"BLEACH: MEMORIES OF NOBODY" review: An unforgettable and moving story

"BLEACH: MEMORIES OF NOBODY" review and details

Overview

Bleach: Memories of Nobody is an anime film based on the popular manga Bleach by Kubo Tite, which was released on December 16, 2006. Distributed by Toho and animated by Studio Pierrot, it was the first feature film to be produced following the success of the TV series. It was directed by Abe Noriyuki, written by Togawa Masashi, with character design and general animation direction by Kudo Masashi. The music was composed by Sagisu Shiro, and the theme song is "Beyond a Thousand Nights" by Aqua Timez.

■ Story

A large number of unrecognizable spirits called "blanks" appear in Karakura Town, a town in the present world, and Ichigo Kurosaki, a substitute Shinigami, and Rukia Kuchiki, a Shinigami of the Gotei 13, begin an investigation. Among them, Akane Shizuku, a young Shinigami carrying her Zanpakuto "Mirokumaru", appears, but she refuses to talk about herself and says she has forgotten which unit she belongs to. Meanwhile, the city of the present world is projected in the sky of Soul Society, and the Gotei 13 is placed on a first-level alert. This incident is considered a sign of the "collapse of the world," and an emergency meeting of the unit leaders is held. It is soon revealed that a group led by Ganryu, a former exile from Soul Society, is involved in the incident. They relentlessly target Akane Shizuku, and as their true intentions become clear, the moment of the collapse of the world draws near and the final countdown begins.

■Explanation

Since the TV series "BLEACH" began in 2004, this was the first movie to be produced in response to its popularity. The action scenes, which were well-received in the TV series, have been further enhanced, allowing viewers to enjoy the scale and intensity that only a movie can offer. While the story is based on the worldview of the original work, the introduction of new characters and settings gives it its own unique appeal. In particular, the presence of the new character Akane Shizuku and the mystery surrounding her add depth to the story. In addition, the grand theme of the collapse of the world provides viewers with tension and excitement.

■Cast

The voice actors for the main characters are as follows:

• Ichigo Kurosaki: Masakazu Morita
• Rukia Kuchiki: Fumiko Orikasa
• Akane Shizuku: Chiwa Saito
• Ganryu: Masashi Ehara
• Genryusai Yamamoto Shigekuni: Masaaki Tsukada
• Soi Fon: Tomoko Kawakami
• Byakuya Kuchiki: Ryotaro Okiayu
• Kyōraku Shunsui: Akio Otsuka
• Toshiro Hitsugaya: Romi Park
• Kenpachi Zaraki: Fumihiko Tachiki
• Mayuri Kurotsuchi: Ryusei Nakao
• Jushiro Ukitake: Hideo Ishikawa
• Izuru Kira: Takahiro Sakurai
• Renji Abarai: Kentaro Ito
• Tetsuzaemon Iba: Nishi Rintaro
• Matsumoto Rangiku: Heya Matsutani
• Yachiru Kusaka: Hisayo Mochizuki
• Madarame Ikkaku: Nobuyuki Hiyama
• Yumichika Ayasegawa: Jun Fukuyama
• Con: Mitsuaki Madono
• Uryu Ishida: Noriaki Sugiyama
• Yasutora Chado: Hiroki Yasumoto
• Orihime Inoue: Yuki Matsuoka
• Kisuke Urahara: Shinichiro Miki
• Grip diamond Tessai: Kiyoyuki Yanada
• Hanakari Jinta: Honda Takako
• Isshin Kurosaki: Toshiyuki Morikawa
• Kurosaki Natsuri: Kugimiya Rie
• Yuuko Kurosaki: Ayumi Sena
• Akon: Hiroto Okuda
• Tsubofu Rin: Saiki Miho
• Tomoya: Tomoya Kosaka
• Jai: Matsumoto Dai
• Special appearance by troupe leader: Troupe leader Yasuda (Yasuda Circus)
• HIRO: HIRO (Yasuda Circus)
• Kuro-chan: Kuro-chan (Yasuda Circus)
• Cute store clerk: Chisato Morishita

■ Main staff

The main staff involved in the production are as follows:

