Bleach is another of your typical Shounen Jump anime. The manga runs in Shounen Jump Weekly in Japan. It has been running for the last year, quickly approaching it's 52nd episode. It is very similar to Naruto and One Piece, but is the more action-oriented of the three.
There are more fights in this series than the other two, and it has more emphasis on sword fights rather than hand to hand / special ability combat of One Piece and the Ninja Technique combat of Naruto. This allows for some very cool scenes.
Of the three, Bleach has the most "so... cool...." factor. As in, the author likes to draw everyone in very awesome poses, impratical as they may be. The fights are intense and heavily animated. The spirit force gives a very neat effect on the fights and brings the intensity to a new level.
There is no real running story in Bleach, so it does not look like it will last very long. The Anime is already very close to the manga, which does not bode well in general.
But, the anime is still VERY worth checking out. It's a fun action show for the guys to watch (and girls too, if you're into that). Does not take much brain work.
There are many places to get Bleach, the best place to follow it would be Animesuki, as it is still unlicensed (not for long, most likely, unless people went broke licensing One Piece and Naruto).
Hell-Fansubs are the fastest subbers, and Bleach-Society running close behind. LunarAnime is arguably the highest quality. But, One thing to keep in mind is that, from what I understand, the fansubs of the three are very different. Lunaranime, for example, is my preference because they slightly adapt the translation to fit everyone's personality, rather than being literal.
This works for me, because Bleach is not dialogue-driven like other shows. I don't want to know exactly how they said it. I like Ichigo to be cussing and bitching with an attitude like your typical cocky high schooler would. Others may not. It is advisable to try all three to deciede, especially during fight scenes where the differences really show.
The manga is licensed in the USA and Rightstuf is having a 33% off sale until 9/18 so it's a good time to pick up volumes 1-10. The manga has a high recommendation from me, unlike Naruto and One Piece, which got crapped up.
For discussions, I suggest spoilering any of the current and future Bankai fights. Which means start with the Quincy's recent fight. Those are critical to the story, so it's especially important that they don't know what Bankai is until it is introduced.
Spoilering is broken, so general talk is okay for now.
Hell-Fansubs are the fastest subbers, and Bleach-Society running close behind. LunarAnime is arguably the highest quality. But, One thing to keep in mind is that, from what I understand, the fansubs of the three are very different. Lunaranime, for example, is my preference because they slightly adapt the translation to fit everyone's personality, rather than being literal.
I like LunarAnime's fansubs as well. Like stalkyr has said it has a lot of action in it. I for one wish they had a little more story too it but since that is not the case they seem to have put a lot of effort into making high quality sword fights. Good Openings/Endings also :P (I like when animes have good Openings/Endings heh). Just trying to get this going so I kinda repeated :P.
You son of a bitch! You stole my thread idea! I'll kill you!
But yeah, Bleach is awsome. It's number three in my trinity of bitchin anime. Naruto, One Piece, Bleach. Ninja, Pirates, and sword wielding grim reapers.
I mean, it is now anyway. The first 25 or so episodes are just allright, but the next 20 after that are just awsome. It's just not stop awsome fights.
As far as the sub groups go, don't do Hell Fansubs. They come out the same day, but seriously, they guess for like half of the words.
BleachSociety is the fastest group that is actually accurate.
Lunar is the best though in my opinion.
Man, they really need to get those spoiler tags working. We can't actually talk about anything. Like wether or not that ice dragon was Hitsugaya's bankai or not!
I allmost made a 'Bleach: It makes Naruto look like Crap!' thread on the old boards :p
Ending three is thus far the best. Happy People is just .. .. wierd, esp. since it shows characters in the normal state that has nothing to do with the current sorty.
I use Lunar's dub as well, Ichigo cussing, and Gin talkin' all hick just adds to the characters.
Zaraki Kenpachi FTW! Prolly make me an avatar of him tomorrow, since Shikky isn't seeing any action atm.
I mean, it is now anyway. The first 25 or so episodes are just allright, but the next 20 after that are just awsome. It's just not stop awsome fights.
