#bleach tybw part 1

[frostfires-blog]

Bleach Hanakotoba Analysis Part 3 ~ OP16: Scar & ED31: Saihate

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-> Division 01: Chrysanthemum

The flower insignia of the 1st division is the chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) which is known as kiku (菊) in Japanese. According to the official Bleach lore, this flower signifies truth and innocence. Its meanings in hanakotoba include nobility, virtuousness, perfection, rejuvenation, longevity and good luck. A sixteen-petalled chrysanthemum is not only one of Japan’s two unofficial national flowers but is also used on Japan’s imperial seal. In Western floriography, Chrysanthemums symbolise cheerfulness, devoted love, loyalty, happiness longevity, joy, trust, optimism, fidelity and friendship. In some cultures, Chrysanthemums—particularly white ones—are only associated with mourning, sympathy and death.

-> Division 02: Pasque flower

The flower insignia of the 2nd division is the Pasque flower (Pulsatilla) which is also known as the nodding anemone and wind flower. It is called the okinagusa (翁草) in Japan. According to the official Bleach lore, this insignia means “seeking nothing”. Its additional meanings in hanakotoba include “untold love”, “pure heart”, and “love of betrayal”. The downward flower of the Pasque flower is said to have given rise to it symbolising "untold love" and "pure heart" as this is thought to mirror the feelings of a pure girl who is ashamed of her sentiments and finds it difficult to express them. The Pasque flower's symbolic meaning of a "love of betrayal" stems from the fact that after reaching their peak, the flowers that initially bloom face downwards turn upward. In Western floriography, the Pasque flower represents rebirth, renewal, hope, dignity, nobility, grace and the phrase “forsaken in love”.

-> Division 03: Marigold

The flower insignia of the 3rd division is the marigold (Tagetes) which is known as the marīgōrudo (マリーゴールド) in Japanese. According to the official Bleach lore, this flower signifies despair. Its meanings in hanakotoba include jealousy, despair and sadness. In Western floriography, they symbolise grief, despair, and jealousy as well as the expression of deep feelings and passion.

-> Division 04: Bellflower

The flower insignia of the 4th division is the bellflower (Campanula) which is known as the berufurawā (ベルフラワー ) and otome kikyo (乙女桔梗 ) in Japan. According to the official Bleach lore, this flower signifies that “those who grieve are loved”.  Its meanings in hanakotoba include gratitude, sincerity and pleasant chatter. Bellflowers are a symbol of gratitude, constancy, romance, and support in Western floriography. Additionally, bellflowers can stand for affection, delicacy, humility, and everlasting love. In particular, blue bellflowers are symbolic of peace, healing, openness, tranquility, and friendship—on the other hand, cream bellflowers are symbolic of thoughtfulness, grace, elegance, peace, and hope. Given that a bellflower's shape resembles a church bell, it is believed that the flower's symbolic meanings of gratitude and sincerity originate from church teachings. It is thought that the bellflower's symbolic meaning of pleasant chatter originates from the observation that its flowers which point diagonally upward bloom together giving the impression that the small flowers are merrily conversing with one another.

-> Division 05: Lily of the Valley

The flower insignia of the 5th division is the lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) which is known as suzuran (鈴蘭) in Japanese. According to the official Bleach lore, this flower represents sacrifice, danger, pure love, humility and sweetness. Its meanings in hanakotoba include purity, humility, sweetness, chastity and finding happiness again. These flowers are symbolic of purity, humility, sweetness, rebirth, good fortune, joy, youth, discretion and a return of happiness in Western floriography. With its lovely, sweet aroma, it's difficult to believe that such a demure-looking flower could be dangerous. It is crucial to highlight, however, that this flower is an extremely toxic plant that, if consumed, can cause severe disease or death. The Lily of the Valley plant contains around 38 distinct cardiac glycosides (cardenolides)—which are a class of organic compounds that increase the output force of the heart and decrease its rate of contractions—that are exceedingly poisonous to both humans and animals. Given its toxicity, it's ironic, that the plant is associated with good fortune, purity, joy, and sweetness.

-> Division 06: Camellia

The flower insignia of the 6th division is the Japanese camellia (Camellia japonica) which is known as tsubaki (椿) in Japanese. According to the official Bleach lore, this flower represents “noble reason”. Its meanings in hanakotoba include modest kindness and pride. In Western floriography, camellias have a long-standing symbolic association with romance and devotion. They symbolize strong desire and passion as well as unfaltering love, devotion, affection, refinement, perfection, faithfulness, and admiration. Normally, the petals and calyx separate as a flower dies, but in the case of camellias, the petals and calyx fall together, preserving the entire flower. In recognition of this, camellias are used to represent longevity, perfection, and pure, unreserved, love that never fades. Red camellias are thought to represent romantic love, passion, or desire. Pink camellias convey feelings of longing and gratitude. White camellias are associated with purity, faithfulness, admiration, perfection, and good fortune. On the other hand, white camellias are regarded to bring bad luck in Japan since they are associated with death and mourning.

-> Division 07: Iris

The flower insignia of the 7th division is the iris (Iris japonica) which is known as ayame (菖蒲) in Japanese. According to the official Bleach lore, this flower signifies courage. Its meanings in hanakotoba include glad tidings, loyalty, messages, hope, graciousness as well and kindness of the heart. In Western floriography, they symbolise hope, faith, friendship, wisdom, royalty, valour and messages.

-> Division 08: Crane flower

The flower insignia of the 8th division is the Crane flower (Strelitzia) which is also called the Bird of Paradise flower. In Japan, it is known as the Gokurakuchouka (ゴクラクチョウカ ). Its Japanese and English names are derived from the flower’s resemblance to a family of tropical birds native to New Guinea called Paradisaeidae. According to the official Bleach lore, this flower represents “everything that is obtained”. The phrases "date in love" and "pretentious in love" are its hanakotoba meanings. The exotic appearance of the flower, which is compared to a person in love, is considered to be the basis of these connotations. In Western floriography, the crane flower symbolizes magnificence, faithfulness, excellence, success and well as having joy in the face of both challenges and successes alike. Additionally, they also symbolize freedom due to the flower’s resemblance to a bird in flight. The Crane flower is native to South Africa where it holds the meanings of freedom, success, loyalty, thoughtfulness, immortality, love and optimism.

-> Division 09: White poppy

The flower insignia of the 9th division is the white poppy (Arctomecon merriamii) which is known as shiroi popī (白いポピー) in Japanese. According to the official Bleach lore, this flower symbolizes oblivion. Its meanings in hanakotoba are sleep and oblivion. In Western floriography. White poppies represent sleep and peaceful rest. They are associated with faith and the concept of the soul's eternal life, and they also serve as a symbol of remembrance for deceased loved ones. Given that white flowers are symbolic of purity; white poppies are a symbol of restful sleep, pleasant dreams and renewal.

-> Division 10: Daffodil

The flower insignia of the 10th division is the daffodil (Narcissus) which is known as suisen (水仙) in Japanese. According to the official Bleach lore, this flower signifies mystery and egoism. Its meanings in hanakotoba include self-love and self-esteem. Yellow daffodils in particular are linked to the phrases "come back to me" and "I want you to love me again." In English floriography, daffodils represent self-love, respect, egoism, and unrequited love. In contrast with the aforementioned negative connotations, daffodils also represent strength, overcoming hardships, and the arrival of success and wealth. White flowers typically symbolize purity—however white daffodils signify a desire for transformation.

-> Division 11: Yarrow

The flower insignia of the 11th division is the yarrow (Achillea alpina) which is known as nokogiri (鋸草) in Japanese. According to the official Bleach lore, this flower signifies fighting. Its additional meanings in hanakotoba include bravery and healing. The yarrow is a symbol of bravery in Western floriography, particularly in times of war, and wearing it is said to bestow courage and protection. The yarrow is also said to represent everlasting love, healing and good health because of its medicinal properties. Its Japanese name, “nokogiri”, translates to “saw grass” and is presumably derived from how the tooth-like shape of a saw’s teeth resembles the plant’s bipinnate/tripinnate leaves.

-> Division 12: Thistle

The flower insignia of the 12th division is the thistle (Cirsium spp.) which is known as azami (アザミ) in Japanese. According to the official Bleach lore, this flower signifies vengeance, strictness and independence. Its meanings in hanakotoba are independence, retaliation, sternness and “do not touch”. In western floriography, thistles symbolise austerity, nobility of character, independence and misanthropy.  In the Victorian era, the gift of thistle flowers served as a warning against unwanted meddling. These flowers are incorporated in the expression “as prickly as a thistle” which describes someone who is easily enraged, particularly in the face of criticism. As Scotland’s national flower, thistles represent bravery, luck and strength. Thistles are referred to as the "flower of the sun" and the "herb of the witches" in the Basque area of France. It is said that thistles provide protection from evildoers and witchcraft because witches are said to be unable to look directly at the sun.

