Bleach ( Burchi?) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tite Kubo.

Bleach follows the adventures of Ichigo Kurosaki after he obtains the powers of a Soul eaper ( Shinigami?! literally! "#eath $od") %a death personification similar to the $rim eaper%from another Soul eaper! ukia Kuchiki. &is newfound powers force him to take on the duties of defending humans from evil spirits and guiding departed souls to the afterlife. Bleach has been seriali'ed in the Japanese manga anthology Weekly Shnen Jump since (ugust )**+! and has been collected into si,ty onetankbon volumes as of #ecember )*+-. Since its publication! Bleach has spawned a media franchise that includes an animated television seriesthat was produced by Studio .ierrot in Japan from )**/ to )*+)! two original video animations! four animated feature films! seven rock musicals! andnumerous video games! as well as many types of Bleach0 related merchandise. 1i' 2edia obtained foreign television and home video distribution rights to the Bleach anime on 2arch +3! )**4. 5artoon 6etwork7s (dult Swim began airing Bleach in the 8nited States on September 9! )**4. 1i' 2edia has licensed the manga for :nglish0language publication in the 8nited States and 5anada! and has released 3; bound volumes as of <ctober )*+- as well as published chapters of Bleach in its Shonen Jump maga'ine since 6ovember )**=. 1i' 2edia released the first Bleach film! Bleach: Memories of Nobody! on #1# in 6orth (merica on <ctober +/! )**;. The second film! Bleach: The iamond ust !ebellion! was released on September +3! )**9. The third film! Bleach: "ade to Black! was released on 6ovember +3! )*++. In addition! &ulu released subtitled versions of the anime a week after each episode aired in Japan. Bleach has sold more than ;) million copies in Japan! and is one of the best0selling manga in 6orth (merica. The anime adaptation has been similarly received> it was rated as the fourth most popular anime television series in Japan in )**4 and held a position amongst the top ten anime in the 8nited States from )**4 to )**;. The series received the Shogakukan 2anga (ward for the shnen demographic in )**3! and is among the best0selling manga in both Japan and the 8nited States.
Contents
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o o o o

+ .lot ) .roduction - Themes -.+ eligious and cultural -.) 5haracters / 2edia /.+ 2anga /.) (nime

o o o o o o o

/.- Soundtrack 5#s /./ Ailms /.3 2usicals /.4 Trading card game /.= 1ideo games /.; Bight novels /.9 <ther 3 eception 4 eferences = :,ternal links

.lot?edit@
See also: #ist of Bleach characters Ichigo Kurosaki is a teenager in Karakura Town who is gifted with the ability to see spirits and has his life changed by the sudden appearance of a girl named ukia Kuchiki. ukia is a Soul eaper%one of many entrusted with the preservation of flow of souls between the Corld of the Biving and the Soul Society ( (D) Sru Sosaeti?) from where she originates from by fighting &ollows! dangerous lost souls who consume other souls. Chen she is severely wounded defending Ichigo from a &ollow she is pursuing! ukia transfers a part of her Spirit .ressure ( !eiatsu?)energy to enable Ichigo to fight in her stead as a substitute Soul eaper while she is forced to remain in the Corld of Biving until she can recover her strength. (s some time passes! she and Ichigo meet a Euincy named 8ryF Ishida who attends the latter7s school! ukia finds herself being taken by her Soul eaper superiors back to the Soul Society and sentenced to death for the illegal act of transferring her powers into a human. (lthough he is unable to stop ukia7s departure to the Soul Society! Ichigo resolves to rescue her with the aid of 8ryF and several of his other spiritually aware classmates <rihime Inoue and Gasutora "5had" Sado. .rior to reaching the Soul Society! Ichigo meets e,0Soul eapers Goruichi ShihHin and Kisuke 8rahara! with the latter enabling Ichigo to become a full Soul eaper. (s Ichigo and his friends faced them! dissension occurs among the Soul eaper captains over both the incident as well as ukia7s sentence and the death of a high0ranking Soul eaper captain namedSHsuke (i'en. Iut in reality! having faked his death! the events were all staged by (i'en to obtain an item called the &Hgyoku from ukia. <nce having the &Hgyoku! (i'en and his conspirators leave for &ueco 2undo! the &ollow Corld! to enact his scheme by recruiting humani'ed &ollows called (rrancars to serve him. Arom there! the Soul Society recogni'es Ichigo and his friends as allies when they find themselves attacked by (i'en7s elite (rrancar servants! the:spadas. Iy then! (i'en7s scheme is revealed to create

