I can’t wait for someone smart and sensible to give bleach an honest read. So much discourse good/bad just not giving bleach its flowers. Good luck and hope you enjoy the rest
Literally bro most of the cristism it has is literally reading issues It has no story(like how is this even a thing) Mc is boring He didn't give this character a bigger moment He didn't made the ship i want I didn't like how this battle ended Like sure everyone have the right to like or dislike something but for decades i have been hearing this kinda of nonsensical cristism which is insane to me Not saying there is no valid cristism for bleach i myself have a handful but it gets way too much hate than it deserve specially compared to the big three who has the same problems if not more
It's so nice to see a levelheaded guy appreciating Orihime's emotional maturity and supportiveness. Not enough manga readers/anime viewers appreciate those traits, probably because a lot of them lack emotional maturity themselves.
So this is a weird piece of advice I want to give, but it feels important to know. When you reach the final arc of Bleach I would highly recommend Checking out its currently ongoing anime adaptation. Not necessarily instead of reading it, but because for many reasons that going into isn't particularly relevant the manga was cut short and ended much faster than Tite Kubo wanted leaving the pacing of the final chapters feeling very rushed. Kubo has been heavily involved in the anime adaptation of this final arc, adding new things and reworking aspects that didn't get the time that it needed. Its almost more a director's cut than an adaptation. I won't say one way or another weather it should be considered the definitive version of the arc, as its not finished yet, and that should always really be up to the individual veiwer. But it is definitely worth checking out when you reach that point.
@@RiderNexus Basically two series deal with themes of death and rebirth, both protagonists are discovering who they are, work with a society to purge evil spirits/demons in the world, and have memorable antagonists
God you really understand Kubo‘s writing, loved listening to this. So many don’t understand Kubo‘s subtle writing and it’s a shame honestly. Bleach really not for everyone.
So glad you strated bleach. While it's certainly not without its issues, bleach is definitely my favorite of the big three and has lodged itself deep into my heart. While many people say that the series gets better in soul society, I am glad you gave the first arc the love it deserves, the first arc is absolutely beautiful and not enough people talk about it!
@@Aleczandxr If you are still enjoying Bleach down the road, the filler arc "Zanpakuto Rebellion Arc" (starts at 230) adds a lot of character to certain parts of the cast that don't get enough.
@@Aleczandxr there is something to be said about the slice of life, action and mystery combo that Kubo utilize in the first arc that makes it so good, but unfortunately most people who get into shonen get easily bored by it. Personally I always preferred the smaller, quieter parts of bleach, nestled into karakura city and focusing on the slice of life of it's residents compared to the larger action set pieces of later arcs. It might be a controversial opinion, but I actually like how many small filler episodes the anime added over the years, just showing the characters living their lives and dealing with their day to day problems. You'll probably hear it from others as well, but when you finish reading the arrancar saga, watch episode 342 of the anime. It's a really good arc ending filler.
FANTASTIC 1st arc? Glad you're enjoying Tite Kubo's finest work so much off the bat given how some people seem to struggle getting into it early on. The streams have been very enjoyable and I hope the rest of the journey is just as much of a good time as this if not better, especially since I am in the majority who consider this to be the weakest arc, even if it's rly good especially in hindsight
I'm glad you're managing to pick up on many of the subtleties of Bleach, since it's a series that tends to be quite subtle about things. It's a very enjoyable ride if you can dig past the surface layer
I love that Kubo doesn’t spoon feed things for readers. You really gotta learn to read in between the lines to grasp the greater sense of the themes. It’s beautifully profound in the same way poems are
@@Aleczandxr keep shipping out.there's a absurd war with the character...seriously alot sent death threats...due to "shipping " just a heads up me as well. The zanpakto/shikai and Bankai is definitely gonna hit you......advent bleach fans like me....still pick up clues that give light on the characters.
I always enjoy your videos a lot bc of how obvious your enjoyment is. I see a lot of videos analyzing or criticizing a series and it feels like they only watched the series to complain or find something to dislike. They don’t put the dots together like you do, and it’s always a good time seeing you extrapolate your thoughts
Currently reading Bleach for the first time also (at Volume 7 atm) and really like it a lot so far. I have heard that it goes into completly different directions down the line but i really loved the Urban Fantasy aspect so far. It does remind me a lot of YYH but it also has such a unique, chill but creepy vibe going for it. Also Kubo is a master at writing and designing characters. Legit the only issues i have with it so far are a few minor nitpicks. Am really excited to see more, not just from the manga but also from you.
I’m glad you appreciate Bleach’s poetic and mood tone set by the manga. It only works in manga form and black and white because it was made for it and uses that media to specifically express itself. I’m glad you notice this because a lot of people who just watch the anime miss this huge part of the series and find the first arc a bit bland without it
Me personally, I always felt that an attempt to convey that similar vibe was the reason some of the music was the way it was in Bleach. I dunno why. Just always gave me similar vibes. Like, so similar I could hear a lot of the music in my head while reading the manga even though at the time I didn't even really know the music like that
@@colt1903 They did do a good job with the music. AJ spoilers for more details warning The Vizard’s theme, and the sad song they always use is I think the closest to the feeling of the feeling of the manga. The sad song being very introspective, and the Vizard’s theme being so unique and out there it really fits their mysterious nature. The rest of the tracks are also good, Number One is really good but sometimes I think it’s too hype for a scene. Like Ichigo vs Grimmjow (any of them) is supposed to be cool, but it’s also supposed to be dangerous, a bit scary, a deevolution of Ichigo, and I think sometimes Number One takes away from the nuance
You just gonna love Bleach Being a Togashi/sorachi fan your gonna love kubos writing and characters for ichigo and gintoki are very similar in why they want power. Its not to help them but for other's ichigo wants to protect those smiles...like gintoki there no ultermovites. What you see is whay you get with ichigo's desire
thank you, algorithm, for reccing this. thanks, alex, for reminding me of the wonder that was early bleach. i really lived it then way back mid-2000s. it was the overly long hueco mundo arc that made me turn against it, but the the start.. the early chapters were a real treat
I'm excited for you to get into Bleach. I think it's one of those manga where everyone who reads it will appreciate different aspects of it. It uses one of my favourite world-building techniques where you're given little bits of information, but every character understands things a little differently, so it's hard to tell if they're correct. There's a lot more depth than just being the edgiest member of the Big 3.