-> Division 13: Snowdrop

The flower insignia of the 13th division is the snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) which is known as the sunōdoroppu (スノードロップ) and the matsuyukisou (待雪草) in Japan. According to the official Bleach lore, this flower represents hope. Its meanings in hanakotoba are hope and consolation. In Western floriography, the snowdrop represents purity, rebirth, sympathy and hope.  A single snowdrop was seen by the Victorians as a symbol of death and was unlucky to bring into a home. On the other hand, the snowdrop is also associated with rebirth, springtime, and the ability to overcome life's challenges. The snowdrop blooms from mid to late January as winter slowly begins to end thereby reminding us that there is light at the end of the tunnel. It reminds us all that if we put our minds to it, we can achieve great things in life. It also serves as a reminder of change and represents a willingness to grow. Snowdrops are thus often gifted to those trying to move forward from sadness and negativity.

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[If you liked this post, check out part 1 (here) and part 2 (here)... Also, here's the link to my directory of other hanakotoba analysis posts (here)]

[P.S. Here is the final part of my hanakotoba analysis on Bleach. I kept things brief and didn't go into how each flower suits each squad, captain and vice-captain primarily because of time constraints... Also, I doubt anyone wanted to do that much reading lol... I'll happily elaborate and answer any questions in the comments though...]

[bleachbleachbleach]

Bleach Fanfic: Stories for the Sea

Summary: The Shiba Clan have always acted as peacebrokers between Soul Society and the sea in West Rukongai. After the Blood War, the Gotei must prove that they are still worthy of peace. But since Shiba Kaien is dead, Rukia’s the next best thing—allegedly. The problem is, now Ukitake is gone, too, and Rukia doesn’t think she’s ready to carry Kaien’s memory alone.

No one’s ready. Not the Vizard, as the reality of re-joining the Gotei begins to clamp down; not the 10th, which has its own debts to West Rukongai; and not Renji, who’s pretty sure he is. The most deadly threats may not be the monsters lurking in the woods and water, but the damage they’ve all brought with them. One thing that’s certain: Six months after the end of a war, you have not reached the end of the war.

ft. Rukia, Renji, Matsumoto, Hitsugaya, Kensei, Rose, Hisagi; Hinamori, Kira, (Kaien)

⟢ Chapter 1: Rukia

Rukia receives her first summons from Captain Commander Kyouraku since Ukitake’s death.

Nejibana is why, when Rukia releases her own shikai, she still thinks about that moon. So Rukia understands where Kyouraku must be going with this. He’s wrong, though. “I have no affinity with any sea,” she says. “I am not a Shiba. You may still need Ichigo for that.” “And what affinity does Ichigo-kun have with the sea?” He’s singsong-ing her now, making light of her misgivings. “If you fed him to it,” Rukia replies frostily, “I’m sure he could find one.”

[Read on AO3]

[deathberi]

death and strawberry

[slaughter-and-apparatus]

Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War - Episode 1 screenshots (part 1)

[dopepoisonivyoncrack]

Askin Nakk Le Vaar - Bleach TYBW Part 2

[spookyheaad]

Bleach Modern/Actor AU where a bunch of cast members go on Hot Ones to promote the TYBW release

This has not left my mind for weeks, I gotta draw/animate some stuff for it

(Who I’m thinking: obviously ichigo/rukia/renji/ishida/orihime/chad. Kenpachi & Unohana of COURSE, Yhwach, old man Yama, shunsui, Mayuri, byakuya, and soi fon, OH and Kisuke)

Might only do a small handful tho, still thinking it thru.

[zabiume]

Could Orihime Reject Someone Out of Existence?

This is one of those statements that gets thrown around by Orihime fans a lot as a way to defend her strength, because Orihime's weakness has been a defining part of criticism surrounding her character throughout the early-mid 2000s (and even today tbh). And it's not limited to Orihime's fans either. I've seen a lot of people use this as criticism too ["Orihime could probably reject someone out of existence"...(hence it's bad that she didn't get the opportunity to do so)]. Nevermind the fact that there hasn't been a single instance where she felt a villain has even warranted that, or the fact that Soul Society goes absolutely ballistic on Quincies, who do wipe souls out of existence, I still find this to be an interesting discussion because it neglects to consider....anything we've been told about Orihime's powers. Granted, it's pretty scummy that Kubo elaborates on the structure/logistics of her powers only in extra-canon material like CFYOW (read by only a few dedicated fans) or Klub Outside (paid Q&A forum with restricted fan access), so I don't expect that everyone has done their required reading on this, but I still think it's a good excuse to actually talk about what she can and can't do.

What Orihime Can Actually Do (Basic Powers, Achievements/Growth)

At the start of Bleach, Orihime has three basic shields - 1) Soten Kisshun - the one that rejects damage within a particular area, 2) Santen Kisshun - the one that rejects any attack aimed at Orihime & her allies (AKA, a traditional shield), 3) Koten Zanshun - the shield that forms within an external object and basically blows it up. I've seen people say Koten Zanshun is a akin to a small knife or shuriken, but in classic Kuboscience fashion, we see that it actually creates a shield that disrupts the union of matter. Ostensibly, Orihime could blow someone up if she's angry enough, and it is fun to think about Orihime blowing people up, so I understand any disappointment on that front, but. Moving on.

In Chapter 43, the Shun Shun Rikka clarify that they're not really "fairies," but a manifestation of Orihime herself. They are a part of her. I assume this works similarly to zanpakuto spirit manifestation. And IIRC, she is the only Fullbringer that has this type of manifestation (object affinity + spirit), when most Fullbringers only have an object affinity. They also mention that she needs two things to activate her powers: 1) her Heart, and 2) chanting the kotodama. I think point #1 should already make clear to us that Orihime won't be abusing her powers to hurt anyone any time soon, not unless she loses her 'Heart' like Ichigo did as a Vasto Lorde in Las Noches. Bleach signifies this as an Objectively Bad Thing. Whether we agree with that or we don't, it is the underlying mythos that sets apart our hero characters (Ichigo & his friends) from our villains.

So what can Orihime do, at this point in canon? She can regrow limbs and shield people from attacks, which she does extensively throughout the Soul Society and Hueco Mundo arcs. Here she is a) using two of her shields at the same time, and b) trapping Ichigo (the strongest guy in canon at any point in time) within her shield.

Over time, she develops Shiten Kosshun, a way to incorporate Tsubaki into an offensive technique without actually compromising on her distaste for excessive violence. Here's why that's a big deal. She can also use her Shun Shun Rikka long-range, which you can see when she's a) healing Chad post-Yammy (sorry for the random color screenshot, I got it off Twitter because I couldn't remember the exact chapter), and b) in 686, when we learn she uses them to keep an eye on Kazui. She also uses Santen Kesshun as a transport service throughout TYBW, which is not something she could do during the Lust arc, since she needed Uryu's help to get there. She also does not need to say her kotodama to activate her powers anymore, which is the result of constant and continuous training with Rukia pre-HM arc and Chad post-HM arc.

Since Orihime isn't a shinigami, it might get a little difficult to measure her "growth" the same way we do with characters who attain bankai (the Bleach standard for strength). But in less than three years, Orihime developed a new shield, got faster at healing, and found new and inventive ways to use her powers every arc. She was already at lieutenant-levels of strength in terms of healing way back in the Soul Society arc, if Ieumura's testimony is anything to go by:

So...what can't Orihime do? This is what I think I've seen a majority of people scratch their heads about, thereby making her seem ridiculously overpowered but severely underused.

Like any Bleach character of significance, Orihime is ridiculously overpowered, but I don't think this translates into "Orihime can do everything" and its implied "but she chooses to do nothing." We'll get into Orihime's choices and my opinions later, but I think now is a good time to talk about Orihime's natural limitations.

What Orihime Cannot Do

Two of Orihime's major limitations that I wanted to highlight are from Klub and CFYOW, like I mentioned earlier. You can read about them below.

To summarize: 1) Orihime can't recover spiritual pressure/is very slow at recovering spiritual pressure because of the tremendous strain it puts on her body and the fact that she can only heal what she can see, 2) Orihime can't heal someone with fatal injuries if "enough time has passed" (AKA if she gets to them too late after they've been injured). 3) Orihime can't actually revive someone if they've been evaporated. She needs a physical body.

