Bleach

I was obsessed with this show for about a month after watching it for the first time last December. It's easy to get hooked on to something so glamorous and entertaining. Bleach is anime. And anime always seems silly at first, but once you get hooked on, you get hooked on. Bleach is based off of "shonen manga," which means that it particularly has to do with fighting and becoming stronger. I'd like to say that although there is quite a bit of fighting, there's also a good balance of comedy and character building. I enjoy the enthusiasm and personality traits of all the characters- and what sets them apart.

Bleach centers around a fifteen year old boy named Ichigo Kurasaki who, like a lot of other asian protagonists has an intense drive to protect his friends and family. He has the "caring" syndrome and would go out of his way to save even the most annoying person he knows. Kurasaki is drawn in a semi-attractive way with orange hair and a dense, determined expression. Most of the characters in bleach have an interesting, attractive flavor to their physical appearance.

Kurasaki can see ghosts, and because of this strange ability, he soon encounters soul-eating demons known as "hollows." In order to balance the number of souls on earth, and in "soul society," "soul-reapers" destroy hollows. Rukia Kuchiki, a soul reaper, befriends Kurasaki and lends him her powers. By becoming a "substitute soul reaper," Kurasaki begins his journey as a warrior of stabilizing the peace and sanity of his town's souls, and protecting his soul-reaper friends. Kurasaki also has three human friends with supernatural abilities.

At first being a show focused solely on Ichigo and his town, Bleach soon extends to cover the dextrous and skilled guards of soul society and the powers that their captains' wield. Ichigo himself has to become more and more powerful to do the task of protecting his friends and all he cares about. He soon faces villains that get hotter and eviler.

Bleach's battles are entertaining, and the romantic possibilities are infinite - although the show doesn't pursue romance very seriously. The thirst for what happens next is huge and sometimes, the willpower of the main characters is inspiring.

I recommend it for those with lots of free time and willpower- to not get addicted.