Bleach...
I've seen a handful of episodes of Bleach on DVD and quite a few more episodes on Cartoon Network...
Bleach has well in excess of 300 episodes and at the time of this writing, only about two thirds of the entire series has been released. On its initial release, volumes of Bleach contained fewer episodes per set. After a while, the series was reassembled into season sets. Partly due to the immense size of the series, I lost interest in the series fairly early on, but, I still think fondly of the series and occasionally, when Bleach is on Cartoon Network, I can't always resist taking a peek. I gave Bleach a 2 out of 5.
Volume 1
For as long as he can remember, Ichigo Kurosaki has been able to see ghosts. But when he meets Rukia, a Soul Reaper who battles evil spirits known as Hollows, he finds his life is changed forever. Now, with a newfound wealth of spiritual energy, Ichigo discovers his true calling: to protect the living and the dead from evil. And when he vows to defend Rukia from the ruthless justice of the Soul Society, he and his friends must cross over and do battle in the spirit world...
Volume 2
Ichigo and his friends make the perilous journey to the Soul Society and are promptly set upon by the guardians of the spirit world. As they dodge one foe after another, they gradually draw nearer their goal: to rescue Rukia from the tower cell where she awaits her death sentence. But their presence threatens the very order of the Soul Society itself, and they must face the ultimate opponents: the captains of the guard squads whose Spiritual Pressure is unmatched, even by Ichigo himself!
Volume 3
The day of Rukia's execution draws ever closer, and to save her, Ichigo and his loyal comrades must navigate the madness of a Soul Society on the brink of collapse. Ichigo and Renji face the most difficult training of their Soul Reaper careers as they struggle to achieve bankai, without which they have no hope against the most powerful captain of the Seireitei: Byakuya Kuchiki.
While all the players converge at the site of Rukia's imminent execution, in the background, a group of Soul Reapers slowly uncover an unimaginable betrayal at the hands of one of their own - a betrayal that will shake the Soul Society to its very core.
Volume 4
Ichigo and his friends return from the Soul Society to the World of the Living and try to resume their normal lives. But when strange abductions start happening, it's up to them to solve the riddle. More Soul Reapers arrive to help uncover the truth behind a mysterious clan known as Bounts. Will these allies be strong enough to stop the Bount leader from stealing human souls and feeding his dangerous ambition?
The battle against the evil Bounts grows wider and fiercer as Ichigo and friends, reinforced by a group of Soul Reapers, try to take the fight to their hideout. But the Bounts have many tricks up their sleeves, and it looks like certain defeat for Ichigo and his comrades.
Uryu, who had lost his Quincy powers, is the key to the Bount leader Kariya's plans for revenge against the Soul Society, as well as the key to his defeat. Will Uryu be able to regain his powers in time to save his friends?
Volume 5
The deadly Bounts have infiltrated the Soul Society seeking revenge, and Ichigo and his comrades are quick to follow. But with the large amounts of reishi available in the Soul Society, the Bounts' power seems nearly limitless, and even the most formidable Soul Reaper captains have a grueling fight on their hands.
At the Department of Research and Development, Bount leader Jin Kariya is after the Bount Crest known as Jokaisho, which has the power to blow all of the Seireitei away, and only Ichigo and Chad stand in his way!
Volume 6
Back in the World of the Living, Ichigo Kurosaki has been officially recognized as a Substitute Soul Reaper by the Soul Society. Then trouble comes to Karakura Town in the form of Visoreds, a group of ex-Soul Reapers that have crossed over into the realm of the Hollows. As they try to recruit Ichigo to their side, it is revealed that former Captain Sosuke Aizen is attempting to create an army of Hollows with Soul Reaper powers called Arrancars. It will take Ichigo and friends along with a detachment of Soul Reapers to keep them from destroying the town.