the <ken and use it to reach the Soul King and kill him. (t this point! Ichigo learns his transformation into a Soul eaper also created an inner &ollow that attempts to take over his body. Cith that knowledge! Ichigo receives the means to control his &ollow powers with the aid of the 1isards! Soul eapers who were nearly turned into &ollows by (i'en. Chen (i'en kidnaps <rihime! Ichigo and his friends pursue. &owever!though he lost a maJority of his :spadas! (i'en reveals <rihime7s abuction was a lure to cripple resistance from stopping him from turning the souls of Karakura7s Town residents into an <ken. Though the strongest of his forces are defeated! (i'en reveals he absorbed the &Hgyoku and uses its power to transform and defeat the Soul eaper captains. (s (i'en enters Karakura Town after revealing that his tribulations were his doing! Ichigo undergoes intense training with his father Isshin! revealed to be former Soul eaper! and becomes an eKual to (i'en. :ventually! the battle ends with (i'en defeated and imprisoned after being weakened by Ichigo7s final attack. Iut the attack has a side effect with Ichigo eventually becoming a normal human. &owever! seventeen months later! Ichigo regains his Soul eaper powers after encountering Lcution! a group of humans possessing "Aullbring" powers like Sado who serve a former Substitute Soul eaper named KFgo $inJH. &elping the Soul Society defeat Lcution! Ichigo then regains his title as the Substitute Soul eaper. Aollowing these events! a group of Euincies called the Candenreich declares war on the Soul Society. Ichigo once again ventures to &ueco 2undo! which has also been invaded by the Candenreich> at the same time! the captains in the Soul Society battle the Candenreich7s elite "Sternritter" generals. #uring the invasion! several Soul eapers are killed> with &ead 5aptainGamamoto killed off by the Candenreich7s leader Ghwach! an ancient Euincy revived in the present. #uring the aftermath of the invasion! the oyal $uard arrive to take Ichigo and several of his comrades to the Spirit .alace where they begin recuperation and training for the ne,t fight against the Candenreich. #uring the Soul Society7s recovery! Ichigo learns about his heritage from his father and that his mother was a Euincy whose death was caused by Ghwach7s revival. 2eanwhile! Ghwach recruits Ishida to be his successor and prepares for the final war.

.roduction?edit@
Bleach was first conceived from a desire on Tite Kubo7s part to draw Shinigami in a kimono! which formed the basis for the design of the Soul eapers in the series and the conception of ukia Kuchiki. ?-@?/@ The original story concept was submitted to Weekly Shnen Jump shortly after the cancellation of Kubo7s previous manga! $ombiepo%der! but was at first reJected due to being unoriginal (bearing many similarities to &u&u 'akusho).?3@ 2anga artist (kira Toriyama saw the story and wrote a letter of encouragement to Kubo.?/@ Bleach was accepted for publication a short time later in )**+! and was initially intended to be a shorter series! with a ma,imum seriali'ation length of five years. ?/@ :arly plans for the story did not include the hierarchical structure of the Soul Society! but did include some characters and elements that were not introduced into the plot until the (rrancar arc! such as Ichigo7s Soul eaper heritage.?-@ The series was originally meant to be named "Ilack" due to the color of the Soul eapers7 clothes! but Kubo thought the title was too generic. &e later tried the name of "Chite!" but came to like "Ileach" more for its association with the color white and that he did not find it too obvious. ?4@?title missing@ Kubo has cited influences for elements of Bleach ranging from other manga series to music! foreign language! architecture! and film. &e attributes his interest in drawing the supernatural and monsters to Shigeru 2i'uki7s (e(e(e no )itaro and Bleach7s focus on interesting weaponry and battle scenes to 2asami Kurumada7s Saint Seiya! manga that Kubo enJoyed as a boy. ?-@ The action style and storytelling

