Anime News Thread

[Mattias]

Arrested and incarcerated are 2 different things.

99% incarceration rate.

[Ideofago]

Japan's legal system is notoriously unjust and trigger happy as far as incarceration is concerned.

[SirGauoftheSquareTable]

As someone who has recently read the manga, I agree with Gau here. Kubo is competent as a writer, but I would say the main problem with Bleach was that every arc after a certain point was for the most part structurally identical to the Soul Society Arc (except for the Fullbringer Arc but that had its own problems). Kubo just isn't that good with making threat escalation feel organic and well thought out, and after a certain point you could tell that he was sick of it. Same thing fucked over Kishimoto.

Regardless of Bleach's quality towards the end, I think it still deserves to be animated. If for nothing else then to see some sick shit.

I actually disagree with this assessment because I feel Kubo actually did a fairly good job of foreshadowing later aspects of the story very early on in the manga, and I say this having reread the manga knowing everything. At the very least, everything involving Ichigo's heritage was almost certainly planned from day 1, and I found the threat escalation pretty believable following a binge. Also, on its own merits, the Lost Agent arc was actually a nice short story, but it failed to develop Chad in any meaningful way, so that's an overall loss for me. I feel Kubo had a ton of ideas he wanted to implement for the Thousand Year Blood War, but his declining health and general burnout prevented him from following through on any of them, and pressure from the executives likely didn't help his case.

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Wait, wasn't it 100% confirmed that it was health issues?

He did admit to as much, and I classify that to some extent as burnout.

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Also, while I'm still on the Bleach train, I do wish Kubo had shown us Aizen's Bankai that he apparently had plans for, and of course, I'm pinning a lot of hopes on this Thousand Year Blood War anime to be a major expansion from the manga, actually finishing several errant plot threads like why the heck Ywach captured Harribel, how Uryuu survived multiple Auschwalen, what the deal is with the Ishidas in general, and more stuff along those lines.

[ResidentSeagull]

I actually disagree with this assessment because I feel Kubo actually did a fairly good job of foreshadowing later aspects of the story very early on in the manga, and I say this having reread the manga knowing everything. At the very least, everything involving Ichigo's heritage was almost certainly planned from day 1, and I found the threat escalation pretty believable following a binge. Also, on its own merits, the Lost Agent arc was actually a nice short story, but it failed to develop Chad in any meaningful way, so that's an overall loss for me. I feel Kubo had a ton of ideas he wanted to implement for the Thousand Year Blood War, but his declining health and general burnout prevented him from following through on any of them, and pressure from the executives likely didn't help his case.

Fair enough. My take comes from the fact that even in the beginning of Bleach (the first arc to the Soul Society Arc) I never found anything I would say is particularly well written or emotionally resonant.

I know that makes it sound like I'm being an asshole and overly harsh on it, but I have to stress that I say that as someone who really enjoyed it in its entirety, warts and all. Kubo is definitely capable of good, emotional character moments and interesting plot beats, but I would say those were few and far between for me personally.

Case and point with Ichigo. While I agree with you that Kubo did a decent job foreshadowing his heritage and powerups, the problem with him is that he becomes wrapped up in his own power escalation and stops feeling like a character after a certain point. What I mean by this is that while you see him struggle with obstacles at certain points and work for his powerups (Soul Society and Thousand Year Blood War) and faces crises close to home (Fullbringer), he never...feels like a person. More like a vehicle for the plot. I know a lot shonen stuff has main characters like that, but my opinion still stands.

Again, those're just my opinions on the matter. I can't fault you for disagreeing or anything like that. I just feel like Kubo at his best isn't particularly spectacular. (shit man that makes me come of as such an asshole jesus)

[SirGauoftheSquareTable]

It's cool. The way you talk about Bleach reminds me of how I talk about Demon Slayer or JuJutsu Kaisen. I love both, but have real problems with their structure and pacing.

As for your thoughts on Ichigo, I initially had a similar opinion when I first read Bleach 5 years ago, but upon reread with new eyes, I was pleasantly surprised by the depth and nuance of his character. He may be hot-blooded and fight on instinct, but he's not a dumbass, can use his powers strategically, and is pretty quick to understand situations he's in. In addition, I was impressed by how many moments of genuine self-doubt he had, and he felt his age when he was angsting or doubting his own path.

I'd say after rereading Bleach, it might be my favorite of the Big 3 that I've read, which are basically Bleach and Naruto.

[Laserman]

86 EIGHTY-SIX TV Anime's Final 2 Episodes Postponed Until March 2022
That's outrageous. This anime has had delay after delay, why?

[Rafflesiac]

That's production crunch for you.

[Five_X]

Guess it's been

eighty-sixed

[Laserman]

Tiger & Bunny 2 Anime's Trailer Reveals Opening Theme Song, April 8 Premiere

It looks just like before, this is going to be so great.

[Mattias]

Guess it's been

eighty-sixed

Toby, stop stealling Five's password.

[Highwayman]

Tiger & Bunny 2 Anime's Trailer Reveals Opening Theme Song, April 8 Premiere
It looks just like before, this is going to be so great.

Long overdue but very welcome news. I haven't been this excited about new anime since Index got its third season.

[RoydGolden]

Guess it's been

eighty-sixed

Huh, I never even realized that's why they were called 86. Well in-universe it's because they're from the 86th District but given they're treated as disposable it fits the colloquial meaning too.

[LJ3]

https://twitter.com/fortunerest/stat...9_nC7ilCg&s=19

Maaya Sakamoto gave birth, congrats to her and Kenichi Suzumura

[AmADo VII]

https://twitter.com/fortunerest/stat...9_nC7ilCg&s=19

Maaya Sakamoto gave birth, congrats to her and Kenichi Suzumura

imo that's pregnancy announcement.

[Petrikow]

このたび幸運なことに子供を授かり、来年出産の予定です

Yes.

[SirGauoftheSquareTable]

https://twitter.com/fortunerest/stat...9_nC7ilCg&s=19

Maaya Sakamoto gave birth, congrats to her and Kenichi Suzumura

Oh wow, congrats to them both and best wishes.

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imo that's pregnancy announcement.

Same response.

[Laserman]

OLDCODEX to Disband After Contributing 2nd Free! The Final Stroke Film's Theme Song
It's a real shame that this is happening, I liked their music. But I don't feel sorry for them losing those roles, people should face consequences like that after doing what he did.

[NMR-3]

https://twitter.com/hoshiiro_anime/s...6gHjbd8Bw&s=19

Pop Team Epic S2 announced.

[bassgs435]

Tokyo 24th ward production is a disaster

[Mattias]

Oh man, I can't wait.