I think it goes without saying, that Bleach is amazing. Out of the Orihime-Tatsuki, Uryu-Ichigo and Chad-Karin mini arcs in the 30-50s, I can't even choose which I prefer. It's so good.
I've been loving every stream so far. It's so nice to see you enjoying all the little bits and pieces of the story and truly taking it all in. I'm super excited to see how you'll enjoy the rest! With you all the way king 🫴👑✨
From listening to the excitement you have in your theories I'm sure you're going to have a good time with Bleach. There's a lot of depth in the series and I'm hoping you can get the most out of it. I know a lot of subtle moments flew over my head the first time I went through the story because my teenage brain was locked more into the action than anything else.
Please do monthly summaries of your experience like you do for OP. Bleach is my favorite shonen series and id love to hear your thoughts, but i neither have the time nor time zone to watch your twitch readings. I've been enjoying your breakdowns of OP a lot and ive been a fan of your essays for years and years, so keep up the great content
I will not be doing that for reasons explained in this video. Sorry about that! Thank you for the support though :) The place to go for my Bleach thoughts are always the streams, VODs and my Twitter. But I of course understand if you can’t make those.
Love your enthusiasm for Bleach, can't wait to see what your top 5 character list will look like down the line, judging by this video, it think I might have an idea 😉
Bleach is genuinely one of the most profound shonen manga out there and there's little comparison to it. Most people don't even start to understand why it's so good.
I'm wholly confident that Bleach will end up as another one of your favorite stories in anime and manga alongside One Piece and Naruto (and maybe fiction, in general). There's very little like Bleach out there, and the way that it's written and illustrated is so up your alley that it's insane. Prepare for nothing but peak from now on.
always happy to see someone new to bleach enjoying the early arcs, even better someone appreciating orihime as a character. she is very underrated and misunderstood i think
Oh nice, glad you are reading this! It’s a good series. Suggestion: when you get to the final arc, check out the anime as well. Since the final arc was rushed, the anime actually adds some stuff in that kubo had to cut
This is such an insane coincidence. I randomly for no reason just decided to finish watching all the “big 3” (I’ve watched One Piece and Naruto) and decided to pick up bleach about 2 weeks ago. Check my feed a couple weeks later and you are starting it too! Now it’s gonna be even better having someone else to read/watch and analyze the story along with me. ^_^
on your comment on it's humor. I don't know if these are based on manga panels but in the Anime at the end of episodes there are these humorous side stories that crack me up. Specifically one with Byakuya and his Flash Step technique.
You're lucky i love you Aleczandxr, not many people can say, bleach is the most mundane style without having me pick up my pitch fork but you saved it haha. As someone who's top 4 favourite anime are Bleach, Gurren lagann, Cowboy Bebop and Hunter x Hunter who loves your analysis I'm sure you'll love it.
? Nothing about that statement is incendiary, critical or incorrect. It has the most down-to-earth tone and style of the big three, that much is absolutely clear. I’m genuinely confused as to how you can interpret what I said as pitchfork worthy Maybe I’m misunderstanding? But I don’t know what you’re talking about, please feel free to explain.
Update he is finishing up Fake Karakura Town arc and he loves the series yall should check out his twitch vods he understands the series so well and does great break downs of Kubo’s work
Let's freakin go.. I feel like Bleach is pretty great, if it didn't have the usual shonen problems and limits, it could have been an absolute masterpiece. It has amazing art, artstyle and action and Kubo's poetic writing is amazing.
I think Kubo got kind of done dirty sometimes, as it’s hard to believe someone can sometimes write something so great and something so bad in the same arcs, not giving specifics obv. I think Bleach is pretty messy and the weakest of the big three but it’s got its diamonds
@@luffys_ that’s whack, Naruto doesn’t get bad until the war arc, bleach problems pop up way earlier and it never recovers, even the thousand year blood war arc is bad too it’s just entertaining cuz the animation.
@@idontcare9661 naruto is way more inconsistent , the starting of shippuden are prolly one of the worst arcs in big 3(kazekage rescue and tenji bridge) it touched its peak from shikamaru arc to pain arc , atleast tybw was entertaining , i dont see anyone enjoying kaguya , madara is the most overrated thing , bleach tybw arc showed a lot characters at their peak , many character like ichigo , byakauya , coming into full circle , better fights , and obvioulsy abetter conclusion to the story , even without war arc in naruto , side character are lacking
I feel like Bleach came out at wrong time... This story expects readers to be more mature to understand the subtext that's scattered throughout instead of just being spoon-fed... It demands the readers to give it the respect that it gives them... Back when Naruto and One Piece were all the hype(still are) people just didn't give Bleach the attention(While reading, not popularity) it deserved... And now I see more and more people who grew up, giving Bleach another chance and understand what the story was trying to say... With themes related to death, life, stagnation, progress, self acceptance(one of the best mc character arcs) and much more... Bleach just needed its audience to mature.... ... While Naruto also has themes that are deep like loneliness and gaining recognition through efforts and One-Piece also literally deals with slavery and gaining freedom through sheer will-power... Bleach feels more personal... the story takes a character that is filled with self loathing(blames himself throughout the story) and slowly progresses into the best version of himself through self acceptance..."..is me"....
The big difference between Bleach compared to Naruto and One Piece is that they hit the reader over the head with their themes, while Bleach works in subtlety. It was also meant for more mature audiences, but was unfortunately sold to the same young kids in the same way as any regular shonen.
