List of Bleach Agent of the Shinigami arc episodes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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List of Bleach Agent of the Shinigami arc episodes

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Bleach Agent of the Shinigami arc is the first story arc of the Bleach anime series. The episodes are directed by Noriyuki Abe and produced by TV Tokyo, Dentsu, and Studio Pierrot. In the English release by Viz Media, its title is translated as The Substitute.[1] It is based on Tite Kubo's Bleach manga series, and adapts the first eight volumes of its source material over twenty episodes. The arc initially ran from October 2004 until February 2005 in Japan on TV Tokyo. The first English airing of the series was from September 2006 until January 2007. It was shown on both YTV's Bionix and Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming blocks, with Bionix airing the show one day sooner due to timezone differences.

Three pieces of theme music are used for the episodes; one opening theme and two ending themes. The opening theme is Orange Range's single *~Asterisk~. The ending theme for the first thirteen episodes is Life is Like a Boat by Rie fu, while the remaining seven use Thank You!! by Home Made Kazoku. The arc was released on five DVD compilations, each containing four episodes of the show. The first of these compilations, with art featuring the series main character Ichigo Kurosaki, was nominated at the American Anime Awards in 2007 for best DVD package design.[2] In addition to the television episodes listed below, the first of the two Bleach OVAs, Memories in the Rain, falls into the Agent of the Shinigami arc, being an alternate version of episodes eight and nine that was shown at the 2004 Jump Festa.

The Bleach DVD season 1 boxart

Episode list
EP# 1 Title "A Shinigami is Born!" "The Day I Became a Shinigami // Shinigami ni nacchatta hi" ( ) Original airdate October 5, 2004 English airdate September 8, 2006

Ichigo Kurosaki is a 15 year old boy who can see spirits. As he tries to protect the spirit of a little girl from a hollow, he witnesses a clash between the malevolent spirit and a shinigami. Later, Ichigo is met by the woman again in his room. She introduces herself as Rukia Kuchiki, and explains the basic goal of the shinigami to Ichigo. The hollow returns, attacking Ichigo's home, and Rukia is wounded. In order to save his family, Ichigo takes Rukias power into himself and becomes a shinigami. 2 "Pay or Play" "A Shinigami's Work // Shinigami no oshigoto" ( ) October 12, 2004 September 15, 2006

After discovering Rukia has enrolled in his class, she reveals to Ichigo that she has lost her power and tells him to stand in as a substitute. Although he refuses this position at first, Ichigo eventually accepts after realizing he cannot just turn a blind eye if he encounters a hollow. 3 "Sibling Rivalry" "The Older Brother's Wish, the Younger Sister's Wish // Ani no omoi, ) im to no omoi" ( October 19, 2004 September 22, 2006

Ichigo discovers one of his classmate, Orihime Inoue, is stalked by her older brother's spirit turned hollow. As he is forced to use his power again, Ichigo finally submits to his purpose as a substitute shinigami and agrees to take on Rukia's shinigami responsibilities. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Bleach_Agent_of_the_Shinigami_arc_episodes 8/21/2007

List of Bleach Agent of the Shinigami arc episodes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia "And Your Bird Can Speak" "Cursed Parakeet // Noroi no inko" ( October 26, 2004

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Ichigos friend Chad comes into possession of a cursed cockatiel that is inhabited by the soul of a small boy. The curse, which brings misfortune to anyone who possesses it, is really the acts of a hollow that has been stalking the boy's soul. Chad is attacked by the hollow, but with Rukia's help, they face off against the hollow. 5 "Beat the Invisible Enemy!" "Mienai teki o nagure!" ( !) November 2, 2004 October 6, 2006

With Rukia's help, Chad fights the hollow despite not being able to see it. Ichigo eventually arrives and defeats the hollow, but unlike the previous hollows that simply dissolved and went to Soul Society, the gates of Hell appear and capture the hollow. The spirit that inhabited the cockatiel is released to move on to Soul Society. 6 "Fight to the Death! Ichigo vs. Ichigo" "Shit ! Ichigo vs Ichigo" ( VS ) November 9, 2004 October 13, 2006

