On The Spot - Bleach

Anime Title: Bleach (Burichi)
Author: Kubo Tite
Genre: comedy, fantasy, action, adventure, supernatural
Number of Episodes: 137 - ongoing
Runtime per Episode: 25 minutes
Published: August 2001(manga) - October 05, 2004 (anime)
Publisher: Shueisha
Studio: Studio Pierrot
Network: Tokyo TV


BLEACH is an ongoing manga series authored by Tite Kubo that has appeared in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine since August 2001.

Bleach follows the adventures of Ichigo Kurosaki, a high school student with the ability to see ghosts, and Rukia Kuchiki, a shinigami (Soul Reaper or, literally, "death god"). The early parts of the story focus mainly on the characters and their pasts. As events unfold, the story begins to delve deeper into the world of these gods of death.

The manga series has been adapted into an animated television series, two OVAs, two animated feature films, a rock musical, and numerous video games. Compilation volumes of the manga have sold over 40 million copies in Japan, and have reached the top of manga sales charts in the United States. The manga received the Shogakukan Manga Award, and the anime has been nominated for several American Anime Awards.

STORY
The story opens with the sudden appearance of the shinigami Rukia in Ichigo's bedroom. She is surprised at his ability to see her, but their resulting conversation is interrupted by the appearance of a hollow, an evil spirit. After Rukia is severely wounded while trying to protect Ichigo, she intends to transfer half her powers to Ichigo, hoping to give him the opportunity to face the hollow on equal footing. Ichigo unintentionally absorbs all her powers instead, allowing him to defeat the hollow with ease.

The next day, Rukia appears in Ichigo's classroom as a transfer student. Much to his surprise, she appears to be a normal human. She theorizes that it was the unusual strength of Ichigo's spirit that caused him to fully absorb her powers, thus leaving her stranded in the human world. Rukia has transferred herself into a gigai — an artificial human body — while waiting to recover her abilities. In the meantime, Ichigo must take over her job as a shinigami, battling hollows and guiding lost souls to the afterlife.

Bleach - First Opening Theme


Bleach - First Ending Theme



Source(s): wikipedia.org, Official Bleach Website(japanese), Shonen Jump Bleach Website