I really excited to to see you start the Bleach manga, as it really is something special. Though as you specifically mentioned *_The big 3,_* I can't resist telling you that, there was another pillar, one that in fact often claimed the 3rd spot and at times placed above the others while airing. _D.Gray-man_ suffered a similar fate to _HxH,_ but despite a lot of light-hearted goofiness, was a series that helped prove the way for darker gothic Shonen titles. Recent series owe a lot to it and not just in character design. Some amazing writing, characters and art, it is absolutely a series that needs to be remembered. My last excuse to mention it here is that Miranda Lotto (the woman who lost the lottery of life) is often contrasted very favourably to Orihime, with what I'd still consider to be the "best" support ability ever conceived in fiction, even if it's one you wouldn't necessarily wish for. ( I don't mean to dis Orihime at all: her common criticisms are "mostly" from people not realising which of her limitations are fundamentally baked into the power system.)
Of the Big 3 Bleach is so much more character focused. There is an overarching story but it doesn’t really matter most of the time. It’s about clean art, characters expressing emotion, and the anxiety of youth and growing up. Many people say skip the Fullbring arc, you will love it.
I hate that people say to skip the fullbring arc. Its easily some of the best character writing in not just Bleach, but in my opinion shounen manga in general.
Gosh that arc was overall pretty awesome for me. It really digs deep into what the characters are going through and refreshingly new structure for the series. I admit it did feel weird to suddenly have a new faction with it's own power system all of a sudden but accepting that it opens up the potential of the Bleach world even further.
Really glad you're enjoying Bleach! Much like One Piece and Naruto it's always interesting to see your perspective as someone who is getting into the Big 3 after most of the discourse has settled. It really plagued all three series as they were releasing together lol
Early Bleach and the much later Fullbring arc are the peak of writing, because it's got that down-to-earth, smaller scale stuff that Kubo does really well. The rest still has the best art of the big 3, and arguably the best character deisign. I'd offer more thoughts but they'd get into spoiler territory, and that feels like enough for this early on.
You should try reading usogui(of course if you have the time). Its basically a manga centred around gambling like kaiji, but it differs in that it combines fighting and insane tactical and elaborate mindgames which makes it super engaging. It also has extremely good art, especially in the later chapters. The author also likes to foreshadow a lot of events similar to one piece. But sometimes I feel the foreshadowing in usogui is even better.
Bleach as a Manga captures you in a way that's far different from the anime, which is all I've seen of the series until you started reading it and I could compare the two mediums, it's a fantastic read
I hope you enjoy the series. In spite of its flaws this was my favorite of the "big 3" when that was still a thing. Maybe you'll help me appreciate it more like you helped me understand One Piece better.
Trust me he’ll definitely help you appreciate it more Bleach is excellent it’s “flaws” usually are brain dead recycled criticisms that can all easily be debunked
@@Hamzethegoatbrother the criticisms for bleach are not brain dead most are pretty valid, the only one I think is dumb is the “Ichigo is boring cuz he has no goal” which I think is wack, but the rest are usually fair
@@idontcare9661 I've never heard of a single good big bleach criticism, it's mostly just nonsense (like arcs repeating or whatever which has obviously never happened).
@@idontcare9661nah , i dont think orihime being a bad character is a good take or fullbringer being the worst arc , most of it flaws are just shounen power scaler and shippers not getting what they want
@@fremennikwarrior5358 those are not dumb criticisms dude, you can have your opinion, but if you want to keep discussing let me know and I’ll tell you why I think that, if not good for you
The wise Recon when watching Mono for the first time compared Bakemonogatari to the Substitute Shinigami in its episodic mundane tone and its inflation the dimension of the character’s interiors into the forefront. I never would’ve thought u would compare ichigo & Rukia to Shinobu & Araragi tho, but looking back at them there share a few stuff even if I don’t share the sentiment.
Sad you wpnt keep making those as im really amazed already by what you took from this arc, specially your comments over Ichigo's character but i understand the time and effrot it would take, anyways im really excited to see you journey through this fantastic manga
Also, would love to see more of these as you go along. Havent been checking out the Naruto/OP ones, but Bleach - for any complaints I've got - will always be my favorite of the bunch. So I'd be super down for more, if that matters.
While each of the Big 3 all left their mark on the world, it is not an exaggeration to say Bleach is the most influential of the Big 3. Demon Slayer's sword wielding demon hunting Hashira are explicitly inspired by the 13 Captains. You even have an ice dragon, a clear reference to one of those 13 Captains. Jujutsu Kaisen is one of the most obvious. But you also have Black Clover being a love letter to Bleach and Berserk. Chainsaw Man is another example, up to and including having the main hero being a half monster (or half devil in this case). Hell's Paradise has the most thematic parallels with Bleach because of the way the characters all wrestle with being in between life and death. Bleach was the most mocked and roasted of the Big 3, and yet it has the most impact of the three just from how many series actively want to be seen as its spiritual successors. Kubology at work
Another amazing manga/anime series worth checking out is Bungo Stray Dogs! It’s a severely underrated series that centers around different groups of characters with powers who are all based on a famous writer or poet. There are so many complex characters and themes in this series that deserve more analysis videos on them. I highly recommend checking it out!! Love your videos!!!
Bleach is going to become so gripping at times, you'll see A! Once Hueco Mundo is put on the scene you'll be sweating and crying at points, such a great arc 🙂↕️
Dude I remember you 😭 the first video I watched in your channel is the HXH religious references, and I finally found a video talking about it because I've been telling people that the phantom troupe is the best villain group of anime to represent Jesus and his 12 disciples. Also i remember you had like 1.7k subscribers at that time and now you're at 300k! You're so lucky that you get to talk about anime and get paid at the same time
Bleach has its ups and downs just like all series but due to its reputations and it less conventional writings compared to its contemporaries a lot of its brilliance and nuance are lost to its audience. I think you'll have a great time with this series and can't wait till you get the chance to do a breakdown the characters and themes!