found in Bleach are inspired by cinema! though Kubo has not revealed any specific movie as being an influence for fight scenes. Chen pressed! he told interviewers that he liked Snatch but did not use it as a model.?=@ Kubo has also stated that he wishes to make Bleach an e,perience that can only be found by reading manga! and dismissed ideas of creating any live0action film adaptations of the series. ?/@ Bleach7s creative process is focused around character design. Chen writing plotlines or having difficulties generating new material! Kubo begins by thinking of new characters! often en masse! and rereading previous volumes of Bleach.?-@?;@ Kubo has said that he likes creating characters that have outward appearances that do not match their true nature%an element that can be found in many Bleach characters%as he is "attracted to people with that seeming contradiction" and finds an "urge to draw people like that" when he works. ?9@ The terminology used in Bleach has a variety of inspirations! with each category of characters bearing a different linguistic theme. 2any of the names for swords and spells used by Soul eapers were inspired by ancient Japanese literature. &ollows and (rrancars are often associated with Spanish terms because the language sounded "bewitching and mellow" to him. (s for Aullbringers! their Aullbring is associated with the:nglish vocabulary when either releasing or already have released their Aullbring. Ainally! both Euincy and Iounts have been known to associate with the $erman language! making Kubo7s world of characters diverse in race and language as well. ?9@

Themes?edit@
Religious and cultural?edit@
1on Aeigenblatt describes Bleach as being culturally and religiously aware.?+*@ Bleach7s plot incorporates the traditional Japanese belief of spirits coe,isting with humans and their nature! good or evil! depends on the circumstances.?+*@ (n e,ample is <rihime7s backstory! who was raised from the age of three by her brother Sora! and prayed for his soul7s peace after he died in a car accident. ?++@ (s time went on! she prayed less and Sora became Jealous and turned into a &ollow and attacked <rihime. #ra'en says this is a reminder to the audience to not abandon the old ways or risk the spirits taking offense and causing problems in the world.?+)@ Ileach also incorporates Shinto themes of purification of "evil spirits through charms! scrolls! incantations! and other rituals."?+*@ The show also draws upon 5hristianity and 5aribbean Santeria.?+*@ Spanish terms are prevalent throughout the realm of &ueco 2undo! meaning abyss world! and its warriors are the :spada! literally "sword" in Spanish. ?+*@ Kubo says he chose the terms because they sounded "bewitching and mellow" to him.?9@ Ioth Euincy and Iounts have been known to associate with the $erman language! making Kubo7s world of characters diverse in race and language as well. ?9@ 1on Aeigenblatt notes that the Euincy "are clearly inspired by the 5hristian <rders of Knighthood such as the Sovereign <rder of 2alta and the :Kuestrian <rder of the &oly Sepulcher whose influence is shown in terms of the uniform worn by the Euincy as well as by the symbolism of the cross."?+*@ 2any of the names for swords and spells used by Soul eapers were inspired by ancient Japanese literature.?9@

Characters?edit@
Kubo likes creating characters that have outward appearances that do not match their true nature. ?9@ The character <rihime is a comple, character who has been both praised and critici'ed for her appearances. &er role has developed from a "big0breasted bimbo" throughout the story! but the way in which she uses her power has been deemed as stereotypical. ?+-@?+/@

ukia was initially set to be the protagonist of the series! but the early development of her character resulted in it being changed. Kubo drew ukia based on his concepts of a Shinigami and wanted her to have an appropriate Shinigami sounding name.?+3@ Kubo7s choice of the name is deliberate! eventually decided upon the last name "Kuchiki" (?! lit. "rotten wood") and chose her first name based on the Batin name for cosmos! which in Batin means "light".?+3@ Kubo sees her as "a ray of light for Ichigo."?+3@ ukia7s :nglish voice actress! found ukia to be a "survivor"! due to how lonely she initially was and how she has been developed through the anime series as she had to start trusting people. ?+4@ &arper notes that ukia is not a stereotypical shHnen heroine! noting ukia7s loss of her powers and subseKuent dependence on Ichigo were "a great source of both drama and comedy in the show." ?+=@ (le,ander noted that she is "less of a foil to Ichigo and more like the other side of the same coin". ?+;@

