Fans of Bleach can now watch Bleach Season 2 which premieres 18 March 2011. Airing Mondays to Fridays, 7.30pm (Singapore) on Animax (StarHub TV ch 532).
Bleach – A Classic Returns to Animax
Singapore, 14 March 2011 – Few movies or TV shows possess the quality, universal appeal and timelessness to be counted as ‘classics’, and the same holds true in the world of anime. In the pantheon of great anime titles, supernatural-themed action series Bleach stands tall in the same league as Dragonball, Gundam, Slam Dunk, Naruto, InuYasha, and Fullmetal Alchemist.
Indeed, Bleach belongs to this special selection of titles that have transcended anime franchises to become brands that casual viewers and even consumers who do not watch anime are familiar with all over the world.
Currently running in Japan, Bleach enjoys a global following. It is being broadcast in Europe, as well as North and South America. In Asia, Bleach is set to continue its run on the region’s anime and youth entertainment channel, Animax.
Premiering 18 March on Animax, Bleach will continue from the cliff-hanger it left off in the first season. Protagonist Kurosaki Ichigo and his friends are caught in a battle to save their friend and ‘Soul Reaper’ Kuchiki Rukia from execution in ‘Soul Society’, the realm for human souls in the afterlife.
Bleach follows the life of 15-year-old, orange-haired student Ichigo, whose chance meeting with Rukia turned him into a ‘Soul Reaper’ in his own right. An evil spirit had attacked and injured Rukia, and left her with no choice but to ‘lend’ her powers to Ichigo to fend for himself. When Rukia’s superiors eventually discovered she had broken laws by transferring powers to Ichigo, she was hauled back to ‘Soul Society’ to be executed.
Swearing to save Rukia, Ichigo embarked on a learning journey that awakened far greater latent ‘Soul Reaper’ powers within him. With friends who willingly risk death fighting alongside him, Ichigo took on the formidable ‘Soul Reaper’ hierarchy on his perilous rescue mission into ‘Soul Society’.
Following the breathtaking conclusion to the war between Ichigo and his friends against the mighty ‘Soul Reaper’ army, fans will want to watch Bleach as it enters an original story arc that is not written into its manga series. The anime series will unravel a race of vampire-like immortals who can live forever and acquire great powers by absorbing human souls. Named ‘Bounts’, they have their sights set on dominating the human world and ‘Soul Society’…
Based on Noriaki “Tite” Kubo’s Shogakukan Award-winning manga series of the same title that has sold over 60 million copies from 2001 to 2010, Bleach is a juggernaut that continues to grow at a breakneck speed.
In addition to the manga and anime TV series, Bleach has been theatrically released in four spin-off anime movies since 2006 – grossing over US$20million in the Japanese box-office alone — with the latest in Japan’s theatres just last December.
In addition, more than 20 Bleach-titled video games have been made for the Nintendo DS and Wii, Sony PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 2, as well as Game Boy Advance consoles since 2005. Two collectible card games were also launched, and even a live-action rock musical was staged in Tokyo in August 2005.
Anime News Network, the world’s authority on anime news, called it “one incredibly entertaining anime that will grab you and refuse to let go”. Bleach never lets up on its compelling plotlines, captivating action and engaging character exploration. Built on universal themes such as friendship, sacrifice, coming-of-age and the determination to succeed, Bleach tugs at the heartstrings of one and all, to inspire youth and young adults everywhere.
See how the fates of Ichigo, Rukia and their friends hang in the balance as the Bleach returns this March to Animax!
Bleach Season 2 premieres 18 March 2011
Airing Mondays to Fridays, 7.30pm (Singapore) on Animax (StarHub TV ch 532)
About Animax Asia
Launched on 1 January 2004, ANIMAX is Asia’s first channel brand specializing in the fastest growing youth entertainment genre – Japanese animation (anime). As a premier TV destination catering to youth and young adults, ANIMAX also offers a wide variety of the most popular and trendiest live-action programming from Japan, the region, and the US including music concerts, variety & reality shows, as well as idol dramas; along with exclusive ANIMAX original productions exploring youth interests in music, technology, gaming, lifestyle and animation.
ANIMAX offers youth and young adults a place to escape to. An extraordinary world where anything is possible. A world where they can express their thoughts, share their passion, showcase their creativity, and make new friends. A world that celebrates the joy of youth and recognizes them for who they are; a world of fun, happiness and excitement… In short, A World Less Ordinary.
Reaching 40 million viewers in 28 million homes across 19 countries, ANIMAX is wholly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and managed by SPE Networks – Asia, which also operates AXN, AXN BEYOND and SONY ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION. Visit www.animaxtv.com for more.
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