The Hollow Melancholy of Bleach

[@Aleczandxr]

Okay I just finished Fullbring and nothing in the video has changed and I hold strong to everything I said BUT That shit made me cry like MAD holy shit

[@Hamzethegoat]

😂😂😂 I would love a Fullbring arc video on its greatness. That arc tricks you with the first couple slice of life chapters then all hell breaks loose definitely the most emotional arc in Bleach hands down.

[@ezeens_]

when i watched this i had the same thought of like "oh boy are you gonna love fullbringer arc" it was a pretty "risky" arc as it stemmed away from the shounen part of the story and felt the most human out of the whole manga

[@EdgeGilid]

oh damn...thank you for saying this. people often misunderstood what happend in the fulllbring arc. while i do agree it may not be as grand as the arrancar arc but its just or maybe even more of an emotional battle.

[@yeonbibi191]

I just finished watching the vod lol, made me cry all over again

[@kwamekuma360]

Just a heads up, when you get to the TYBW arc, the manga was not created to match Kubo’s full vision due to his declining health and tight deadlines at the time. However now with the new anime Kubo is using this medium to rectify this, he is adding and restructuring content of this arc to match his true vision. So I strongly recommend you watch the anime instead when you get there.

[@bobbyzamora6389]

Man finishes Arrancar and immediately has to talk about it. Been there.

[@meleronnef8411]

All according to..

[@Comicbroe405]

It's a cycle

[@infintecatvids8860]

He hit peak. All down hill from here

[@AsbelLhant100]

@@infintecatvids8860If you mean Bleach in general compared to other manga then sure, if you mean the arcs post-Arrancar arc then can’t agree whatsoever.

[@hazardessam1559]

Lol 😂​@@infintecatvids8860

[@jimmyichigo7410]

Shows Stark when talking about loneliness... I see you editor

[@wumbojet]

The Radman special

[@Aleczandxr]

He cooked

[@contemptman3646]

I know exactly what you're referring to. Bleach is poetic and evocative on another level, man. Kubo ain't perfect but the things he hits with are just so far beyond description. Which ties in well with what you said about the visuals being their own language.

[@Okkotsu86275]

No creator is perfect. I don't think any creators be held to a perfectionism standard.

[@seemonuzumaki723]

It's strange to say but I think Bleach actually has some of the best dialogue in any story. It isn't super wordy, but in the big moments it really hits through what is said, what isn't said, and the way it's said. Just perfect efficiency and amazing ability to bring out these indescribable emotions.

[@jimmyichigo7410]

@@Okkotsu86275 I don't think that's the thing to take away from this comment. He clearly isn't trying to say that Kubo needs to be perfect, he's just appreciating the raw ingenuity in how he uses the medium.

[@Okkotsu86275]

@@jimmyichigo7410 That's a fair take, and you're most likely correct.

[@2angetsu664]

Beautifully put.🙏

[@SSJKirik]

You know what else Kubo did well? Drip. Every character had their own style of clothing and dress that really helped set them apart from each other.

[@stevenpeeckford5999]

He cooks with Renji like crazy in the colour spreads

[@BigHeadClan]

They made a clothing line based on his designs for a reason. Hah

[@seemonuzumaki723]

It's strange to say but I think Bleach actually has some of the best dialogue in any story. It isn't super wordy, but in the big moments it really hits through what is said, what isn't said, and the way it's said. Just perfect efficiency and amazing ability to bring out these indescribable emotions.

[@easschung9442]

Berserk is a little like this

[@boolboi2296]

Absolutely agree, I don’t think it’s strange at all. I believe it’s unequivocally its greatest strength in comparison to its other shounen counterparts, besides maybe the use of symbolism/visual language. So much of the world building and power system is also conveyed through that same dialogue as well.

[@jimmyichigo7410]

Yes this is absolutely true. People jump to thinking great dialogue equates to pages and pages of text, and sometimes it does. But other times simple and beautiful efficiency is just as or more powerful.

[@Aleczandxr]

Not strange at all, I really really adore Bleach’s dialogue!