I disagree! The main characters have been split up for 20 episodes now, and in isolation none of them are very interesting. I miss the interaction between them, especially Rukia amongst the mortals. These days it seems when any of the old characters show up I find myself wishing they'd go away so we can get back to the palace intrigue of Soul Society.
In any event, I have a pretty low tolerance for shonen in general, but Bleach is more than keeping my attention. And we can agree that sword fights are ******* awesome.
I disagree! The main characters have been split up for 20 episodes now, and in isolation none of them are very interesting. I miss the interaction between them, especially Rukia amongst the mortals. These days it seems when any of the old characters show up I find myself wishing they'd go away so we can get back to the palace intrigue of Soul Society.
In any event, I have a pretty low tolerance for shonen in general, but Bleach is more than keeping my attention. And we can agree that sword fights are ******* awesome.
They may not be as interesting in isolation, but what could they have done, really? Group fights? Ok everyone stay back, it's my turn to fight, move on, next person's turn while everyone comments on the fight, etc? It was pretty much a neccessity to give the series more focus.
I feel it helped develop characters fairly well. I do miss Rukia, but Inoue and Ishida were both developed well, delving into Ishida's past and Inoue's beliefs. And some explaination what Chad's reason to fight is.
I mean, I'm not talking phenomenal development here, even Naruto has better story than Bleach. But it's there.
But I guess I'm just used to how these things go. I don't think I've ever seen a shounen where the "split up to fight" does not happen.
Ok everyone stay back, it's my turn to fight, move on, next person's turn while everyone comments on the fight, etc? It was pretty much a neccessity to give the series more focus.
They did it for DBZ :P. And look how that turned out heh.
I mean, I'm not talking phenomenal development here, even Naruto has better story than Bleach. But it's there.
True but Bleach does take the action up a bit more than Naruto at times :P. But IMO I rahter have both (story and action).
Once I started with a group, I stay with 'em till the end, unless they do some kinda horrible job 'er break up 'er somethin. Ya just get used to a certan way, ya know?
[SPOILER="spoiler"]
Nice fight. Nothin like Ken/icchi, but still pretty damned nice overall.
Gin is such a total bastard, ya gotta love 'im. And it had Renji! Yay![/spoiler]
Just watched 48 afore comin' ta work. Nice fight. Nothin like Ken/icchi, but still pretty damned nice overall.
Gin is such a total bastard, ya gotta love 'im. And it had Renji! Yay!
EPISODE 48 SPOILERS BELOW
Yeah I liked it, and I am pretty sure that the ice dragon is not his bankai. He had regular soul slayer and when he did his, sword transformation, it was the first stage. If the last captain tells us anything, they will say Bankai before the summon.
Yeah I liked it, and I am pretty sure that the ice dragon is not his bankai. He had regular soul slayer and when he did his, sword transformation, it was the first stage. If the last captain tells us anything, they will say Bankai before the summon.
SPOILER:
Not sure I agree with that. The sword started out as a regular katana. I think its Stage 1 was when it grew the chain and claw on the end. Making the dragon his Bankai.
If that's not the case, then Hitsugaya's soul slayer operates outside all the other rules they've set for them. Nobody elses katana sprouts new weaponry without being released first.
He didn't do Bankai btw. Most captains can do weakened version of their signature moves in Shikai form. For example Byakuya. I am up to date on Manga, so just wait and see
He didn't do Bankai btw. Most captains can do weakened version of their signature moves in Shikai form. For example Byakuya. I am up to date on Manga, so just wait and see
Well, I know the answer to whether or not it was his Bankai, but I don't want to mention it because we don't want manga spoilers in here. If it's arguable in the anime, we'll leave it arguable, until it's confirmed, regardless of whether or not we know the answer in the manga.
And I can beat watching raws. I watch it subbed. :p No point watching raws for series that are heavily fansubbed. In the case of Tsukiyomi, Ichigo Mashimaro, etc yeah I watch it raw.
Well, I know the answer to whether or not it was his Bankai, but I don't want to mention it because we don't want manga spoilers in here. If it's arguable in the anime, we'll leave it arguable, until it's confirmed, regardless of whether or not we know the answer in the manga.