In order for Ichigo to transform into a shinigami when Rukia is not around, she purchases some soul candy from the Urahara Shop for him. However, the candy is actually a modified soul, an artificial warrior from Soul Society created to destroy hollows. Once inside Ichigo's body the modified soul goes on a rampage, ruining Ichigo's social image. 7 "Greetings from a Stuffed Toy" "Nuigurumi kara KONnichiwa" ( ) November 16, 2004 October 20, 2006

Ichigo confronts the modified soul possessing his body, but is then distracted by an emerging hollow. Together, they defeat the hollow. When Kisuke Urahara (the merchant who sold Rukia her gigai) comes for the "defective" merchandise, Ichigo takes the modified soul back. He places the modified soul into a stuffed lion plushie and names it "Kon". Meanwhile in Soul Society, another shinigami is sent to track down Rukia, who has spent too much time in the living world and needs retrieving. 8 "June 17, a Memory of Rain" "Rokugatsu j nananichi, ame no kioku" (6 17 ) November 23, 2004 October 27, 2006

Ichigo and his family visit their mother's grave on the anniversary of her death. While there, the shinigami sent for Rukia attacks them because she broke Soul Society law by giving him her powers. The battle halts when Ichigo's sisters Karin and Yuzu are attacked by a hollow. 9 "Unbeatable Enemy" "Taosenai teki" ( ) November 30, 2004 November 3, 2006

Ichigo confronts the hollow, who is revealed as the Grand Fisher, the hollow who killed Ichigo's mother. Ichigo defeats the hollow, but does not manage to kill it. The shinigami sent after Rukia gives up his search when he witnesses Ichigo's strength. 10 "Assault on Trip at Sacred Ground!" "Burari reiba totsugeki no tabi!" ( !) December 7, 2004 November 10, 2006

When popular TV star/spirit medium Don Kanonji transforms a spirit into a hollow during an exorcism, Ichigo is forced to clean up the mess. Upon the hollow's defeat, Kanonji is shocked to realize what he has done. With a little cheer-up from Ichigo, Kanonji is back to his old self again, and calls Ichigo, despite Ichigo's objections, his new apprentice. 11 "The Legendary Quincy" "Densetsu no Kuinsh " ( ) December 14, November 17, 2004 2006

While on another hollow fighting mission, Ichigo encounters Ury Ishida, a fellow classmate belonging to a clan known as the Quincy - humans that can use spiritual power to fight hollows. Ishida declares himself an http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Bleach_Agent_of_the_Shinigami_arc_episodes 8/21/2007

List of Bleach Agent of the Shinigami arc episodes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia enemy of all shinigami and challenges Ichigo to a hollow-hunting competition. 12 "A Gentle Right Arm" "Yasashii migiude" ( )

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December 21, November 24, 2004 2006

The hollow-hunting contest between Ishida and Ichigo has lured hundreds of hollows to Karakura Town, endangering many of Ichigo's friends. Chad is forced to fight a hollow in order to save Karin. During the battle he is finally able to see the hollow clearly, and develops a new ability an armoured right arm capable of firing energy blasts. 13 "Flower and Hollow" "Hana to hor " ( ) December 28, 2004 December 1, 2006

The situation worsens as more hollows appear in the human world, attacking the school where Orihime and her friends are. While defending them, Orihime develops her own power, the Shun Shun Rikka a group of fairy-like creatures coming from the hairpins given to her by her brother and defeats the hollow. Afterward, Kisuke Urahara takes in Orihime and Chad to help them with their new powers while Rukia and Ichigo confront Ishida. 14 "Back to Back, a Fight to the Death!" "Senaka awase no shit !" ( !) January 11, 2005 December 8, 2006

The legion of hollows force Ichigo and Ishida to team up in combat while the others watch. A giant hollow called a Menos Grande arrives on the scene, and is driven away after Ichigo inflicts a wound with his full power. However, he releases too much spiritual power in the process. The strain of his powers causes Ichigo to lose consciousness, and Ishida saves him by releasing the excess energy through his bow. 15 "Kon's Great Plan" "Kon no UHAUHA daisakusen" ( ) January 18, 2005 December 15, 2006