2edia?edit@
Manga?edit@
See also: #ist of Bleach *olumes The chapters of the Bleach manga are written and illustrated by Tite Kubo. In Japan! they have been published in Shueisha7s Weekly Shnen Jump since )**+!?+9@ with individual chapters collected in a series of tankbon volumes! each of which includes a poem based on the cover character. The first volume was released on January 3! )**/! and as of #ecember )*+-! 4+ volumes have been released. ?)*@?)+@ 6orth (merican licensor 1i' 2edia has been seriali'ing the individual chapters in Shonen Jump in 6orth (merica since 6ovember )**=.?))@ (s of <ctober )*+-! 3; volumes have been released! the first of which was released on June +! )**/.?)-@?)/@ <n (ugust 3! )**;! the company released a hardcover "collector7s edition" of the first volume that came with a dust Jacket! followed by a bo, set that was released on September )! )**;! containing the first )+ volumes! a poster! and a booklet about the series. ?)3@?)4@ Since Bleach7s premiere! over 3** chapters have been released in Japan. 2ost chapter names are written in :nglish and have katakana above them to indicate how they are read in Japanese! similar to the usage of furigana ruby characters with advanced kan+i characters. In addition to the main series chapters! some chapters are published with a negative chapter number. These "negative" chapters are side stories that involve events that precede the main plot of the series. <n <ctober +9! )*+)! Shueisha released the first )+ volumes (Soul Society arc) in full color digital0only in Japanese ebook stores.?)=@

Anime?edit@
See also: Bleach ,anime- and #ist of Bleach episodes The Bleach anime series aired in Japan on T1 Tokyo7s Tuesday 4pm timeslot from <ctober 3! )**/! ?);@ to 2arch )=! )*+)!?)@ e,cluding holidays. The series was directed by 6oriyuki (be and produced by T1 Tokyo! #entsu! and Studio .ierrot.?)9@ 1i' 2edia obtained the foreign television! home video! and merchandising rights to the Bleach anime from T1 Tokyo 5orporation and Shueisha on 2arch +3! )**4.?-*@ 1i' 2edia has later licensed its individual Bleach merchandising rights to several different companies.?-+@ The adaptation of the Bleach anime premiered on 5anada7s GT1 channel in the Iioni, programming block on September ;! )**4.?citation needed@ 5artoon 6etwork7s (dult Swim began airing Bleachin the 8nited

States the following evening.?-)@ (dult Swim stopped broadcasting new episodes of the :nglish adaptation on <ctober +-! )**= after airing the first 3) episodes of the series. ?citation needed@ It was replaced with another 1i' 2edia series! eath Note! to provide Studiopolis more time to dub additional episodes of Bleach. The series began airing again on 2arch )! )**;!?--@ but went back on hiatus on 6ovember )+! )**9! after the airing of its +4=th episode. (dult Swim is now airing new episodes at +)am on Saturday in their animated programing blockToonami. In the 8nited Kingdom! Bleach premiered on (nime 5entral on September +-! )**=! with new episodes airing weekly.?citation needed@ The :nglish dubbed version of Ileach premiered on (nima, (sia on #ecember +;! )**9 with the first 3) episodes and season ) premiered on 2arch +;! )*++ this time with the original Japanese audio with :nglish subtitles. (s of January )*+)! =4 #1# compilations have been released by (niple, in Japan. ?-/@ 1i' 2edia has released -) #1# compilations of the :nglish adaptation of the anime! ?-3@?-4@ along with seven season bo,sets that contain the first seven seasons of the anime. ?-=@?-;@?-9@ <n July )9! )**9! (niple, released a "T1 (nimation Ileach 3th (nniversary Io," that includes +3 #1#s and three bonus discs. ?/*@