These limitations are important, because they imply that she can't actually wipe someone out of existence. Interacting with reiryoku puts a strain on her. I once wrote that she could probably "reject" an egg that's just been fertilized by a sperm (we love a pro-choice queen!), but I doubt she could zoink a 20-year-old out of existence, because again: there is a time limit within which she has to act, or her powers won't be able to work. The only rejections she could do with people are abortions, and even then, I don't think she could do late-terms. And even then, if you can't see a cell with your naked eye, I doubt she could do those either. I've seen people wonder if she could cure cancers and my honest answer is: probably not until the symptoms were obviously visible.

The Shun Shun Rikka can't actually undo something if a certain amount of time has passed, so I highly doubt she could undo one's physical body, one's spiritual pressure...one's entire being. Even if she could, I doubt that would cleanse the spirit and send it to Soul Society. Instead, they would disappear/evaporate, which destabilizes the balance of souls (the way Quincies do it).

The reason I obsess about this is because limitations are a good thing when you're exploring a power system. There's always been this misconception that Orihime can basically "do anything," but that doesn't...mean anything. Orihime can't do everything, which means she is, like every other Bleach character, limited. Even Aizen's zanpakuto had a shortcoming, so I don't think Kubo necessarily nerfed her, and I think it does help contextualize what she can actually do vs what people expect her to do for no good reason.

Even if Orihime Could, Should She?

I enjoy powerscaling as much as the next guy, but I think the thing I like the least about it is its complete lack of literacy. Specifically literacy of the narrative.

In stories like this, heroes don't win over villains because they're objectively stronger. They win because they push an ideal that, in some way, represents the core values of the series. You were stronger, but I had the power of friendship on my side. You turned your pain into violence, but I turned mine into compassion. The entire point of Ulquiorra's arrogance was that he believed in what he could see – Aizen's strength. But he lost because of what he couldn't see – Ichigo & Orihime's hearts.

A part of the Arrancar saga is the long philosophical battle between Ulquiorra and Orihime, where Ulquiorra has faith in Aizen's watertight plans, his formidable army, his impenetrable kingdom. Meanwhile, Orihime has faith in her five scrappy best friends who invaded said kingdom overnight and have,,,,,only the slightest idea about what they're doing. Aizen's entire force operates under the belief that because they can do something, they should. Because they have power, they should use it, and if they can, seek more of it. Ichigo and Orihime, as a contrast, use their discretion and seem really upset about having to fight anyone at all. People point this lack of killing intent out as an exclusively Orihime thing, but it is very much an Ichigo thing too. Ichigo looking down at Grimmjow with pity-filled eyes is an exact parallel to Orihime looking at Ulquiorra with the same expression. People wanted Orihime to be vengeful against the Arrancars because they're her abusers. But Orihime sees them as victims. She pities the fact that they know nothing but brute violence — and that this is their reality. She sees them as someone to be saved.

But lest we think she's an irrefutable saint who gets off way too easy, it's clear she has some regrets about her place in the friend group and her dependency on Ichigo in particular. But, post-HM, she doesn't ask him to save her at all. Rather, the first time we see Shiten Kosshun, she's the one protecting him. I don't think Orihime has ever needed to kill someone to prove that she's a dimensional character in a series where even Ichigo hesitates to murder the guy who killed his mother. I think it's interesting that Orihime and Ichigo are largely sympathetic towards their villains unless they really, really fuck up, in which case Orihime has lashed out in appropriate doses (see: Ginjou, Yhwach.). I don't understand what vengeance would add to her character that compassion hasn't tenfold.

A last point I want to note is about weakness and our reaction to it. Many of us are shonen-brained to a point where we divide a story into victories and losses, battles won and battles thrown. But Orihime's character arc has never been about her victory over anyone but herself. Orihime can't reject someone out of existence, and even if she could, would she want to? Would Ichigo? Throughout the story, these two have been set to contrast characters who can and did. While their enemies sought to escape their own weaknesses (which Bleach conflates with being human) through transcendence, Ichigo and Orihime chose weakness constantly. They chose to be merciful, to be kind, to be vulnerable. I've seen countless jokes about how Ichigo loses 5 times before he can win for good. I've seen Orihime get her fair share of setbacks. But they come out of it victorious anyway, against all odds. And they aren't stronger because they have the power, they're stronger because they have the heart. I simply couldn't bear losing out on character writing like that.

[reikorun]

BLEACH TYBW Anime Cour 2 Booklet: Behind the Scenes [Translation - Part 1]

Translated by @reikorun

Director's Note × Author's Eye

We pick out several points from all 13 episodes (#14 ~ #26) of the second cour. For each point, pay attention to the explanations by Director Tomohisa Taguchi and the perspective of the original creator and general supervisor, Tite Kubo!

Section 1

Start with Yhwach again

1. A baby being held. As that being, raised up by countless hands, grows and opens its eyes, cour 2 "The Separation" begins. (ep. #14)

D: Tomohisa Taguchi

"Let's place the focus on the Sternritter for the second cour", from the early stages, this is what was decided among the staff. On top of that, in order to make a link with the first cour which began with Yhwach reciting the Kaiser Gesang, we thought "let's begin the sequence of events in cour 2 with him as well." In that case, that scene depicting his origin would be appropriate. In the original work, it was drawn in a manner which took a comprehensive view reminiscent of folklore, but I struggled with how to go about creating a similar impression in the anime. As a result, the visual expression became closer to an art film represented through images alone, without the use of any narration or dialogue at all.

A: Tite Kubo

From the moment I laid my eyes on the storyboard for the first time, I had a feeling that it was going to turn out really good. Regarding this scene, there were actually various changes made until we arrived at the final cut, and even the versions we didn't use were very interesting. During the dubbing session, the process of overlapping the collective "Yū, Ha, Vē, Ha" was also enjoyable to listen to.

2. In addition, there was a memorable scene where Yhwach's 'power' was portrayed through a visual representation. This is the scene where a 'shadow' extends from the throne as Yhwach falls asleep, leading to the appearance of Haschwalth. (ep. #18)

D: Tomohisa Taguchi

The portrayal of that shadow was an idea I received from Kubo-sensei. In the original work, we were able to gain an insight into the power of Yhwach as well as the connection between Yhwach and Haschwalth through Haschwalth's words to Uryū, but since there was no concrete depiction in itself for the transfer of power, it lead to discussions where we considered that It would also become an element linking to the subsequent cour, so we thought “let's do that in the anime!”

A: Tite Kubo

At first, the manner in which the shadow emerged looked as if it were surging up from below, but viewing it from a choreography standpoint, I suggested that the shadow itself should appear in a sort of sliding manner, giving the impression that it had some mass to it. The transfer of power occurred while Yhwach was sleeping, so in order to preserve the nuance that the transfer to Haschwalth happened while he was in that state, I also had Haschwalth depicted standing with his eyes slightly lowered.

Section 2

Storytelling 

3. In the second cour of 'BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Arc', the war situation changes moment by moment due to the Sternritter invasion, and the outward appearance of the Soul Society also undergoes transformation. As a free-for-all breaks out in various places where enemies and allies intermingle in a state of chaos, the anime adds a scene where the newly appointed Captain-Commander, Kyōraku Shunsui, issues orders to each soldier. (ep. #14, #18)

D: Tomohisa Taguchi

One component of that is our desire to include explanatory scenes and scenes where the narrative is refreshed so that the audience are not confused by the ever-changing situation of the war. Another component was our desire to depict the organization that is the 'Gotei 13', which includes Kyōraku who became the Captain-Commander, in a renewed light, and these components overlapped seamlessly.

As a result, I think we were able to depict his status as Captain-Commander inherited from Yamaji, as well as his work ethic. In combination with the scene depicted in the original work that evokes the essence of Kyoraku, i.e. the handing over of Soul Tickets to Tatsuki and the others in the Human World, I'm happy if we were able to successfully delve deeper into the characters. 

A: Tite Kubo

It was a really nice scene with both the essence of Shunsui and the essence of a Captain-Commander coming through.

4. In addition to Kyōraku, the appearance of the other troops were added, including Vice-Captains. (ep. #16)

D: Tomohisa Taguchi

While the scenario building sessions were moving forward, I realized that I also wanted to depict the Shinigami's point of view as they strive to fight back against the invasion and try to fulfill their duty to the Gotei. Rather than simply portraying the scene, we added a series of shots with the intention of showing the state of the Shinigami who remain unyielding even as the war situation worsens and they are gradually forced into a disadvantageous position.

A: Tite Kubo

Even in a fan service sense, I think the audience enjoyed being able to see a variety of characters in the anime. 