Tired of mistreatment from Ichigo, Kon runs away to find a nicer owner. Instead, he is abused wherever he goes. Ichigo makes an effort to befriend Ishida but is rebuffed. Rukia becomes conflicted with her attachment with humans. Rather than endanger Ichigo, she runs away to face the hunters from Soul Society. 16 "Encounter: Renji Abarai!" "Abarai Renji, misan!" ( !) January 25, 2005 December 22, 2006

Ichigo faces off against the shinigami Renji Abarai, who has come to capture Rukia. Renji triggers his initial release, gaining the advantage by transforming his sword into a unique weapon, and Ichigo finds himself overwhelmed fighting a fully trained shinigami. 17 "Ichigo Dies!" "Ichigo, shisu!" ( !) February 1, 2005 January 5, 2007

Ichigo makes a comeback against Renji, overwhelming him. Just when Renji is about to fall, Byakuya Kuchiki, Rukia's brother, steps in and defeats Ichigo. Rukia returns to Soul Society so that Ichigo can be spared death, and Ichigo is left dying, with his power stripped from him. He is then saved by Kisuke Urahara, who agrees to help him rescue Rukia, who faces the death penalty in Soul Society. Ichigo, however, must agree to train to regain his powers. 18 "Reclaim! The Power of the Shinigami" "Torimodose! Shinigami no chikara!" ( ! !) February 8, 2005 January 12, 2007

As his last day of school ends, Ichigo is upset to discover that no one except for Orihime and Chad seems to remember Rukia, due to a Soul Society-imposed mind wipe. He begins his training at the Urahara Shop, first battling Ururu Tsumugiya to regain control of his spirit body. As the training enters stage two Ichigo's soul is cut from his body and thrown into a pit, and he must try to regain his shinigami powers in 72 hours, or risk becoming a hollow. Meanwhile, Yoruichi Shihouin, a speaking cat, offers to train Chad and Orihime to control their powers so they can join Ichigo in Soul Society. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Bleach_Agent_of_the_Shinigami_arc_episodes 8/21/2007

List of Bleach Agent of the Shinigami arc episodes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia "Ichigo Becomes a Hollow!" "Ichigo, hor ni ochiru!" ( February 15, 2005

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19

!)

In Soul Society Rukias sentence is moved up and she only has 25 days left. In the pit Ichigo battles through the agony of the process of becoming a hollow. His transformation is almost complete as he enters his own mind, coming face to face with his inner spirit, Zangetsu, who helps him unleash the shinigami powers he was born with. In a powerful display, Ichigo emerges from the pit with his shinigami uniform on, but also wearing the mask of a hollow. Breaking the mask off, Ichigo spends the rest of his training fighting Urahara. 20 "Gin Ichimaru's Shadow" "Ichimaru Gin no kage" ( ) February 22, 2005 January 26, 2007

While fighting Urahara, Ichigo learns the name of his zanpakut - Zangetsu. Upon learning the name, the sword transforms into a much more powerful version and he unleashes an energy blast which knocks off Urahara's hat, completing the third stage in his training. Orihime and Chad, meanwhile, finish their training with Yoruichi. The entire group, including Ishida, who has been training alone, set out for Soul Society using a gate Yoruichi and Urahara made.

References
BLEACH (http://cal.syoboi.jp/tid/491/subtitle). Retrieved on 2007-05-25. - List of Bleach episode titles
(Japanese)
This article contains Japanese text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of kanji or kana.

BLEACH - Official U.S. Site (http://www.viz.com/bleach/site.php) (flash). Retrieved on 2007-05-25. - *Official Viz Media Bleach anime site. (English)

Notes
1. ^ VIZ Media . products (http://www.viz.com/products/products.php?product_id=6112). Retrieved on 2007-05-23. Viz media product info for Bleach DVD collection 01 on the Viz website. 2. ^ NYCC 07: Viz Anime Dominates Award Noms (http://comics.ign.com/articles/764/764384p1.html). IGN. Retrieved on 2007-03-26.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Bleach_Agent_of_the_Shinigami_arc_episodes

8/21/2007