Soundtrack CDs?edit@
5omposed and produced by ShirH Sagisu! ++ 5# soundtracks have been released for the Bleach anime series and movies. Bleach .riginal Soundtrack / was released on 2ay +;! )**3! which contains )3 tracks! including the first opening and ending themes in their original television lengths. ?/+@ Bleach .riginal Soundtrack 0 followed on (ugust )! )**4 with an additional )- instrumental tracks. ?/)@ Bleach .riginal Soundtrack 1 later followed on 6ovember 3! )**; with )= instrumental tracks. ?/-@ Bleach .riginal Soundtrack 2 was released on #ecember +4! )**9 with -* instrumental tracks. ?//@ Bleach: Memories of Nobody .riginal Soundtrack was released with )3 tracks from the Bleach: Memories of Nobody film. Bleach: The iamond ust !ebellion .riginal Soundtrack was also released for the Bleach: The iamond ust !ebellion film! with )9 tracks from the movie! followed by Bleach: "ade to Black .riginal Soundtrack for the Bleach: "ade to Black film! with )9 tracks! followed by Bleach: 'ell 3erse .riginal Soundtrack for the Bleach: 'ell 3erse film! with )+ tracks.?/3@?/4@?/=@ Bleach: The Best contains +) of the opening and ending themes from the series in their full length versions! later followed by Bleach: Best Tunes! which contains +) more opening and ending themes. ?/;@?/9@ Three !adio J4 Bleach 5B5 Station season 5# sets! each containing si, volumes! have been released in Japan.?3*@ The third season is still ongoing in Japan.?3+@ :ight drama 5#s have been produced for the series as well! featuring the original voice actors from the series> these drama 5#s have only been included as part of the #1# releases.?3)@ The Bleach Beat 4ollections is an ongoing set of 5#s published by Sony 2usic featuring recordings by the original Japanese voice actors that provide a look at the personalities of the characters they play! as well as the voice actors themselves. The first 5# was released on June ))! )**3! and as of 2arch )**9! )+ volumes have been released across four named sets called Sessions.?3-@

Films?edit@
There are four feature films based on the Bleach series! all of which are directed by 6oriyuki (be! director of the Bleach anime series. The films have been released in #ecember of each year starting in )**4. :ach movie features an original plotline along with original characters designed by Tite Kubo! which is

contrary to the normal practice for anime0based films! as the original author usually has little creative involvement.?3/@ The first film! Bleach: Memories of Nobody! was released in Japan on #ecember +4! )**4 and had a limited release in (merican theaters in June )**;.?33@?34@ The movie is centered around the activities of the "#ark <nes!" who were banished from the Soul Society and are subseKuently trying to destroy both the Soul Society and the Corld of the Biving. Memories of Nobody was released in 6orth (merica on egion + #1# by 1i' 2edia on <ctober +/! )**;.?3=@ The second film! Bleach: The iamond ust !ebellion! was released to Japanese theaters on #ecember ))! )**=.?3;@ Its plot focuses on +*th #ivision captain THshirH &itsugaya7s efforts to clear his name after an artifact belonging to Soul Society7s king is stolen while under his care. The iamond ust !ebellion was released in 6orth (merica on egion + #1# by 1i' 2edia on September ;! )**9.?39@ The third film! Bleach: "ade to Black! was released in Japan on #ecember +-! )**;. In the film! members of Soul Society are struck with amnesia! caused by a parasitic &ollow causing them to lose their memories of Ichigo and ukia. Chen he goes to the Soul Society to investigate! Ichigo discovers that ukia has not only forgotten him! but has forgotten her own identity as well. ?4*@The film was released on #1# on September -*! )**9.?4+@ The :nglish #ub release of "ade to Black was released on egion + #1# by 1i' 2edia on 6ovember +3! )*++.?4)@ The fourth movie! Bleach: 'ell 3erse! was released in Japan on #ecember /! )*+*.?4-@ In it Ichigo is heading into the $ates of &ell! which is where &ollows who had committed evil during their lives as humans are sent. Tite Kubo did oversee the production of the film. ?4/@ Iesides animated film in 2arch )*+*! Carner Iros. (8S(M5anadaMInternational) confirmed that it is in talks to create a live action movie adaptation of the series. .eter Segal and 2ichael :wing have been lined up to produce the movie.?43@

