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The Big Three anime started on a sensational note and carried on with that energy throughout their run, and One Piece is still ongoing with the same zeal. Compared to Naruto and One Piece, Bleach had a different trajectory. The anime concluded momentarily before it could adapt the manga ending.

A still from the Soul Society arc in the original Bleach anime | Credits: Studio Pierrot Co. Ltd.

However, the comeback of the anime with the Thousand-Year Blood War arc was glorious in every way possible. From spectacular animation to enhancing the storyline, the new anime has reignited the hype around the series. Tite Kubo’s active involvement has worked wonders for the new anime, and it was probably the same thing that weighed down the original anime.

The original anime adaptation of Bleach is fondly remembered by fans for a multitude of reasons. However, there were some aspects of the...

This article includes spoilers for the Bleach manga.

If there's one character who single-handedly kept Bleach's reputation afloat, it's Sosuke Aizen. Even after Tite Kubo's most famous work fell from grace following a flawed and polarizing final arc, Aizen being the story's true villain and one of the greatest anime/manga antagonists of the 2000s ensured Bleach's legacy. To this day, Bleach's later villains and those in other Shonen stories are measured up against the deceitful ex-captain of the Fifth Division. Aizen is still so revered that he overshadowed Emperor Yhwach and his loyal Sternritters in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War. This is even though he only had a single cameo until Cour 3.

As far as some fans are concerned, Aizen's mere existence redeemed Bleach of its worst shortcomings. Not only was Aizen a great plot twist and villain, but he was integral to Bleach as well. Without Aizen, the...

In Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 1, one of the biggest revelations of the series was brought out with Ichigo Kurosaki’s own power. This series introduced fans to Ichigo’s inner world early on, teasing a vast reservoir of power and mystery tied to his Zanpakuto, Zangetsu; as fans have always wondered why Ichigo always had two Zanpakuto spirits instead of one.

Ichigo Kurosaki from Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War | Credit: Studio Pierrot

The episode, titled The Blade Is Me, marked a watershed moment in Bleach in this context. Not only did it reveal the true identities of these two Zangetsu but also disclosed fascinating yet creepy details about their origins and goals; while simultaneously highlighting the deep ties between Ichigo’s parents’ legacies and his destiny as a shonen protagonist.

Ichigo’s Zangetsu in Bleach: Explained

While manga readers have known about it for a long time, anime-only viewers...

The following contains spoilers for the Bleach manga.

Like any shonen manga/anime series, Bleach had all kinds of worldbuilding and stakes to give the protagonist's adventures some meaning, such as trying to rescue Rukia Kuchiki in the fondly-remembered Soul Society arc or avenging Masaki when fighting Grand Fisher. Over time, the stakes and worldbuilding kept growing until they finally reached their apex in the Thousand-Year Blood War story arc in the form of the Soul King. This unusual character occupies a unique place in Bleach's lore and story, and his very existence had been suggested for some time but never directly shown until recently.

By now, the Soul King has assumed a uniquely important role in the story of Bleach, even if he never says a word or undertakes any actions on his own. The Soul King has been Yhwach's main objective aside from destroying the Gotei 13, and as...

At first glance, Crunchyroll sleeper hit Tadaima, Okaeri, one of 2024's many LGBTQ+ anime, might seem like an unlikely fit for fans of Spy x Family. Spy x Family is nominally a high-octane franchise about the exploits of three unrelated spies passing as a family. In reality, much of its appeal arises from its depiction of domesticity and the efforts by Loid, Yor, and Anya Forger to cultivate a supportive, normal household.

Spy x Family pulls a bait-and-switch where its tough exterior gives way to the Forger household's navigation of daily life and mundanities like Yor's prying brother.

Tadaima, Okaeri is an unabashed boys' love (Bl) with no problem deploying genre tropes. The Bl foundation might be a turn-off for some, but open-minded individuals will find it scratches a similar itch to Spy x Family. Tadaima, Okaeri is notable for being a normative depiction of a same-sex couple trying to raise a child.