5. With regard to the main character, Ichigo, extra scenes have been added, such as the manner in which he received training under Hyôsube Ichibei. (ep. #14 and others)

D: Tomohisa Taguchi

As mentioned earlier, the foundational principle for the second cour is to place the main focus on the Sternritter, while that's true, 'BLEACH' is still the story of Kurosaki Ichigo, isn't it? There were some concerns that the number of episodes in which Ichigo does not appear in the anime may end up feeling longer than it was in the original work, so we came up with the idea of showing what Ichigo is doing at the present time. The knowledge that Ichigo was training at the Soul King Palace is also depicted in the manga, so I speculate that even though Kubo-sensei undoubtedly had a concept and an image in his head, perhaps he deliberately chose not to draw the specifics. We had the privilege of making suggestions and consulting with Kubo-sensei about how we would go about incorporating the event into the story; those scenes were the result. In a sense, it's to be expected, but we were able to receive a tremendous amount of material from Kubo-sensei, far more than what we expected…. It made us think, "Ichigo, that's what you were doing in such a place!?'' As a fan of the original work, I was delighted, and I also maintained the feeling that I needed to put all my effort into portraying it.

A: Tite Kubo

About the Irazu Sandō part, I didn't include it because if I tried to draw it in the manga, the scene depicting the agonizing ordeal would span across multiple pages and end up too long. I'm glad that it could be expressed in the anime~!

6. The stage upon which Ichigo undergoes his training, Irazu Sandō. A mysterious and beautiful sight, yet it is also a peculiar place where a solemn air, a stillness and a sense of awe all coexist. (ep. #14 and others)

D: Tomohisa Taguchi

There's torii gates, a cobblestone pavement, shide (*zigzag-shaped paper streamers) adorning both sides…. If we hadn't received materials from Kubo-sensei, I don't think we would have been able to find our way to this point. Whilst enduring something which tries to push him away from the approach path, the more he walked, and the more he advanced, the heavier the wooden sword in Ichigo's right hand became. When he walks, he walks by moving his legs forward without letting his feet leave the ground. A lot of detailed images and ideas were provided, such as scenes of rain falling outside the path. This was then projected into anime visuals, and the Irazu Sandō came to a state of completion. I think this is a training ground packed with every element that is typical of BLEACH, down to the smallest detail, and that cannot be found in any other work. We've also incorporated an abundance of elements that will be connected to the third cour and onwards such as what happened to Ichigo during his training and the scenes he witnessed, so I would be happy if you could take another look.

A: Tite Kubo

Originally, the mental image I had was 'a sacred place, but at the same time, there is a sense that one is being cursed.' However, I thought that if I communicated this to the production team, the eeriness might end up being too pronounced, so I deliberately didn't mention it. The impression I had was that it was like an abandoned path. As a result, I think the team were able to capture that balance in the sense that it is a sacred yet potentially frightening place, and thus they were able to express it well. 

Section 3

Design & Color Concepts 

7. After the invasion by the Sternritter, the sky of the Seireitei was dyed red, and the squad barracks were transformed into unfamiliar, inorganic blue-white buildings. Director Taguchi's production plan is markedly reflected in those colors as well. (ep. #14)

D: Tomohisa Taguchi

The main goal was to dramatically shift the setting away from Seireitei in a time of peace. Additionally, the upper part of the frame is red and the bottom is blue, which serve as completely opposite elements in terms of hue, so the aim of the production was to consider how the image could be made into something vivid. After the invasion, the Seireitei became perpetually uniform to that coloring, so there were some concerns about whether it would be acceptable as there are very few anime that employ a color scheme which breaks away from the norm to such a degree. However, we wanted to convey the might of Yhwach's power and also the sense that his power had indeed transformed the world. Furthermore, since blue is also the color of 'Quincy Reishi', I considered that perhaps this extreme staging effect in which the space itself ends up dyed in the colors of the Quincy side would make it easier for viewers to perceive the phenomenon where visually, it no longer feels like the Seireitei = the world of the Shinigami.

A: Tite Kubo

When I first received this proposal for the color scheme, I thought the expression might be too extreme, but the way Taguchi-san uses backgrounds is masterful, so I decided that I would try to leave it with him. I harbored some concern that colors of the characters may become difficult to distinguish, but that aspect was also rendered in a well balanced manner. At various points during meetings and dubbing sessions, I often get the feeling that Taguchi-san is someone who can clearly see the final visual outcome. 

8. From the standpoint of color, the attire and laboratory, which Kurotsuchi Mayuri contrived as a countermeasure against the Sternritter lurking in the shadows, are also very interesting. (ep. #15 and others)

D: Tomohisa Taguchi

Initially, the glowing Mayuri was only supposed to shine yellow. However, this time, Mayuri's lab itself also shines brightly, so it meant that when we tried to station him there, he ended up blending into the scenery quite a bit. While searching for a way to make Mayuri shine, an idea came from the color scheme designer Gōda-san: "How about a lighting method which shifts into a variety of colors like a gaming PC?" We adopted the idea thinking "it'll probably look great on screen!" We proposed the idea to Kubo-sensei, who readily approved, and it started to take form in the visuals. The colors continuously shifting midway through the plot is an interpretation that can only be represented in the anime, so I believe we were able to exhibit Mayuri's natural presence by using a different approach from the original work.

A: Tite Kubo

This was indeed an interesting portrayal that could only be done in the anime. It's also interesting that it was intentionally made to look like a moiré pattern. After all, this cannot be pulled off by any character other than Mayuri.

9. Mayuri's laboratory is designed to completely eliminate any shadow as a countermeasure against the Sternritter invasion. Evidently, it took a great deal of trouble to express this. 

D: Tomohisa Taguchi

It took a lot of trial and error to figure out how to express 'no shadows' in the anime. The most significant factor in creating a three-dimensional effect in an illustration is the contrast of the shadows, isn't it? Given that it was necessary to reject that, we said "there is likely no other way to do this but to test an array of other patterns!" The art staff and I went through the process of trial and error a many number of times. As a result of taking into consideration various opinions that came up along the way, we translated them into the concept of 'creating gradation within the light', ultimately representing three-dimensionality.

A: Tite Kubo

When drawing it in the manga, the way I used to express the idea of 'glowing without shadows' is by erasing around the circumference of what I had drawn. I'm glad that I was able to have it portrayed in such a satisfying manner in the anime too.

10. Hirako Shinji's Bankai, "Sakashima Yokoshima Happōfusagari". A Bankai, which did not appear in the original work (※first appeared in the novelization), is made to enter the stage in the anime, therefore a great deal of enthusiasm has also been poured into its rendition. (ep. #16)

D: Tomohisa Taguchi

The bud of Hirako's Bankai pedestal is formed by the petals narrowing inward when open, retaining their form to become the bud, however I thought that if we produced it with cel animation, the petals would inevitably lose their shape, rather, there's a high possibility that it wouldn't look like a rigid object. So, in order to show the precise movement of a rigid object, we deliberately used CG. At first, what I imagined for the texture was a brass-like luster, similar to the lotus flowers used in Buddhist altar fittings. We struggled while attempting to express the feeling of that material and searched for ways to depict it using CG surface reference / textures and such.

11. Many characters have made their Bankai debut in the original series. Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō's "Kinshara Butōdan", and Humanized Komamura Sajin's "Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō: Dangai Jōe" were also portrayed by utilizing 3DCG technology. (ep. #18, #17)

D: Tomohisa Taguchi

I think 'Kinshara Butōdan' managed to incorporate a finely tuned quality that doesn't look like it was made with cels, having said that, nor does it overly emphasize CG elements, rather it strikes a delicate balance between the two. Similarly, "Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō: Dangai Jōe" was also developed in 3D, I think we were able to well execute the way the gigantic body moves freely and abundantly as opposed to the challenges of producing it with cel animation, which is susceptible to making the movement appear choppy. In the story, there are various Bankai, but in terms of compatibility with 3DCG, rather than the type where it's just the sword changing, it's my opinion that Bankai transformations where the appearance changes completely or another entity emerges, is the kind that fits better from a direction perspective. As mentioned earlier, expressing it in 3D has the effect of altering the feel, so you can stress the distinctness and change in atmosphere brought about by performing Bankai. In a certain way, I suppose it's possible to convey a stronger sense of harnessing something that is not of this world. Therefore, from now on, I intend to continue requesting (to those in the field), that one doesn't adopt a cel animation look completely. 

