Akio123 said:
I agree, also its not that I don't like manga, the BLEACH manga is not very appealing. Ussually, I read and watch an anime and read the manga of a series, bit the Bleach manga I don't really like. I guess, because manga never has fillers and generally ends quicker.
I disagree, Akio. The Bleach manga is about five times as appealing as the anime.
Much of Kubo Tite's genius that he so lovingly infused into Bleach is lost in the translation from manga to anime. The awesome chapter title pages, the many music references, the unique outfits worn by each character day-to-day in the early manga. There is a lot more style to the manga, and it's kinda what sets Bleach apart from so many other Shonen manga. The best that the anime has done to reproduce this is the 1st and 4th openings, but those hardly do it justice.
Secondly, the anime totally botched the early storyline. Everything was, for some reason, centered around Grand Fisher; he was now manipulating Hollows into attacking Ichigo, as if he had a personal vendetta against Ichigo (or was just a powerful Hollow controlling others to get Ichigo for his consumption). This plot change is significantly more lame than the manga's version of events, and lame is never good. The sideplot also changed the origin of Sora (Orihime's brother) as a Hollow, and also led to the misconception that consumption by a Hollow turns that soul into a Hollow (which it doesn't; Hollows consume souls to feed on them, not to taint them. That happens naturally). Hinamori's sudden betrayal at Aizen's hands lost its impact by shadowing over the blade that had impaled her through an embrace with her former Captain, greatly lowering the significance of the scene. Similar edits were made to the episode in which Orihime recieves her powers---edits that totally destroyed the significance of Tatsuki's presence: the threats made by the Hollow towards 'Hime and Tatsuki were tame in comparison to their manga counterparts, the final seed fired into Tatsuki's head was not only completely unnoticable but also didn't kill her as in the manga, and the general feeling of danger was eliminated from the scene by the changing of blood to green slime. Because Tatsuki's death either didn't happen or wasn't at all clear, the scene lost any emotional impact that it had in its manga incarnation---and emotional impact is important for a scene like that. Orihime's powers were offset by her anger towards the Hollow and devotion towards her dead/dying friend, and this is somewhat lost on anime-only viewers.
Speaking of Orihime, she REALLY gets the shaft in the anime, personality building-wise. Her feelings for Ichigo are only very vaguely hinted at; in the manga, it is explicitly stated during Orihime's introductory scene (in a conversation with Tatsuki that was entirely cut from the anime), and it is a theme that continues throughout the series. Originally, one of the things that drove Sora into becoming a Hollow was Orihime's gradual neglect of talking to him about HIM, instead speaking of Tatsuki and Ichigo. That's why he attacked Ichigo in the manga: not because he was the helpless puppet of a more powerful Hollow, but because his Hollow instinct was sending him after those who he blamed for his despair (Ichigo, Tatsuki, and Orihime herself).
The moment in which the total neglect for the inclusion of Orihime's feelings for Ichigo is most felt, however, is during a scene soon after Rukia's departure from the Living World. In the manga, Orihime undergoes incredible character development, in the sense that she displays her first example of a negative emotion (jealousy). She confronts Ichigo about Rukia's disappearance outside the school, and goes on to give her opinion of what she assumes are his plans concerning the matter. She criticizes him for wanting to pursue Rukia; after all, who is he to take Rukia away from her family, her friends, and her home (note that this is before Orihime is aware of the actual situation)? Who is he to believe that she'd rather be with him than home? She calls him selfish, and I believe this to be her expressing a very deep desire to keep Ichigo there, with her, and to keep Rukia out of the picture (this is probably a subliminal want, keep in mind; Orihime likes Rukia fine, but on the other hand, she is probably jealous of the devotion shown by Ichigo towards Rukia). Of course, she knows very well that Ichigo would still do whatever he was going to do anyways (and says this), but I think it's interesting that she expressed her feelings on the matter. In the anime, however, Orihime gives a lame speech about how she supports Ichigo, and stuff. In their mysterious quest to eliminate all of Orihime's explicit feelings for the series' protagonist, they successfully removed a very important piece of character development that plays into the plot much later on. This trend of "feeling elimination" continues on into the Soul Society arc, which in itself is strange; Orihime's sole reason for travelling to Soul Society was the be with Ichigo (much like Chad, although that was based on an oath more than anything else). In the anime, it makes it seem like she was going for Rukia, but that doesn't make sense; she didn't know Rukia all that well. The two weren't particularly close. Orihime isn't like Ichigo. She doesn't go out trying to protect everybody that she can, just those relatively close to her. In fact, it isn't until the very late Soul Society arc that Studio Pierrot finally began including the hints of Orihime's feelings. The damage, however, is done.
I'm not saying that the anime is bad. I enjoy it greatly, and the majority of the Soul Society arc beautifully reproduced the manga's themes. But the manga is superior, I believe, and is probably the version of the show that should be experienced first and foremost.
Plus, the anime totally butchered the whole firework's festival scene. That part was hilarious in the manga.
Digital Mage said:
I really want to know what Matsumoto's Shikai is. We only see it's release, & it's name. It translates to Ash Cat.
Matsumoto's Shikai has been more or less revealed. Her blade turns to ash; she uses it against Kira to counter Wabisuke's weight-multiplaying effects.
Renji said:
and yes, I have seen in, and the new intro and ending that go with it
I love the new opening, both in animation and music. Reminds me of the first opening, especially when it comes to style. It's probably my second favorite opening; the first and third are tied for my favorite, and the second is probably my least favorite (too un-Bleach, angsty, and cliché Shonen for my tastes. Uverworld's a good band, though).