[@kennethmendoza1350]

​@@jimmyichigo7410 spot on, I'm not even the biggest fan of Kubo but I personally think it's kinda like one of the reason why a lot of new gen mangakas look up to him and try to imitate his clean art and efficient writing style from akutami, Horikoshi, Tabata, and even gotogue heck even Narita Ryohgo(Baccano and Durarara)one of the biggest LN writers is also one of Kubo's biggest fan of his writing style. He really uped the efficiency of the jump formula and I think he has the biggest impact out of his contemporaries on that aspect, I personally think he innovated the jump formula, his impact to shonen jump is kind of like similar to what Steph Curry is to NBA or Floyd Mayweather to boxing in general. A lot of anime fans think "efficiency/simple = easier" when efficiency in of itself is a different skill PS/edit - I might add as well that Kubo's writing style for me is more resembling that of Tsutomi Nihei (Blame, Abara, Knights of Sidonia) but with a bit more of Dialogue

[@jonahwilliams1331]

Such a phenomenal breakdown for the series and especially Aizen. The way he’s often his own worst enemy. Criticizing others for not understanding him despite never making it possible to be understood. Hating Kisuke for not doing more to change the world yet being the primary reason Kisuke couldn’t make the changes he too had wanted to see. Wishing to destroy Soul Society at its core due to disgust for its stagnancy, yet took advantage of that stagnancy for his own gains instead of invoking positive change for the world. Etc (could go on all day) Really loved this video! One of the best vids on Bleach.

[@Aleczandxr]

Wow, thanks very much! Appreciate it. Aizen is incredible and I can't wait to see where he goes from my current point.

[@debrachambers1304]

Some of that is more consequentialist thinking than hypocrisy, but yeah.

[@jonahwilliams1331]

@@debrachambers1304 I didn’t call it hypocrisy?

[@debrachambers1304]

@@jonahwilliams1331 I mean, some of it is more consequentialist thinking than being his own worst enemy.

[@jonahwilliams1331]

@@debrachambers1304 but that is him being his own worst enemy though? He has things he wants in life and is the main reason he never achieved those things he wanted. He’s the one that makes himself impossible to be understood, he’s the reason Kisuke was exiled before invoking change, and he hadn’t made any effort towards fixing Soul Society’s broken system but instead took advantage of it. You could argue he might justify his actions with consequentialism. But that doesn’t change that he is his own worst enemy.

[@tuanchunfeng8663]

Bleach saved me man. All the way back in late 2000s when I was in highschool. Depression hit me but bleach and the other big 3 created a way for me to escape reality.

[@FlamingFist1000]

100%

[@Numbtoitall]

As a manga reader, it's refreshing to see a positive and in depth review of Bleach's overall tone. So many people gloss over the subtext and can't appreciate it for the masterpiece that it is Also, the last arc of Bleach (manga amd anime) help bring so many things home of these things home. Hope you keep enjoying it

[@Aleczandxr]

Thanks very much, I can’t imagine that I won’t enjoy the rest!

[@stevenpeeckford5999]

This is one of my favourite videos I've seen lately. Haters of the series would call it pretentious but anyone willing to give it a fair chance knows the feeling you're describing. I myself have never cried reading it and I'm such an emotional person. It's hard to describe Bleach but you did it so well.

[@Aleczandxr]

Thank you!

[@powerofberzerker9487]

I cried like a bish when I was younger, while watching Bleach.

[@griffins750]

There are very few anime that give me the same satisfaction as Bleach. All of them are different but two stick out to me, Cowboy Bebop and Black Lagoon. Both are very different from Bleach but both give me that same feeling of nostalgia, melancholy and angst.

[@puspenmandi6359]

Those who hate BLEACH, only understand it on surface level ! They think the fights are the peak of BLEACH. While the truth is, the REAL PEAK OF BLEACH starts when there's no fight happening.

[@MrL1G3R]

Bleach was way ahead of its time and more mature than its shonen counterparts.

[@poltergeist6742]

The poems that are spread throughout the volumes are really interesting and give you more insight about the character the poem is about

[@Aleczandxr]

I’ve read every single one through my readthrough! Love em

[@puspenmandi6359]

KUDOS ! You've done a hell of job to not only understand but to express the SOUL OF BLEACH ! BRAVO !

[@Aleczandxr]

Much appreciated!

[@misterfuzzyflippers]

I feel like you succinctly expressed the vibe of the series. Beyond the great battles it has a certain melancholy that very few series ever evoke. The Twilight Princess comparison was also a perfect one that I'd never considered before even though I got into Bleach in the same year that I played Twilight Princess. Fantastic video!

[@Aleczandxr]

I just needed one person to relate to what I meant with Twilight Princess, so I'm satisfied hehe. Thanks very much!

