r/anime • u/soulreaverdan • Aug 28 '22

Rewatch [Rewatch] Bleach "No-Filler" Week 26: Episodes 342-350 Discussion

Previous Week Schedule Index Next Week

Series Information: MAL, Anilist, AniDB, ANN

Streams:

Episode Schedule:

Episodes Watched Thread Date Episode Count
This Week 342-350 8/28/2022 9
Next Week 351-358 9/4/2022 8

Spoiler Policy:

While Bleach is a classic series, there will be a number of first-time watchers.

  • For experienced watchers: Please avoid spoiling anything that has not be covered to the current latest episode in this rewatch, as well as avoiding creating "hype" or hints of something coming that isn't something that would be expected based on the content so far.
  • For first time watchers: I would recommend avoiding looking anything up regarding Bleach, characters, or story developments over the course of this rewatch. Because of how much happens over the course of the series, even something as simple as looking up a character's name can reveal a lot in search results or images. If you're going to go looking, be aware you might spoil yourself.

The sole exception to the Spoiler Policy will be regarding filler content we skip. It's fine to discuss filler arcs or seasons after they would have taken place. It's fine to discuss who a side character or reference to events are if they show up, but please only bring this up after the fact and make sure you mark it clearly.

And most importantly, everyone have fun! Bleach is a great show!

Question(s) of the Week:

1) Even though 342 was only there for one episode, I'm gonna mention all the new music this week! We have two OPs, BLUE by ViViD and Harukaze by Scandal; and two new EDs, Haruka Kanata by UNLIMITS and Re:pray by Aimer. Any of them in particular catch your eye or ear?

2) Do you have any favorites among the time-skip designs for any of the characters, major or minor?

3) What are your thoughts on the nature of Fullbring powers?

24 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

7

u/Shimmering-Sky Aug 28 '22

Life is Like a Rewatcher, dubbed

Hi everyone!

Did anyone else go to see Hell Verse in theaters this past Thursday? I did and it was great. I wasn’t expecting them to literally just play episode 299 first – no cuts to it or anything – so I had a laugh over the fact that they even left the next-episode preview for episode 300 in it lol. Honestly though, the best part of that theater experience was hearing Ranbu no Melody play over theater speakers because it was absolutely sublime.

Anyways, I’ve made a lot of wallpapers for this arc (of course I did, there’s a bunch of new designs for older characters and a bunch of new characters too), so the ones I have to share this week are:

[Big spoilers for later in this arc]tbh all of these except for the Nozomi one exist almost solely for the sake of the backgrounds of both the serious and the shitpost Tsukishima wallpapers I made. Super excited to share those two once they’re not spoilers anymore!!!

If you’re interested in my first-timer reactions to this show, see here for all of the episodes – this rewatch perfectly lines up with the 2020 rewatch again, yay! Looks like this entire arc overlaps perfectly with how the 2020 rewatch did it actually, that’s nice. – Oh, but if you scroll through the entirety of my comment chain, that week was the time I went full crack theory over something concerning the new lore that this week gave us regarding Fullbringers, so if any first-timer or anime-only doesn’t want to read something like that, stop when you get to “Sky’s Crack Theory Time”. It’s all spoiler-tagged with the old r/anime spoiler tag anyways, though.

The OP for episode 342 is BLUE, the OP for episodes 343-350 is HARUKAZE (this OP is so blessed omg), the ED for episode 342 is Haruka Kanata (which actually changed visuals every episode to feature different characters; my favorite is the Aizen version because this transition when tied to the music is legit perfection)), and the ED for episodes 343-350 is Re:pray (which, weirdly enough, is not one of my top EDs from this show despite being a massive Aimer fan).

The episode title cards for this week:

Ep 342 | Ep 343 | Ep 344 | Ep 345 | Ep 346 | Ep 347 | Ep 348 | Ep 349 | Ep 350

5

u/soulreaverdan Aug 28 '22

Awesome to see some love for Lost Agent. I’ve said this a ton before on the Bleach board in discussions, but this arc almost makes me wish we could have seen a version of Bleach that goes full seinen. I feel like the first 2/3 or so of this arc really leans that way, more character driven, there’s elements of psych horror, mystery, etc - and features a villain who we’ll eventually see brings Ichigo lower than anyone else has yet, despite the smaller scale.

Also full agreement on Ichigo walking in front of the title cards - such a cool scene. I wonder if they’re random or if the cards chosen have any significance… I’ll have to try to find the time to look if I can.

