The sixteenth season of the Bleach anime series is known as the Lost Agent arc (死神代行消失篇, Shinigami Daikō Shōshitsu hen).[1] It is directed by Noriyuki Abe, and produced by TV Tokyo, Dentsu and Studio Pierrot.[2] Based on Tite Kubo's Bleach manga series, the season is set seventeen months after Ichigo Kurosaki lost his Soul Reaper powers and meets a man known as Kūgo Ginjō who proposes him to recover them.
| Bleach | |
|---|---|
| Season 16 | |
 The cover of the first DVD compilation released by Aniplex of Lost Agent Arc | |
| No. of episodes | 24 |
| Release | |
| Original network | TV Tokyo |
| Original release | October 11, 2011 – March 27, 2012 |
| Season chronology | |
The season aired from October 2011 to March 2012.[3] Aniplex collected it in six DVD volumes between August 22, 2012, and January 23, 2013.[4][5] The English adaptation of the Bleach anime is licensed by Viz Media, and the season aied on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block from May to November 2014.[6] The episodes of this season use three pieces of theme music; one opening and two endings. The opening theme is "Harukaze" by Scandal.[2] The first ending theme, "Re:pray" by Aimer is used from episodes 343 to 354,[2] and the second ending theme, "Mask" by Aqua Timez is used from episode 355 to 366.
Episodes
edit| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Original air date | English air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 343 | 1 | "3rd Year High School Student! Dressed Up, and a New Chapter Begins!" Transliteration: "Kōkō 3 Nensei! Yosoi Arata ni Shinshō Kaishi!" (Japanese: 高校３年生！装い新たに新章開始！) | October 11, 2011 | May 4, 2014 | |
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Seventeen months after the defeat of Sōsuke Aizen at the cost of his Soul Reaper powers, now seventeen-year-old Ichigo Kurosaki has been living in peace as a third year high school student. On the way home from school, Ichigo incapacitates a thief and returns the stolen bag to its owner. The next day, the thief and his gang seek out Ichigo at his school and are confronted by Uryū Ishida. Elsewhere, the owner of the stolen bag meets with his friends revealing he has found Ichigo. | |||||
| 344 | 2 | "A Dispute in School!? Ichigo and Uryū, Fight Together!" Transliteration: "Gakkō Kan Kōsō!? Ichigo to Uryū, Kyōtou!" (Japanese: 学校間抗争!?一護と雨竜、共闘！) | October 18, 2011 | May 11, 2014 | |
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Ichigo and Uryū dispatch the gang with ease but are interrupted when Ichigo's part-time job boss, Ikumi Unagiya, kidnaps and forces him to work. Their client, the owner of the stolen bag, requests an investigation on Isshin Kurosaki, Ichigo's father. Ichigo declines but is intrigued when the owner reveals that one of his younger sisters, Karin Kurosaki, had been visiting Kisuke Urahara. The owner introduces himself as Kūgo Ginjō, gives Ichigo a Xcution business card and cryptically warns him to act before his family is hurt. Uryū, passing by Ichigo's house, pursues a strange man and is critically injured as a result. | |||||
| 345 | 3 | "Uryū is Attacked, A Threat Draws Near the Friends!" Transliteration: "Osowareta Uryū, Nakama-tachi ni Semaru Kyōi!" (Japanese: 襲われた雨竜、仲間達に迫る脅威！) | October 25, 2011 | May 18, 2014 | |
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While walking at night, Ichigo decides to forget his past and throws his substitute badge into the river. Later, he hears from Orihime Inoue that Uryū is in the hospital. At the hospital, Ryūken Ishida sends Ichigo home and reveals to Orihime the assailant was a human with powers and cautions her to be careful. The next day, Ichigo's friends, Keigo Asano and Mizuiro Kojima, are attacked by the thief whom Ichigo had stopped prior. Ichigo saves them and meets Uryū's assailant who flees when Ryūken arrives. Ichigo, realizing he is being excluded from information due to his lack of powers, decides to contact Xcution. | |||||
