Product Description

When a caravan transporting the King’s Seal is attacked, Toshiro Hitsugaya and Squad 10 are on the ready. As they prepare to protect the treasure that holds immeasurable power, Hitsugaya suddenly abandons the scene alongside the thieves and becomes one of the accused. In response, the Soul Society calls for his capture and execution. Upon hearing the edict, Substitute Soul Reaper Ichigo Kurosaki is immediately suspicious and determined to uncover the facts. But when Hitsugaya refuses to defend his actions and fights against his comrades, it seems his fate is all but sealed. Can Ichigo uncover Hitsugaya’s motives before they destroy his honor, his life, and the Soul Society?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4781 in DVD
• Brand: Warner Brothers
• Released on: 2009-09-08
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
• Formats: Animated, Color, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: Japanese, English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 92 minutes

Features

• "When a caravan transporting the King s Seal is attacked, Toshiro Hitsugaya and Squad 10 are on the ready. As they prepare to protect the treasure that holds immeasurable power, Hitsugaya suddenly abandons the scene alongside the thieves and becomes one of the accused. In response, the Soul Society calls for his capture and execution.Upon hearing the edict, Substitute Soul Reaper Ichigo Kurosaki i

Amazon.com
DiamondDust Rebellion, the fast-paced, hard-hitting second Bleach feature, is closer in tone to the original broadcast series than the wistful first movie, Memories of Nobody. Ichigo's friend, Captain Hitsugaya, is assigned to guard the Ouin, the staggeringly powerful seal of the royal family of the Seireitei, as it's transported amid great pomp. When the Ouin is stolen, the Soul Society declares Hitsugaya an outlaw. Although he wants to recover the stolen artifact alone, Ichigo insists on helpinghim: that's what friends do. The thief is Kusaka, who was Hitsugaya's closest friend when they were training to become Soul Hunters--until they were ordered to duel for the possession of an enchanted sword. Everyone thought Hitsugaya killed Kusaka, but he somehow survived. His quest for vengeance pits Kusaka against the most popular Captain and Lieutenants from the series: Renji, Matsumoto, Kenpachi, Byakuya, Yoruichi--and Ichigo and Hitsugaya--in a spectacular battle. Like the first theatrical film, Diamond Dust Rebellion reunites many of the artists from the original cast and crew, and plays like a lavish, extended episode of the popular television program. The disc of extras includes a gallery of production art, the original Japanese trailers, and five making-of interviews, including one with the members of the band Sambomaster, who perform the title song. (Rated Teen: suitable for ages 12 and older: violence) --Charles Solomon

Customer Reviews

The boy with the icy soul
Of all the characters in the popular manga/anime "Bleach," Toshiro Hitsugaya is amongst the most popular.

And he even got his own movie: "Bleach Movie 2: The Diamond Dust Rebellion," a beautifully animated anime that takes the ice-slinging child genius into an encounter with his own past (along with Ichigo and the others, of course). It has some basic canon flaws (since when can Ichigo fly?) but the storyline and animation are truly lovely.

While the Ouin is being transported, the procession is attacked and robbed -- and Hitsugaya unexpectedly takes off. Being an old fart who loves to blame people, Yamamoto puts the entire division under house arrest.

Meanwhile, Ichigo shelters an exhausted, badly-injured Hitsugaya -- only to have the boy-captain run away after one night, after muttering something about "Kusaka." His friends start sniffing around for evidence of this Kusaka, while the wounded Hitsugaya is tottering around Karakura -- and an execution order has been put on his head.

Then Captain Kyoraku is nearly killed by Hyorinmaru, at the same time that Hitsugaya was fighting Kira and Hisagi. During a battle with the mysterious Kusaka, Ichigo realizes who he is and why the Soul Society tried to kill him -- and how much power the Ouin his given him. Now Hitsugaya is determined to stop Kusaka, but Ichigo is determined that he won't be the only one to fight...

Perhaps the biggest problem with "The Diamond Dust Rebellion" is that it plays fast-and-loose with some of "Bleach's" canon, such as the idea that two people can have the same zanpakuto's spirit.