A: Tite Kubo

Both were really good. As Taguchi-san also mentioned, I wanted to avoid having the CG elements coming to the forefront in an odd manner. I think CG shines particularly during Bankai transformations that feature inorganic matter. The CG was skillfully utilized, especially in critical moments where traditional animation eventually tends to falter, like when Myō'ō comes in with a slashing attack, for instance, making it quite impressive to watch.

12. 3DCG is not the only technique utilized for showcasing Bankai. The skills of various staff members have also been brought together.

D: Tomohisa Taguchi

Even though I understood the principle behind it, figuring out how to visually represent Muguruma Kensei's Bankai "Tekken Tachikaze" in the anime, among other things, was challenging because how we'd go about expressing that is a different story. While the blades remain in contact with the target, it continues to explode infinitely. It creates the illusion that the punches being thrown are repeatedly landing tens of thousands of times without the arm ever being pulled back from the point of impact, doesn't it? We worked strenuously to express how immense the power of Kensei's Bankai is by doing things like deliberately adding cel style motion blur to make it look as though the opponent was being hit, aiming for a visual effect that makes it seem like he's trembling after being struck multiple times, and using an approach where we incorporated sound effects reminiscent of a drill used in road construction. In terms of his character and Bankai visualization, Rōjūrō is likened to an Opera, implementing theatrical staging such as the rapidly changing movement of his conductor's baton and the lighting. The music attached to the scene also became particularly important, director of audiography Nagasaki-san and re-recording mixer Hoshino-san fine-tuned it masterfully. 

[ficticiousdelicious]

Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez

He's back to f-ck sh-t up!

...but what's with those cool new duds?

^ manga chapters 624 and 625

Hnnngh. Something I find a bit interesting about Grimmjow aesthetically during the Thousand Year Blood War arc (manga and anime) is the change of his clothes. Not only do I personally like the new design but the new clothes seem to suit Grimmjow pretty well. I can appreciate the detail of Grimmjow's sword Pantera still being kept on the same [left] side as he seems to be right-handed. He even kept his signature jacket (how many of these does he have left when they keep getting ripped up???) but, sans weapon and jacket, the rest of his clothing is different. HOW, WHEN and WHY though?!

!! Spoilers for Bleach will be discussed in this post. !!

.

Context of Destruction's return:

Grimmjow returns in the TYBW arc by fighting a quincy that was picking on Urahara and friends in Hueco Mundo. From this all we see is the edge of his sword. Next Grimmjow tries to waltz into Urahara's tent when he heard Ichigo talking via projector, and there we saw the edge of Grimmjow's old hakama uniform:

^ manga chapter 518 and anime (TYBW part 1) episode 8

After this first visual reappearance we get another event: a location transition to some ruins in Hueco Mundo that could include Grimmjow with hints about his location and attire, especially from the anime which shows Grimmjow definitively:

^ anime (TYBW part 2) episode 1

From the anime, we get a decent visual clue about Grimmjow here - after Orihime and Chad's group have arrived at the ruins. As Orihime and Chad talk, there is a figure lurking behind them wearing a cloak who has a sharp, masculine jaw and if you look very closely you can see Grimmjow's unique fancy new shoes in the shadows. So Grimmjow's clothes have changed since arriving at the ruins.

^ manga chapter 544

In the manga however, Chad finds Orihime at the ruins with two or three figures behind him that are hard to recognize: If the figure on the left is Grimmjow, then Grimmjow is probably still wearing his hakama uniform upon arrival to the ruins. We don't get very definitive clues about Grimmjow from the manga here.

Based on these two perspectives though, considering them together - since the manga seems to be the group's early arrival at the ruins and the anime seems to be a little while after arrival at the ruins, it's a safe bet that Grimmjow changed his outfit once the group arrived at these ruins in Hueco Mundo.

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WHERE are Grimmjow's cool new duds from?

Well, since it doesn't seem like Grimmjow is using a power to have a different appearance, it's reasonable to assume that Urahara provided everyone special new clothing since we find out later that he definitely did this for Orihime from a hilarious discussion about her new clothes (manga - 589). Urahara has proven that he is intuitive enough to design suitable and physically fitting clothes with mysterious properties for people. In terms of Grimmjow's clothing, this seems to be the most solid theory. And I wouldn't say the clothing is a 'free gift' since everyone in Urahara's group that changed clothes also helped fight in the war, gearing soldiers with armor and weapons is a thing. Urahara is a tactical guy and he puts a premium on arrancars' value in the war (manga - 552; anime TYBW part 2 - episode 3) since quincies don't steal their resureccións.

For another theory's sake, Grimmjow's clothes could also be from what's left of stuff in Las Noches, the palace in Hueco Mundo. A theory that Grimmjow could have raided Las Noches and maybe even a quincy camp then made a stash somewhere, and maybe he did, is kinda fun but feels less likely to explain his new TYBW duds.

.

Grimmjow, my dude, WHY the new look?

I'll start this with a big ol': we can only speculate unless Kubo tells us in Klub Outside or something. Why Grimmjow's clothes are different in the TYBW arc feels like the hardest thing to theorize over.

Though Grimmjow fought a quincy right away when he returned to Bleach, his old hakama uniform didn't look shredded when he tried barging into Urahra's tent (manga - 518; anime TYBW part 1 episode 8 - above). So why would Grimmjow replace his clothing? It's probably not because of that first quincy fight regardless. In the past a different Espada, Szayel, actually left his opponents to change his clothes (manga - 276; anime - 164) so arrancars have the capacity to be vain. However, Grimmjow usually fights until he's wearing tatters of his uniform. He has never seemed like a particularly vain guy nor sentimental, but he does seem cunning, practical and intentional among other primal, brutal and abrupt qualities. He loves a strong opponent in a fight, is difficult to control, does seem to hold grudges and dislikes pity. As long as Grimmjow didn't feel too tethered or pitied he might accept things and deals that Urahara could have offered...if those were beneficial to Grimmjow getting what he wants.

^ manga chapters 280 and 624

If it fits, I... Grimmjow's New Outfit Design:

The duds fit the dude! Wherever Grimmjow's clothing came from it looks practical in make and style. IT'S KINDA LIKE A ONESIE...BUT HE WOULD MAIM US FOR SAYING THAT even though he looks killer in it...so we'll just call it a 'bodysuit' instead because it's hard to see if it's two pieces... Heh heh. He wears his signature jacket from his old uniform over his new bodysuit. The lower part of the bodysuit even has pockets for him to stuff his hands in, as seems his habit. The white belts are a cool touch and Pantera is still hitched to his left hip seeming to give the belts purpose. His shoes...god. If a man is going to wear heels those are it. The shoes are the flashiest part of Grimmjow's outfit. One could argue that the jagged guard around the toes and the one at his heel could help protect his feet.

Overall Grimmjow's new outfit is pretty streamlined, not a lot of flappy snag hazards, but it has several sharp/pointy accents. The new design feels like a reflection of his agile but vicious demeanor with some hollow flare. His new outfit is curiously the same color scheme as his old Espada hakama uniform...but why? Well, Grimmjow probably isn't wearing it to be sentimental since he previously made defying Aizen a habit and attacked arrancar on his own side multiple times. Yet, the colors are the same and we still don't actually know why!

A fun little theory about why Grimmjow kept his old uniform and accepts the same color scheme for his new clothing could be that since quincies are trying to take Hueco Mundo away from hollows and arrancar, Grimmjow might feel like wearing these are a sign of defiance. He is said to be a little territorial and absolutely defiant. This is just a theory though.

^ manga chapters 279 and 625

Driven by SCARS. Details of the Design:

In the deep v-neck of Grimmjow's bodysuit we can still see two significant scars on his torso. One is the scar that Ichigo's Getsuga Tensho attack gave Grimmjow (manga - 211; anime - 121) and above it is a second scar which Nnoitora's Santa Teresa inflicted on Grimmjow (manga - 286; anime - 190). Grimmjow overtly states in his third fight with Ichigo (manga - 279 - above; anime - 165) that he has purposefully kept the scar from Ichigo. The scar from Ichigo is clearly a bit special ('a reminder' in some translations) and the second scar from Nnoitora happened right after Grimmjow and Ichigo's grand third fight. Maybe Grimmjow feels similarly about both? This is probably as close to sentimental as canon Grimmjow will ever get. Those scars seem important though. Grimmjow displays his scars instead of hiding them...and if he wanted to hide them he certainly could have, but he hasn't. Pretty badass to do that intentionally.

.

Does Grimmjow like his new clothes? Enough to wear them. lol Otherwise who knows. He seems much more interested in picking his next fight and doing other...Grimmjow things...you know, like being a bit of a loner and devastatingly handsome!