The girls of Mayonaka Punch want your blood!... No, not like that. The new anime series is teaming up with the Tokyo Red Cross Center to encourage fans to donate blood. Plus, the show itself is getting some fresh blood in the form of two rival NewTubers! First, the casting announcements. Starting in episode 7, we'll be seeing a new stream team, dubbed Itan Kids. Meet Igijin and Hashitabura. (Note: romanization of names is not finalized.) Related: Mayonaka Punch Releases Solo Version Opening Song Movies by Vampire Members And starting next month, blood donors can take home a gift from the series! From September 1 to October 15 (or while supplies last), the Tokyo Red Cross will be offering clear files with this cute art of Live and Masaki to anyone who donates 400 mL of blood or blood components: Related: Mayonaka Punch Anime Goes Live with Creditless Opening, Ending Videos With manga and...

Tenchi Universe blends space opera with sitcom tropes to produce a one of a kind viewing experience that's both nostalgic and forward-thinking at the same time. The show introduced Harem anime to Western audiences as part of Cartoon Network's "Toonami" programming block. Subsequent Tenchi Muyo! projects failed to gain traction with fans and recapture the perfect balance of Tenchi Universe.

In the Summer of 2000, Cartoon Network began airing a five-year-old anime import from Japan, Masaki Tajishima's Tenchi Universe, as part of their after-school "Toonami" programming block. Tenchi Universe took the same characters and setting from the shorter, story-focused OVAs that preceded it, added a few new players, and streamlined the complex lore, which resulted in a more well-rounded, but slower-paced show.

While Cartoon Network marketed the show as a simple, white-knuckle action-adventure anime, in many ways it was much more mature than that. Tenchi Universe is a coming-of-age story...

By now, the Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War anime series has revitalized Bleach as a part of shonen's original big three, and the plot is moving at a snappy pace in this final war arc. This anime picked up where the original Bleach left off, meaning there are lots of characters, powers, and personal plot threads at work, and it's not easy to keep track of all that. In the span of two cours of 12-13 episodes each, the new Bleach anime has covered a lot of ground, and there are still two more to go.

The Bleach anime is set to resume in the Fall 2024 anime season, so before anime fans dive in, they are encouraged to brush up on the anime's current plot threads and conflicts, along with who the major characters are. Some game-changing battles and revelations have taken place in recent episodes, setting the stage for shocking...

P.A.Work' two original TV anime series in the summer 2024 series — Narenare -Cheer for you! - and Mayonaka Punch — released special collab videos on July 23. In the newly recorded clips, each series' main characters talk about each other's channels. In the "Narenare Side" video, Kanata Misora (voiced by Rika Nakagawa) and Anna Aveiro (voiced by Larissa Tago Takeda) from Narenare -Cheer for You!- talk about the "Mayonaka Punch" channel in Mayonaka Punch . Meanwhile, in the "Mayopun Side" video, Masaki (voiced by Ikumi Hasegawa) and Live (voiced by Fairouz Ai) from Mayonaka Punch talk about PoMPoMs, the six-member cheerleading team in Narenare - Cheer for You!- . A second collaboration video will be released soon following the announcements on the official websites for each anime . Related: Narenare -Cheer for You!- Anime Reveals Premiere Date, New Trailer and Visual Narenare -Cheer for You!- premiered in Japan on July...

Ichigo Kurosaki is arguably one of the sweetest shonen protagonists out there, at least compared to Naruto and Luffy, whose brazen nature can occasionally be too much to deal with. Throughout Bleach's 16 years and its innumerable plotlines, Ichigo has run the full gamut of physical and spiritual changes, either losing his powers and regaining them, or suddenly discovering abilities he never knew he had.

Ichigo Kurosaki's evolution isn't exactly surprising, especially considering the genetic legacy. At the end of Bleach, Ichigo learns that he is a blend of four distinct races Human, Hollow, Quincy, and Shinigami making him an overpowered cocktail of pure potential. He goes through multiple evolutions throughout the series, each of which is almost always stronger than the previous version.

Updated on July 22, 2024, by Ajay Aravind: Bleach finally returned to the television screen after a decade-long hiatus. With the first and second cours of Thousand-Year Blood War out of the way,...

