BLEACH: THE ENTRY (ANIME VOLUME 10)
December 23rd 2008 22:54
Category: Videos
Based on the original Bleach manga by: Tite Kubo.
Director: Noriyuki Abe.
Screenplay by: Masahi Sogo et al.
Producers: Noriko Kobayashi (TV Tokyo), Yutaka Sugiyama & Ken Hagino.
Starring: Johnny Yong Bosch (Ichigo Kurosaki), Michelle Ruff (Rukia Kuchiki), Stephanie Sheh (Orihime Inoue), Derek Stephen Price (Uryu Ishida), Kate Higgins (Nanao Ise), Liam O’Brien (Captain Ukitake), Jamieson Price (Chad), Kyle Herbert (Ganju Shiba), David Lodge (Kenpachi Zaraki), Steve Kramer (Captain Kyoraku), Dan Woren (Byakuya Kuchiki), Spike Spencer (Hanataro), Zangetsu (Richard Epcar), Terrence Stone (Yoruichi cat form) & Wendee Lee (Yoruichi human form).
Produced by: TV Tokyo, dentsu & studio Pierrot.
English version produced by: VIZ Media LLC.
Released by: Madman Entertainment.
Running Time: 125 minutes. Rating: M.
The interesting thing about the entire Bleach series is that it really is episodic, each episode regardless of where you start watching from in this anime, usually ends up with a cliff-hanger ending leaving you wanting more. Well at least that’s my particular take on things, it certainly seems to be more successful than the episodic format used in other anime series such as Death Note or Naruto. After all there is always the sense of suspense and edge of your seat drama, in Death Note and Naruto it’s not so prevalent. Sure there is suspense in Death Note but it’s more a drawn out affair, due to the nature of the story that’s unfolding rather than an in your face wait till what happens in the next episode. And I just love the little voice overs that inform the audience about what’s coming up in the next instalment, most amusing, certainly more so than a lot of other similar style anime series.
Ichigo Kurosaki, high school student and substitute soul reaper has ventured into the world of the Soul Society with his friends Orihime, Chad, Uryu and the cat Yoruichi. Why did they do this I hear you ask? It was all part of the effort to try and rescue Rukia Kuchiki, the soul reaper who lost her powers to Ichigo during an encounter with a hollow that was after him. The transferral of her powers to him was only one of the several offences that she was deemed to have committed in the eyes of her fellow soul reapers. Yet even when all taken together, the transferral of her powers, her refusal to return immediately, overuse of a gigai, they do not warrant the punishment that she has handed down to her upon her return to the Soul Society – death by the sokyoku, a device that looks like a cross between a guillotine and a naginata. Usually such a punishment is reserved for those only of the rank of captain who have committed serious offences against the Soul Society.
Still the precise nature of the charges and penalties are not what’s on the minds of Ichigo or his friends as they break into the Soul Society in order to rescue Rukia. Once they finds themselves where those who have passed on eventually end up going they are then confronted with trying to get into that part of the society where Soul Reapers dwell – the Seireitei. A first attempt a challenging the gate keeper of the Hakuto gate, Jidanbo, proves initially promising but is swiftly thwarted by Gin Ichimaru, captain of Squad Three. So now with their foes warned of their potential intentions the gang has to find some other way of getting into the Seireitei, Yoruichi the cat has just a possible means via the agency of Kukaku Shiba, Fireworks expert of the Rukon district.
When the drama opens on this particular volume it seems that the Flower Crane cannon has successfully deposited Ichigo and friends into the Seireitei, bypassing the seki-seki barrier and allowing them to move around relatively freely towards the tower where Rukia is being held prisoner. The only problem with this improvement in conditions is the fact that the Soul Reapers are aware of what is going on and have begun to deploy in order to counter what they believe is a ryoka invasion. No doubt you are wondering what the heck is a ryoka, apparently it’s a hostile entity and a catch all term that can be used to not only include hollows but humans trying to save people. Generally it’s used for those who get into Soul Society without permission or guidance from a soul reaper, kind of like a queue jumper at a nightclub or cinema.