ALL manga and anime images here are © Bleach - Tite Kubo

[vicioux]

ICHIHIME FIC RECS

i can't believe i've been reading ichihime fanfics for literally 10 years ✌️ my favorite flavor is definitely pining with a touch of angst, but i am also a sucker for just them giggly all over each other! thank you bleach TYBW anime revival for bringing me back to these two cutie patooties and an even bigger thank you to all the writers that have been keeping the fandom alive all these years (especially in the earlier days back in the wild wild west of ff.net and LJ lol) y'all are amazing 💖 happy reading everyone p.s you can find the rest of my fic rec lists here

🍓 alternate universe 🍞

THE BRIDE OF THE DEATH GOD by caledon A plague descended upon the village, and to appease the God of Death they offered him a bride as a sacrifice.

THE DEVIL'S PLAYTHING by marshmallowbirb High-schooler Kurosaki Ichigo discovers that he isn't as human as he once thought - and neither is his classmate, Inoue Orihime.

THE RELUCTANT BRIDEGROOM, DEATH by marshmallowbirb On a sunny summer morning, the young goddess Orihime gathers flowers on a hillside.

STARCROSS'D by child of the ashes In the vampire palace of Los Noches, there is no greater curse than beauty, and no greater crime than love.

NEXT VISIT by aurona x She can see him only with autumn comes, that man of the deep blue tree. And over the years, her love for him grows.

MOTHERHOOD by ashe flyght Orihime's family is financially unstable. So when Japan's most in demand actor, Kurosaki Ichigo offers her an unusual job will she accept it?

FINE LINES by lastlynotleast Ichigo is a tattoo artist and Orihime has skin he could draw on forever.

🍓 multichapter 🍞

THE BOND BETWEEN US by ritsu-san Post Ch. 352: Ichigo and Orihime are left to figure out this strange bond they share.

TIL DEATH DO US PART by marshmallowbirb Deemed too powerful, Ichigo is sequestered in Soul Society after defeating Aizen. Ten years later, one of his human friends dies.

THE CLOCKWORK SWITCH by sesamerolls (1 // 2 // 3) “Kurosaki-kun?” She wanted to bite back her words. This person couldn’t be him. He was a few inches taller, broader, and manlier than the youth who gave her daifuku just minutes before.

🍓 oneshots that will make you feeeeel 🍞

DEMAGNETIZE by ghosty If opposites attract, then what does that mean for us?

TACTILE by mrhooty Orihime has accepted that her boundaries will never be respected, but Ichigo is too good of a friend to allow that.

AFFIRMATION by sesamerolls Ichihime from the beginning to the end.

HOME IS WHERE THE SUN SETS by awkwardspaceturtle Using the word ‘beautiful’ didn’t seem like enough; nothing he could ever say out loud would tell her how she really looked in his eyes.

BUILD A HOUSE IN PARADISE by zabiume Ichigo and Orihime move in together.

PAPER HOUSES by zabiume Mostly, he just wanted to know if she was okay, if she was eating well and passing her courses and if, when she went to bed at night, she had someone to smile about.

PROMPTFILL by zabiume Truth serum induced angst.

PROMPTFILL by captainrukias-husband Ichigo writes a poem for Orihime.

TEMPTARE BEAST by mayelisa As Orihime watched in horror as Ichigo took on that form again, she had a sinking feeling that this day wouldn't turn out at all like she had planned.

MEMORIES IN THE RAIN by garden of magnolias If I were the rain, could I connect with someone's heart, as the rain can unite the eternally separated earth and sky?

ALWAYS SUMMER by folle Orihime is calling, calling, and Ichigo doesn't know how to not answer, except in the most important way.

BECOMING WHOLE by lovelycollision He loves her in various ways, during different stages of his life. It's after the war when he realizes that he's in the third stage, otherwise known as the beginning.

🍓 outside POV looking in 🍞

ELEVATING by sesamerolls “Okay, let’s theoretically agree Ichi-nii has a girlfriend,” said Karin, resting her palm underneath her chin.

SIMPLY BY MEASUREMENT by sesamerolls When it first began, he pretended not to notice.

PROMPTFILL by scribblles Ichigo screwed up his befuddlement into a distinctly grumpy expression. “For your information, I wasn’t daydreaming, I was thinking. Worrying, actually. And it’s about a friend. Who… happens to be a girl.”

🍓 funny fluffy oneshots 🍞

OF MICE AND MEN by garden of magnolias Ichigo realizes that getting rid of a mouse in his and Orihime's apartment is a lot more complicated when it involves his girlfriend.

I REJECT! by scribblles Keigo has a rare moment of inadvertent correctness.

RUMOUR HAS IT by fictionaryplace Ichigo and Orihime have important news, but decide to have a little fun with their friends and family before coming clean.

DELAYED REACTION by crystal dawn Orihime is feeling under the weather. Against his better judgment, Ichigo suggests she visit his father's clinic.

ICED FRAPPUCCINO by hedonysms Ichigo and Orihime get a coffee. Ichigo is simultaneously an emotional sap and a horny, utterly repressed man.

STARTING FRESH by kay sincere Ichigo doesn't have a resolution for the new year himself. But it does come to his attention that his friends could use his help.

NOSEBLEED by deathberryhime Where that little smile would have done more damage than intended to.

OUR BREATHS IN PERFECT HARMONY by iwillhaveamoonbase When Ichigo's friend talks about a cute girl at a bakery, Ichigo agrees to introduce them with no idea that the girl in question is his girlfriend.

WELL WISHERS by adverb_slut It turns out that shinigami are not so great at gift-buying, especially for a four-week-old baby.

THE ART OF SHIPPING by alice hattercandy In which, everyone ships. Even Ichigo.

🍓 anything and everything by these authors 🍞

SESAMEROLLS CAPTAINRUKIAS-HUSBAND ZABIUME (tumblr // ao3) SCRIBBLLES CRYSTALDAWN / MARSHMALLOWBIRB (ffnet // ao3) ORIHIMES RITSU-SAN (more on their LJ sunburnt-wings) TRAGICOMEDY (more on their LJ explicates)

[frostfires-blog]

Bleach Hanakotoba Analysis Part 2 ~ ED31: Saihate

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-> Rukia Kuchiki: Cherry Blossom

In the extended version of Bleach’s 31st ending theme song, Rukia Kuchiki is pictured with branches of the cherry blossom tree. The cherry blossom (Prunus serrulata) is also known as the Japanese cherry and is the unofficial national flower of Japan. Its Japanese name Sakura (桜) has been derived from the word “saku” which means “to bloom”.  Its meanings in hanakotoba are “beauty of spirit”, grace, chastity, excellent beauty, gentleness, good education and the “transience of life”. In Japan, cherry blossoms are also a symbol of the “beauty of impermanence”—a Shinto concept better known as “mono no aware” (物の哀れ) as their falling petals are a reminder that although life is short, it is beautiful and should be savoured. The Japanese concept of “natsukashii” (懐かしい) likewise emphasizes the fleeting nature of cherry blossoms. This concept refers to the happy-yet-wistful nostalgia for times and things that we will never be able to go back to. We will never get to experience those moments again, just like the ephemeral cherry blossoms, which makes them even more significant. Cherry blossoms bloom from March to April which is the start of the new fiscal year in Japan. As a result of this cherry blossoms have also come to symbolise new beginnings and springtime. Given that feudal Japanese soldiers associated cherry blossoms with honour, discipline, and dignity—falling flowers were thought to be symbolic of a Samurai's death. In Western floriography, cherry blossoms herald the changing of the seasons and symbolise renewal and rebirth. They also symbolise the fleeting nature of life, tenderness, forgiveness, strength, beauty, love, confidence, peace, friendship and gratitude. Rukia Kuchiki presents herself as a cool, restrained and stern warrior with firm convictions, however occasionally she breaks out of her shell and is kind. She tends to keep her emotions to herself, unless she is irritated, and finds it difficult to confide in others. This ties in with the cherry blossom’s meanings of grace, discipline, chastity, honour and dignity. Throughout the series, Rukia is constantly improving herself and growing not only in strength but also in confidence. This complements the cherry blossom’s meanings of confidence, strength, new beginnings, springtime and the changing of the seasons. One of the cornerstones of Bleach's development is the connection between Ichigo and Rukia. Ichigo was able to protect his loved ones and become involved in the affairs of the soul society thanks to Rukia's initial transfer of her abilities to him. Since then, they have often come to each other's rescue and have developed a strong sense of gratitude, admiration, respect, and trust for one another. This ties into the cherry blossom’s meanings of strength, gratitude, friendship and love. Cherry Blossoms also tie into Rukia’s connection with her adopted brother, Byakuya and her sister, Hisana. Upon her death, as she looked at the first cherry blossoms of the season, Hisana asked Byakuya to find and protect Rukia as she regretted abandoning her years ago and felt unworthy of being her sister. This complements the cherry blossom’s meanings of forgiveness, love and the fleeting nature of life.

