Gamertell

Title: Bleach Uncut Season 1: The Substitute box set
Price: $27.99 (Amazon) - $44.99 (Barnes & Noble)
Format: DVD
Release Date: June 10, 2008
Company: Viz Media
ESRB Rating: Unrated
Pros: 20 unrated episodes of Bleach, Japanese and English voice acting, free double-sided poster and a free Bleach trading card.
Cons: Not that many bonus features in addition to the 20 episodes.
Overall Score: Two thumbs up, 95/100, A, **** 1/2 out of 5.

Bleach is a far reaching animated series that tends to go beyond “kill this week’s bad guy.“ It features identifiable characters, sometimes intellectual situations, mysterious story-lines that can’t be solved in one season and other concepts that many action animes don’t cover.

The first season of Bleach, referred to as “The Substitute,“ is really essential viewing for anyone who wishes to really follow the show. Other seasons may have more intrigue, more comedic moments and more characters, but the first season prepares a solid foundation for future episodes. Viz Media did an admirable job with the voice casting, translating and DVD presentation.
                     
The role of a soul reaper.

Ichigo Kurosaki was a fairly normal 15 year old boy, except he could see ghosts. It was something that ran in the family - his younger sister Karin could see them too, and her twin Yuzu could to a lesser extent. Ichigo’s power was the strongest, and an encounter with the ghost of a girl killed in an accident strengthens the power within him and makes him a target for Hollows - corrupted spirits who act only on their own desires and devour ghosts.

Rukia Kuchiki was a soul reaper in the human world exterminating Hollows who happened upon Ichigo. When trying to save Ichigo’s sister Karin and Ichigo from a Hollow, Rukia is attacked and is forced to transfer her powers to Ichigo so his family and he could be saved. He is then given the responsibilities and duties of a soul reaper - a sort of death god who sends people’s souls (ghosts) to the afterlife and protects the dead and living from Hollows.

The first season of Bleach provides a solid foundation for the rest of the ensuing series. Concepts, story ideas and relationships established here will become stronger as the series progresses. I’d even say that it is requirement that fans return to watch the first 20 episodes after finishing the first 100 episodes. There are character revelations and villain returns that you only notice on a second viewing.

An enjoyable series in English or Japanese.

There exist anime purists who believe that the shows must be watched in Japanese for the best experience, or feel that English voice actors can never compare to the Japanese cast. I’m not one of them - if the English voice actors are good, then I’ll make a point of watching the anime with the English voice actors and I’ll only switch to Japanese voices if casting decisions went awry. Bleach is one of those animes where Viz put together a capable voice cast that suits each of the characters and sounds similar to the Japanese cast. It makes the show much more enjoyable.

The box set for season one offers a nice bonus for series fans. You get the first 20 episodes in an uncut format (so there’ll be blood shown and harsh language), but unrated doesn’t mean you’ll be getting anything too objectionable and adult. It won’t be like Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle unrated - more like a very strong PG13 show, or at the very most for ages 17 and up.. It also comes with a double sided poster, flashy trading card and clean opening and closings.

Bleach is a great dramatic series with comedic and action elements.

Bleach is one of the best animes on television at the moment. It has gorgeous art, a storyline that contains action, comedy and drama and characters you’ll identify with and adore. There is something in this series for everyone to enjoy, and viewers will have no trouble finding characters to identify it.

Personally, I think that Bleach really gets good once the second season, commonly referred to as “The Entry” or “Soul Society: The Sneak Entry,“ begins. It is then that the main villain of the series appears and the main storyline advances, but the first season of Bleach is a must-buy for fans of the series.

Site [Bleach Uncut Season 1: The Substitute box set]

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