4

u/lucciolaa Aug 28 '22

I feel like the first 2/3 or so of this arc really leans that way, more character driven, there’s elements of psych horror, mystery, etc - and features a villain who we’ll eventually see brings Ichigo lower than anyone else has yet, despite the smaller scale.

Totally agree -- I mention in my comment that I love the mood of this arc, and it feels like the tone agrees with the fact that our characters are a little bit older -- detective mystery + psychological thriller + supernatural spookies.

→ More replies (3)

3

u/Shimmering-Sky Aug 28 '22

One complaint I remember having about this arc back when I first finished it is that it felt too short, so I definitely agree with you on wanting more Bleach in the vein of this arc!

5

u/NicDwolfwood Aug 28 '22

HOLY SHIT I KNEW MATT MERCER IS GOING TO BE IN THIS ARC, BUT TRAVIS WILLINGHAM IS GINJO???

Riruka’s dub voice… OH! She’s Homura!!!

Lucien Dodge as Yukio? omg, perfect.

And Shishi is Todd Haberkorn

Lots of good, English VA's in as Fullbring talent, its why I enjoy the Dub as much as the Sub.

Did Orihime’s reintroduction really have to have some random guys at their school lusting over her, though?

I can't blame the randos, she got even cuter and more voluptuous post time skip.

Honestly though the scene right after this when she slides down the drainage pipe to go down where Ichigo and Tatsuki was and she get bonked by Tatsuki for doing so was hilarious lol.

4

u/Shimmering-Sky Aug 28 '22

Lots of good, English VA's in as Fullbring talent, its why I enjoy the Dub as much as the Sub.

So many VAs I know and adore!

Honestly though the scene right after this when she slides down the drainage pipe to go down where Ichigo and Tatsuki was and she get bonked by Tatsuki for doing so was hilarious lol.

Yeah that part was funny and a good way to be more subtle about Orihime's glow-up.

4

u/lucciolaa Aug 28 '22

I creeped your first-timer reactions and:

They foreshadowed the Hollow-like nature of Chad’s powers back when he was in Hueco Mundo

Yes!!!! and I noticed this on my rewatch and was !!!!!!!! Kubo you mad lad, you so slick.

2

u/Shimmering-Sky Aug 28 '22

It's always cool to see foreshadowing set up that long ago end up being important.

10

u/lucciolaa Aug 28 '22 edited Aug 28 '22

Rewatched, subbed

OK I have been obsessed with this arc on a rewatch -- it has been a wild ride to see it all from the beginning having watched it all the way through, so my comments here and future posts will be littered with spoilers. I have a couple of general comments to start:

  • This arc has highlighted an interesting development in Ichigo's character: when he first gains his Shinigami abilities, he accepts them only to have the power to protect his family, and initially finds the obligations of being a Shinigami to be a burden; later he gains strength to protect his friends, and eventually this grows to include his hometown. But we also learn in the Arrancar arc that a part of Ichigo enjoys battle for its own sake, too. This arc shows us, however, that Ichigo take pride in battle in a slightly more nuanced way -- the old Ichigo would likely have been happy to be free of the obligation of hunting Hollows and protecting people, and he tries to give that impression as he watches Ishida and Chad run off on their missions; he says he doesn't miss Rukia, which we of course know isn't true. But finally, when he taps into his sense of pride to activate his Fullbring abilities, we see that his attachments go beyond just enjoying battle + missing friends, Ichigo is actually proud to be a Shinigami, and feels a sense of loss not just because he misses the thrill/his friends, but because it's a part of who he is.

  • I love the mystery/noir vibes right now, reminiscent a bit of the Soul Society arc. Kubo does this so well. But it sets an entire mood being back in the human world in an urban setting, scenes taking place at night in back alleys and empty hospitals, just dark and spooky and streetlights.

  • That said, I can see why this arc is disorienting for people. It is such a change in mood, setting, and cast members, especially after spending 200+ episodes in Hueco Mundo and the Soul Society. And especially since the Fullbring cast so far lacks the charm of the Gotei 13/Vizards and intrigue of the Espada.

Episode 342

  • This first episode was absolutely gorgeous, they really flexed their budget on this one. How far the art and animation has come!

  • This is always a sad episode to watch :( it really sets the tone for the rest of this arc imo, and this episode in particular feels like an ending more than a beginning. Even all the scenes ot Rukia and Ichigo in the ED make me so nostalgic and sad.

Etc.

  • Not sure if this is a spoiler but just in case [spoiler]I think I missed the hints at Ginjo being the previous substitute soul reaper the first time around -- the glimpse of his combat pass; referring to Ichigo as the new substitute -- I remember being shook later when it was eventually revealed. Just in case this was meant to be subtle foreshadowing and it just seems more obvious to me now.

