ANIME REVIEW: BLEACH SERIES 15 PART 1

 
Bleach Series 15 Part 1
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 15
Running Time: 300 Mins
Audio: English & Japanese DD 5.1
Release Date: 25/5/2015
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

It's the aftermath of the war between Aizen and the Soul Society and everyone is in a solemn mood, recovering from the problems they have faced so far. This doesn't mean that they should be complacent now that peace is now in the world of the living, it is far from it as there is a new threat to the World of the Living and the Soul Society.
When people go missing in the Precipice World, the Soul Society thinks it is Ichigo who is to blame and he has to act fast, or he will lose all respect he has gathered from those he calls his friend. Lucky for him, Rukia is on hand to help him as they run away from the Soul Society to try and find answers to their new problem - Kon also finds a stray girl, Nozomi who might have all the answers they need.

The squad captains and lieutenants are feeling that life is getting back to normal in the Soul Society. Captain Hitsugaya is annoyed at Rangiku for not keeping her up-to-date on official business on the cleaning up process in the World of the Living, while Nanao and Rangiku are working together. Nanao can tell she is out of sorts but can't put her finger on why she isn't her normal, bubbly self. Rangiku is still sad at the death of her former friend, Gin Ichimaru. Though other friends see him as at traitor, she knows what he meant to do. Ichigo wants to help the Soul Society out with their new problems, but he has to keep in mind that if he overexerts himself, he could completely lose his powers, which he will eventually anyway in time. The funny part of the story is in Kon finding a naked girl in a parking  lot and bringing her back to a blushing Ichigo and Rukia.

Key points in the story are Ichigo losing his combat pass in the Precipice World, Rangiku and Nanao losing hours while in the same place, the cleaner returns and Ichigo gets arrested by Captain Kuchiki. Yoruichi does the decent thing and helps Ichigo and his friends out by telling them someone in Squad 12 could be up to no good. Someone with skills is using Reigai, who are copies of the squad captains and lieutenants he or she is planning to use to infiltrate the Soul Society. One thing is for sure, whoever it is, they want Nozomi badly. Nozomi acts like the elusive, sacrificial character who later succumbs to her master's will even though a supposedly persistent Kon keeps trying to help her gets battered for his efforts. As the story is moving into a different arc, it's easy to mourn the passing of the Fall of the Arrancar Arc and Ichigo's fight to save Orihime from the clutches of the evil Aizen and defeat his army - then Aizen himself.

As always, the Illustrated Guide to Soul Reapers end sections for each episode are a great deal of fun and by now should be a fan favourite. When Rangiku eats all of her captain's meat for the barbecue, he isn't so pleased. It's been a rough ride but ultimately, Ichigo is now back to square one after nearly losing all his powers from using his final getsuga. In series 15 part 1 we get to see his internal struggle of being different around his Soul Reaper pals. This is a new arc and one that seems to get more interesting by the episode, plus Kon gets more screen time.


Bonus Material: Opening and Ending Animation.

Verdict: Bleach still has it for story, characters and fun - even with the new antagonist around - there's still time for action and hi-jinks in the Soul Society!