BLEACH – THE RESCUE VOLUME 15
July 10th 2009 01:38
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), Yutaka Sugiyama & Ken Hagino
Starring: Johnny Yong Bosch (Ichigo Kurosaki), Michelle Ruff (Rukia Kuchiki), Wally Wingert (Renji Abarai), Karen Strassman (Momo Hinamori), Kyle Herbert (Ganju Shiba/Sosuke Aizen), Doug Erholz (Gin Ichimaru), Megan Hollingshead (Rangiku Matsumoto), Michael Lindsay (Urahara), Michael Sorich (Tessai) Liam O’Brien (Captain Ukitake), Dan Woren (Byakuya Kuchiki), Stephanie Sheh (Orihime Inoue), Derek Stephen Price (Uryu Ishida), Kate Higgins (Nanao Ise/Retsu Unohana), Jamieson Price (Chad), David Lodge (Kenpachi Zaraki), Steve Kramer (Captain Kyoraku), Steve Staley (Toshiro Hitsugaya) Richard Epcar (Zangetsu), Spike Spencer (Hanataro), 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
This particular volume caught my eye the other day after wondering around in the food court at one of the local shopping precincts just killing time. Seeing it there on the shelf I just knew that it would have to be exposed to the scrutiny of the Green Lantern’s eternal emerald gaze; it could not simply remain there to languish until it was purchased by someone who had no real appreciation for such a gripping and compelling series. As a digression I also noticed that in the same place they had a copy of the Death Note live action movies, obviously all things manga and anime must be catching on in my locality, who knows maybe one day there might be an anime-manga convention held up here. I can but dream…
Chaos reigns in the Seireitei as Ichigo Kurosaki, substitute soul reaper and high school student attempts to rescue his friend and comrade in arms (so to speak) Rukia Kuchiki from execution at the hands of her fellow soul reapers. Of course all is not as it seems, not by a long shot. It seems that there is a lot more going on that has not been previously suspected, although in previous episodes there have been hints and suspicions dropping faster than cherry blossom leaves in the fall. None of it though has actually been placed into a coherent whole, an arching overall scheme that illustrates why what has been going on has taken place, until now that is…
At the very heart of the Soul Society lies what is called the Central 46, an organisation that is effectively the beating heart of the society, the source of its laws, rules and regulations. The name comes from the fact that the body is comprised of 40 sages and 6 judges recruited from the breadth of the Soul Society and gathered in the centre of the Siereitei, hence the name Central 46. It could be said that the Central 46 is the government and judiciary of the Soul Society, administering this celestial realm in the manner akin to the celestial bureaucracy of Chinese mythology. How someone becomes a member of this august body is not actually discussed in any significant detail, what is mentioned is that the body meets in an underground assembly hall and that it is the final arbiter on all pronouncements and punishments meted out by its decree. They are the ones who determine how an offender of the law will be punished and precisely when such a punishment will be carried out, it has been the Central 46 that has kept changing the dates for Rukia’s execution…or have they?
The problem in a society when the authorities of said society are effectively isolated from the bulk of that society is that the general mass of its members cannot definitively say that things are working as they should be, and this is the case in the Soul Society. Orders keep coming from the Central 46 but there is nothing to verify that they’re actually genuine, that the Central 46 is doing its job or that it is even actually still in existence, and because people have been conditioned to obey they do so unthinkingly, unknowingly, never at once realising that they are playing into the hands of someone truly unscrupulous.
Betrayal is very much a driving theme in this particular volume, the betrayal of a society, of friendships and of trusts all in the name and quest for power. Another major them is the concept of limitations, of attempting to surpass one’s own limits as it is revealed in the course of events a soul reaper can only progress so far in the learning of the various skills and talents, there comes a point when they can go no further – not without becoming a hollow. Ironic considering that Soul Reapers exist to reap hollows yet their own abilities can only progress if they transform into a hollow. Apparently Kisuke Urahara, Ichigo’s mentor actually perfected a process by which this transformation could be achieved but he abandoned his research and locked away the means by which the process could be undertaken in a gigai, an artificial body used by Soul Reapers who lose their abilities and powers.
Someone though found out about Urahara’s research and it has been this someone who has orchestrated the whole series of events that have lead to the chaos wracking the Seireitei. Everything would seem to have been progressing to the strains of their particular tune until the point when the depth of their treachery has been exposed via the efforts of various Soul Reaper captains and lieutenants. Naturally they have no regrets, none at all, for even at the moment of revelation they still have what seems to be an ace up there sleeve. The Menos, Hollows of immeasurable power and ability breach the barrier between the world of the Soul Society and their own realm and come forth to collect their allies, the traitors Gin Ichimaru, Kaname Tozen and Sosuke Aizen, very much alive and the ring leader of this conspiracy. Aizen seeks to reach continually higher and higher, to strive for excellence and it is this reason that has been his motivation for carrying out his grandiose treachery.
As he looks down on his ‘fellow’ Soul Reapers he explains to Captain Ukitake that at the top there exists a vacancy that has not been filled by either soul reapers or the gods, he intends to fill that very vacancy. A bold claim to make especially as it seems Aizen has forgotten that those the gods wish to destroy they first make prideful. This was a great conclusion to the events that have occurred so far in the Bleach saga, although it’s not the end per se but rather a wrapping up of this particular stage in the journey. No doubt both Aizen and his lackeys will be back and Ichigo and his friends will become drawn into the conflict, so there will still be loads more of Soul Reaper goodness to come. I have to say this series has literally grown on me, its story, action and characters are fun to watch. In fact I’ve even found myself whistling the opening theme – Ichirinno Hana by High and Mighty Colour now and then, I have no idea what the lyrics are but it’s a catchy tune. Bleach Volume 15 is well worth taking the time out to get your hands on and enjoy.