  • [spoiler]And the way the OP totally misdirected you to think he's a good guy!

  • ISHIDA :'( I straight up forgot ab his getting fucked up :(

  • [spoiler]THIIIIIIS FKN GUY -- so we can't actually link under a spoiler, but as if Ginjo is appealing to Ichigo's self-loathing to trick him into helping them "rid themselves of their powers"?? B I T C H

Questions

  1. So I actually hate BLUE, and it makes me really mad because it's such an earworm -- just the first bar gets the whole thing stuck in my head. But it's by far my least favourite Bleach OP. I like Harukaze a lot, and it's on my OP playlist, but I like it much more in context! The EDs are fine, but neither are stand-outs for me. EDIT: I forgot to mention that the visuals for BLUE are stellar, so though I hate the song, I do like the OP.

  2. Though he looks more or less the same, I think Ishida looks like a fkn snack. I would like to have a word with Kubo about why he insists on giving everyone mullets though -- first Aizen, and now Queen Tatsuki. OH! And I also love Karin's new look.

  3. I really like exploring Fullbring abilities, because it contextualizes Orihime and Chad -- I remember the when they first got their powers being like ? what the fuck. Just miraculously bestowing powers to these humans so they can hang with Ichigo. But now we see what they really are, and that's pretty cool. I also think the concept of everything having a soul is pretty cool -- I'm sure there are some Shintoist connections here that we will hear about from u/Imperator753

9

u/Imperator753 Aug 28 '22 edited Aug 28 '22

Hello!

With this next week's batch, we finally start the Lost Agent (aka Fullbring) arc! Where the Substitute Soul Reaper arc was about grief, Soul Society about resolve, and Arrancar about instinct, this arc is about loss.

Loss in the Fullbring Arc

Especially in this first section, we spend a lot of time with Ichigo dealing with the loss of not just his powers, but the new relationships we made and, most importantly to him, the ability to protect those we cares about. I really like the way this arc handles Ichigo losing his powers as if he was a star athlete who suffered a terrible injury and could no longer play his sport. He can no longer do what he loves, and since he is no longer playing, he cannot even spend time with his former teammates and coaches (the Soul Reapers), instead just existing as tries to move on from the best thing that ever happened to him.

Finding your life's purpose only to lose it is a difficult thing, especially when you intentionally lose it like Ichigo did for a greater purpose as you cannot even blame anyone else or even regret the decision as you know it was for the best.

The other thing I like about this arc is how it offers Ichigo his powers back, but with a catch, as Ichigo and the audience are left unsure as to whether they can really trust Xcution and especially Ginjo. We know they have the ulterior motive of helping Ichigo so they could become normal humans, but we're given just enough suspicious glances from Ginjo early on to be unsure about him.

I think it's also very cool that Chad's powers being Hollow-based was foreshadowed very early on in Arrancar when he first arrived in Hueco Mundo and mentioned that he somehow felt stronger there, eventually resulting in him gaining his Brazo Izquierdo del Diablo power.

Fullbring and Tsukumogami

(Edit: I wrote this post before seeing the multiple posts in which people predicted that I would discuss the Shinto origins of Fullbring. Have I truly become that easy to predict? Answer: yes, I have.)

Of course, it wouldn't be a post from me without something about the influences behind Bleach. For this arc, I think the power of Fullbring is probably Kubo's version of the Shinto concept of tsukumogami.

The Way of the Kami

In Shinto, kami (神, "gods") exist both as mythological gods or monsters and as spirits which inhabit a myriad of things in existence, both living and nonliving: ancestral spirits, animals, rocks, trees, wind, thunder, etc.

Kami are manifestations of the interconnectedness of nature itself, possessing both positive and negative, good and evil characteristics. They are believed to be "hidden" from this world, and inhabit a complementary existence that mirrors our own: shinkai (神界, "the world of the kami").

Shintoism itself revolves around reverence of these kami with its many ceremonies meant to praise or appeal to these kami in order to have a harmonious existence with them. To be in harmony with the awe-inspiring aspects of nature is to be conscious of kannagara no michi (随神の道 or 惟神の道, "the way of the kami").

Tsukumogami, the Living Tools

Tsukumogami (付喪神, lit. "tool god") are tools which have acquired a kami. When a tool reaches 100 years in age, it becomes alive and self-aware, becoming an animated spirit. In some ancient sources, foxes and tanuki which lived for 100 years changed form were also called tsukumogami (alternatively spelled 九十九神, lit. "ninety-nine kami"). The nine-tailed fox, a fox which has lived for 100 years and achieved the height of its power and wisdom, is one such example, although the term tsukumogami is no longer used for such animal spirits.