But if that can be overlooked, then "The Diamond Dust Rebellion" is a pretty brilliant piece of work -- more focused and intense than the first "Bleach" movie, and beautifully animated. The animation is precise, detailed and smooth, and everything is bathed in pale frosty light and wintry clouds, augmented by explosions of ice and blasts of mist and snow.

And it has plenty of amazing action sequences (a moonlit fight at a shrine) and some lovely visuals (the ornate cloud-borne procession in the first scene), right up to a spectacular climactic fight between Kusaka and all the most powerful Soul Reapers. Fortunately to keep things from becoming too grim, the writers also included a bit of comic relief -- namely Renji's method of "resuscitating" an unconscious Ichigo. Let's just say it doesn't involve mouth to mouth.

Obviously Hitsugaya gets the most development in this movie -- he's always been an icy loner, but here we get a glimpse of his past losses and a lone friendship. And once more, he tries to take on all the responsibility so others will be spared. Thankfully, the flashbacks are oblique enough that at first we don't realize what he's doing, or why.

Ichigo comes in a close second, since he's had that lone-wolf/tough guy act in the past, and it seems pretty natural that he'd want to help out someone who has the same emotional problems. But a lot of other characters get little spurts of attention -- the kindly Ukitake, shrewd Kyoraku, his uptight lieutenant Nanao (who loses her cool after he's injured), rough-edged Renji, and many others.

Even the villain is well done, since you can see how he ended up so bitter and vengeful -- although his little sidekicks are basically cannon fodder.

"Bleach Movie 2: The Diamond Dust Rebellion" is a far smoother ride than the previous "Bleach" movie, with brilliant animation and a stunning ride into Hitsugaya's clouded past.

Bleach: DiamondDust Rebellion Review
This film is without a doubt one of the greatest anime films I've seen. What he first film did wrong, this film does right. What was done right in the first film, it was done right again in this one, but even better. I really liked the action in this film A LOT. Seriously, this film has just some great action in it. The scene where Kusaka(the villain) transforms into a dragon, and then Kenpachi just charges at him was FREAKIN AWESOME. You even get an epic battle that involves the whole 13 Court Guard Squad, and yes even Head Captain Yamamotto fights. The drama with Hitsugaya wanting to take on the his burden alone was done greatly. Kusaka, the villain, was great, and you could really pity the character. Kusaka also comes off as cold when he kills his subordinates, the arrancar chicks. The score in this film was great, it even seemed dark in a couple of scenes. The story serves more like a mystery, which was nice. The main thing I liked was that you got more interaction with the other characters, unlike the first film. Chad and Ishida actually fight in this film(albeit briefly). My favorite scene(s) would have to be when Kenpachi charges at Kusaka, and when Soi-fon and Yoruichi fight. Also, you get to see Ichigo don his Hollow mask, but that only lasts for one moment. Hitsugaya in my opinion is one the most overrated characters in the Bleach universe, but he was just awesome in this film.

The only thing I didn't like was the whole "I'm gonna take vengeance on Soul Society" storyline, which I feel has been over-used.

You can read the review I made about the special features on the disc here:

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One Of The BEST Anime Movies I've Ever Seen!!!!
The first Bleach Movie to me i'll admit wasn't a good feature film start for Bleach. But they cleaned it up really good with the sequal, Diamond Dust Rebellion. The movie is pretty good plot wise. Someone from Hitsugaia's past is back, and want's to settle a score, that could put both the world of the living and the soul society in peril. Sounds good right? right. Now to the action....SUPURB!!! The animation is very good for this movie, and I love how EVERYONE and I mean EVERYONE'S favorate characters have a crucial role in this film. Everyone from Kenpachi to Renji, to the old bald guy, to even the young bald dude, all see some action in this one. Plus, for the first time in a Bleach feature, Ichigo uses his hollow mask. AWSOME!! Overall I give Bleach Diamond Dust Rebellion a 5/5, even if your not a fan of the sereis, you can't go wrong with this movie.