (like Gundam), imaginative (Evangelion or even the manga Death Note), or funny (Slam Dunk, Dragon Ball, 10 episodes out of like 200 for Naruto), and definitely have that note of suspense.

Bleach has everything in an absolutely brilliantly written plot line. It has more characters than any anime I have ever seen and the writer made it so well integrated with the story line that the story doesn't miss a beat or leave a moment of confusion. There is no other anime that can introduce a cast of so many characters without feeling any slowdown. The main character is firmly established, but the side characters add to the drama, suspense, action, and can be so funny that suffers of asthma should consult their doctors before watching or just hold your inhaler really close.

So addictive it makes you curse the speed at which your dvd player will open to put in the next disk or the fact that you have to wash your hands after you pee. And I thank god that for most of the episodes out so far there isn't that annoying 2-10 mins of flashbacks each episode so you DON'T feel like the story isn't moving fast enough and unlike other animes feel that the stupid producers were too lazy to make any real progress in the show. If anything sometimes I felt the story was moving too fast since I was hoping this series wouldn't end too soon.

Perhaps I am coming off as over zealous for a single series and a rabid ANIME fan. But the thing is I am not. I own probably about 1300 DVD's with only 12 of those 1300 dvd's anime dvd's. Out of those dvd's I probably only watch 100-200 movies multiple times. So far I have watched the first 90 episodes of Bleach two times as the author really broke the mold with this series by including everything, the action, the suspense of reality, the comedy, the tear jerking moments, and a storyline that has some serious ambition to finally take down the traditional powerhouses that stand today (sadly I must admit I am watching the series the third time to show my girlfriend's brother, but now I just seem to marvel at the story line and anticipate the moments I know are coming.)

And I admit that I am even maybe a closet anime fan as I normally don't tell the girls I date I watch the stuff, but this was so good I got my girlfriend who has never watched an anime before in her life because of the "dork" factor addicted to Bleach.

My only complaint is the current story arc (around the last 20 episodes) seems to just be dragging out the story to milk the air time and profit for a series that hopefully ends with the bang the first 90 started. (has a total of 114 episodes released to date in Japan)

Great Show! Glad it's finally dubbed.......!
I know I will draw the ire of hardcore fans when I give this review! ;-)

My husband tried very hard to get me into Bleach a few months ago, but I absolutely hate reading subtitles when I'm trying to watch a show. I find it too distracting from the animation, especially when a show has as much going on as Bleach does. So though my husband tried, I could never seem to get into it, although he sang its praises.

I recently have had the pleasure of watching the dubbed version, and boy am I hooked! I go episode to episode without a break, I'm so anxious to see what is going to happen next!

Bleach is what anime is all about. It's hilariously funny, deep and thoughtful, beautifully drawn and has a plot that keeps you on your toes. The characters are wonderfully complex (okay, except maybe Kon, but dang he's funny!). I love the way the plot builds. I have only watched the first 17 or so episodes, but I'm impressed with it so far, and from what my husband says it only keeps getting better.

My husband has watched some of the dubbed versions with me and has enjoyed them, although he has said some of the English voices don't fit the character's as well as the Japanese versions.

But from someone who has only watched the dub's, I am definitely impressed and can't wait to continue watching!