| 346 | 4 | "The Man with the Fullbring Ability: Kūgo Ginjō" Transliteration: "Furuburingu no Nōryokusha: Ginjō Kūgo" (Japanese: 完現術の能力者・銀城空吾) | November 1, 2011 | June 1, 2014 | |
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After contacting Ginjō, Ichigo is led to the Xcution headquarters and learns its members possess the ability dubbed as Fullbring, which allows them to manipulate the souls of inanimate objects. The cause of the power are residual spiritual energy from hollows who attacked their pregnant mothers. Yasutora "Chad" Sado, who had been missing, appears at the headquarters, shocking Ichigo. Ginjō reveals that Xcution plans to restore Ichigo's Soul Reaper powers in order to rid themselves of their Fullbring abilities. Ichigo declines, stating that he is only seeking information his family and friends are hiding from him. | |||||
| 347 | 5 | "A Crisis Sneaking up on the Kurosaki Family!? Ichigo's Confusion!" Transliteration: "Kurosaki-ka ni Shinobiyoru Kiki!? Ichigo no Mayoi!" (Japanese: 黒崎家に忍び寄る危機!?一護の迷い！) | November 8, 2011 | June 8, 2014 | |
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Uryū's assailant stabs an incomplete hollow and asks for its cooperation. Ichigo returns home and resumes his life. Chad attempts to convince Ichigo to accept Xcution's offer, stating that Ichigo himself wants the power to protect his loved ones. While walking through town, Ichigo sees Uryū's assailant and pursues him but runs into his other younger sister, Yuzu Kurosaki, on the way. The hollow attacks them and are saved when Ginjō dispatches it. As a result, Ichigo returns to Xcution and accepts their offer, and Ginjō returns Ichigo's substitute badge back to him. | |||||
| 348 | 6 | "Power of the Substitute Badge, Ichigo's 'Pride'!" Transliteration: "Daikōshō no Chikara, Ichigo no "Hokori"!" (Japanese: 代行証の力、一護の“誇り”！) | November 15, 2011 | June 15, 2014 | |
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The next day, Ichigo is called in to Xcution headquarters to learn how to use the Fullbring abilities. Ichigo is shrunken and placed in a dollhouse by Riruka Dokugamine, where he has to defeat an aggressive pig plushie under a time limit set by Giriko Kutsuzawa. When Chad advises Ichigo to use his pride, Ichigo uses his substitute badge as the focal item to materialize his Fullbring. | |||||
| 349 | 7 | "Next Target, The Devil's Hand Aims at Orihime!" Transliteration: "Tsugi no Hyōteki, Orihime o Nerau Ma no Te!" (Japanese: 次の標的、織姫を狙う魔の手！) | November 22, 2011 | June 22, 2014 | |
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Ichigo defeats the pig plushie with his Fullbring and is freed from the dollhouse. Elsewhere, Orihime is confronted by Moe Shishigawara, who intends to kill her. Shishigawara is then interrupted by his superior, Uryū's assailant, who is revealed to be Shūkurō Tsukishima. Tsukishima prepares to punish Shishigawara for going against his orders, but Orihime decides to intervene. | |||||
| 350 | 8 | "The Man Who Killed the Shinigami Substitute!? Tsukishima Makes His Move" Transliteration: "Shinigami Daikō o Koroshita Otoko!? Ugokidasu Tsukishima" (Japanese: 死神代行を殺した男!?動き出す月島) | November 29, 2011 | June 29, 2014 | |
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Tsukishima pretends to impale Orihime's chest and leaves her. Although Orihime suffered no cuts, she starts having a vague idea that Tsukishima was her friend. Unwilling to worry Ichigo about what happened, she only tells Chad about Tsukishima. Aware that Orihime is hiding information from him, Ichigo goes back to Xcution headquarters and Gingō reveals that Tsukishima was Xcution's original founding member, but when they found a Substitute Soul Reaper to transfer of some their members powers to Tsukishima killed him and the members involved in the transfer before disappearing. In light of Tsukishima actions Gingō decides to speed up Ichigo's training. | |||||