Appreciate the enthusiasm! I won’t be making any breakdown or video essays on the series on TH-cam so if you want that, definitely a good idea to follow the streams :)
Thanks for this. I'll just say one thing about Bleach, or rather Kubo. His commitment to _"Show, don't tell"_ is historic and infamous; most people literally go the whole anime without stopping to question assumptions about basic world mechanics, like combat damage, but if you take some time, look at what you're shown, things make sense. Also, #JoshGroban. That always has to be said when talking about Bleach.
I love Bleach deeply and in a different way than anything else. (I'm very carefully vague here so don't worry about spoilers in my comment) I have my own criticisms but sticking to it's strengths; I love it's dedication to making it's cool characters look cool. That was my takeaway as to the reasons for why things happen the way they do. This first arc is special and different from the rest of the show. Every chapter (ep, I've only seen the anime so far) is filled with care and emotional grounding. Kubo loves poetry and that's very apparent in the fact that he's writing poems for each chapter but I think the stories he writes are inherently poetic. JJK is and has been my dream show, it has the style of Bleach but with more dynamic writing and manages to avoid the pitfalls that Bleach might have run into. JJK is really Bleachs modern successor in a lot of ways. Thousand Year Blood War which is basically the Shippuden of Bleach or Bleach Z has been amazing. To have this return has been beyond my ability to express in typed word. There are times I wish Bleach was able to reboot with a restructuring to reach what I think it's full potential could be but there's also moments that are SO remarkable to me, so unique and so special; especially with Orihime. She gets a lot of flack but she is so core to the emotional center of the show to me. In my top moments for the show she easily takes 2 spots. My only manga that I've physically bought are specific volumes of HxH as well as the story going forward, but I hope to buy the full box sets of Bleach. Kubos art style eventually becomes my definitive favorite style, full stop and I'd love to have them in my hands to read the source material for the first time.
I could go on and on for SO long about each character. I'm trying to resist writing here what I could end up just making into my own video. Like just Ichigos name is significant. Ichi = 1, Go = Guardian. He's a protector, the #1 protector (hence the very hype song 'Number 1') Ichigo in the first arc is just protecting people and spirits. Shonen protagonists always make clear their goal for the series is in the first chapter/episode. Naruto - Hokage, Luffy - Pirate King, Yuji - Proper Death surrounded by friends, Denji - Booba. While most protagonists have an almost selfish (or a mask for a personal issue) goal that eventually becomes selfless, Ichigo from the start is only trying to reduce pain in the world for anyone he meets. This framing creates a particular narrative going forward, something almost aimless and can go almost anywhere. I need to start making more videos...
Kubology is in session… so glad to be a part of this journey!! 🎉
i knew fiji would be here somewhere lol where's kubo there's a radman 😂😂
It's RADMAN!! Savant of the bleach tube
It's RADMAN!! Savant of the bleach tube
The goat is here
I can’t wait for someone smart and sensible to give bleach an honest read. So much discourse good/bad just not giving bleach its flowers. Good luck and hope you enjoy the rest
Eh, personally I think most of the criticism people give it is deserved, but I am glad people are talking about it more
Most of the criticism it's get are deserved only
Bleach is just a weird series to discuss because it deserves an insane amount of praise but also a massive amount of criticism at the same time
Literally bro most of the cristism it has is literally reading issues
It has no story(like how is this even a thing)
Mc is boring
He didn't give this character a bigger moment
He didn't made the ship i want
I didn't like how this battle ended
Like sure everyone have the right to like or dislike something but for decades i have been hearing this kinda of nonsensical cristism which is insane to me
Not saying there is no valid cristism for bleach i myself have a handful but it gets way too much hate than it deserve specially compared to the big three who has the same problems if not more
@@idontcare9661 I disagree
It's so nice to see a levelheaded guy appreciating Orihime's emotional maturity and supportiveness. Not enough manga readers/anime viewers appreciate those traits, probably because a lot of them lack emotional maturity themselves.
He also noticed the princess and dragon sketch , now excited to see his next bleach videos
Meh
So this is a weird piece of advice I want to give, but it feels important to know. When you reach the final arc of Bleach I would highly recommend Checking out its currently ongoing anime adaptation. Not necessarily instead of reading it, but because for many reasons that going into isn't particularly relevant the manga was cut short and ended much faster than Tite
Kubo wanted leaving the pacing of the final chapters feeling very rushed. Kubo has been heavily involved in the anime adaptation of this final arc, adding new things and reworking aspects that didn't get the time that it needed. Its almost more a director's cut than an adaptation. I won't say one way or another weather it should be considered the definitive version of the arc, as its not finished yet, and that should always really be up to the individual veiwer. But it is definitely worth checking out when you reach that point.
I second this
Totally agree
Absolutely.
Truer words never spoken
Indeed
Yep Bleach just instantly hooks you in visually. I can’t wait for you to see the evolution of the artwork
I kinda never got the comparisons between the two
@@RiderNexusit's not a comparison
YYH doesn’t do that but okay
@@RiderNexus Basically two series deal with themes of death and rebirth, both protagonists are discovering who they are, work with a society to purge evil spirits/demons in the world, and have memorable antagonists
@@adamquenano8563 And that's kind of where the similarities stop, they're pretty surface level otherwise
God you really understand Kubo‘s writing, loved listening to this. So many don’t understand Kubo‘s subtle writing and it’s a shame honestly. Bleach really not for everyone.
You will never, in your life, be able to guess how Kubo's wild ride goes. Buckle up, you're gonna feel the train.
So glad you strated bleach.
While it's certainly not without its issues, bleach is definitely my favorite of the big three and has lodged itself deep into my heart.
