BLEACH – THE BOUNT VOLUME 18
January 13th 2010 20:43
Category: Videos, Television
Based on the original Bleach manga by: Tite Kubo
Director: Noriyuki Abe
Screenplay by: Masahi Sogo et al
Producers: Noriko Kobayashi (TV Tokyo), Yukio Yoshimura & Ken Hagino
Starring: Johnny Yong Bosch (Ichigo Kurosaki), Michelle Ruff (Rukia Kuchiki), Stephanie Sheh (Orihime), Jamieson Price (Chad), Wally Wingert (Renji Abarai), Derek Stephen Price (Uryu), Terrence Stone (Captain Mayori) Liam O’Brien (Captain Ukitake), Steve Staley (Captain Hitsugaya), Megan Hollingshead (Rangiku), Kyle Herbert (Ganju), David Lodge (Kenpachi Zaraki), Spike Spencer (Hanataro), Michael McConnohie (Kurodo), Julie Ann Talyor (Lirin), Roger Craig Smith (Noba) & Richard Epcar (Koga)
English Version produced by: VIZ Media LLC
Released by: Madman Entertainment
Running Time: 100 minutes Rating: M
It’s been some time coming but finally I’ve managed to get my hands on the next volume in the Bleach saga via what you might say is either a happy coincidence or the will of the force. Wandering past a major chain store on my way to selling raffle tickets at the Men’s Club I just happened to take the time to check what they might have had in their anime section and bingo there this DVD was sitting there amongst the other DVDs crying out to me. It took all of the space of mere seconds for me to scoop it up and purchase it forthwith, although it wasn’t until after I’d gotten home from selling tickets that I had the time to peruse its contents.
Well it seems as if things have only gotten that little bit more confusing in regards to the mysterious and enigmatic entities known as the Bount. Able to live for centuries at a time without aging, yet requiring the souls of the dead to continue their existence the Bount who have also been known as Vampires seem to be something of an enigma, a curiosity, a group who in the past preferred to keep themselves to themselves and exist on the very fringes of society where they can live as they choose. All that though seems to have been cast to the winds though as it looks as if these once solitary enigmas are gathering together for some as yet nameless purpose.
Essentially this is pretty much what the Bounts are like, consumed by the desire to fulfil some as yet nameless grand scheme cooked up by the one regarded as their leader, Jin Kariya. Kariya has a plan that involves reaching Hueco Mundo and assuming the mantle of godhead, according to his former wife and lover, Yoshino, and to fulfil this particular grand agenda he needs the agency of a Quincy. Now what the heck is a Quincy I hear you ask? Isn’t he the character of a seventies drama series? Well yes but in the world of Bleach a Quincy is a militant exorcist who rather than reaping hollows like Soul Reapers do; they destroy them, and this upsets the balance of the world. Such powers meant that they were a danger to the balance and in ages past the Soul Reapers waged war against them, leading to their almost virtual extinction. Uryu Ishida is the last known living Quincy and as such he is much sought after by the Bounts in order to bring about the schemes of Kariya.
Uryu’s friends are naturally aware of this and plan to protect him as best they can from the Bounts, the only problem is that they have no idea what they’re really up against and Uryu himself feels that he needs to get away from them in order to spare them the trouble and woe that will come from shielding him. Rather noble and tragic don’t you think? It would make great sense if he himself knew what was going on as well, but he doesn’t quite have all the details either although Yoshino does tell him about Hueco Mundo but the mechanism by which Kariya’s ambitions are to be fulfilled isn’t really known to anyone other than Kariya himself. Even his most trusted henchman Utagawa is slightly in the dark as to how things will pan out.
All in all things are gradually building up to some kind of epic confrontation, and when you add into the mix a former Soul Reaper, Ichinose Maki, a former member of Squad Eleven then there is no telling how things are going to pan out. It has to be said that the Bounts are an interesting bunch of antagonists, although with their ‘dolls’ they seem to be somewhat overpowering as far as comparative strength goes – but then again it’s all about plot contrivance in the end. If your protagonist beats up the bad guys too quickly then the story ends a lot faster than it should do and you’re left holding the can so to speak. This particular story arc is one of many similar phenomena that occur when an anime is based on a popular manga series, the anime often runs ahead faster than the manga can keep up when said manga is still running. Hence the need for filler; and the Bount arc is precisely that, you won’t find any of the Bounts or associated character in the pages of the manga.
According to some the Bounts have been regarded as lame antagonists, that they just don’t cut the mustard so to speak in comparison to other antagonists within the series. An interesting remark as frankly I think that they make a welcome change to the usual run of the mill hollows, soul reapers and traitorous officers that to date have been matching up against Ichigo and company. They also make for presenting a different perspective on affairs, especially when it comes to the nature of life and death, which when you think about it is as much a major part of the whole series as all the fighting, carnage, intrigue, nifty one liners and faux pas. In fact given the very nature of the Soul Society and Soul Reapers life and death is very much the bedrock upon which the whole concept is built and the Bount give an interesting glimpse at this from their own unique perspective. This was definitely an interesting volume to watch although it may not be everyone’s cup of tea.
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