Ichigo Kurosaki has successfully rescued Rukia Kuchiki from execution and has returned to his normal life as a student. Having learned that Sosuke Aizen along with Gin Ichimaru, and Kaname Tosen are traitors he and the Soul Society prepare for their next move. Meanwhile mysterious humanoid creatures with immense power known as Arrancars suddenly show up in Karakura Town threatening Ichigo and his friends.

Bleach is a 2004 shounen anime series, it is produced by Studio Pierrot and licensed by Viz Media. It is currently available on DVD & Blu-Ray in English.

Editor’s Note: A review copy of Bleach Set 5 was provided by Viz Media in support of this review. Near complete spoilers for the first half of The Arrancar arc may be present within this review.

Following the successful rescue of Rukia Kuchiki and the betrayal of Sosuke Aizen, Ichigo and his friends are trying to return to their normal lives as students. However, a mysterious group of creatures known as Arrancars have invaded Karakura Town and have begun targeting Ichigo’s friends. It turns out these humanoid beings were actually created by Aizen himself and someone close to Ichigo is who they’re after. Meanwhile another group with Hollow powers similar to Ichigo known as the Vizards are looking to recruit him into their ranks.

THE GOOD: Sosuke Aizen has made his move soon after his betrayal of the Soul Society and the latter is struggling to come up with a plan to stop him. Ichigo after losing control of his Hollow powers too many times is searching for a way to control or avoid using them altogether. A man named Shinji Hirako who for some reason wields a Zanpukto approaches him with an offer; in return for teaching him how to control his Hollowfication, Ichigo must join his group the Vizards which also has former Soul Reapers turned half-Hollow. Ichigo initially denies this request, but after several attacks from a powerful group of humanoid monsters known as Arrancar attack Karakura Town and his friends with Ichigo being easily beaten by the beasts he is forced to accept. After introductions each Vizard gives Ichigo different methods to control his Hollow and he is eventually forced to face his Hollow form from within. If Ichigo can not defeat his Hollow within the time limit he won’t be able to control it and the Vizards will be forced to kill him. Despite being in a life-threatening battle Ichigo and his Hollow try to understand one another, Ichigo however, after a close call is ultimately able to win the battle earning complete control of his body back.

Meanwhile, members of Soul Society have made their way to the world of the living in Karakura Town in an effort to help out with the Arrancar threat. Uryu, Chad, and Orihime are trying to improve their abilities following the Rukia rescue.Soul Society has plans to bring the fight to Aizen and his army of Arrancars in their home base of Hueco Mondo. But the Arrancars themselves are currently involved in a civil war with some planning to betray Aizen. After members of the coup attack and think they killed the powerful Aizen loyalist Ulquiorra, Aizen reveals that it was a fake and the real Ulquiorra is elsewhere. This turns out to be Karakura Town and his mission is to find and bring Orihime back to Hueco Mondo. Ichigo faces off against a now one-armed Grimmjow in a rematch with his Hollow mask only being active for ten seconds due to his limitations in control of its power. This is one of the early bright spots of the Bleach series and the Arrancar arc is (mostly) the most heavily praised of the entire series for its action and introduction into the titular villains. The side characters from Soul Society getting some backstory and character building is always a good time and one of Bleach’s strong suits.

THE BAD: There’s a handful of filler arcs that tries to bring out stories of the Soul Reapers bonding with the residents of Karakura Town. Mostly slice of life material that’s otherwise unimportant.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: Though some filler slows it down Bleach Set 5 is quick to build itself back up and it’s one of the strongest Blu-Ray sets out currently. Character development for both hero and villain characters as well as strong action sequences make the sixteen episode run an enjoyable viewing. However, I’d recommend skipping the four or five consecutive filler episodes. Otaku Dome gives Bleach Set 5 an 87 out of 100.