While many people say that the series gets better in soul society, I am glad you gave the first arc the love it deserves, the first arc is absolutely beautiful and not enough people talk about it!
It’s an awesome first arc, it’s a crime more people don’t discuss it!
@@Aleczandxr If you are still enjoying Bleach down the road, the filler arc "Zanpakuto Rebellion Arc" (starts at 230) adds a lot of character to certain parts of the cast that don't get enough.
@@Aleczandxr there is something to be said about the slice of life, action and mystery combo that Kubo utilize in the first arc that makes it so good, but unfortunately most people who get into shonen get easily bored by it.
Personally I always preferred the smaller, quieter parts of bleach, nestled into karakura city and focusing on the slice of life of it's residents compared to the larger action set pieces of later arcs.
It might be a controversial opinion, but I actually like how many small filler episodes the anime added over the years, just showing the characters living their lives and dealing with their day to day problems.
You'll probably hear it from others as well, but when you finish reading the arrancar saga, watch episode 342 of the anime.
It's a really good arc ending filler.
@@AleczandxrIt’s a crime yes, but it gives you a hint as to just how good the Soul Society arc is 😊
FANTASTIC 1st arc? Glad you're enjoying Tite Kubo's finest work so much off the bat given how some people seem to struggle getting into it early on. The streams have been very enjoyable and I hope the rest of the journey is just as much of a good time as this if not better, especially since I am in the majority who consider this to be the weakest arc, even if it's rly good especially in hindsight
I'm glad you're managing to pick up on many of the subtleties of Bleach, since it's a series that tends to be quite subtle about things. It's a very enjoyable ride if you can dig past the surface layer
❤ I know! Right..
I love that Kubo doesn’t spoon feed things for readers. You really gotta learn to read in between the lines to grasp the greater sense of the themes. It’s beautifully profound in the same way poems are
Your Bleach Streams bring me the highest joy. You just get it on such a deep level already. This video is more proof of that. Thank you so much AJ
My pleasure, can’t wait for more of the story!
@@Aleczandxr keep shipping out.there's a absurd war with the character...seriously alot sent death threats...due to "shipping " just a heads up
me as well.
The zanpakto/shikai and Bankai is definitely gonna hit you......advent bleach fans like me....still pick up clues that give light on the characters.
I always enjoy your videos a lot bc of how obvious your enjoyment is. I see a lot of videos analyzing or criticizing a series and it feels like they only watched the series to complain or find something to dislike. They don’t put the dots together like you do, and it’s always a good time seeing you extrapolate your thoughts
Thank you!
Currently reading Bleach for the first time also (at Volume 7 atm) and really like it a lot so far. I have heard that it goes into completly different directions down the line but i really loved the Urban Fantasy aspect so far. It does remind me a lot of YYH but it also has such a unique, chill but creepy vibe going for it. Also Kubo is a master at writing and designing characters. Legit the only issues i have with it so far are a few minor nitpicks. Am really excited to see more, not just from the manga but also from you.
I’m glad you appreciate Bleach’s poetic and mood tone set by the manga. It only works in manga form and black and white because it was made for it and uses that media to specifically express itself. I’m glad you notice this because a lot of people who just watch the anime miss this huge part of the series and find the first arc a bit bland without it
Me personally, I always felt that an attempt to convey that similar vibe was the reason some of the music was the way it was in Bleach. I dunno why. Just always gave me similar vibes. Like, so similar I could hear a lot of the music in my head while reading the manga even though at the time I didn't even really know the music like that
@@colt1903 They did do a good job with the music. AJ spoilers for more details warning
The Vizard’s theme, and the sad song they always use is I think the closest to the feeling of the feeling of the manga. The sad song being very introspective, and the Vizard’s theme being so unique and out there it really fits their mysterious nature. The rest of the tracks are also good, Number One is really good but sometimes I think it’s too hype for a scene. Like Ichigo vs Grimmjow (any of them) is supposed to be cool, but it’s also supposed to be dangerous, a bit scary, a deevolution of Ichigo, and I think sometimes Number One takes away from the nuance
Bleach is one of the most thematically beautiful stories i have ever witnessed. The manga is a masterpiece.
You just gonna love Bleach
Being a Togashi/sorachi fan your gonna love kubos writing and characters for ichigo and gintoki are very similar in why they want power. Its not to help them but for other's ichigo wants to protect those smiles...like gintoki there no ultermovites. What you see is whay you get with ichigo's desire
LET'S GOOOO, PLEASE KEEP THIS UP.
The whole readthrough will be on Twitch!
You are so incredibly perceptive. I can't wait for you to see where the story goes!
By far the best of the Big Three
thank you, algorithm, for reccing this. thanks, alex, for reminding me of the wonder that was early bleach. i really lived it then way back mid-2000s. it was the overly long hueco mundo arc that made me turn against it, but the the start.. the early chapters were a real treat
I love Bleach so much, can't wait for you to react to the soul society arc ❤
I'm excited for you to get into Bleach. I think it's one of those manga where everyone who reads it will appreciate different aspects of it. It uses one of my favourite world-building techniques where you're given little bits of information, but every character understands things a little differently, so it's hard to tell if they're correct. There's a lot more depth than just being the edgiest member of the Big 3.
If the chat isn't already doing it I recommend looking into what everyone's/everything's names mean. Names and Symbolism is very important in Bleach.
Crazy how after years of being a bleach fan, this guy just jumps in and has a better analysis than most years long fans have.
We love seeing Media Literacy in an era where it feels like a dying skill.
I think it goes without saying, that Bleach is amazing. Out of the Orihime-Tatsuki, Uryu-Ichigo and Chad-Karin mini arcs in the 30-50s, I can't even choose which I prefer. It's so good.
Thank you so much for picking up this series! Definitely looking forward to more of your thoughts on Bleach!
My pleasure! They’ll all be in the streams, hope you enjoy them!
