For more than 11 years or so Bleach has been a mainstay of Anime and Manga for literally hundreds of millions of people. Bleach didn't come to the US until 2006, when it has run on Cartoon Network ever since. Bleach has spawned 2 original video Animations (OVA's) and 4 feature animated films, seven rock musicals, numerous video games and merchandise. While the Manga will go on for another story arc to finally end the anime has run it's course.
I could post a plot sysnopsis from a wiki page or try to make one myself, but really all you need to know, is that this was/is one of the greatest anime series ever. It has everything; a coming of age story, fantastic action and power scales, the artwork is amazing and consistently improving. After 10 years of anime the stories never got stale or old. The method of leaving some story lines hanging and then revisiting them in later seasons was brilliant. The minds behind the manga, somehow were able to span years and tie story points together in such a logical way, that even though it had been years you knew and undertood the what's and whys.
Bleach to me is shoulder to shoulder with DragonballZ. Although these are dynamically different types of anime fans or either or both will know what I mean.
Over the years if you read or watch consistantly you form a bond or kinship with certain charaters. When we in the US, were young who didn't want to be or pretend to be HE-MAN or Voltron, or superman/batman or someone else from the superfriends? Imagine if those cartoons lasted for 11 years, and not the off and on couple. As an adult you appreciate things about anime series that as a child you don't. Such as the artwork, direction, writing, and content. If these things are great and you can relate to them then you feel such a strong connection to the characters.
For me this was Bleach. (and Dragonball Z)
IF you've made it this far in the article, and you are a bleach fan and or a DBZ fan...who hasn't at one point said in their head or even outloud..."BANKAI!" or "Kamehameha" - it just pops up subconsciously. I am a grown man and I have no problems admitting that I love these shows and think about the very cool and quoteable action tag lines. - It's like saying "up up and away" or "High Ho Silver" or "I Have the POWER!", or "Live Long and Prosper"
I know I'm a dork.
TO ME Bleach was those things. A weekly staple for 366 episodes.
Now there is talk about a live action movie since the anime has run it's course. I have some very strong feelings about this. I REALLY hope they don't do one. I know this flys in the face of my fan boy status but seriously I can't think of ANY Live Action manga or anime adaptation that has been any good...maybe "Death Note". Prime example is DB:Evloution. The last thing I want is for Hollywood to bastardize the franchise and completely eliminate any chance of any type of follow up. (series, movies, etc...) That is what has happened to DB.
Ichigo Kurosaki is a teenager gifted with the ability to see spirits. His life is drastically changed by the sudden appearance of a Soul Reaper—one who governs the flow of souls between the human world and the afterlife.
Goodbye - until next time