Bleach is a popular anime and manga series known for its compelling story, diverse
characters, and intense battles. It is also one of my personal favourites and well worth the
long journey. Here are 10 reasons why you should seriously consider watching Bleach:
1. Unique Premise: When you hear the word Shinigami (god of death) the first image that
would come in your mind is some dark monstrosity that looms over the souls of the
departed. Instead in this world Shinigami appear as human samurai who guide people to the
afterlife by using the hilt of their swords to perform Konsō(魂葬, Soul Burial). Or they
cleanse the souls of the damned by cutting them and absolving them of their sins. This
aspect of the worldbuilding is incredibly entertaining.
2. Complex Characters: The series boasts a wide range of well-developed characters, each
with their own personalities, backstories, and motivations. To delve into just one example
Ichigo Kurosaki, the main character, is particularly compelling as his character is based
around the weight of the self inflicted burden he put on himself at a young age to protect
everyone he cares about. His arc revolves around his guilt and blame for not being able to
protect the most important person to him in the past and that manifest into his treatment
of others.
3. Epic Battles: Bleach is renowned for its intense and visually stunning battles. The
characters abilities, swordplay and the general magic system gives more than what you
would expect. The swords themselves are magical and finding out what some of the
stronger characters abilities are is extremely exciting. Every sword is unique and this is one
of the most praised aspects of the manga and anime.
4. Emotional Depth: While Bleach is known for its action, it also delves into deeper themes
of friendship, sacrifice, and the consequences of one's actions. It can really tug at your
heartstrings. But primarily it deals with the theme of death. In fact it deals with it in many
different angles, all of the characters have suffered losses in their past and you see they way
they accept reality and how they grow to overcome their misfortunes. The worldbuilding
itself also deals with this theme as the Soul Society is the afterlife itself. You get to see all of
the souls of the humans that were once alive and the sadness or peace that they make with
their circumstances.
5. Character Growth: Many characters experience significant growth throughout the series,
which adds depth to the story. Ichigo’s resolution to his arc by the end of the series is
extremely satisfying, but he is far from the only well written character. My personal
favourite character, Rukia Kuchiki, a Shinigami that you in fact meet in the first episode, is
an amazing character who’s depth grows every arc and the relationship she has with the
protagonist is so good that she is often heralded as a second protagonist. A lot of the
fanbase is split into having different favourite characters which showcases the variety of
them.
6. Mystery and Intrigue: The series is filled with mysteries, secrets, and hidden agendas.
There is a lot of parties plotting, and not just the villains. A lot of characters backstories are
intriguing and very important to the plot, understanding motivations and learning who the
more mysterious characters truly are is handled very well.
7. Supernatural World-Building: Bleach features a well-crafted supernatural world with its
own rules, organizations, and lore. From the Shinigami themselves, their Zanpakutō(their
soul-cutter swords) to the reincarnation cycle of life and death, the world building is very
satisfying to get lost into. Not to mention the other factions like the Hollows, Quincy and
Fullbringers each with their own lore and characters with their magical abilities.
8. Iconic Villains: The series introduces a variety of memorable villains, each with their own
motivations and powers. The hierarchies are extremely interesting as the plot twist on who
is on which side is surprising to say the least. There is a variety of different villains as well
that can satisfy the different tastes one might have. You want an absolutely deplorable,
terrifying villain? You got it. You like villains that have more understandable and noble
motivations but were led astray? You got those too.
9. Legacy and Impact: Bleach is a huge part of anime history and has a very dedicated
fanbase. Especially now with the new seasons that have come out to wrap up the source
material. Watching it is definitely recommended if you would like to get a sizable Shonen
experience that is more thought out than what the genre is generally known for.
Ultimately, Bleach offers a blend of action, intrigue, character development, and emotional
depth that makes it a must-watch for fans of the Shonen genre and those looking for a
wellcrafted, long-running anime series.
