The "Ineffective Bleach"

         The Bleach franchise has been a phenomenal success across many parts of the world, but it left quite a sour taste in the mouth of viewers. Now this contradicts it being one of the biggest franchises that Shonen Jump has produced and being one of the biggest shows watched in the west along with Naruto and One Piece in the early 2000's. Today I cover some reasons as to why Bleach has not "bleached" or made its mark on society while being so popular.

The Problem

       Ichigo Kurosaki is a high school student that has a supernatural encounter with a soul reaper, a person who purifies tormented souls(hollows), and gains a power to become a soul reaper that protects the world and creates a balance.

       In Bleach Ichigo faces multiple problems and triumphs over them, however he still seems unable to connect with the reader on a deeper level. I just feel like he has the personality of a cardboard box to me with powers handed to him all the time. Ichigo never seems to bear a certain goal in mind like Luffy from One Piece looking for the One piece or Naruto from Naruto wishing to become strong and protect everyone by becoming hokage. What always seems to be on his mind is to save the damsel in distress and curb stop his enemies. 

      The arcs(mini story plots) also appear to be very recycled by the author and lacking any sense of individuality in each one making for a story that is quite forgettable. In the first arc the main cast is raiding the soul capital to save their friend who has been charged falsely for illegally transporting her powers to another person. This is by far the best arc, in my opinion, that Tite Kubo has created, but the ones to follow all fall under the same suite.

       In the second arc the main cast is raiding the realm of the hollows to save their friend once again from their foes and it all builds up to a final fight like the first arc where Ichigo overwhelms the sixth captain of the Gotei 13. In the second arc Ichigo is fighting Aizen ,who has grown power similar to gods, and one taps him ending his vicious cycle of agony. This really betrays the sense of anticipation I got waiting for this fight to occur for it to only go down the drain in a quick draw match. 

      In all Bleach leaves much to be desired in its character development, and plot progression with its cut and paste story line. It was like a distant memory from a forgotten era who was been put on the shelf along side other animes in a vast library of content.