[@misterfuzzyflippers]

@@Aleczandxr You're welcome! You cooked with that comparison.

[@Gonapa58]

Great video, someone recommended your Bleach streams and it was great! Just watched the Bleach stream today! Heard about this video from the stream and I'm glad I checked it out Kubo does not shy away from delivering his ideas abstractly for such a popular series and it's very easy to miss if the reader is unaware. For example the word "Bankai" in itself is a huge hint in Japanese for what you described in this video about characters' journey to understanding themselves. It's a play on words for 挽回 ("Bankai") meaning restoration/revival, but instead replaced by homophones: the Buddhist Manji symbol "Ban" and then 解 ("Kai") meaning resolution. It's the resolution to the Manji, meaning resolution to the cycle of life and death (the answer to reach Nirvana). Because a "Bankai" in Bleach is also the user's true self, ego and **ideal** understanding, Kubo is saying to truly understand their own Bankai is to understand oneself. A lot of characters in Bleach don't even understand their own Bankai. For Kubo, understanding one's true self is to reach enlightenment , precisely what you conveyed in this video so well. In Japan Bleach is known for its poetry, general word choice and dialogue composition and very much its coolness/visual style, and many in Japan are nostalgic because they memorized the poems when they were younger. I wish the translations for Bleach tried to convey the double meanings in the Japanese, or Kubo's wordplay because without knowing Japanese it's lost in translation. I'm very glad you and others in the community love Kubo's more subtle writing!!

[@Aleczandxr]

Glad you enjoyed both this and the stream, and thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[@Gonapa58]

@@Aleczandxr Ofc! I'll be tuning in to more streams for sure, really love your theories and the analysis!

[@Okkotsu86275]

Hearing one of my favorite content creators talk about one of my favorite series of all time brings warm feelings to my heart. I really appreciate the loneliness, isolation, and melancholic tones the series has. So many view the series as shallow and surface level. But Bleach can be very deep and thematical, especially when it comes to emotions and bonds. Kubo is an underrated creator.

[@KingsKrimson]

After years of bleach being the butt of jokes and hating on just seeing people read and enjoy the series really is the best. It isn't perfect but there is so much to love and enjoy about the series.

[@Okkotsu86275]

@@KingsKrimson Agreed fully. Bleach used to get dunked on all time by fans, particularly ones of One Piece and Naruto fandoms. Nice to see it getting love, appreciation, and respect it deserves.

[@Aleczandxr]

It has the most abstract presentation of its story and the most unapologetic commitment to that style out of the vast majority of Shonen I’ve seen so while disappointing, the lack of respect for it makes sense as so many manga readers just aren’t interested in engaging with it on that level. And of course I’m not saying that everyone that dislikes Bleach doesn’t actively engage with the story, but from what I’ve seen, plenty do. Yet if you’re open to REALLY committing to it and what it’s setting out, the rewards are endless. I love it.

[@kennethmendoza1350]

​@@Aleczandxrtrue, it kind of reminds me of Tsutomu-sensei style

[@EnbyNomad]

Bleach is an incredibly subtextual series and while I understand many peoples issues with it- I'm always returning to thinking about bleach and it's themes and how they fundamentally changed who I was as a person.

[@stevenpeeckford5999]

It challenges the reader so much, and if they aren't interested in actively engaging and being challenged with the story then fair enough and they won't get much out of it. But if you choose to dig into it, its one of the most rewarding things out there.

[@funnyvalentine5845]

"it challenges the reader" i despise elitism so much lmaooooooo ​@@stevenpeeckford5999

[@eojdaed96]

You successfully put to words that lingering feeling that makes Bleach so unique. You're right, loneliness is at the core of it all. Even apart from the characters, the art itself expresses that. All these empty locations... The sharp black and white always gave me the feeling of a Greek tragedy as well, in that the sun is always right above with no possibility for any escape.

[@hazardessam1559]

Man i have read bleach like 10 times and this analysis still gave me some very interesting stuff that i didn't see before i always appreciate that about you

[@nerdcorner2680]

Art mediums are admired in different ways, incombatable with one another. Like how watching the anime of bleach frame by frame is not the same experience as reading the manga, even though both are still images 1:1 the same. But the Bleach manga is the closest manga Ive seen to blue the line between manga and paintings, where paintings are meant to be extremely open ended and admired based on your feelings when looking at it. A lot of the quiet moments, or close up eye shots have such depth to them that I don’t think there is a simple answer. You are meant to stop dead in your tracks and really take in what this character is feeling and judge it yourself, the manga will never give you the full answer later. I always found that really beautiful with Bleach that it can transcend mediums, and what made me understand what there is to love about the whole medium of painting (I always took it as a lower form of art “why admire one scenetic view if this manga/anime/tv show has a shot like this among many more?”)