I've been loving every stream so far. It's so nice to see you enjoying all the little bits and pieces of the story and truly taking it all in.
I'm super excited to see how you'll enjoy the rest! With you all the way king 🫴👑✨
It fills me with so much joy to see others read Bleach and notice the small setups
you will love Captain Kyoraku...
Love this video. Explains bleach so well.
From listening to the excitement you have in your theories I'm sure you're going to have a good time with Bleach. There's a lot of depth in the series and I'm hoping you can get the most out of it. I know a lot of subtle moments flew over my head the first time I went through the story because my teenage brain was locked more into the action than anything else.
Please do monthly summaries of your experience like you do for OP. Bleach is my favorite shonen series and id love to hear your thoughts, but i neither have the time nor time zone to watch your twitch readings. I've been enjoying your breakdowns of OP a lot and ive been a fan of your essays for years and years, so keep up the great content
I will not be doing that for reasons explained in this video. Sorry about that! Thank you for the support though :)
The place to go for my Bleach thoughts are always the streams, VODs and my Twitter. But I of course understand if you can’t make those.
Love your enthusiasm for Bleach, can't wait to see what your top 5 character list will look like down the line, judging by this video, it think I might have an idea 😉
Damn, it's amazing the way you grasp the story from just this arc alone, you will absolutely love where future arcs go
Wow, this is some amazing analysis from someone after JUST watching the first arc. Subscribed.
Your shirt is AMAZING! Thanks for the great video as always man
Appreciate it!
Bleach is genuinely one of the most profound shonen manga out there and there's little comparison to it. Most people don't even start to understand why it's so good.
I'm wholly confident that Bleach will end up as another one of your favorite stories in anime and manga alongside One Piece and Naruto (and maybe fiction, in general). There's very little like Bleach out there, and the way that it's written and illustrated is so up your alley that it's insane.
Prepare for nothing but peak from now on.
i know radman is rubbing his hands LMAO
😂😂😂
They gotta do a vid
always happy to see someone new to bleach enjoying the early arcs, even better someone appreciating orihime as a character. she is very underrated and misunderstood i think
Oh nice, glad you are reading this! It’s a good series. Suggestion: when you get to the final arc, check out the anime as well. Since the final arc was rushed, the anime actually adds some stuff in that kubo had to cut
This is such an insane coincidence. I randomly for no reason just decided to finish watching all the “big 3” (I’ve watched One Piece and Naruto) and decided to pick up bleach about 2 weeks ago. Check my feed a couple weeks later and you are starting it too! Now it’s gonna be even better having someone else to read/watch and analyze the story along with me. ^_^
Awesome, hope you enjoy the streams!
on your comment on it's humor. I don't know if these are based on manga panels but in the Anime at the end of episodes there are these humorous side stories that crack me up. Specifically one with Byakuya and his Flash Step technique.
AYo, this is a great surprise. Thank you for making a video
Man you'll absolutely love this series. it goes from strength to strength. especially the last 2 arcs.
Bruh I love bleach so much!! Hope you love the series!!!
Ty for this review ! That was amazing 🔥
Glad you liked it!
You're lucky i love you Aleczandxr, not many people can say, bleach is the most mundane style without having me pick up my pitch fork but you saved it haha. As someone who's top 4 favourite anime are Bleach, Gurren lagann, Cowboy Bebop and Hunter x Hunter who loves your analysis I'm sure you'll love it.
?
Nothing about that statement is incendiary, critical or incorrect. It has the most down-to-earth tone and style of the big three, that much is absolutely clear. I’m genuinely confused as to how you can interpret what I said as pitchfork worthy
Maybe I’m misunderstanding? But I don’t know what you’re talking about, please feel free to explain.
Great video, some of these insights are really fun to hear, while having the full knowledge of the story.
bleach works SO well in black and white. it's perfect
Update he is finishing up Fake Karakura Town arc and he loves the series yall should check out his twitch vods he understands the series so well and does great break downs of Kubo’s work
i truly can’t wait till you read Tokyo ghoul. your analysis will be something ima look forward to
The Arrancar Arc my dude will blow you away the Grimjow & Ulquiorra Fights are the best in the entire bleach universe thus far
Mannn, can't believe you picked up on so much so early, I'm getting hyped thinking about your reactions to future revelations
Next stream is today, feel free to join in or catch the VOD!
Let's freakin go.. I feel like Bleach is pretty great, if it didn't have the usual shonen problems and limits, it could have been an absolute masterpiece. It has amazing art, artstyle and action and Kubo's poetic writing is amazing.
I think Kubo got kind of done dirty sometimes, as it’s hard to believe someone can sometimes write something so great and something so bad in the same arcs, not giving specifics obv. I think Bleach is pretty messy and the weakest of the big three but it’s got its diamonds
@@idontcare9661bleach is inconsistent but i still wouldn't consider it weakest of the big 3 , its strength far surpasses naruto for me,
@@luffys_ that’s whack, Naruto doesn’t get bad until the war arc, bleach problems pop up way earlier and it never recovers, even the thousand year blood war arc is bad too it’s just entertaining cuz the animation.
@@idontcare9661 naruto is way more inconsistent , the starting of shippuden are prolly one of the worst arcs in big 3(kazekage rescue and tenji bridge) it touched its peak from shikamaru arc to pain arc , atleast tybw was entertaining , i dont see anyone enjoying kaguya , madara is the most overrated thing , bleach tybw arc showed a lot characters at their peak , many character like ichigo , byakauya , coming into full circle , better fights , and obvioulsy abetter conclusion to the story , even without war arc in naruto , side character are lacking
I feel like Bleach came out at wrong time... This story expects readers to be more mature to understand the subtext that's scattered throughout instead of just being spoon-fed... It demands the readers to give it the respect that it gives them... Back when Naruto and One Piece were all the hype(still are) people just didn't give Bleach the attention(While reading, not popularity) it deserved... And now I see more and more people who grew up, giving Bleach another chance and understand what the story was trying to say... With themes related to death, life, stagnation, progress, self acceptance(one of the best mc character arcs) and much more... Bleach just needed its audience to mature....