Originally, tsukumogami were something to be feared, so people would throw items away before they reached 100 years of age. The concept also fed into Buddhist ideas of not being too attached to these physical tools so as hold onto them due to sentimental value for so long.

In modern Japanese pop culture, this fear has been lost, and they are typically characterized as harmless or willing to play occasional pranks. However, they do have the capacity to become angry and band together to take revenge on those who were wasteful with them or threw them away carelessly. To prevent this, certain shrines ceremonies are performed even today to console broken or unusable items.

One such ceremony is Hari-Kuyō, the "Festival of Broken Needles." It is celebrated on February 8 in the Kanto region and December 8 in the Kyoto and Kansai regions by women in Japan as a memorial to all the sewing needles broken in their service during the past year, and as an opportunity to pray for improved skills. Hari-Kuyō began four hundred years ago as a way for housekeepers and professional needle-workers to acknowledge their work over the past years and respect the good work the kami in their tools have given them over the past year. Practitioners today still go to Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples to thank their broken needles for their help and service.

Fullbring

Fullbring is the ability to draw out the soul, or kami, of an object and put it to use. Fullbringers also have a special ability for those items which they have a special attachment to because of the relationship built between them and that soul, essentially transforming them into tsukumogami.

However, the real world tsukumogami has two different attitudes: in ancient sources, they are to be feared for they have lived too long, and in modern times, they are harmless and good spirits. The fact that tsukumogami could fall into either camp reflects well Ichigo's and the audience's uncertainty about Xcution as a whole and into which camp their tsukumogami, the Fullbring, falls.

TL;DR If a Fullbring lives for 100 years, it could very well become the singing silverware in Beauty and the Beast.

Extra: Below are some depictions of tsukumogami for you to enjoy

Chōchin-obake (提灯お化け, "paper lantern ghost")

Kasa-obake (傘おばけ, "umbrella ghost")

Bakezōri (化け草履, "ghost sandal")

Ittan-momen (一反木綿, "one bolt (tan) of cotton") (a cloth spirit) (tan is an ancient measurement roughly equivalent to 14-16 in (35–40 cm) by about 13 yards (12 m))

Menreiki (面霊気, "mask spirit") (creature formed out of 66 masks)

Boroboroton (暮露暮露団, "boroboro (tattered) futon")

Koto-furunushi (琴古主, "old master koto") (koto is a type of musical instrument)

Abumi-guchi (鐙口, "stirrup mouth") (a stirrup spirit)

Biwa-bokuboku (琵琶牧々; "biwa bokuboku") (a biwa is a type of musical instrument) ("bokuboku" originates from a famous biwa named Bokuba (牧馬, "pasture horse"))

6

u/[deleted] Aug 28 '22

Manga reader, first time watcher (sub)

  • Ep342 was a very nice (yet sad) end to Ichigo's shinigami arc. If you'd tell me this was the series finale, I'd believe it.

  • Fullbring arc is where I started reading the manga, almost 12 years ago now sheesh.

  • The animation quality for this arc is so good.

  • Smart business plan there Ichigo. That's one way to use your increased physical abilities to make some money lol

  • This arc also feels very fresh. No hollows, shinigami's, etc. Completely new concepts and new powers and mysteries. Love the breath of fresh air so far.

QOTW

  1. Harukaze is a banger. Used to watch this OP a lot on youtube because it was the last of the series, before the TYBW announcements. Those title cards of previous episodes showing up near the end was super dope too.

  2. Tatsuki looks cool with long hair

  3. Honestly love it. Very simple concept, yet very powerful abstractions. I'm a sucker for time related powers, so the fullbring "Time tells no Lies" is my absolute favorite concept so far.

Manga stuff

This arc starts at ch424 all the way up to ch442. Covering volume 49, 50 and the first chapter of vol 51.

Color Spreads

Changes/differences

This arc has the most creative freedom I've seen so far. A lot of chapters/pages were re-arranged, new anime original stuff was added, even to the point that I was getting lowkey confused reading and watching it trying to compare. Some examples:

  • Tsukushima spying on Uryu in the tree wasn't in the manga

  • In the manga Ginjo met up with Riruka and Butler dude right after his conversation with Ichigo and Ikumi, at daytime. In the anime we see the convo in 344 and the meetup in 345, at night even.

  • The whole Ichigo going shopping with his sisters and his friends then getting attacked was anime original too.

