Bleach - 121 April 11
OP Sequence
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OP: 「ALONES」 by Aqua Timez
Watch the OP! Mirror 1, Mirror 2
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Summary:
Since the Arrancar are confused as to what the Limit Release is, Hitsugaya, Renji, and Matsumoto explain that captains and vice-captains have seals on their bodies to restrict their spiritual pressures so that they minimize impact on souls in this world. Their power is thus normally reduced by 80%, meaning that they are now 5 times stronger without the limit. Faced with the massive power boost, Shawlong tries to get the others to retreat, but it’s too late and each of the Arrancar meets their end. Despite the victory though, Hitsugaya is gravely wounded and Renji is exhausted. Renji thinks to himself that he was lucky his opponent was caught off guard because of how strong the Arrancar was. In particular, he thinks this bodes poorly for Ichigo. While Matsumoto gets Inoue’s help to heal her captain, across town, Keigo brings Ikkaku and Yumichika back home to his sister. To Keigo’s surprise, his sister takes a liking to Ikkaku and lets them stay.
Meanwhile, Ichigo is already in his ban kai form, but he’s barely able to do anything to Grimmjow. Using only his fists, Grimmjow is able to beat Ichigo to a pulp and is quite disappointed with Ichigo’s ban kai. Ichigo responds by using the black version of his Getsuga Tenshou attack, and this actually causes a little damage to Grimmjow, but nothing significant. Frustrated, Ichigo knows that the black version of the attack is his Hollow side’s, and using it allows that side to come out faster. He estimates that he can probably use it two or three more times without completely losing control. Unbeknownst to Ichigo, Tatsuki is actually watching his fight from around the street corner. In addition, a certain someone is also arriving in this world via a dimensional rift from Hueco Mundo.
Grimmjow has become quite excited by the prospect of an actual fight. However, as he starts to draw his zanpaktou, Tousen suddenly appears behind him and stops him. Tousen isn’t happy at all with how Grimmjow attacked this world on his own accord with five other Arrancar, all of whom are dead now. He says that Grimmjow completely disobeyed his orders and claims that Aizen is furious. With Tousen around, Grimmjow has no choice but to return to Hueco Mundo where his punishment is waiting. Ichigo can’t believe that the Arrancar is just leaving and tries to get him back so that they can finish this. Grimmjow responds by saying that Ichigo is the one who’s getting his life spared. He can tell that Ichigo’s black Getsuga Tenshou damages Ichigo too and that Ichigo can only use it a few times. But he also feels that even if Ichigo could do it an infinite number of times, he still wouldn’t be able to defeat Grimmjow’s released form.
Grimmjow then tells Ichigo his full name and predicts that the next time Ichigo hears that name will be when he dies. After Grimmjow disappears, Renji arrives on the scene and grimly declares that they’ve won since the Arrancar have gone back to Hueco Mundo. Ichigo, however, feels that he had lost, especially since he couldn’t protect anyone. Both of them head to Rukia’s side where Inoue is healing the wounded girl. Inoue notices the look on Ichigo’s face as he stares at Rukia and sighs quietly to herself. Around the same time, Ururu is also getting healed at Urahara’s shop. Back in Hueco Mundo, a smiling Aizen welcomes Grimmjow home.
ED Sequence
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ED: 「爪先」 (Tsumasaki) by オレスカバンド (Oreskaband)
Watch the ED!: Mirror 1, Mirror 2
I really like both the opening and ending songs, but it’s the opening animation sequence that has me most excited. I like how it started out with Kon singing in sync with vocalist Futoshi of Aqua Timez. The OP is very Inoue-centric and hints at all the stuff we’ll be seeing in the arcs to come to the point where I guess you could say that it’s too spoilerish.
Preview
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Well that was a lot of fun to watch. They really extended the part where Grimmjow beats up on Ichigo, making Ichigo seem very much like a punching bag. And yet, despite that fight lasting longer than I thought it would, they still managed to get through three and a half chapters worth of manga material. This was an action episode though, so it’s understandable, but I still worry about what happens if or when they catch up to the manga.
Tousen’s appearance in this episode has me wondering about power levels again. How much stronger is Tousen now if he can order Grimmjow around? I guess what I’m getting at is that I wonder if he’s stronger than Zaraki now. I’d love to see them in a rematch of their Soul Society battle (then again, as I’ve said in the past, I’d love to see more of Zaraki in general).
