This is sort of a follow-up to my old post, “Bleach review: an overrated shounen anime.” I had written that review after seeing 100 episodes of Bleach (in the middle of the Bounto arc) and now I’ve seen 126 episodes. My thoughts about the series haven’t changed that much after 26 episodes, even with the new Vizard/Arrancar arc, but they have changed a bit so I thought I’d expand a little on my previous Bleach review. I’m not gonna repeat the things I said in the old review, but I will talk about any new opinions I have…
For those of you who read my previous Bleach review, you’ll know that I wasn’t very pleased with the Soul Society arc. I won’t repeat myself as to why, but Bleach started to grow on me slightly when the episodes hit the mid-teens, but those 40+ episodes encompassing the Soul Society arc really made me think I would never like the show very much. But despite what a lot of fans think, I actually liked the Bounto arc even though it was filler. I don’t read the Bleach manga and I don’t like the series enough to start reading it, but I judge the anime in its own right. Just because Studio Pierrot or whoever decided to make their own original story arc doesn’t mean it automatically becomes terribly inferior to anything Kubotaito could make (and after making crap like episode 26, I’m glad they finally came up with some good filler XP) I’ll admit most anime filler episodes/arcs aren’t very good, but there are good ones and they deserve credit too. The Bounto arc did have a lot of new characters, but it didn’t overwhelm us with new characters like the Soul Society arc did. And most of them, such as Koga, Yoshino, and the main villain Kariya, were given good character development. The Soul Society arc just had way too much of the same old fighting/battling episodes going on and not enough time to give proper character development to the 20+ new characters introduced (I actually think Kariya was a more interesting character than Aizen has been so far). And I’m not 100% sure if Ririn, Claude, and Nova are anime-only characters but I kinda like them either way. They have fun personalities and are a good contrast for mascot characters with Kon. Kon’s okay I guess, but like so many other Bleach characters, he’s just too obnoxious/arrogant for his own good. I don’t care if there are new characters or characters meet each other differently in the anime than in the manga; as long as the anime and manga are good and entertaining, what does it matter if there are some differences between them?
Anyway, so now we have the Vizard/Arrancar arc. Though it does have most of the same old stuff (like Ichigo getting even MORE powerful) it has gotten good and I think will turn out much better than the Soul Society arc. The Vizards seem like interesting characters so far, there’s finally more character conflict between Ichigo, Rukia, and Orihime, and between Ichigo and his inner Hollow, and the action scenes seem a bit more intense too. But Bleach still suffers from having way too many arrogant, “yakuza” male characters like Ichigo, Renji, Ganju, Kon, Kenpachi, Ikkaku, Grimjaw, and a number of others. I mean, I guess they can be cool sometimes if you like that sort of thing, but I don’t see how they can appeal to anyone when there are way more sympathetic characters out there. For example, Ikkaku’s big battle in episode 118. I guess the battle was cool, but man he’s so arrogant! XP Having characters who are just so obnoxiously obsessed with fighting/violence and don’t seem do have anything compassionate about them whatsoever…I don’t know how they can become fan favorites. And then you have guys like Yumichika who are so annoyingly self-centered it’s not even funny. And guys like Mayuri who are just plain creepy. Well, I guess it’s just a matter of personal preference. Chad, Sajin, and Hitsugaya are more my kind of guys.
Bleach still also suffers from having humor that’s usually slapstick, hyperbolic, and out of place with the seriousness of the show. The only purpose characters like Keigo and Ichigo’s dad seem to serve is to personify this kind of humor. Even Hiyori randomly beating up on Shinji seems odd in a show with a lot of “real” violence – it’s like you have to separate the humorous, meaningless violence with the real, plot-advancing violence ~_^
But despite still having some flaws, as I mentioned before, Bleach has gotten better as far as character development. For some reason I really liked episode 114. The violence was really intense, but that’s what made it engrossing and impacting. I also liked it because all the characters were actually together, fighting one villain. That’s another potential flaw that Bleach has. So many times, Ichigo, Chad, Orihime, Ishida, other shinigamis, etc., are all off in different places having their own conflicts/battles at the same time, giving us a helluva a lot of content to deal with and resolve at one time, making things drag on and turn out less than expected. But his episode had them all together, and because the violence was so intense, you could just feel Ichigo’s humiliation at not being able to help his friends. And then afterwards when he got depressed about it and went off to train with the Vizards on his own…I finally started feeling some sympathy for Ichigo after all this time, so I hope his characterization continues to improve.