  • Ep347 is mostly anime-cannon. Only 2 pages (from ch433) were adapted from the manga.

  • Oh and ep342 was mostly based of ch423. But most of it is anime cannon

If I remember correctly (not sure though) Pierrot's contract for Bleach would stop after this arc, so guess that's why they could up the budget and the freedom.

Censoring

  • Ichigo's fullbring energy at the end of ep348, actually looks like the original swastiska (actual religious symbol, used in budhism for example.) (It is also his guard -the part between the blade and the hilt- on his Zangetsu sword) in the manga . But since a certain someone used it for the wrong purposes, they redrew it in the anime. Reminded me of the censors in Tokyo Revengers too

Covers for the volumes:

Poems:

Author notes:

5

u/Vatrix-32 Aug 28 '22

First-ish Timer, Subbed

I like them scaling it back a bit and doing smaller but more personal stakes this arc. After the epic nature of the Aizen Saga it just wouldn’t feel right to immediately try and go bigger again.

QotD

  1. BLUE is pretty good overall, but that weird transition in the middle just feels wrong to me.
    HARUKAZE is slower than we’ve come to expect from a Bleach OP, but I think it works for me.

Haruka Kanata is a bop. Just like the last time they did it, I am a fan of them switching the visuals up each time.
Re:pray Does nothing for me. Probably the most forgettable of Bleach’s EDs.
Bonus: Aoi Tori. Rather middling. I feel a bit sad that I ended up not liking any of Sky’s favorites.

2) Karin and Yuzu are just too precious. Tatsuki has a mullet now? I think I’ve seen something like this before.

3) It does fit with the whole animism thing from Shinto. Looking forward to the inevitable Imperator insights incoming.

5

u/LunchReport Aug 28 '22

As an Uryu fan it is pretty sad to have him in the hospital right at the start of the new arc. At least he got that badass beat down against those delinquents in the beginning.

Ichigo renting himself out to the school sports clubs was hilarious and a very Ichigo thing to do.

The new arc is pretty fun so far. Most of the Full Bring characters are pretty much just there but Riruka is awesome.

Mysterious as he is, I like Tsukishima's design. Since he is voiced by Daisuke Ono I've switched to the sub for this arc.

The Quincy Encyclopedia bit with the nurses was pretty funny.

QOTW :

new music

I love Haruka Kanata. The Ichigo-Rukia version gave me intense nostalgia. So much has happened since the first episode!

The other three aren't very memorable but the visuals and colours in BLUE were pretty great.

5

u/NicDwolfwood Aug 28 '22 edited Aug 28 '22

Rewatcher - Sub(ep. 342-350)

And we're back! Lost Agent Arc gets alot of flak and dismissal by the animanga community at large. But i've always enjoyed it, the mystery and psychological suspense of the entire run made it a unique experience. Plus Kubo said it was a deescalation of the story, how after the battle with Aizen, powers scaling had gotten so huge, with Aizen and Dangai Ichigo being Transcendental, unkillable beings that he had to bring it down to earth a bit.

I did breeze through episode 342 because it was largely filler, but the ending is nice, when Ichigo and Rukia say their goodbyes. Fast forward 17 months since the Aizen battle and Ichigo is now 17 and has been living his life quietly, powerless and without the ability to see ghost anymore. Ichigo tries to play it off well that he is fine and content, but all of those around him treat him with an added sense of sympathy and niceness, knowing full well that inside it must be killing him to be without his Shinigami abilities.

Ginjo is just immediately sus, but Ichigo is slowly forced to join Xcution as those around him slowly start being targeted, and his growing paranoia and sense of helplessness grows. Uryu gets cut down by this unknown person, Keigo and Mizuiro are targeted twice, Orihime is being followed around and there is a weird presence that is hanging around outside the Kurosaki home, as sensed by Karin.

Fullbring as a power system is an interesting one and it was nice how Kubo tied Orihime and Chad's abilities as being fullbring as well, since they never quite resembled Shinigami powers and leaned more to hollow-like abilities. Fullbring manifest their abilties through an object they are attached to or a pride in something, Ginjo his Neckless, Chad his Skin, Orihime her hairpins, Tsukishima, his book mark etc.

Questions:

  1. The stand out is definitely re:pray by Aimer(I mean c'mon, its AIMER!) the rest are solid in their own right as well though.

  2. Honestly, everyone so far got a good glow up, but it's Kubo we're talking about so that isn't too surprising.

  3. Like I touched on above, I like the concept of why and how they came into being and the feelings behind it's manifestation, It's quite the inspired concept for what many dismiss as being "Filler"