• Original author: Tite Kubo
• Director: Noriyuki Abe
• Screenplay: Masashi Togawa
• Character design and chief animation director: Masashi Kudo
• Storyboard: Abe Noriyuki, Tachibana Hideki
• Chief Director: Tachibana Hideki
• Directed by: Masato Bessho
• Animation directors: Hiroki Takagi, Yoshitaka Kono, Takeshi Yoshioka, Shingo Ogiso, Hideki Hashimoto, Satoshi Ishino, Masaya Onishi
• Effects animation director: Takashi Hashimoto
• Art director: Sawako Takagi
• Color design: Hideo Kamitani, Hiromi Anzai, Noriko Abe
• Director of photography: Fukushima Toshiyuki
• Edited by Junichi Uematsu and Hidetoshi Okuno
• Music: Shiro Sagisu
• Producers: Mikihiko Fukazawa, Ken Hagino
• Animation production: studio Pierrot
• Production: BLEACH The Movie Production Committee (TV Tokyo, Shueisha, Pierrot, Dentsu, Aniplex, Toho, Bandai, Sega, Sony Computer Entertainment)

■ Main Characters

The details of the main characters are as follows:

• Ichigo Kurosaki: A high school student who gained the power of a Shinigami after meeting the Shinigami Rukia. He has a strong desire to protect everyone, as his mother was killed by a Hollow when he was young.
• Rukia Kuchiki: A Shinigami belonging to the 13th Division of the Gotei 13. While on a mission to Karakura Town, she met Ichigo Kurosaki, which greatly changed her fate.
• Akane Shizuku: A key character in the story. She wears the attire of a Shinigami and carries a Zanpakuto called Mirokumaru. Although she is a Shinigami, she has no memories of her time in Soul Society.
• Ganryu: The center of the dark force, the Dark One. A survivor of a clan that was once banished from Soul Society. He plots to use Akane Shizuku to clear his grudge against Soul Society.

■ Related works

Other titles in the BLEACH series include:

• BLEACH
• BLEACH The DiamondDust Rebellion: Another Hyourinmaru
• BLEACH Fade to Black: I Call Your Name
• BLEACH The Movie: Hell
• BLEACH Memories in the Rain
• BLEACH The sealed sword frenzy
• BLEACH Calabri! The Gotei 13 Food Stall Strategy!
• BLEACH JSAT2010 version

■ Theme songs and music

The theme song is "A Thousand Nights Beyond" by Aqua Timez, with lyrics and music written by Futoshi.

■Review

"BLEACH: MEMORIES OF NOBODY" is a film that allows fans of the original work to enjoy the world of "BLEACH" from a new perspective. In particular, the new character Akane Shizuku stands out, and the process of unraveling her mystery is at the heart of the story. Akane Shizuku's character, who has lost her memory, attracts viewers' interest, and as her past and goals are gradually revealed, the story becomes more profound. In addition, the appearance of a new enemy, Ganryu, further expands the worldview of the original work.

The action scenes are more powerful and on a larger scale than the TV series, and the battle scenes between Ichigo and Rukia are particularly impressive. The scenes in which the Zanpakuto are used and the visual beauty of the film's tension as the world collapses are also stunning, providing plenty of visual enjoyment. The music, too, is powerful, with Shiro Sagisu's powerful sound adding excitement to the story, and Aqua Timez's theme song, "Beyond a Thousand Nights," is a perfect fit for the film's theme and will capture the hearts of viewers.

However, some viewers feel that the story is moving too quickly. In particular, the latter half of the series may feel a bit abrupt, as Akane Shizuku's past and Ganryu's purpose are suddenly revealed. Also, while many characters from the original work make an appearance, some feel that their exploits are not fully portrayed. In particular, many of the members of the Gotei 13 remain supporting characters, and some have expressed the desire to see more of their exploits.

Still, this movie is one that allows you to fully enjoy the world of "BLEACH," and the new character Akane Shizuku and the mystery surrounding her are particularly fascinating elements. This movie is recommended not only for fans of the original work, but also for those who like action and fantasy movies.

■Recommendation

"BLEACH: MEMORIES OF NOBODY" is a must-see for fans of the original BLEACH. New characters and settings are introduced, further expanding the worldview of the original. Also, don't miss the power of the action scenes and the powerful music. Even those who are unfamiliar with the original will be able to enjoy the grand fantasy and thrilling action. In particular, those who are interested in the character of Akane Shizuku should watch this movie to find out about her past and purpose. In addition, Aqua Timez's theme song "A Thousand Nights Beyond" also helps to liven up the atmosphere of the movie, so it is also recommended for music fans.

Furthermore, after watching this movie, please check out other works in the BLEACH series. In particular, BLEACH: The DiamondDust Rebellion - Another Hyourinmaru and BLEACH: Fade to Black - Calling Your Name are also highly acclaimed works, so you can continue to enjoy them. Please watch these works to gain a deeper understanding of the world of BLEACH and to enjoy it more.