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), Wally Wingert (Renji Abarai), Karen Strassman (Momo Hinamori), Kyle Herbert (Ganju Shiba/Sosuke Aizen), Doug Erholz (Gin Ichimaru), Megan Hollingshead (Rangiku Matsumoto), Michael Lindsay (Urahara), Michael Sorich (Tessai) Liam O’Brien (Captain Ukitake), Dan Woren (Byakuya Kuchiki), Stephanie Sheh (Orihime Inoue), Derek Stephen Price (Uryu Ishida), Kate Higgins (Nanao Ise/Retsu Unohana), Jamieson Price (Chad), David Lodge (Kenpachi Zaraki), Steve Kramer (Captain Kyoraku), Steve Staley (Toshiro Hitsugaya) Richard Epcar (Zangetsu), Spike Spencer (Hanataro), 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
This particular volume caught my eye the other day after wondering around in the food court at one of the local shopping precincts just killing time. Seeing it there on the shelf I just knew that it would have to be exposed to the scrutiny of the Green Lantern’s eternal emerald gaze; it could not simply remain there to languish until it was purchased by someone who had no real appreciation for such a gripping and compelling series. As a digression I also noticed that in the same place they had a copy of the Death Note live action movies, obviously all things manga and anime must be catching on in my locality, who knows maybe one day there might be an anime-manga convention held up here. I can but dream…
At the very heart of the Soul Society lies what is called the Central 46, an organisation that is effectively the beating heart of the society, the source of its laws, rules and regulations. The name comes from the fact that the body is comprised of 40 sages and 6 judges recruited from the breadth of the Soul Society and gathered in the centre of the Siereitei, hence the name Central 46. It could be said that the Central 46 is the government and judiciary of the Soul Society, administering this celestial realm in the manner akin to the celestial bureaucracy of Chinese mythology. How someone becomes a member of this august body is not actually discussed in any significant detail, what is mentioned is that the body meets in an underground assembly hall and that it is the final arbiter on all pronouncements and punishments meted out by its decree. They are the ones who determine how an offender of the law will be punished and precisely when such a punishment will be carried out, it has been the Central 46 that has kept changing the dates for Rukia’s execution…or have they?
The problem in a society when the authorities of said society are effectively isolated from the bulk of that society is that the general mass of its members cannot definitively say that things are working as they should be, and this is the case in the Soul Society. Orders keep coming from the Central 46 but there is nothing to verify that they’re actually genuine, that the Central 46 is doing its job or that it is even actually still in existence, and because people have been conditioned to obey they do so unthinkingly, unknowingly, never at once realising that they are playing into the hands of someone truly unscrupulous.
Betrayal is very much a driving theme in this particular volume, the betrayal of a society, of friendships and of trusts all in the name and quest for power. Another major them is the concept of limitations, of attempting to surpass one’s own limits as it is revealed in the course of events a soul reaper can only progress so far in the learning of the various skills and talents, there comes a point when they can go no further – not without becoming a hollow. Ironic considering that Soul Reapers exist to reap hollows yet their own abilities can only progress if they transform into a hollow. Apparently Kisuke Urahara, Ichigo’s mentor actually perfected a process by which this transformation could be achieved but he abandoned his research and locked away the means by which the process could be undertaken in a gigai, an artificial body used by Soul Reapers who lose their abilities and powers.
Someone though found out about Urahara’s research and it has been this someone who has orchestrated the whole series of events that have lead to the chaos wracking the Seireitei. Everything would seem to have been progressing to the strains of their particular tune until the point when the depth of their treachery has been exposed via the efforts of various Soul Reaper captains and lieutenants. Naturally they have no regrets, none at all, for even at the moment of revelation they still have what seems to be an ace up there sleeve. The Menos, Hollows of immeasurable power and ability breach the barrier between the world of the Soul Society and their own realm and come forth to collect their allies, the traitors Gin Ichimaru, Kaname Tozen and Sosuke Aizen, very much alive and the ring leader of this conspiracy. Aizen seeks to reach continually higher and higher, to strive for excellence and it is this reason that has been his motivation for carrying out his grandiose treachery.
As he looks down on his ‘fellow’ Soul Reapers he explains to Captain Ukitake that at the top there exists a vacancy that has not been filled by either soul reapers or the gods, he intends to fill that very vacancy. A bold claim to make especially as it seems Aizen has forgotten that those the gods wish to destroy they first make prideful. This was a great conclusion to the events that have occurred so far in the Bleach saga, although it’s not the end per se but rather a wrapping up of this particular stage in the journey. No doubt both Aizen and his lackeys will be back and Ichigo and his friends will become drawn into the conflict, so there will still be loads more of Soul Reaper goodness to come. I have to say this series has literally grown on me, its story, action and characters are fun to watch. In fact I’ve even found myself whistling the opening theme – Ichirinno Hana by High and Mighty Colour now and then, I have no idea what the lyrics are but it’s a catchy tune. Bleach Volume 15 is well worth taking the time out to get your hands on and enjoy.
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