Bleach

"BLEACH" redirects here. For other uses, see Bleach (disambiguation).
Bleach
The first volume of Bleach, published in Japan by Shueisha on January 5, 2002
ブリーチ(Burīchi)
Genre
Action, Bangsian fantasy
Manga
Author
Tite Kubo
Publisher
Shueisha
English publisher
Madman Entertainment Viz Media
[show]Other publishers:
Panini Comics
Glénat Sangatsu Manga Tokyopop Compupress CultureCom M&C Komik Remaja Grupo Editorial Vid Editorial Ivrea Kana (publisher) JPF Eksmo & Comix-ART Chuang Yi(Chinese) Bonnier Carlsen Tong Li Comics(Chinese (Taiwan)) Nation comics
Demographic
Shōnen
Magazine
Weekly Shōnen Jump
Shonen Jump EX-am Formosa Youth
Original run
August 2001 – ongoing
Volumes
41 (List of volumes)
TV anime
Director
Noriyuki Abe
Studio
Studio Pierrot
Licensor
Aniplex
Madman Entertainment Viz Media Manga Entertainment
Network
TV Tokyo
English network
YTV
AnimeCentral Cartoon Network (Adult Swim)
[show]Other networks:
Animax
MCM Animax Arutz Ha-Yeladim TV3 GMA 7 Hyper Media Tooniverse Buzz Media True Visions Ch 51 Gala Television i-Cable Children Channel, TVB J2
Original run
October 5, 2004 – ongoing
Episodes
244 (List of episodes)
Related works
Bleach-related video games
Bleach: Memories of Nobody (film)
Bleach: The DiamondDust Rebellion (film)
Bleach: Fade to Black, I Call Your Name (film)
Anime and Manga Portal
Bleach (ブリーチ, Burīchi?, romanized as BLEACH in Japan) is a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Tite Kubo. Bleach follows the adventures of Ichigo Kurosaki after he accidentally obtains the power of a Soul Reaper—a Japanese death personification similar to the Grim Reaper—from Rukia Kuchiki. Gaining these abilities forces him to take on the duties of defending humans from evil spirits and guiding departed souls to the afterlife.
Bleach has been continuously serialized in the Japanese manga anthology Weekly Shōnen Jump since August 2001, and has been collected in 41 tankōbon volumes as of October 2009[update]. Since its publication, Bleach has spawned a substantial media franchise. The manga has been adapted into an animated television series produced by Studio Pierrot which is still ongoing in Japan as it adapts the story from the manga. The series has also spawned two original video animations (OVAs), three animated feature films, seven rock musicals, and numerous video games, as well as prompted the release of many types of Bleach-related merchandise.
Viz Media licensed the manga for English-language publication in the United States and Canada and has released 28 volumes as of September 2009[update]. In addition, it has been publishing the chapters in Shonen Jump since November 2007. On March 15, 2006, Viz obtained foreign television and home video distribution rights to the Bleach anime. Cartoon Network began airing Bleach as part of its Adult Swim block on September 9, 2006, in the United States. The first film, Bleach: Memories of Nobody was released in North America on Region 1 DVD by Viz on October 14, 2008, with the second film Bleach: The DiamondDust Rebellion released in North America on Region 1 by Viz on September 15, 2009.
Compilation volumes of the manga have sold over 50 million copies in Japan and reached the top of manga sales charts in the United States. The anime adaptation has been similarly received, rating as the 7th most popular anime television series in Japan in 2006, and in the top ten anime for America from 2006 to 2008. The series received the Shogakukan Manga Award for the shōnen demographic in 2005, and is among the best-selling manga properties in both Japan and America.