Volume 7
While Captain Hitsugaya's advance Soul Reaper troops adjust to life in the World of the Living, Ichigo and his friends undergo extensive training to prepare for the battle with the Arrancars. Ichigo is determined to learn to control his inner Hollow, but the Visoreds he goes to for help are just as determined for him to release it. Then, when Soul Reaper Rangiku saves a young soul from a Mock Arrancar, the extent of Sosuke Aizen's grand scheme is slowly revealed.
Volume 8
The Head Captain orders Mayuri Kurotsuchi to simplify the procedures to perform Gentei Kaijo, a restriction release for the Spiritual Pressure of the Advance Troops while in the World of the Living. Kon, lonely and bored due to Rukia's and Orihime's absence, decides to pay a visit to Rangiku. Trouble is brewing in Las Noches, Aizen's palace in the Hollow realm, Hueco Mundo. One of the Arrancars, Patras, rebels against Aizen and tries to steal the Hogyoku.
Volume 9
In the perpetual night and white sand world of Hueco Mundo, Ichigo and the others fight their way to Las Noches, the stronghold of former Soul Reaper captain Sosuke Aizen, where Orihime is being held. In the depths of Las Noches, Rukia encounters Espada Number Nine, Aaroniero Arruruerie, who removes his mask to reveal a very familiar face - could he really be former Squad Thirteen Lieutenant Kaien Shiba?
Volume 10
As Ichigo and his friends battle their way through the Arrancar stronghold, Chad is overcome by Espada Number Five Nnoitora - and the drop in his Spiritual Pressure is felt throughout Las Noches. Elsewhere, Uryu and Renji struggle against Szayelaporro, who has sealed away most of their abilities, and Orihime and Nel watch in horror as a Hollowfied Ichigo faces off against the exultant Grimmjow.
Volume 11
Ichigo and Rukia take responsibility for looking after Rurichiyo, a girl of noble birth who one day appears in the World of the Living. She and her two bodyguards transfer into Ichigo's class at school, and Rukia decides to show her how to have fun. But the fun stops when Rurichiyo disappears and then a group of assassins arrives and challenges Ichigo and his friends to a fight!
Volume 12
In the wake of their battle with Kumoi's assassins, Ichigo and Rukia follow Rurichiyo to the Soul Society to face the royal Kasumiohji Clan and stop Rurichiyo's sham wedding. They manage to win the new captain of Squad Three, Shusuke Amagai, to their side, but finding Rurichiyo will be no easy task with all Thirteen Court Guard Squads after them!
Volume 13
In Hueco Mundo, Ichigo and his friends are on the brink of collapse as they challenge the seemingly endless power of the Espadas. But then, four captains of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads arrive to back them up. While their battles rage, Sosuke Aizen once again takes Orihime captive and reveals his true aim: the destruction of Karakura Town!
Volume 14
One hundred and ten years ago in the Soul Society, Kisuke Urahara was appointed captain of Squad Twelve to dissent and controversy. But nine years later, when strange disappearances began taking place in the Rukon District, only Kisuke figured out the identity of the perpetrator. Back in the present, Sosuke Aizen enters the World of the Living on a mission of destruction...
Volume 15
With Sosuke Aizen intent on destroying Karakura Town, the Soul Reapers fight to protect the four pillars placed by the Head Captain to replace the real Karakura Town with a fake one constructed in the Soul Society. When the Fracci¢n Poww nearly destroys one of the pillars, the real Karakura Town slowly begins to return to the World of the Living. If it fully returns, the Soul Reapers will be unable to fight!
Bleach has well in excess of 300 episodes and at the time of this writing, only about two thirds of the entire series has been released. On its initial release, volumes of Bleach contained fewer episodes per set. After a while, the series was reassembled into season sets. Partly due to the immense size of the series, I lost interest in the series fairly early on, but, I still think fondly of the series and occasionally, when Bleach is on Cartoon Network, I can't always resist taking a peek. I gave Bleach a 2 out of 5.