Musicals?edit@
Ileach has been adapted into a series of rock musicals! Jointly produced by Studio .ierrot and 6elke .lanning. There have been five musicals produced which covered portions of the Substituteand Soul Society arcs! as well as three additional performances known as "Bive Iankai Shows" which did not follow the Bleach plotline. The initial performance run of the Bleach musical was from (ugust +=N);! )**3 at the Space Oero Tokyo center in ShinJuku.?44@?4=@?4;@ The musicals are directed by Takuya &iramitsu! with a script adaptation by 6aoshi <kumura and music composed by playwright Shoichi Tama. The songs are completely original and not taken from the anime soundtrack. Key actors in the series include Tatsuya Isaka! who plays Ichigo Kurosaki! 2iki SatH! who plays ukia Kuchiki! and :iJi 2oriyama! who plays enJi (barai.?49@

Trading card game?edit@

Main article: Bleach Trading 4ard (ame Two collectible card games (55$) based on the Bleach series have been produced. Bleach Soul 4ard Battle! produced by Iandai! was introduced in Japan in )**/.?=*@ (s of <ctober )**;! seventeen named sets have been released for the series.?=+@ Bleach T4( was introduced in the 8nited States by Score :ntertainment in 2ay )**=!?=)@ but ceased publication (pril )**9! Just before the planned launch of its seventh e,pansion! Bleach 6nfiltration.?=-@ This

cancellation was attributed to the ongoing recession! which has heavily affected T5$ sales.?=-@ #esigned by (ik Tongtharadol! the T5$ is a two0player game in which each player starts with at least 4+ cardsP a "$uardian" card! a 4*0card "main deck!" and an optional )*0card "side deck." ( player loses if his or her power! as dictated by the $uardian card! is reduced to 'ero! or if he or she is unable to draw or discard a card from his or her deck.?=/@ The cards for the game have been released in named sets with each set released in three formatsP a =)0card pre0constructed bo, set containing a starter deck and two booster packs! a +*0card booster pack! and a +)0pack booster bo,. (s of #ecember )**;! si, named sets have been released.?=3@

Video games?edit@
See also: #ist of Bleach *ideo games The first video game to be released from the Bleach series was Bleach: 'eat the Soul! which debuted on 2arch )/! )**3 for the Sony .layStation .ortable.?=4@ 5urrently! the maJority of the games have only been released in Japan! though Sega has locali'ed the first three 6intendo #S games and the first Cii game for 6orth (merica.?==@ So far! all dedicated Bleach games released for Sony7s consoles have been developed and published by S5:I! whereas the games for 6intendo consoles are developed and published by Sega! and the 6intendo #S games are developed byTreasure 5o. Btd..?=;@?=9@

Light novels?edit@
Tite Kubo and 2akoto 2atsubara have co0authored two noveli'ations of the Bleach series! which were published by Shueisha under its Shounen Jump Books label. The first volume! B#784'9letters from the other side: The eath and The Stra%berry! was published on 6ovember +3! )**4! and the second! Bleach: The 'oney ish !hapsody! was published on <ctober -+! )**;.?;*@?;+@