[@ProlificPops]

Not sure if you've seen the anime as well, but if you think the manga is melancholic, wait until you hear "Nothing Can Be Explained" from the Bleach OST. I think that song captures the essence of Bleach perfectly. It's my favorite track from an anime OST till this day.

[@Aleczandxr]

I’ve watched ~16-18 of the best anime episodes in the series and regardless I play Sagisu’s OST whilst I’m reading the chapters on stream!

[@ProlificPops]

@@Aleczandxr Nice. That's the best way to experience Bleach. Sagisu is a musical genius.

[@meleronnef8411]

Just watched your stream where you theorize about Kenpachi and Yachiru. Goldmine. Keep it up and thanks for deciding to put out a video for it, the editing is fabulous so props to your editor.

[@nenadmilutinovic4752]

Can you link the stream in question?

[@Aleczandxr]

^It’s on Patreon! All streams from the last 60 days are in Twitch but anything before that is on Patreon.

[@sahaakhiyat3703]

One thing from Bleach that my mind just forever remembered for some reason was one particular monolog. It was not coming from main character or main villain, it wasn't something grand or important to the story. It was just a character that decided to speak a little bit about himself, his own ideals and way of living. It was Kurotsuchi Mayuri's monolog about why and how he hates perfection when he was fighting against Szaelapparo. The fact that my brain just saved that little monolog to its memory rather than a bunch of more lore important information is a very good example at what Bleach is good. It is good at creating a characters with their own inner worlds and philosophy which then is used to allows the author to contemplate about a lot of things without making it out of place.

[@Anhiksi]

BLEACH is heavy. One of the most exciting and hypest stories around yet indeed, so melancholic in nature. Kubo's writing style is very human, very calm and poetic, such beautiful multidimensional writing.

[@Thesilentvoice...]

Amazing video. You really get the essence of what Bleach is. It's about self-discovery and overcoming the pain of the past/sadness. Many characters in the story have gone through tragic events, but as they navigate through the pain they learn about who they are. Also, the poems and art really help to invoke the melancholy feeling. I wish some manga/anime fans took the time to really go between the lines and focus on the hidden meanings of the story because most fans mischaracterize or often don't get the deeper meaning of the story of Bleach.

[@PetarBladeStrok]

Wow, I did not expect a Bleach video. Both Fiji & you cooked with this one! And I completely agree. Bleach is really unique. I'm caught up and read/watched it multiple times, yet it didn't make me cry even once. But still, the emotions it evokes within me are special. I'm looking forward towards you continuing the ride!

[@seemonuzumaki723]

This video and your read through have me thinking about the series in ways I never have before, and I've loved it since 2010. Really can't wait for more and hope you enjoy the rest!!!

[@jimmyichigo7410]

He's not done? EDIT - literally just heard him say he wasn't done lmao

[@Aleczandxr]

Much obliged!

[@scottheffernan6787]

I remember when you started the bleach readthroughs and confidently said there would be no videos. I think Aizen knew you wouldn't be able to keep yourself from making one, though. Another great vid.

[@starryskyday3160]

I think the anime ost enhanced this certain emotion with the song "soundscape to ardor." The words you spoke here reminds me of the world and emotions this song puts me into.

[@Aleczandxr]

One of my FAVOURITE tracks!

[@FrffyVsBoredom]

This is one of my favourite Bleach videos. I’m happy you’ve been getting so much out of your read through.

[@Aleczandxr]

Thanks so much!

[@justmyopinion79]

Can't wait for your opinions on the final arc and the anime man. Thanks so much for sharing your experience with us, it's magical.

[@Aleczandxr]

It's been my absolute pleasure!

[@larmuh]

Makes me so incredibly happy to see people talking about Bleach with such sincerity and thoughtfulness. Wonderful video!

[@Aleczandxr]

Thank you!

