Anime Review - Bleach: Season 1

3 out of 5 Stars

Finally, we get around to my very first review on Science Fiction and Fantasy: The Blog. And what better way to start then with one of anime fandom’s biggest crazes, the one and only Bleach! For those that don’t know, Bleach is an anime series based on the widely popular manga by Tite Kubo. It revolves around teenager Ichigo Kurosaki, a boy who can see the spirits of the deceased, who is swept up into a battle between evil spirits known as ‘Hollows’ and those who have sworn to cleanse society from their wrath, the ‘Soul Reapers’. Ichigo eventually becomes a ‘substitute’ Soul Reaper and, along with Rukia (a young female Soul Reaper who bestowed upon him his new found powers), must defend himself and his loved ones from the threat of the Hollows.



After having seen all 20 episodes of this first season, I can happily confess to loving this series. Granted, the premise of fighting demonic spirits isn’t exactly original but Bleach finds a way to transform itself into something quite engaging. Over the course of the season, we slowly discover the mythology surrounding the Soul Reapers, Hollows and everything in between, presenting a unique world that continues to expand with each passing episode. But while the story telling is strong, it’s the characters that really make Bleach a standout show. Ichigo is a great protagonist; both serious and heroic, he never gets to the point of being overly emo nor does he ever come across as being a douche (like so many other brooding anime heroes). Rukia is another great character; strong willed and yet somewhat sad, her strange relationship with Ichigo is the driving force of the series and there back and forth banter is just a pleasure to watch. It’s not just Ichigo and Rukia however that contribute to the show, just about every character in this series stands out. In particular, the teddy bear possessing Kon and Ichigo’s goofball father Isshin are absolute riots; turning serious situations into slapstick comedy gold at the drop of a hat. But it’s everyone from the kind hearted Orihime, to the enigmatic hermit Urahara, to one off characters like Don Kanoji, that makes sure that Bleach never fails to entertain.

While Bleach does have plenty of upside, it isn’t without its flaws. The pacing of the show is quite slow and it never really picks up until the last few episodes. While it was nice to see the show take its time in order for the audience to get to know the characters, the season could have done with a little less talking and little more action. Speaking of which, for a show that is supposed to be centred on samurai style warriors, the series is pretty dry when it comes to sword swinging action. Most of Bleach’s fight scenes are short and not terribly exciting; many of the series’ bad guys are dispatched with one swipe of Ichigo’s sword (or Zampakuto as it’s known here) and don’t seem to put up much of a fight. While the action does ramp up near the end of the season, action fans may be a disappointed that a little more demon slaying wasn’t included in the overall package.

Although the pacing of this season was fairly slow and the action a bit lacking, I still enjoyed Bleach for its unique mythology and for its loveable characters. It also sets a strong foundation for the future of the series and I can’t wait to see what happens next. It’s these merits that really make Bleach: Season 1 stand out from the rest of the pack, making it well-worth your time to go out and see.