...
While Naruto also has themes that are deep like loneliness and gaining recognition through efforts and One-Piece also literally deals with slavery and gaining freedom through sheer will-power...
Bleach feels more personal... the story takes a character that is filled with self loathing(blames himself throughout the story) and slowly progresses into the best version of himself through self acceptance..."..is me"....
The big difference between Bleach compared to Naruto and One Piece is that they hit the reader over the head with their themes, while Bleach works in subtlety. It was also meant for more mature audiences, but was unfortunately sold to the same young kids in the same way as any regular shonen.
I really excited to to see you start the Bleach manga, as it really is something special.
Though as you specifically mentioned *_The big 3,_* I can't resist telling you that, there was another pillar, one that in fact often claimed the 3rd spot and at times placed above the others while airing. _D.Gray-man_ suffered a similar fate to _HxH,_ but despite a lot of light-hearted goofiness, was a series that helped prove the way for darker gothic Shonen titles. Recent series owe a lot to it and not just in character design.
Some amazing writing, characters and art, it is absolutely a series that needs to be remembered.
My last excuse to mention it here is that Miranda Lotto (the woman who lost the lottery of life) is often contrasted very favourably to Orihime, with what I'd still consider to be the "best" support ability ever conceived in fiction, even if it's one you wouldn't necessarily wish for.
( I don't mean to dis Orihime at all: her common criticisms are "mostly" from people not realising which of her limitations are fundamentally baked into the power system.)
Of the Big 3 Bleach is so much more character focused. There is an overarching story but it doesn’t really matter most of the time. It’s about clean art, characters expressing emotion, and the anxiety of youth and growing up. Many people say skip the Fullbring arc, you will love it.
I hate that people say to skip the fullbring arc. Its easily some of the best character writing in not just Bleach, but in my opinion shounen manga in general.
@@EpicSteve23 It took a second reading to really appreciate it for me.
It's the best arc lol
Gosh that arc was overall pretty awesome for me. It really digs deep into what the characters are going through and refreshingly new structure for the series.
I admit it did feel weird to suddenly have a new faction with it's own power system all of a sudden but accepting that it opens up the potential of the Bleach world even further.
fullbring may just be my favorite its peak
Really glad you're enjoying Bleach! Much like One Piece and Naruto it's always interesting to see your perspective as someone who is getting into the Big 3 after most of the discourse has settled. It really plagued all three series as they were releasing together lol
YESSSS, HE MADE A VIDEO. Been waiting on your thoughts.
currently tripping on lsd was just talking with my buddy about bleach
you're in for a treat man this shit goes deep
Instant like for this great Bleach content!
So many spot on stuff said here, specially about Oldman zangetsu
Early Bleach and the much later Fullbring arc are the peak of writing, because it's got that down-to-earth, smaller scale stuff that Kubo does really well. The rest still has the best art of the big 3, and arguably the best character deisign. I'd offer more thoughts but they'd get into spoiler territory, and that feels like enough for this early on.
Im not gonna give specifics to avoid spoilers but i really like the theme(s) that exists between the differing power systems in the world
Without a doubt my favorite of the Big 3.
Damn that tumbnail is goated
Can’t wait to hear your take on this series
You should try reading usogui(of course if you have the time). Its basically a manga centred around gambling like kaiji, but it differs in that it combines fighting and insane tactical and elaborate mindgames which makes it super engaging. It also has extremely good art, especially in the later chapters. The author also likes to foreshadow a lot of events similar to one piece. But sometimes I feel the foreshadowing in usogui is even better.
Bleach as a Manga captures you in a way that's far different from the anime, which is all I've seen of the series until you started reading it and I could compare the two mediums, it's a fantastic read
Man is finally catching up to the Big 3! So cool.
Really hope you can completely avoid spoilers. This shit is fire.
Its happening, the Bleach video came
I hope you enjoy the series. In spite of its flaws this was my favorite of the "big 3" when that was still a thing. Maybe you'll help me appreciate it more like you helped me understand One Piece better.
Trust me he’ll definitely help you appreciate it more Bleach is excellent it’s “flaws” usually are brain dead recycled criticisms that can all easily be debunked
@@Hamzethegoatbrother the criticisms for bleach are not brain dead most are pretty valid, the only one I think is dumb is the “Ichigo is boring cuz he has no goal” which I think is wack, but the rest are usually fair
@@idontcare9661 I've never heard of a single good big bleach criticism, it's mostly just nonsense (like arcs repeating or whatever which has obviously never happened).
@@idontcare9661nah , i dont think orihime being a bad character is a good take or fullbringer being the worst arc , most of it flaws are just shounen power scaler and shippers not getting what they want
@@fremennikwarrior5358 those are not dumb criticisms dude, you can have your opinion, but if you want to keep discussing let me know and I’ll tell you why I think that, if not good for you
The wise Recon when watching Mono for the first time compared Bakemonogatari to the Substitute Shinigami in its episodic mundane tone and its inflation the dimension of the character’s interiors into the forefront.
I never would’ve thought u would compare ichigo & Rukia to Shinobu & Araragi tho, but looking back at them there share a few stuff even if I don’t share the sentiment.
So excited for the next arcs!
I think the first arc of bleach is actually great, will watch again since I ain’t watched it since I was a kid
Sad you wpnt keep making those as im really amazed already by what you took from this arc, specially your comments over Ichigo's character
but i understand the time and effrot it would take, anyways im really excited to see you journey through this fantastic manga
Also, would love to see more of these as you go along. Havent been checking out the Naruto/OP ones, but Bleach - for any complaints I've got - will always be my favorite of the bunch. So I'd be super down for more, if that matters.