[@jairacosta3804]

Bleach is meant to make you think more inward than most other series especially when compared to the other big 3 it is even shown in the power struggle ichigo goes through in the series, his character is confused at times and it shows that by his little inner world being flooded by rain when in comparison to the beginning when he didn’t know anything it was full of skyscrapers far above the streets of his inner world it’s definitely calls for more internal thought than Naruto while Naruto is more front facing and on the nose with the emotion it wants you to feel and One Piece is a perfect mix of the two

[@TevinAllen-og1xl]

Rebirth of souls is releasing this year so all bleach fans are ready to release their bankai from their shikai

[@easschung9442]

Your streams have helped me appreciate characters like Gin, Rangiku, Tosen, Kira and more even more than I thought I would. Please keep it up. Great work on them and this video!

[@bad_monk7104]

I absolutely love it when I see new content/praise for Bleach. You have always articulated your passion for series, in a way that I can only dream to do, so when I saw you start your dive into Bleach I was extremely happy. Bleach has alot of subtle details, that make it easy for people to miss and leads them to shit on the series. This is especially the case with the Arrancar arc and the following Fullbring arc. I wish I could write an entire essay, but i just want to thank you for taking your time to enjoy the series. Thanks man. Theres more greatness to come. 💯

[@Aleczandxr]

That’s incredibly kind of you to say, thank you! I can’t wait for more.

[@TevinAllen-og1xl]

Baby now you feel like number one shining light for everyone living out your fantasy 🔥🔥🔥

[@arkalias3994]

I've been following your channel forever AJ, and I am so glad to hear your journey through Bleach. It's a beautiful story that has so many softer elements woven in along with the hardcore shonen battle style that we like so much- but the core of it reflects something deeper, the purpose of it all. This video is such a gem!

[@emiraciyan2662]

One thing I will say Bleach never gets credit for. Its story telling, especially in the Manga, is wonderfully subtle. Its plot isn’t very complicated, wordy etc. but if you pay attention you realise that one of the big themes of the story is that, characters become more powerful the more at peace they are with themselves, the more they understand the nature of themselves and their souls/zanpaktou. It doesn’t rely heavily on exposition or narrator text boxes, it treats its readers a little more intelligently, to fill in gaps.

[@Aleczandxr]

Really? Tbh I see it get credit for that quite often in my experience

[@SuperBerry123]

@@AleczandxrNowadays it’s bit more common yeah cause people‘s view on it changed. Before it was popular to hate on it and you‘d barely hear someone get Bleach like this outside of loyal fans.

[@Releo0]

Probably the best video explaining bleach, this is something I felt a lot as a child when watching bleach so I'm happy to see it explained, thank you

[@Aleczandxr]

My pleasure, glad you enjoyed!

[@CjSoils]

This is the video from you I was waiting for. Can’t wait for you to cover what’s next, it’s so good.

[@robertdavidblakely]

Bleach will always be undeniably my favorite of the big 3, and it's not close.

[@DisappearBlade]

That you for including the music used at the end among your listed songs. Leaves a nice feeling after a good video about such a cool manga/anime.

[@Aleczandxr]

Of course! No problem

[@xyz-uj3ie]

Amazing video! i had a feeling we would get a bleach vid despite you saying you wouldn’t make another one 😂

[@Aleczandxr]

I am such a liar LOL

[@cwalker201]

Your mind will be blown in the final arc. Can’t wait to see the video

[@WindLogia]

“These characters need therapy to understand themselves” 😳

[@otakubacklog]

Bleach has been my favorite manga since I read it in 2018. It just feels like it was made for me. I’m so damn happy you’re seeing what we see.

[@FlamingFist1000]

FINALLY SOMEONE WHO PUT IT INTO WORDS ABOUT HOW I FEEL WHEN WATCHING BLEACH. I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO SAY THIS SINCE MY CHILDHOOD.

[@gheist4883]

I’m so glad people are going back through Bleach finding aspects they never noticed before, it’s actually my favorite of the Big Three.

[@Aleczandxr]

And I'm not even going back to it! Haha first time read!

[@CherryAnime203]

Great video! I agree that Bleach carries a quiet spirituality within its characters and storytelling that sets it apart, perfectly woven into its black and white style.