-> Uryū Ishida: Edelweiss

Edelweiss (Leontopodium nivale) is known as Ēderuwaisu (エーデルワイス) in Japanese. Its meanings in hanakotoba are are courage, power and precious memories. Its name translates from German to mean "noble white". Edelweiss is only found in white-blooming variants, unlike most other flowers. These reasons are the basis for the flower's symbolic connotations in Western floriography, which include innocence, purity, renewal and wishes for peace. The flower also represents integrity, excellence, elegance, noble courage, and boldness. Edelweiss flowers are well-adapted to high-altitude environments with frigid temperatures, harsh sunlight and low oxygen levels and have thus come to represent rugged beauty, strength, nobility, adventure and perseverance. The Edelweiss flower also represents intense devotion, sacrifice, care, and deep love. One of the most well-known stories about the edelweiss is about a young man who, in an act of bravery and love, risks his life to climb a mountain’s steep rocky face to gather edelweiss flowers for a woman. Uryū Ishida is typically reserved, independent, and solitary—however, he tries to act cool when among other people. He has a strong sense of justice and is incredibly intelligent and chivalrous. These attributes greatly complement the Edelweiss’ meanings of integrity, excellence, elegance, boldness and noble courage.

-> Renji Abarai: Sasanqua Camellia

The flower Renji is pictured with is the sasanqua camellia (Camellia sasanqua) which is a species of camellia native to both China and Japan. It is a different species than the camellia pictured with Byakuya Kuchiki in this ending (Camellia Japonica). The Camellia Sasanqua and Camellia Japonica are primarily differentiated by the former’s earlier blooming season (early fall to early winter) as well as its smaller leaves and flowers. In addition to this, Camellia Japonica’s flowers fall whole, while Camellia Sasanqua's petals fall apart. The sasanqua camellia is known as the sazanka (山茶花) in Japan. Its meanings in hanakotoba are dedication and overcoming difficulties. In Japan, red sazanka represents humility and beauty, white sazanka represents charm and rejection and pink sazanka represents eternal love. In Western floriography, the sasanqua camellia represents desire and passion. It is said that the sasanqua's meanings of "overcoming difficulties" and "dedication" are derived from the fact that flowers bloom in early winter when the cold intensifies. Renji Abarai comes across as dynamic, eccentric, brash, and stubborn, yet he is also incredibly dedicated and determined, willing to fight and die for his convictions. This ties in with the sasanqua’s meanings of passion, dedication and overcoming difficulties.

-> Yasutora Sado: Canna Lily

The Canna lily (Canna) is known as kanna (カンナ) in Japan. Its meanings in hanakotoba are passion, cheerfulness, eternity and delusion. In Western floriography, the canna lily holds the meanings of beauty, protection, purification glory, power, hope, confidence and confiding in heaven. The flower also holds the negative connotations of paranoia and suspicion. The vigour and beautiful appearance of its flowers, which can withstand the midsummer sun, are thought to be where its meanings of passion and cheerfulness are derived from. Yasutora Sado is a quiet but incredibly brave, strong, and kind person who is also extremely loyal. These traits tie in with the canna lily’s meanings of passion, power, confidence and protection. Additionally, canna lilies originate from Latin America and tropical Asia and are exotic and vibrant with a rich cultural and symbolic history. This ties in with Sado’s half-Mexican heritage. In mythology, it is said that a demon who was envious of Buddha’s strong spiritual power threw a large boulder down on him from above. However, most of the rock shattered at Buddha’s feet without hitting him with only one fragment hitting his toe. Where the blood from his wound dripped onto the ground, a red canna lily blossomed, and the devil was swallowed by a rift of the earth due to its wrath. This legend is reminiscent of the scene where Sado was struck by a falling steel beam, which fractured but did not injure him as well as one of his fullbring powers, named “Left Arm of the Devil”.

-> Orihime Inoue: Glory-of-the-snow

Glory-of-the-snow (Scilla section Chionodoxa) is known as yukigeyuri (雪解百合) in Japan which translates to “snowmelt lily”. Its meanings in hanakotoba are purity, innocence, hope, modesty and compassion for friendships. It is also considered a sign of spring as it blooms when the snow melts. In Western floriography, it symbolizes glory, camaraderie and toughness. Although she comes out as naive and ditzy, Orihime Inoue is better described as being sensitive, caring, amiable, funny, and optimistic. This strongly complements the glory-of-the-snow’s meanings of purity, innocence, hope and compassion for friendships. Furthermore, the star-shaped, six-petaled flowers of the glory-of-the-snow closely resemble Orihime's flower hairpins that her late older brother had given her.

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[If you liked this post, check out part 1 (here) and part 3 (here)... Also, here's the link to my directory of other hanakotoba analysis posts (here)]

[P.S. Here is the continuation of my hanakotoba analysis on Bleach as promised... Thank you to @jushiro-ukitake & @elyonholic for reminding me about the flowers featured in the extended ending. Given that the flowers are black and white, it was difficult to identify them—so if I misidentified any of them, I apologize; I did my best. Also, I had to put the Gotei 13 squad flowers in a separate post because of Tumblr's image limit...]

[bleachbleachbleach]

I wanna know what Ikkaku knows about Urahara:

[Bleach 087]

Like, do they... know each other? The visual suggests that someone in the scene knows Urahara was a captain, and it sure ain't Ichigo. So I feel like we're meant to understand that Ikkaku knows this.

Urahara's name also holds weight in terms of Ichigo's viability as an opponent, which suggests Ikkaku knows Urahara as someone other than some rando criminal, or just as a Mad Scientist type. It's Ichigo's movement that impresses Ikkaku, not his strategic craftiness.

I don't try that hard to keep the Gotei's 20th Century straight in my mind, but we do know that during TBTP Zaraki wasn't 11th Captain yet, and therefore Ikkaku may not have been in the Gotei at that point then, ether. (There's a whole dispersal of 11th backstory filler eps, which I've been assuming aren't in the manga in any form, but who knows, maybe some of this backstory info also holds true here, too. In the anime, Ikkaku and Yumichika follow Zaraki into the Gotei.)

In any case, apparently Ikkaku has a whole Seireitei family (see: TYBW), so maybe they were well-positioned for all the hot TBTP goss regardless of whether Ikkkau was enlisted at the time.

Or does everyone just know who Urahara is? Obviously, he's a poorly kept secret at least as far as his outpost goes; he's made a whole business out of it. But if Rukia knew he'd been a captain she doesn't harp on it.

And if there's something you can count on me for, it is knowledge of random-ass Hitsugaya panels:

[Bleach 237]

Hitsugaya says he doesn't know who Urahara is. Well, he's heard the rumors about Urahara, but says Urahara is someone whose true nature can't be ascertained. He probably does know what Urahara used to be a captain. He's heard that he's formidable, and probably isn't someone to let your guard down around. Which, really, is all the things we know Ikkaku knows about Urahara. Hitsugaya's just not willing to extrapolate further based on rumor alone. Maybe Ikkaku is.

But based on how Urahara's name influences the way Ikkaku chooses to fight Ichigo, I feel like Ikkaku is not operating solely on rumor, either. Someone's battle prowess/skill as a mentor doesn't seem like something he'd accept without firsthand knowledge, even if he's willing to roll with it for other stuff. So I feel like it's perfectly defensible to argue that even if Ikkaku wasn't actually in the Gotei while Urahara was in the picture, he still had an ~encounter (and probably not while Urahara was in his Innocent Shopkeeper era).

Maybe Ikkaku ran into Urahara in the woods when Urahara was off making an impression on Kuukaku [1][2]. Or Ikkaku's Seireitei family sic'd the Onmitsukidou on him while he was off playing hooky in Rukongai! Tons of fun possibilities!