Other?edit@
( single Bleach artbook! 8ll 4olour But The Black! has been released in Japan! the 8nited States! and :urope. The artbook compiles a selection of color spreads from the first +9 volumes of the series! as well as some original art and author commentary. ?;)@?;-@ Aour databooks have also been released about the series. The first two! Bleach: .fficial 4haracter Book S.:#s; and Bleach: .fficial 8nimation Book 36B7s;! were released on Aebruary -! )**4.?;/@?;3@ Bleach: .fficial 4haracter Book S.:#s; was later released in :nglish by 1i' 2edia on 6ovember +;! )**;. ?;4@ The third databook! Bleach .fficial Bootleg: )araBuri< (IB:(5& <AAI5I(B I<<TB:$ ?)! was released on (ugust -! )**=. In addition to character guides and articles on other fictional aspects of the series! it compiles the various short comics! Tedious :veryday Tales 5olorful Ileach ( Tsuredure Nichi+ou 7kotoba )arafuru Buriichi?)! that were published in 3 Jump. The omake0style panels are similar to those included in the main series! but reveal more of the daily lives of characters.?;=@ The fourth book! Bleach: .fficial 4haracter Book 0: M8S)7 ! was released on (ugust /! )*+*.?;;@ This book covers details about characters that appear +** years prior to the story! such as former captains and lieutenants! along with the (rrancars and 1isoreds. It should be noted that while it was released on the same day as 1olume /4! Back "rom Blind! the book only covers material up to 1olume -=! Beauty 6s So Solitary. ( fifth book Bleach: .fficial 4haracter Book 1: :NM8S)7 ! was released on June -! )*++! the same day as the 1olume 3* of the series. &owever it only covers material up to 1olume /;! (od is ead.

eception?edit@

(s of 2ay )**=! Bleach had sold a total of /* million copies! ranking as the fourteenth best0selling series from Weekly Shnen Jump.?;9@ Iy Aebruary )*+)! it had sold more than =; million copies making it the maga'ine7s si,th best0selling series of all time.?9*@ In )*+-! this number increased to ;) million copies sold. ?9+@ In )**3! Bleach was awarded the Shogakukan 2anga (ward in the shnen category.?9)@?9-@ #uring )**;! volume -/ of the manga sold ;=/!+3- copies in Japan! becoming the +)th best0seller comics from the year. 1olumes -- and -3 have also ranked += and +;! respectively. ?9/@ In total the manga has sold -!+4+!;)3 copies in Japan during )**;! becoming the year7s 3th best selling series. ?93@ In the first half from )**9! Bleach ranked as the )nd best0selling manga in Japan! having sold -.3 million copies. ?94@ &aving sold 9)=!4+* copies! 1olume -4 ranked =th. 1olume -= was ;th with 9*=!=+/ sold copies! and volume -; at +*th with ;))!)-; copies.?9=@ 6orth (merican sales of the manga have also been high! with each volume having sold over +.) million copies.?9;@?99@ 1olume +4 placing in the top +* graphic novel sales in #ecember )**4 ?+**@and 1olume += being the best0selling manga volume for the month of Aebruary )**=. ?+*+@?+*)@ In a )*+* interview! $on'alo Aerreyra! 1ice .resident of Sales and 2arketing for 1i'! listed Bleachas one of si, 1i' titles that continue to e,ceed e,pectations in spite of the harshening manga market. ?+*-@ The :nglish version of the manga was nominated for the "best manga" and "best theme" awards at the )**4 and )**= (merican (nime (wards! but did not win either category. ?+*/@?+*3@ #eb (oki from (bout.com considered the series as the Iest 5ontinuing ShHnen 2anga of )**=! along with 7yeshield 0/! praising the "compelling stories! da''ling action seKuences and great character development".?+*4@ She also placed the title on her list of "Top +* ShHnen 2anga 2ust0 eads". ?+*=@ The artwork and the character designs received positive response by I$67s (.:. Sparrow. &e also commented on the several storylines going on in the series at the same time due to the large number of supporting characters which make the manga appealing in response to fans7 claims about a "lack of a story" in Bleach.?+*;@ Beroy #ouresseau, from 5omicIookIin agreed with Sparrow in the number of storylines! but also praised the fighting scenes finding them comparable to the ones of popular films. ?+*9@ ?++*@ <n the other hand! 2ania reviewer Jarred .ine critici'ed the series as being plagued with stereotypes from the genre. &e felt it was a rough start for the series with unimpressive battles! overused gags! and a bad introduction for central character Ichigo that causes him to come across "as a frowning punk" whose one good trait is his desire to protect. #espite this! .ine notes that he loves the series! particularly its Kuirky! lovable characters