Well anyway, compared to my last review, I like Bleach better now though I still don’t consider it a favorite. I’ll continue to watch it for its good points, like awesome action scenes, excellent songs, a few favored characters like Rukia and Yoruichi, and I’m also really curious as to how the series will end =)
most of your points in this one seem more like personal gripes then flaws that can be seen by just anybody..infact that why many people like the show infact..either way im glad your taking the time to watch the anime(even though it seriously undermines the manga and you can tell the difference pretty well)
I wouldent say bleach is on the level of say, DGRAYMAN(manga wise) but its a good series anyway :)
I don’t even understand how somebody can judge the entire series by just watching the anime which is filled with brainless filler episodes, terrible animation and major censorship in various parts. Sorry dude, but your reasoning is flawed from the first point.
As I said, I judge the anime as a separate entity from the manga, not by how much better or worse it is. I understand the anime is inferior to the manga as far as filler episodes, censoring, etc., but I don’t think the characters, story, etc., are so vastly different from the manga that I would have a totally different opinion of the Bleach series if I were to read the manga instead of watch the anime. Maybe I would like Bleach better if I read the manga, but I don’t think my opinion would change that much. I think 126 episodes (more or less equal to 20+ volumes of manga material) is a decent amount to make some judgments on the series. I don’t dislike Bleach, I’m just pointing out some things in the series (the anime anyway) that I personally think are flaws. Of course anyone’s welcome to disagree, but I think I can have some say about the series even if I’ve never read the manga. Even though I haven’t read a page of the manga, I think I’m entitled to have some opinions about the Bleach series after watching 126 episodes. Like similar series’ such as Naruto, Inuyasha, and One Piece, there are differences between the anime and manga, such as the anime adding filler episodes and toning down the violence, but the main story, characters, plot, etc., are pretty much the same.
BTW, you said “dude” but I’m actually a girl (I know, it’s hard to tell just from writing).
I agree that the show is overrated. Good music… but too much talk, all characters are arrogant. Lack of humor. It’s not a bad anime but it’s not as good as it is told.
Just hoping to see new episodes of Inuyasha for some real good anime.
“Just hoping to see new episodes of Inuyasha for some real good anime.”
If you really think Inuyasha is a “real good” anime, apparently all you watch is adult swim. There are many other animes out there that are amazing: Darker than Black, Desert Punk, Hayate no Gotoku, Claymore, and especially Death Note.
Those are primarily “real” anime while inuyasha just seems very random, repetitive, and the scripting annoys the crap out of me.
Heck yeah Inuyasha rocks, but I guess the fact that i’ve seen the anime twice on Adult Swim makes me think that I love Bleach more, its something diff. you know what I mean? :P
P.S.-I’m from California and I wish I could see the manga version of Inuyasha & Bleach :) !
R NE of you fans of Harry Potter!!
Good reasoning but despite that I do aggree with inuhanyou I think whether or not you like Bleach depends on each person’s tastes and stuff like that I find it very funny certain times. I do aggree on Death Note being amazing though, and I’ve only seen a couple of episodes of Claymore. btw anime is both singular and plural ^_^ lol
Yo bleach is brutally ill I don’t care want anybody thinks. this anime is A damn masterpeice enough said about that. But anyway the dude talking about Inuyasha I agree with u saying Inuyasha is pretty damn good too. and yes it did get pretty played out after they showed the whole damn thing twice they even showed that shit A third time. But other than that I will always like bleach and inuyasha no matter how many times I see it again
I don’t know where u guys watch your anime. All I get to watch is Adultswim but if any of you guys could tell me what channel or website where you get your anime that would be great.
Well I been waiting on a answer from you guys for like three months now, and I know that alot of you people seen my comment. But you couldn’t even take the time to help me out, come on man shit that’s very disappointing coming from a website that’s fanmade. Well I finally found a website on my own and it’s called “anime6,org” So yeah if any of you guys want to watch some real good anime for free, visit that website trust me. And like I said before three months Bleach is brutally ill no dought about it lol, yep Bleach rocks it will always be one of my favorite animes.
P.S. Sorry for coming in here all flaming and shit but I just wanted an answer for a website to watch new animes. But nobody answered me, and so that’s the reason why I got all mad and shit, but I’m cool now no worrys lol. So yeah you have my apologies, so peace out my fellow anime fans. ANIME4LIFE!!!!
Sincerly: Ambrose