Still even they know that there is an incursion in process the various soul reapers just have no real idea of what it is that they are up against. Some how in the insuring chaos the group becomes split, Chad on his own, Ichigo on his own, Ganju and Hanataro heading towards the tower where Rukia is being held prisoner and Orihime and Uryu wandering around together but keeping a low profile. The primary focus is on the characters of Ichigo and Chad as they make their way through the Seireitei against hostile soul reapers. It is amidst this seeming chaos that both Chad and Ichigo start to really come into their own, Chad finds himself confronting the captain of Squad 8, Kyoraku, and even though his abilities have improved considerably due to training with Yoruichi the wily and somewhat laidback captain is more than a match for the kid from Okinawa.
Meanwhile Ichigo finds himself faced with a real monster, Kenpachi Zaraki, commander of Squad 11, a truly fierce brute of a warrior who just loves to fight. Initially he doesn’t think much of Ichigo, calling him a rabbit and remarking how he dislikes chasing such animals but as the fight progresses his opinion changes as he comes to realise that Ichigo is far stronger than he seems. Anyone else in this kind of situation would consider a strategic withdrawal, especially after they had put their opponent down with a seeming lethal blow, not Kenny (as Kenpachi is called by his pink haired lieutenant, Youchiro), in fact as soon as he sees Ichigo back on his feet and ready to fight he is quite literally in Seventh Heaven. Massive carnage is unleashed as Ichigo and Kenny clash for the final round in which the winner takes all, and when the dust finally does settle there is buildings smashed into several next weekends as a result of the energy unleashed in this titanic battle and numerous superlatives were also destroyed as a result, it was that kind of fight.
But all is not well in the Soul Society; it seems that amidst the ryoka invasion as some are calling it there are other plots and plans afoot. The mysterious death of Captain Sosuke Aizen, commander of Squad 5, has certain individuals wondering what exactly is going on and other captains are deciding that they should take a more active role in affairs, namely Captain Tosen of Squad 9. Mystery, intrigue and action all combined to make a truly delicious dish of an anime series. Bleach Volume 10 is a real treat, get a hold of it either from a video store or if you’re as lucky as I was, from the shelves of your local library – definitely worth the time to watch.
Oh and for everyone who has been taking the time out to read the GL over the year or so I’ve been going let me wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from GL central. Cheers!
Director: Noriyuki Abe.
Screenplay by: Masahi Sogo et al.
Producers: Noriko Kobayashi (TV Tokyo), Yutaka Sugiyama & Ken Hagino.
Starring: Johnny Yong Bosch (Ichigo Kurosaki), Michelle Ruff (Rukia Kuchiki), Stephanie Sheh (Orihime Inoue), Derek Stephen Price (Uryu Ishida), Kate Higgins (Nanao Ise), Liam O’Brien (Captain Ukitake), Jamieson Price (Chad), Kyle Herbert (Ganju Shiba), David Lodge (Kenpachi Zaraki), Steve Kramer (Captain Kyoraku), Dan Woren (Byakuya Kuchiki), Spike Spencer (Hanataro), Zangetsu (Richard Epcar), Terrence Stone (Yoruichi cat form) & Wendee Lee (Yoruichi human form).
English version produced by: VIZ Media LLC.
Released by: Madman Entertainment.
Running Time: 125 minutes. Rating: M.
The interesting thing about the entire Bleach series is that it really is episodic, each episode regardless of where you start watching from in this anime, usually ends up with a cliff-hanger ending leaving you wanting more. Well at least that’s my particular take on things, it certainly seems to be more successful than the episodic format used in other anime series such as Death Note or Naruto. After all there is always the sense of suspense and edge of your seat drama, in Death Note and Naruto it’s not so prevalent. Sure there is suspense in Death Note but it’s more a drawn out affair, due to the nature of the story that’s unfolding rather than an in your face wait till what happens in the next episode. And I just love the little voice overs that inform the audience about what’s coming up in the next instalment, most amusing, certainly more so than a lot of other similar style anime series.
