Bleach: Series 2 Part 1

LABEL: Manga Entertainment
RUNNING TIME: 272 mins approx.
RATING: 15
VIDEO FORMAT: 16:9 Anamorphic
AUDIO FORMAT: English 2.0, Japanese 2.0
SUBTITLES: English
DVD REGION: 2
AVAILABLE: 30th June 2008


Synopsis
Ichigo Kurosaki and his group of spirit-warrior misfits return for a second explosive season of the smash hit anime. Having successfully journeyed to the Soul Society at the end of season one, the group must now rescue their friend Rukia from a sentence of execution – but can they really stand against an entire world of Soul Reapers?

Review
If you've ever got yourself into a conversation with an otaku of a certain age – a young relative, perhaps, or a teenager you've bumped into at a convention somewhere – you'll know that BLEACH is one of those series that gets brought up time and again as an example of Why Anime is Cool. Out there on that there t'internet, posting boards are awash with excitable fans extolling its virtues as the greatest thing ever (well, after DEATH NOTE... and FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST... and everything else), so it's easy to dismiss as just another fad, but here's the thing; if thousands of people in a niche market are raving about a particular show, there's usually a very good reason for it. BLEACH, in fact, is a very rare animal; it's an action series that's consistently well-written, rarely over the top, and which (generally) resists the temptation to delve into fan service in order to score points. It's also a show that has an equal number of both strong male and female characters, walking a demographical tight-rope to ensnare as many viewers as possible – in other words, in an unusual move for anime this show wasn't written with a particular gender in mind.

This latest volume brings together the first twelve episodes of season two, which sees teenager-turned-unwilling-shinigami* Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends travel to the Soul Society – the purgatorial afterlife, and home of the Soul Reapers – in order to rescue the powerless Rukia from execution. This marks the beginning of a new story arc, and one which comes as a timely change of scene after the air of tension and desperation that brought season one to a close. The change in scene also brings with it a change in dynamic; Rukia's imprisonment – raises the need for a new mentor figure (or two), and this time around help comes from the most unexpected (and fairly ungracious) places. The addition of new characters also shifts roles within the core group – albeit only a little – and opens up new avenues for character development. Not bad for a day's work. If all of this sounds a little vague it's because I'm reluctant to spoil any surprises; whilst BLEACH hardly ranks alongside M. Night Shyamalan's catalogue in terms of twists and revelations, what it does have certainly packs a punch, and certainly they deserve being kept under wraps for now.

With thirty-two episodes now on release this series shows no signs of running out of steam. Witty, action-packed and occasionally frightening, it really is the perfect example of Why Anime is Cool. Next time you see that fanboy, be sure to give him a hug.



*Lit. “Death God”, but carries a meaning similar to the Western phrase “Grim Reaper” within modern Japanese culture. See, you learn something every day at SCI-FI-LONDON!


Picture
The animation is captured flawlessly from the original broadcast source. Crisp blacks, great contrast and fluid motion.

Audio
Flawless stereo, in both English and the original Japanese.

Special Features
Textless opening/beginning, art galleries and trailers.



Matt Dillon