And I can beat watching raws. I watch it subbed. :p No point watching raws for series that are heavily fansubbed. In the case of Tsukiyomi, Ichigo Mashimaro, etc yeah I watch it raw.
What's your nihongo at Stalkyr? Just don't see a point for subbed anime if you can understand nihongo :0. I am able to understand 90%+ usually for raws I watch but took me a year to get good enough at nihongo to achieve that, the end result is gratifying though
Ah, you can speak nihon. Convinent. I am deaf so, body language is my primary language, so to speak. I can figure out what everyone says based on physical motion, facial expression, situational context, outside reactions.
In the case of ichigo mashimaro, I can understand based on having read the manga. Tsukiyomi is easy enough because of experience in anime.
Knowing written kana and a few kanji helps.
Then its pretty understandable to watch raws. Never really crossed my mind.
yar, 'tis a disheartening prospect, not bein able to babble about our geekiness in secret to other geeks, and instead having to post it for all the OTHER geeks to read.
Maybe because Bleach Society did such a horrid job of it this week.
DB doing Bleach does not break my heart. They are both fast AND accurate. And if they really mess something up in the translation, they just post a v.2 later in the week.
Oh snap, Kenpachi is gonna go apescat on them jive turkeys!
I wonder if Renji got his Bankai. They didn't really say, and he might have been leaving cause he thought time was running out, but I'm hoping he got it.
I'm surprised Ichigo didn't do it at the same time if thats the case, I expected one to push the other to getting it as well.
Oh snap, Kenpachi is gonna go apescat on them jive turkeys!
I wonder if Renji got his Bankai. They didn't really say, and he might have been leaving cause he thought time was running out, but I'm hoping he got it.
I'm surprised Ichigo didn't do it at the same time if thats the case, I expected one to push the other to getting it as well.
SPOILER:
Yeah he got his Bankai or he would have not left the training grounds so leisurely
Bah, hurry up lunar >.< I wanna click all the spoiler tags~
*checks*
Bah, still ain't out Ohhh.. however, H&C is... that'll tide me over for a few more days
I wanted to take this moment to explain to you that we have a traitor in our midst. After many a debate with my conscience of naming this traitor, due to him being my family, I have come upon the conclusion that we must hand down the judgement of God upon him.
This traitor, henceforth named deuce, thinks that Bleach is not worth watching. Despite the overwhelming amount of evidence I have presented him, some of which being clips from future fights, explainations on what happens in the series, how awesome the fights are compared to Naruto and One Piece, he has not gone past episode five.
For the sake of the justice of heavens, I call upon the Shonen-gumi to slay this vile foe. If you wish to surrender, you must commit dishonorable seppaku. If you wish to be forgiven, watch up to episode 51 and present us your most gratitious apology for your sins. If you run, then by gods, you shall run, and run, and run. But no matter where you run, the Eye of Daduon shall be upon you, and God's Judgement shall be delivered without fail.
May what little of luck you have left in your pathetic existence be with you.
I wanted to take this moment to explain to you that we have a traitor in our midst. After many a debate with my conscience of naming this traitor, due to him being my family, I have come upon the conclusion that we must hand down the judgement of God upon him.
This traitor, henceforth named deuce, thinks that Bleach is not worth watching. Despite the overwhelming amount of evidence I have presented him, some of which being clips from future fights, explainations on what happens in the series, how awesome the fights are compared to Naruto and One Piece, he has not gone past episode five.
For the sake of the justice of heavens, I call upon the Shonen-gumi to slay this vile foe. If you wish to surrender, you must commit dishonorable seppaku. If you wish to be forgiven, watch up to episode 51 and present us your most gratitious apology for your sins. If you run, then by gods, you shall run, and run, and run. But no matter where you run, the Eye of Daduon shall be upon you, and God's Judgement shall be delivered without fail.
May what little of luck you have left in your pathetic existence be with you.
lol. Real good stuff doesn't start till they get inside the death god place :P.
Ohhh.. however, H&C is... that'll tide me over for a few more days 