Anyway, new Bleach OPs and EDs always manage to get me excited about this show all over again. And the preview for next week shows lots of juicy bits, including more of Tousen, and Ichigo going up against Shinji.
Elegant Destruction at 3:19 pm on April 11th, 2007
ahh, a spoiler opening and ending, so typical
*can’t wait!!*
first comment! woohooo!!
kurotsuki at 3:22 pm on April 11th, 2007
Best episode of bleach i have seen so far .
as for the opening…wow.i have never seen so much spoilers in a opening before .
tsif at 3:23 pm on April 11th, 2007
wahaha
Karis at 3:26 pm on April 11th, 2007
Don’t you think there’re giving us a little too much information? Not to mention going a little too fast. But still, The animation and battle scenes are AW~SOME.
Guido at 3:31 pm on April 11th, 2007
Omni
The current opening is highly spoilerish, though not as explicitly spoilerish as the previous ending was.
Omni at 3:40 pm on April 11th, 2007
I dunno…
Show Spoiler ▼
Like MJ-chan at 3:47 pm on April 11th, 2007
I haven’t catched up with Bleach like with 30 episode but are the spoilers about Orihime?
GStrike- at 3:52 pm on April 11th, 2007
Anacone at 3:54 pm on April 11th, 2007
Never has Getsuga Tensho looked so cool. So strongly colored and outlined, nice movement and intense of fights…excellent quality and details. Only grip was recycled looking Hichigo shots…
Sure few minutes of ep is retelling events and they used nice slow motion and such tricks to keep pace low, but still very VERY enjoyable, not sure though how many chaps they got used for this, but eventually fillers awaits…
DEATH at 4:06 pm on April 11th, 2007
They’re spoiling a lot now. I like the looks of the ending. It’s cool when they put shinigami in regular clothes.
N at 4:09 pm on April 11th, 2007
8D~~~ *drool* This looks awesome. Sooo excited.
KurisuViBritannia at 4:38 pm on April 11th, 2007
Wow, that OP was so spoilerific i bet quite a few people have said “F’ It” and started on the manga.
Myst at 4:39 pm on April 11th, 2007
The animation looks fantastic! But i think they are moving a little to fast in the anime, they covered too many Manga chapters but still fantastic.
Myst at 4:51 pm on April 11th, 2007
sorry for the double post but after watching the opening i only have this to say: MY GOD! i haven’t seen so many spoilers in one opening before. it even has spoilers of the latest manga chapters with espada number 9 and stuff(chapters 260 and above). i can’t believe they decided to put almost all the major incidents in the OP. it kinna takes away the excitement but a damn nice Op nonetheless.
JurrasicRabbit at 4:52 pm on April 11th, 2007
“including more of Tousen and Ichigo going up against Shinji.”
lol I read this as Tousen and Ichigo teaming up against Shinji and went “wait wha?”
Omni at 4:55 pm on April 11th, 2007
Sorry, I’ve added a comma in there for clarification.
Tenkaichi at 5:03 pm on April 11th, 2007
Tousen is stronger than Grimmjow, is that what you’re saying? He
Show Spoiler ▼
But Grimmjow wouldn’t sit there and take it if he could do something about it. My impression is that Aizen, Tousen and Gin are the three tops, Tousen and Gin obviously underneath Aizen.
mewmew at 5:12 pm on April 11th, 2007
@ tenkaichi
its safe to assume that tousen/gin/aizen have achieved
Show Spoiler ▼
im a bit surprised that the vaizard group (who are very unique and interesting, may i add) weren’t included in the OP. VERY orihime-centered, i must agree…
man3k at 5:23 pm on April 11th, 2007
Arrrggh~ New Opening!! (O_O)
i’m still doubting Tousen’s new strength.. Coz hasn’t any solid proof that he’s been able to match-up with Zaraki’s Monstrous Power.
Show Spoiler ▼
Can’t wait for the part when Ichigo undergo training with the Vaizard~ it’d be Reall COOL!
AloneinVoid at 5:25 pm on April 11th, 2007
OrihimeXIchigo centered openings always rule…really constant usage of IchiRuki by animation team, began to bother. its always nice to see, that they havent forgotten another lead female of bleach…god…so many spoilers… :E