Bleach (2004)
Bleach is a 2004 Japanese-language action & adventure series created by Shiro Sagisu and Masashi Sogo. It stars Masakazu Morita, Fumiko Orikasa and Hiroki Yasumoto.
Ichigo Kurosaki has seen ghosts his whole life, but nothing prepares him for Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper who hunts the corrupted spirits called Hollows. When a fight leaves Rukia weakened, she passes her powers to Ichigo, and the ordinary teenager inherits the job of guarding the living, guiding the dead, and standing between both worlds and the monsters that prey on them. Adapted from Tite Kubo's manga by Studio Pierrot, the series pairs stylish sword duels with a sprawling supernatural mythology, plus original arcs made just for the anime.
Quick answers
What is Bleach about?
Ichigo Kurosaki has seen ghosts his whole life, but nothing prepares him for Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper who hunts the corrupted spirits called Hollows. When a fight leaves Rukia weakened, she passes her powers to Ichigo, and the ordinary teenager inherits the job of guarding the living, guiding the dead, and standing between both worlds and the monsters that prey on them. Adapted from Tite Kubo's manga by Studio Pierrot, the series pairs stylish sword duels with a sprawling supernatural mythology, plus original arcs made just for the anime.
When was Bleach released?
Bleach was released on 5 October 2004.
How many episodes does Bleach have?
Bleach has 416 episodes across 2 seasons.
Who made Bleach?
Bleach was created by Shiro Sagisu, Masashi Sogo and Kenta Shimoyama.
Where can I watch Bleach?
Bleach is available on Hulu, Google Play, Amazon, AppleTV and Fandango at Home.
Where to watch Bleach
Stream: Hulu
Rent: Google Play
Buy: Amazon, AppleTV, Fandango at Home, Google Play
Official site
Cast
- Masakazu Morita as Ichigo Kurosaki (voice)
- Fumiko Orikasa as Rukia Kuchiki (voice)
- Hiroki Yasumoto as Yasutora Sado (voice)
- Yuki Matsuoka as Orihime Inoue (voice)
- Noriaki Sugiyama as Uryu Ishida (voice)
- Kentaro Ito as Renji Abarai (voice)
- Ryotaro Okiayu as Byakuya Kuchki (voice)
- Mitsuaki Madono as Kon (voice)
- Toshiyuki Morikawa as Kaname Tōsen (voice)
- Masaya Onosaka as Shinji Hirako (voice)
- Kiyoyuki Yanada as Tessai Tsukabishi (voice)
- Katsuyuki Konishi as Shuhei Hisagi (voice)
Similar series
Explore Bleach guides
Bleach in our writing
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A few thoughts on Bleach
Shonen action fans have obvious next stops. My Hero Academia and Rurouni Kenshin share the underdog-hero drive and escalating duels. Fullmetal Alchemist matches the mix of high stakes and heart. For monster-hunting on a grander scale, The Witcher 3 fits. And for darker spirit-world dread, Junji Ito's Tomie leans fully into the supernatural.
Supernatural shonen anime where fighters battle monsters and spirits
Bleach pairs stylish sword duels with a teenager suddenly drafted to fight corrupted spirits. These supernatural shonen series run on the same charge: escalating battles, monsters that prey on the living, and heroes who level up arc after arc. Fast, loud action anime where every fight raises the ceiling on the next one.
Stories about spirits and the boundary between the living and the dead
Before the epic battles, Bleach is about a boy who has always seen ghosts and the duty of guiding the dead. These stories live on that same boundary between the living and the departed, where spirits linger, gods go unnoticed, and someone has to mind the traffic between both worlds.
Landmark action manga to read next
Adapted from Tite Kubo's manga, Bleach rewards readers who want the page-turning version. These landmark action manga scratch the same itch: sprawling casts, rival factions, and combat that keeps inventing new powers. Start any of them and settle in for hundreds of chapters of momentum.
Teen heroes suddenly wielding powers in a world of magic and monsters
Ichigo inherits Soul Reaper powers he never asked for, then has to master them fast. These series share that hook of an ordinary student handed extraordinary abilities, thrown into schools and battlefields where magic and monsters decide who survives. Power-fantasy anime built around underdogs learning the limits of a sudden gift.