[@Juninhor110]

I can't wait for you to reach the "Anything but the rain" chapter. It's a masterpiece storytelling and a necessary one, it's really beautiful

[@Nao_Miria]

This so beautifully summarised and put into words what I love about Bleach and about other stories about growth and self-improvement. So much of growth comes from learning to accept oneself, one's flaws, to understand the innerworkings of the soul, the self, and to use what makes you "you" to improve the "you" that you are, as well as benefitting the world and people around you. I think it is this subtextual (and sometimes explicit) style of character journey that separates forgettable stories, and those with the power to move the hearts of millions - even people who do not fully understand why it is so moving. Bleach is so poetic, subtextual, and such an in-depth exploration of self acceptance, growth, and improvement, that it even resonates with people that lack the media analysis awareness to put into words what it is that makes it so gripping. Why do we tell stories? Why do humans share? Historically, did this begin as a way to impart knowledge, to share wisdom with each other? Then, we too, should learn what we can about self-acceptance, growth, self-improvement, and mutual reliance from Bleach and similar stories. Thank you for your wonderful video! Love, Nao

[@jatintyagi896]

I believe that the "feeling of lonliness, meaningfull quite" which you described in Bleach is also present in two of Kinoko Nasu's work namely Fate stay night series and also in The Garden of Sinners (Kara no Kyoukai). I can't say the same about tsukihime and mahoutsukai no yoru (witch on the holy night) as we are yet to get a proper anime adaptation of both of these Kiniko Nasu's work and I haven't played the VN's. But I definitely felt it in the Fate series especially the Deen studios Fate route adaptation in 2006. Deen perfectly captured the feel of the VN and nailed the Osts even though it's show lacked in other areas it was still a decent adaptation made on a fairly small budget.

[@kennethmendoza1350]

Agree, that's pretty much a characteristic of Kinoko Nasu's writing that is also one of his main strength, not sure for tsukihime(haven't read the VN)but definitely can attest that it does exist in Mahotsukai no yoru and probably even my favorite presentation of that in all of Nasu's work(I've read the FSN VN and watched the KnK movies), I do think Shiki's character is deeper though, i still prefer Aoko. If you want to read the VN of Mahoyo it's still available on steam.

[@Potential94]

Bleach is so GOATED, the manga, the art, the characters, the anime, Kubo himself. Absolutely one of the greatest shonen of all time.

[@tailez606]

Wow subscribed. Bro read the Arrancar arc and puts Kubo's brainwaves on display, just like that. I will wait with bated breath for the inevitable video once you finish the story

[@ThaNinjazTube]

Melancholy is the perfect word for the emotional sadness that Bleach brings out of me. The sad scenes aren't all traditional "tearjerkers" in that sense, but it brings forth a sadness inside. Twilight Princess example is perfect in that regard, I love that, as the way I felt about some of the sadder scenes with, let's say, Midna, or seeing the inhabitants lost and confused, it is melancholy in definition. I feel like the best way to describe the emotions that Bleach can trap you in is through the visual imagery we see within Ichigo himself. It rains and rains, and eventually get thrown into a deep and dark ocean at times. The concept of the dark underwater is melancholy to me in visual format. The way "blue" is related to sadness. (Having the blues, [Sadness is blue in Inside Out (lol)]). The dark underwater brings forth that melancholy to me. The setting of an empty, barren "fake" Karakura Town also fills me with that sense of melancholy, in similar ways to how the Twilight in Twilight Princess could feel once the citizens had faded into specters. Great video.

[@kamenriderfan322]

Didn’t know you would do an actual bleach video

[@javilepero]

It was part of Aizen's plan

[@Grayson-Winchester]

Through his encounters with Nelliel, Grimmjow and Ulqiorra. Ichigo came to understand that hollows aren’t just stray creatures that need to be slayed at first sight. They also have issues like him and also a right to live.

[@brandenjenkins9479]

You’re finally talking about BLEACH, LETS GO!!

[@ahnaftahmid2440]

More Bleach videos please. Kubo's writing deserves to be studied in depth like this and I love your style

[@Aleczandxr]

I don’t currently have any plans for more Bleach videos, so for more of this style I’d recommend coming out to the streams on Twitch!

[@343JustMe]

this has to be one of the most well made and powerful bleach videos to date. Ive always felt like bleach was your kind of a show, a show with a lot of subtlety and subtext with deep emotional meaning behind each and every line. I love bleach and this video is the EXACT explanation of why i do. Its rare to see an anime like bleach in the shounen category or hell even in anime in general especially back in 2004.

[@Aleczandxr]

Thank you, that’s kind of you to say!

[@manoelafvb]

This video is so beautifully crafted. For the visuals to the content, just amazing. And I liked how you touched the very points I think Bleach should be praised about, but never is. I think it was very vanguardist for its time. After the pandemic, after getting older (started bleach at 12, now I'm 26), I now understand the themes a lot better and enjoy everything on a deeper scale. Thank you for verbalizing what I couldn't in all these years.

