Bleach: Zanpakutō: The Alternate Tale

Series 12 Part 3

Even after 250 episodes, Bleach can still surprise us. The climax of the Muramasa arc is notable for a protracted confrontation between Muramasa and Ichigo in which we get to see a different side of the ginger-haired Substitute Soul Reaper  Yes, we know Ichigo cares for his friends and will defend them with his life, because he tells us – and them – loudly (and all the time). But this is different; we get a glimpse of an older, more compassionate Ichigo who has done some growing up, resulting in a strangely moving moment of quiet after so much frenetic action.

Well, it was too good to last. And they even warned us! The creative team actually keep acknowledging the situation with funny little trails in which Ulqiorra and Ichigo are just hangin’ around offstage, killing time, drinking tea, waiting to continue their duel to the death. At the time the anime was made (about four years ago) I guess they were waiting for Tite Kubo to deliver more chapters of the manga.

The Muramasa episodes deliver top-notch filler. But then the writers run out of plot. Or steam. Or both. So we’re treated to the concept of the terrifying Sword Beasts, crazed Zanpakutō on the rampage in the Soul Society and the world of the living, because they’ve lost their masters. And so they have to be destroyed. Cue ten episodes in which our heroes’ Zanpakutō, still in their physical forms, team up with the Soul Reapers to track down the Sword Beasts.

These are not bad episodes as such, these little oneshots (with two notably icky exceptions, one involving a baby). But they’re just not particularly good either. (Okay, yes, it would be fun to see Senbonzakura without his mask.) .So this is a box set of two (extremely uneven) halves. The first part, the unmissable conclusion of the Muramasa arc, is definitely in 8/10 territory (in terms of shounen anime series, at least). The second part…meh. Mildly fun but forgettable. But if you’ve been following the Muramasa story arc, you’ll definitely want to see it through to the end.

Even though Shiro Sagisu must have composed a ton of background music over 250+ episodes and four films, it really is time for him to write some new stuff. The same extracts – once so fresh and attractive – are recycled again and again here until they become irritating. There’s even a particularly bizarre moment in Episode 262 which chronicles the forbidden romance between Haineko, Rangiku’s Zanpakuto, and a particularly attractive bishounen Sword Beast where the accompanying music breaks into a string version of the German National Anthem. I just don’t get it. There’s also a new Ending Theme from Episode 256 onward: “Tabidatsu Kimi e”/“On a Journey to You” by RSP which is not particularly distinguished, just another ballad.

In Summary
The first two episodes are unmissable – thereafter, everything else in the Sword Beasts saga is for dedicated Bleach fans only. And even they may have trouble sitting through every one.