Of course, this raises the time-honored question of what, if anything, anyone in the current Gotei knows about TBTP. Because it really seems like they know nothing, and didn't even know there was something to not know. But for a lot of them that might be an effect of their willingness to pretend they know nothing? So I feel like you could go in a lot of directions with that. Not to have blorbo disease again, but Hitsugaya seemed like he was learning Vizard Lore in real-time during the Winter War, so apparently it's not like, part of some kind of Area 51 folder you gain access to when you become a captain lol. YOU HAD TO BE THERE. (BUT ALSO SOMETIMES NOT EVEN THEN)

[derekscorner]

Differences in Zanpakuto

I've been on a Bleach kick thanks to the Klub Outside facts I've been learning. Some of the things Kubo reveals on that website of his is incredibly interesting. (some other things are just funny)

But one about Arrancar's and their Zanpakuto got me thinking so I thought it'd be fun to give a very brief rundown of the types of Zanpakuto used by Soul Reapers, Arrancars, and Vizards.

Despite appearances there is a stark difference between them and how they function.

The Asauchi & the Soul Reapers

We learned a lot about how these Zanpakuto worked in the final arc of Bleach years ago and now so too have the anime-only fans thanks to the 'Thousand Year Blood War' anime.

As explained by Nimaya Oetsu, creator of the Zanpakutos, all Soul Reaper Zanpakuto's begin as an Asauchi. (Shallow Hilt)

Oetsu forges these Asauchi from the souls of Reapers and every Shinōreijutsuin student or rookie Soul Reaper are given one. And before you ask, yes, "Shinōreijutsuin" is the name of a Soul Reaper school.

All Asauchi are nameless with a standard katana form and two general abilities;

The "Soul Burial" which sends ghosts to the Soul Society.

And Hollow purification which turns them back into a soul.

What turns an Asauchi into a Zanpakuto is nothing more than time and training. As they train with and use the sword their soul will imprint upon it and turn it into a true Zanpakuto.

From here it just opens up into a variety of unique Zanpakuto and exceptions to the rules such as "dual blade types" or "ancestral" Zanpakuto which you'll see toward the end of the TYBW anime.

The Hollow's Zanpkauto

Despite the parallels between Arrancar and Soul Reapers their Zanpakuto actually originate and work rather differently. This process was further refined and paralleled to the Soul Reapers after Aizen began to alter existing Arrancar and mass produce new ones with his Hogyoku.

The first key difference is origin. When an Arrancar is born they rip off their mask and their spiritual powers as a hollow are then sealed inside a sword.

And according to Kubo on his 'Klub Outside' site the actual sword itself is formed from the pieces of the mask they tore away:

This is rather interesting to me due to what Ginjo said about a hollow's mask in the Fullbring Arc. According to him the mask is formed from the "heart" the hollow lost which leaves the hole on their body.

For an Arrancar to form their Zanpakuto from their mask, knowing this, feels a little poetic. They're wearing their hearts on their waist.

Other notable differences between an Arrancar & Soul Reaper's Zanpkauto include:

The Arrancar's Zanpakuto have no personality or spirit.

As far as we know, they do not have the 'Soul Burial' and "hollow purification" abilities.

Most Arrancar only have one release known as a "Resurreccion" but they can develop a second release known as "Segunda Etapa".

There are a few smaller details but I'll let you discover those on your own~

Vizards & Resurreccion

Now the Vizards are a bit unique here because they begin life as Soul Reapers and so their Zanpakuto's are just that, the Zanpakuto of a Soul Reaper.

However, Kaname Tosen showed that it's possible for Vizards to develop a Resurreccion. It is easy to assume that was unique to Tosen due to him being Aizen's subordinate but Kubo confirmed otherwise.

Of course, this is a hypothetical. The Vizards would have to put in the work to use their masks during Bankai or awaken a Resurreccion like the Arrancar.

Edit::::::::::::::::::

Recently learned that the Zanpakuto of the Soul Reapers are actually recycled. In the rare case they retire or (I presume) just die peacefully their Zanpakuto is stored before Oetsu reforges it ack into an Asauchi.

Now this doesn't necessarily constitute as a "type" of Zanpakuto but it is relevant enough for me to edit into both Parts 1 & 2 of these three part posts I've made.

More in part because it means that a Zanpakuto can be turned back into an Asauchi. This may be the core reason that Oetsu could reforge Ichigo and Renji's Zanpakuto.

Although, I would argue there's likely a difference between reforging a Zanpakuto and reforging it back into an Asauchi. Why? Because Asauchi have no defined spirit, they're blank.

Somehow Oetsu wipes away the Zanpakuto's sentience.

And We're Done

Technically could go on by adding Ichigo & Zangetsu to this topic but their origin is so convoluted that both the manga and the anime had to dedicate a flashback arc just to explain it.

Although, one thing to take note of here is that Aizen made "White" out of multiple Soul Reaper souls. A process that Oetsu purposely points out as similar to how he forges Asauchi.

Which is a dark parallel to leave this post on. Bye~

[variouspolltournaments]

Propaganda

Ballister Boldheart and Ambrosius Goldenloin: No Propaganda Submitted

Ichigo Kurosaki and Uryu Ishida:

Ichigo is the sun. His powers are yellow and bright. He spends the TYBW arc trying to fight enemies who literally come out of the shadows because he is the light. Also his hair kinda makes him look like the sun. He is loud and passionate. He cares so deeply about his friends and radiates warmth when he’s around them.

Uryu is the moon. He wears all white and his powers are blue, both of which are associated with the moon. He is cold on the outside, but once you get past the color exterior, you’ll see that he values his friends above all else.

The TYBW arc puts them on opposite sides of the war. They are forced to fight one another, despite their years of friendship. But in the end, they come together and defeat the big bad together. They are opposites yet in many ways, they are the same, and I love them so much.

Also worth noting that the poem from the chapter Uryu first appeared in is this:

[gallusrostromegalus]

AEIWAM question, how much of the plot is this fic gonna cover? I know this is a rewrite, so the arcs could have changed a lot to the point a direct comparison might not be the best way to describe it. Also are all the snippets you posted gonna be in the fic or some of them are like Tumblr exclusive?

Uuhh... Hm. Ok so my canon knowledge of Bleach is like 37% of the manga and the info dumping of my beloved friends who finished the series. I saw *some* of the anime but not a lot, and pretty much none of the filler so the timeline ATM covers:

Part 1: prehistory of the soul society

Part 2: founding of the gotei-13 era

Part 3: Turn Back The Pendulum and the surrounding events

Part 4: the century leading up to ichigo's birth

Part 5 the time between ichigo's birth of Rukia's reacue

Part 6: soul society arc

Part 7: Arrancar arc

Part 8: battle with Aizen

**significantly more canon divergence from this point onward in terms of timeline**

Part 9: the immediate aftermath of that battle

Part 10: peacetime 1/ 1st royal realm arc

Part 11: peacetime 2/soul society reformation period

Part 12: TYBW 1: attacks on Las Noches and Karakura

Part 13: the rallying of the alliance/payoff from the reformation

Part 14: TYBW 2: attack on seireitei

Part 15: second post-battle rally/tactics shift in both parties / the hunt

Part 16: the big slorps/creation of War World (I know that's not what the name means but I call it that)

Part 17: assault on War World

Part 18: the killing of Yhwach/the godhead event

Part 19: postcanon adventure leads/god's ass/ Kubo is still writing this so I'll see what, if anything I want from the jaws of hell arc when I get here.

Notably not appearing (except maybe as side references) but at least some of the implied world building from these arcs is used:

The Bount

Fullbringers

Forest of Menos

The zanpaktou arc

other anime-only filler.

If there's something from the filler that you really liked or you think is relevant world-building, feel free to tell me all about it in the notes and I'll see if it fits or not.

[lazysublimeengineer]

So I just watched the first episode of Ranma 1/2 which is a remake from Mappa and third cour of Bleach TYBW arc.

Both of these animes were part of my childhood. Honestly, I'm not really keen on remaking the classic animes as they should only apply to franchises which didn't accurately captured the source material back then.

But for Ranma 1/2... It actually works.

I don't have any big expectations around it but man, when I saw the scenes and the style of the anime, it brings back the nostalgia and the classic sense of humor in that anime! God, it reminded me why Ranma 1/2 is one of my favorite romcom animes back then also I'm quite excited to see Shampoo again in the big screen (best girl in the franchise).

Now for Bleach... I now understand why it was rated high online.

Yes, the first few parts of the episode were a recap but the half part of the scene is really intense and the ending of that episode....!

Also, I highly appreciate the crisp and great animation from Pierrot studio. It's really astounding especially the fight scenes of Senjumaru and Uryu.

But I don't want it to be a remake.

Yes, for the 20th anniversary of Bleach the studio has shown a trailer of its amazing episodes in the earlier seasons with the new animation but that's it. No remake will happen. And I appreciate that.

Bleach has been successful on its own and its old animation has its own charm so leave it as it be.

I prefer to what they're doing now.

Just continuing on where they left off with the franchise.