[@Aleczandxr]

My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed.

[@strawhatvibe]

Bro these edits are crazy dope! Also i love your take on the series so far! I look forward to your next video

[@94evangelion]

Its nice that Bleach has been better understanding and appreciation in the past few years

[@germangarcia3818]

Bleach leaves you hollow. Perfection.

[@BigHeadClan]

Bleach was always considered the more mature series of the big 3. So it makes sense then that Kubo wrote his story in such a way that draws out more complex emotions from the reader. He is just as masterful as either of the series author of Naruto/Onepiece but instead goes after other emotions. Kudos has me feeling a huge swath of emotions beyond just sadness during the key emotional moments of the series which is something I can’t say about Naruto (haven’t read OnePeice). Despair, Anger, Loneliness, Regret are always just as powerful emotions as the sadness of a scene if not more so. Ulqiuoras entire battle with Ichigo is a perfect encapsulation of that. Regret probably more so than anything at the end of their battle. Finally Ulqiuora starts to feel something. Engage with his emotions and believe in the heart and reaches out to Orihime only to turn to dust.

[@BarHawa]

I watched bleach when it first aired here in the US and kept up with it all throughout my childhood till it finished. After that I rewatched it a couple times in High School and adulthood. I appreciate you making this video. You've encapsulated exactly what makes Bleach different from the rhe other two in the big three,all of which I am a fan.

[@mepollack]

I’ve had my issues with Bleach over the years, but I do think it’s legitimately great through the Arrancar Arc, and I like how you highlighted many of its strengths. It’s been a pleasure to see the anime expand on the final arc in a way that brings it more in line with those themes and gives these later elements more depth and attention.

[@madhukarg8052]

the sadness that creates intrigue which is exciting and is an element of surprise, is what made me love Bleach, and ohhh My God the fights, come on Bleach means Drip

[@baiirii7026]

thank you for covering this series! its made me appreciate it a lot more 😁

[@Aleczandxr]

My pleasure!

[@kinosine]

You are the best in analysis of anime and manga in all of KZbin, hands down.

[@Mattznick]

THIS This is exactly why i fell in love with Bleach and i could never explain to people why when they give me shit for it as if it's a bad shonen. They just don't understand and can't see it the way i do

[@n0ccc___vvv]

Let's gooo!! What a pleasant surprise to see a Bleach video from you in my feed after all the cooking live on stream, glad we have you the Bleach community

[@Aleczandxr]

Thank you so much!

[@ashirnoor3429]

Watched Bleach myself didn't think it was that deep.Good vid

[@M-hn4hp]

For Ichigos chracter just wait till Thousand-Year Blood War "The Blade is ##" it will not disappoint

[@sonicya]

Im incredibly glad to see you speak on bleach! Its my favorite manga and arrancar is my all time favorite arc! Will cherish this video in my liked videos list.

[@SABNISTANMAY]

A truly great video AJ. Love your Bleach streams. Bleach love is always appreciated, especially from people who look at it beyond the surface.

[@tamen5369]

I love that you decided to do a video on bleach after all, I loved the cookery as usual. Keep up the great work

[@Kenos347]

You will absolutly love the next arc i can't thank you enough for this video 😭😭😭

[@dragonoyxd]

Bleach is genuinely unparalleled if u start looking deep. No other series like it. Not the drip, not the subtleness nor the art.

[@yahyawihamza4064]

Bleach is just heavy a masterclass btw who is hyped for cour 3 ?

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

THANKS FOR THIS! LOVE YOUR CONTENT ❤❤❤❤

[@Aleczandxr]

Thanks for watching!

[@theganondorky7238]

Bro, im glad im not the only one who felt like TP and Bleach felt similar. That feelin genuinely heightened my enjoyment of Bleach when i was watching through it.

[@genDotY]

Beautiful, man. Just beatiful

[@jrgenvellesen7800]

Always makes me happy to see people enjoy and appreciate Bleach. It is a great series and I am so glad that it is getting the love and attention it deserves.