Ichigo Kurosaki, high school student and substitute soul reaper has ventured into the world of the Soul Society with his friends Orihime, Chad, Uryu and the cat Yoruichi. Why did they do this I hear you ask? It was all part of the effort to try and rescue Rukia Kuchiki, the soul reaper who lost her powers to Ichigo during an encounter with a hollow that was after him. The transferral of her powers to him was only one of the several offences that she was deemed to have committed in the eyes of her fellow soul reapers. Yet even when all taken together, the transferral of her powers, her refusal to return immediately, overuse of a gigai, they do not warrant the punishment that she has handed down to her upon her return to the Soul Society – death by the sokyoku, a device that looks like a cross between a guillotine and a naginata. Usually such a punishment is reserved for those only of the rank of captain who have committed serious offences against the Soul Society.
When the drama opens on this particular volume it seems that the Flower Crane cannon has successfully deposited Ichigo and friends into the Seireitei, bypassing the seki-seki barrier and allowing them to move around relatively freely towards the tower where Rukia is being held prisoner. The only problem with this improvement in conditions is the fact that the Soul Reapers are aware of what is going on and have begun to deploy in order to counter what they believe is a ryoka invasion. No doubt you are wondering what the heck is a ryoka, apparently it’s a hostile entity and a catch all term that can be used to not only include hollows but humans trying to save people. Generally it’s used for those who get into Soul Society without permission or guidance from a soul reaper, kind of like a queue jumper at a nightclub or cinema.
Still even they know that there is an incursion in process the various soul reapers just have no real idea of what it is that they are up against. Some how in the insuring chaos the group becomes split, Chad on his own, Ichigo on his own, Ganju and Hanataro heading towards the tower where Rukia is being held prisoner and Orihime and Uryu wandering around together but keeping a low profile. The primary focus is on the characters of Ichigo and Chad as they make their way through the Seireitei against hostile soul reapers. It is amidst this seeming chaos that both Chad and Ichigo start to really come into their own, Chad finds himself confronting the captain of Squad 8, Kyoraku, and even though his abilities have improved considerably due to training with Yoruichi the wily and somewhat laidback captain is more than a match for the kid from Okinawa.
Meanwhile Ichigo finds himself faced with a real monster, Kenpachi Zaraki, commander of Squad 11, a truly fierce brute of a warrior who just loves to fight. Initially he doesn’t think much of Ichigo, calling him a rabbit and remarking how he dislikes chasing such animals but as the fight progresses his opinion changes as he comes to realise that Ichigo is far stronger than he seems. Anyone else in this kind of situation would consider a strategic withdrawal, especially after they had put their opponent down with a seeming lethal blow, not Kenny (as Kenpachi is called by his pink haired lieutenant, Youchiro), in fact as soon as he sees Ichigo back on his feet and ready to fight he is quite literally in Seventh Heaven. Massive carnage is unleashed as Ichigo and Kenny clash for the final round in which the winner takes all, and when the dust finally does settle there is buildings smashed into several next weekends as a result of the energy unleashed in this titanic battle and numerous superlatives were also destroyed as a result, it was that kind of fight.
But all is not well in the Soul Society; it seems that amidst the ryoka invasion as some are calling it there are other plots and plans afoot. The mysterious death of Captain Sosuke Aizen, commander of Squad 5, has certain individuals wondering what exactly is going on and other captains are deciding that they should take a more active role in affairs, namely Captain Tosen of Squad 9. Mystery, intrigue and action all combined to make a truly delicious dish of an anime series. Bleach Volume 10 is a real treat, get a hold of it either from a video store or if you’re as lucky as I was, from the shelves of your local library – definitely worth the time to watch.
Oh and for everyone who has been taking the time out to read the GL over the year or so I’ve been going let me wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from GL central. Cheers!
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