There won’t be more of these, for reasons I mentioned in the video! Best bet would be to come out to the streams or check out the VODs :)
@@Aleczandxr lol, yeah! I posted that about the halfway point and then got to you saying that at the end. 🙃 I'll have to hit up the VODs!
Imma have to tune in for these streams
Yea we need those Tokyo ghoul live reads whenever u catch up on one piece
I love the big 3 and Bleach is my favorite amongst them
Can we see Toji analysis like you made on Akashi Seijuro? Thank you.
I already made a video on Toji. You can watch it right now.
Loved this video ❤
While each of the Big 3 all left their mark on the world, it is not an exaggeration to say Bleach is the most influential of the Big 3.
Demon Slayer's sword wielding demon hunting Hashira are explicitly inspired by the 13 Captains. You even have an ice dragon, a clear reference to one of those 13 Captains.
Jujutsu Kaisen is one of the most obvious. But you also have Black Clover being a love letter to Bleach and Berserk.
Chainsaw Man is another example, up to and including having the main hero being a half monster (or half devil in this case).
Hell's Paradise has the most thematic parallels with Bleach because of the way the characters all wrestle with being in between life and death.
Bleach was the most mocked and roasted of the Big 3, and yet it has the most impact of the three just from how many series actively want to be seen as its spiritual successors.
Kubology at work
Another amazing manga/anime series worth checking out is Bungo Stray Dogs! It’s a severely underrated series that centers around different groups of characters with powers who are all based on a famous writer or poet. There are so many complex characters and themes in this series that deserve more analysis videos on them. I highly recommend checking it out!! Love your videos!!!
Already seen it! You can check my MAL if you’re interested in knowing what series I’ve checked out + what I think of them. Glad you enjoy the vids!
Been watching the twitch streams, hope you enjoy Bleach!
Thanks!
Bleach is going to become so gripping at times, you'll see A! Once Hueco Mundo is put on the scene you'll be sweating and crying at points, such a great arc 🙂↕️
Finding the meaning in the negative/ empty space is what Bleach is all about!
Love your content 😊😊😊❤❤
I have to say there's some moments I think you should revisit in the anime after reading the chapter.
The way it hits with the music just elevates.
I have problems with Bleach, but godamn is its anime soundtrack one of the best godamn things ever, the best shonen soundtrack probably
The manga gives a lot characters real songs as their themes
Dude I remember you 😭 the first video I watched in your channel is the HXH religious references, and I finally found a video talking about it because I've been telling people that the phantom troupe is the best villain group of anime to represent Jesus and his 12 disciples. Also i remember you had like 1.7k subscribers at that time and now you're at 300k! You're so lucky that you get to talk about anime and get paid at the same time
I really need to go back and reread Bleach, because he's picking up on things that I didn't notice that ended up paying off way later.
I was always wondering when you were gonna resd bleach...peak is about to be read
Bleach has its ups and downs just like all series but due to its reputations and it less conventional writings compared to its contemporaries a lot of its brilliance and nuance are lost to its audience. I think you'll have a great time with this series and can't wait till you get the chance to do a breakdown the characters and themes!
Appreciate the enthusiasm! I won’t be making any breakdown or video essays on the series on TH-cam so if you want that, definitely a good idea to follow the streams :)
Thanks for this.
I'll just say one thing about Bleach, or rather Kubo.
His commitment to _"Show, don't tell"_ is historic and infamous; most people literally go the whole anime without stopping to question assumptions about basic world mechanics, like combat damage, but if you take some time, look at what you're shown, things make sense.
Also, #JoshGroban.
That always has to be said when talking about Bleach.
I feel like he pulls that off for a while but the world building definitely gets lazy eventually
He’s going in blind. I legit cant wait to see him react to the Soul Society arc or ‘Everything but the Rain’.
I love Bleach deeply and in a different way than anything else. (I'm very carefully vague here so don't worry about spoilers in my comment)
I have my own criticisms but sticking to it's strengths; I love it's dedication to making it's cool characters look cool. That was my takeaway as to the reasons for why things happen the way they do.
This first arc is special and different from the rest of the show. Every chapter (ep, I've only seen the anime so far) is filled with care and emotional grounding. Kubo loves poetry and that's very apparent in the fact that he's writing poems for each chapter but I think the stories he writes are inherently poetic.
JJK is and has been my dream show, it has the style of Bleach but with more dynamic writing and manages to avoid the pitfalls that Bleach might have run into. JJK is really Bleachs modern successor in a lot of ways.
Thousand Year Blood War which is basically the Shippuden of Bleach or Bleach Z has been amazing. To have this return has been beyond my ability to express in typed word.
There are times I wish Bleach was able to reboot with a restructuring to reach what I think it's full potential could be but there's also moments that are SO remarkable to me, so unique and so special; especially with Orihime. She gets a lot of flack but she is so core to the emotional center of the show to me. In my top moments for the show she easily takes 2 spots.
My only manga that I've physically bought are specific volumes of HxH as well as the story going forward, but I hope to buy the full box sets of Bleach. Kubos art style eventually becomes my definitive favorite style, full stop and I'd love to have them in my hands to read the source material for the first time.
I could go on and on for SO long about each character. I'm trying to resist writing here what I could end up just making into my own video.
Like just Ichigos name is significant. Ichi = 1, Go = Guardian. He's a protector, the #1 protector (hence the very hype song 'Number 1')
Ichigo in the first arc is just protecting people and spirits. Shonen protagonists always make clear their goal for the series is in the first chapter/episode. Naruto - Hokage, Luffy - Pirate King, Yuji - Proper Death surrounded by friends, Denji - Booba. While most protagonists have an almost selfish (or a mask for a personal issue) goal that eventually becomes selfless, Ichigo from the start is only trying to reduce pain in the world for anyone he meets. This framing creates a particular narrative going forward, something almost aimless and can go almost anywhere.
I need to start making more videos...
This is going to be so fun