[@adamquenano8563]

With videos like this, I will forever go back and forth with which I like more between Bleach and Naruto

[@Hamzethegoat]

As a kid teen Naruto it spoke to me about never giving up but as a late teen and adult Bleach themes n character writing of soul searching finding out who you really are overcoming trauma n regret dealing with grief speaks to me a lot more as an adult then Naruto does

[@LongXue]

Bleach isn't about a guy wanting to becoming the soul king/pirate king/hokage, it's about a guy that only wants to have enough power to protect his loved ones, about a guy becoming stronger not by external powers but through discovering more of himself and accepting that all of these are only his and not from others. Kubo's emotional scenes aren't purposely written for you to cry or be emotional about, like Ichigo and the rain in his inner world, the fullbring arc, etc. These scenes are for you to empathize to. If I'm going to compare it to something, then its the thing valve said about LFD's sound design, they didn't want to put sounds that they want people experience, they want to put sounds base on the players are experiencing....,Kubo didn't write the scenes to be emotional, the scenes themselves are emotional hence why Kubo wrote it these way.

[@marcinkarczmarz8281]

I have never seen anyone talk about bleach so beautifly. And I watched A LOT of essays. Personal conflict and discovery is what I watch bleach for and I am glad you put emphasis on these themes. You described very well how you felt about it and it was engaging to listen. Also the video was super smooth. Usually I debate things when I comment, but I have nothing but compliments here. Good job!

[@alexandercns]

While the anime does it's best with the art it does miss the mark here and there, but where it never missed was the OST. Even if primarily a manga reader, I can highly recommend the OST for the Bleach anime, particularly for its more somber, melancholy themes. Tracks like "Soundscape to Ardor" and "Never Meant To Belong" are presented in a sad manner but just lack that feeling of true sadness. They feel empty in their grief, in a way. They're themes of melancholy, played at times of sadness to reflect the introspective nature of the events currently happening rather than playing up the plainly sad scenes infront of you, where depictions of grief are lashing outs of flawed beings, and scenes of death are moments of completeness and realization for the characters experiencing them. It's a great OST.

[@Aleczandxr]

Haha way ahead of you, I’ve been using it throughout the entirety of my readthrough on Twitch! My mods send more songs to me to use as I progress.

[@alexandercns]

@@Aleczandxr Very nice. Good of them to wait for you to progress before sending certain songs.

[@vollied4865]

You really nailed it on the head, I can count on 1 hand the times bleach brought me to tears, but I can't count the amount of times parts of the story left me hollow without words contemplating my own existence and the existence of the characters. It's why it remains in my top series of all time besides Re:Zero, Code Geass, Gurren Lagaan, Tokyo Ghoul, Shield Hero, exc exc Series that don't take their characters for granted and make them feel genuinely alive and human. I hope you're looking forward to the fullbring arc, it delves into psychological horror it's a huge departure to every other arc, it's my personal favorite. Also fair warning Kubos been using the anime to fix the final arc I recommend watching TYBW over reading it

[@Aleczandxr]

I’m well into Fullbring and will be finishing it tomorrow, it’s been insane! And I’ll be reading the final arc, and then watching the adaptation after.

[@kussamanga]

Loved every minute of this video

[@n0ccc___vvv]

The way I said it somewhere before before and idk if it makes sense, Bleach makes me go "Damn, I 'think' that's sad", while the other big 3 show makes me go "Damn I 'FEEL' that's sad" (put really simply). But regarding Bleach, the brain is a scary thing, so deeply thinking about why it's emotional, makes me really 'feel' it too

[@TheRedayz]

Many thanks for creating this. I always thought that the emotional aspects of bleach were underexplored. In a way i always felt that the internal emotions i feel when consuming bleach were very different than usual. Its like a blade that cuts the souls instead. That combined with the ost composed by Shiro Sagisu made it one of a kind experience for me unlike anything else

[@Aleczandxr]

My pleasure! Sagisu’s OST is an essential accompaniment to not only the anime, but the manga as well for me.

[@NXNero2]

Man dropped a Bleach video out of nowhere for me I actually gasped.

[@adamquenano8563]

And here I thought we’d never get a bleach video, a Christmas miracle indeed

[@SamTheGumMan117]

Awesome Bleach vid, and gonna be so sweet to hear what you have to say about the rest. This series is definitely one of my favourites of all time

[@brenfang12]

This video resonates with how I feel. That feeling of loneliness and longing. Feeling of loss. Translates to real life as well too. Got me through some tough times

[@MMarian07]

I literally cried watching this

[@dantecrottogini529]

Bleach really does have some amazing moments

[@ULKii]

One of the best Bleach videos i have ever seen.

[@Aleczandxr]

Thanks very much!