The episodes of the Bleach anime television series are based on Tite Kubo's original manga series of the same name. It is directed by Noriyuki Abe, produced by TV Tokyo, Dentsu and Pierrot, and was broadcast in Japan from October 5, 2004, to March 27, 2012.[1] The series follows the adventures of high school student Ichigo Kurosaki who can see spirits and becomes a Soul Reaper, after assuming the duties of Soul Reaper Rukia Kuchiki.
Viz Media obtained the foreign television, home video and merchandising rights to the Bleach anime from TV Tokyo Corporation and Shueisha on March 15, 2006.[2] Subsequently, Viz Media contracted Studiopolis to create the English adaptation of the anime, and has licensed its individual Bleach merchandising rights to several different companies.[3] The English adaptation of the Bleach anime premiered on Canada's YTV in their Bionix programming block on September 9, 2006. Cartoon Network in the U.S. began airing Bleach the following evening on September 10 as part of Adult Swim.
Forty-five pieces of theme music are used for the episodes: Fifteen opening themes and thirty closing themes. Several CDs that contain the theme music and other tracks have been released by Studio Pierrot.[4]
A sequel television series, that adapts the final arc of the manga, titled Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, premiered on October 11, 2022.
- ^ "Bleach TV Anime Ending on March 27". animenewsnetwork.com. Archived from the original on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
- ^ "Viz Media named master licensor for hit Japanese action manga Shōnen Jump's Bleach" (Press release). Viz Media. Archived from the original on 2007-05-04. Retrieved 2007-04-01.
- ^ "Viz Announces Bleach Merchandise Licenses". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 2007-03-26. Retrieved 2007-03-24.
- ^ "Bleach Goods Search - CDs" (in Japanese). Studio Pierrot. Archived from the original on 2008-02-27. Retrieved 2008-01-17.