The original Bleach anime was canceled in the early 2010s after a drop in popularity, only to return in October 2022 with the shiny new "Thousand-Year Blood War" arc, which will span four cours in total. The first was a smashing success, putting Bleach back on the map with stellar modern animation, vastly improved pacing, and intense action scenes with high stakes.

The Summer 2023 anime season will see the exciting series continue, and new and returning fans alike have a lot to keep track of. Bleach is a lengthy shonen anime with many moving parts and countless characters, so it's a perfect time to review what happened in recent storylines -- and how those events will lead directly into the "Thousand-Year Blood War" arc's next phase.

Related: The Hottest New & Returning Shonen Anime Coming in Summer 2023

Bleach's Quincy Empire Wages War on the Unprepared Soul Society

The "Thousand-Year Blood War" arc introduced the Wandenreich,...

Bleach is a long-running shonen anime that has ample time for its major characters to grow up and evolve as people. This is often the best part of any shonen action series, with the main heroes and even some villains changing over time to become stronger, smarter, wiser, and cooler in all sorts of ways.

Related: 10 Best-Written Dragon Ball Character Arcs

The most popular Bleach characters are those who, through the series' main events and flashbacks alike, underwent serious personal changes and evolved over time. Often, this means becoming braver and wiser as a fighter, and some Bleach character arcs went in fascinating and totally unexpected directions to show who these characters can truly be.

Ichigo Kurosaki

Shonen protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki didn't just glow up as a Soul Reaper and learn new combat techniques in his character arc. Ichigo did excite Bleach fans with his tough training arcs and cool fights,...

Anime is really creative when it comes to magic systems. It's normal to see abilities like super strength and flying, just like any other entertainment genre. However, anime creators often think outside of the box when inventing powers, whether those abilities make sense or not.

Related: 10 Best Animated Shows With Only One Season

Even if an anime's magic system is easy for fans to understand, there will inevitably be one character with abilities that leave fans questioning how those powers can possibly function effectively in battle. Whether the powers defy physics, human anatomy, or common sense, fans can't help but wonder how these abilities would work in the real world.

Updated by Sage Ashford on May 30th, 2023: Villains wielding powers that make no sense are surprisingly common in anime. They'll continue to exist though, thanks to anime needing over the top battles to pull viewers in.

Zeref's Infinite Magic...

Bleach's anime is going strong with the new "Thousand-Year Blood War" arc, and the series' main heroes are all stronger than ever so they can challenge the mighty Quincy empire. While the Soul Reapers are shaking off their complacency to power up, protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki is already ahead of them -- maybe too far ahead.

Shonen anime fans are used to the protagonist being the series' strongest hero by the end, but in Bleach's current arcs and upcoming season this summer, Ichigo may actually be too strong. He is at risk of becoming a static hero who just keeps doing what he's been doing, all so he can win the day. His version of shonen power scaling leaves something to be desired.

Related: Jujutsu Kaisen: Can Gojo Satory's Power Actually Be Scaled?

How Strong Is Ichigo Kurosaki in the Thousand-Year Blood War Arc?

Ichigo has reached his...

Bleach's shonen protagonist, Ichigo Kurosaki, has been through a lot in the span of 600+ manga chapters and 300+ anime episodes. Like most shonen heroes, Ichigo Kurosaki is really put through the wringer with constant danger, bloody fights, intense personal stakes, and more, and sometimes, he's a total victim.

Related: 10 Naruto Villains That Deserved Better

At times, Ichigo knows what he's doing and accepts all the risks, such as when he agrees to that final duel with Grimmjow in Las Noches. But in many other scenes in Bleach, Ichigo definitely deserved better than he got, often because his enemies played dirty while he was playing fair, or fate dealt Ichigo a terrible hand that would traumatize anyone, Soul Reaper or not.

When Masaki Died Before Ichigo's Own Eyes

The entire Kurosaki family deserved better when it came to Masaki's fate against the sinister Hollow called Grand Fisher. In his youth, Ichigo...