| 351 | 9 | "Fullbring, The Detested Power!" Transliteration: "Furuburingu, Imikirawareta Chikara!" (Japanese: フルブリング、忌み嫌われた力！) | December 6, 2011 | July 13, 2014 | |
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Ichigo continues his training, but desires to actually battle one of the members of Xcution. Ginjō suggests that Jackie Tristan should be his opponent, but she refuses and storms off. Meanwhile, Tsukishima sends Shishigawara to tail Chad. However, while Chad is wary of Shishigawara's presence, no attack on him is attempted. Later, Jackie decides that she will fight Ichigo in a fish tank after seeing him pass his training in a bird cage, both set up by Riruka. She fully introduces herself, activates her Fullbring using her boots and proceeds to attack a surprised Ichigo. | |||||
| 352 | 10 | "Tsukishima Attacks! The Training Has Been Thwarted" Transliteration: "Tsukishima, Kyōshū! Bōgaisareta Shugyō" (Japanese: 月島、強襲！妨害された修行) | December 13, 2011 | July 20, 2014 | |
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Ichigo continues his training with Jackie. While at first Jackie overwhelms him with her more experienced powers, Ichigo is able to activate a power of Fullbring known as Bringer Light to gain the advantage. As they go on with the battle, Ichigo's powers go out of control, but insist that he can still fight despite Jackie's insistence that they stop. It is then that Tsukishima attacks Xcution, wanting to kill Ichigo. When Tsukishima cuts the fish tank containing Ichigo and Jackie, Ichigo appears, revealing the next stage of his Fullbring. | |||||
| 353 | 11 | "Ichigo, Mastering the Fullbring!" Transliteration: "Ichigo, Furuburingu o Tsukaikonase!" (Japanese: 一護、完現術を使いこなせ！) | December 20, 2011 | July 27, 2014 | |
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Ichigo, Chad and Xcution start their battle with Tsukishima. The battle is taken outside when Chad attacks Tsukishima before he reveals he was the one who attacked Uryū and Orihime, but Ichigo finds it out anyway. Enraged he starts to battle Tsukishima, but the expert Fullbringer overwhelms him. Ginjō then gets in the way and battles with Tsukishima instead, the two being more evenly matched. Yet Ichigo, who cannot just stand there and watch, attacks again and is able to land a hit, but is stopped by Yukio Hans Vorarlberna, who then proceeds to stop Tsukishima himself. | |||||
| 354 | 12 | "Ichigo vs. Ginjō! To the Game's Space" Transliteration: "Ichigo tai Ginjō, Gēmu no Kūkan e" (Japanese: 一護vs銀城、ゲームの空間へ) | December 27, 2011 | August 3, 2014 | |
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While Ichigo is fully protected by Yukio's Fullbring, Chad, Ginjō and Riruka successfully manage to force Tsukishima to retreat. The group then moves to their second hideout to ponder what Tsukishima's motives really were, but they soon come to realize that they have been overthinking this. While Orihime heals Uryū, the two discuss the new threat but are unable to figure out if all the incidents so far were from the same culprit. Orihime later runs into Chad, who brings her back to the Xcution hideout to heal Ichigo, who has been training with Ginjō inside Yukio's Fullbring in a video game setting. Elsewhere, Urahara and Isshin plan to collect spiritual energy inside a vat with the help of a Soul Reaper, who is none other than Rukia Kuchiki. | |||||
| 355 | 13 | "Shinigami at War! New Year in Seireitei Special!" Transliteration: "Shinigami Sansen! Seireitei mo Oshōgatsu SP!" (Japanese: 死神参戦！瀞霊廷もお正月SP！) | January 10, 2012 | August 10, 2014 | |
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During the time skip of the seventeen months, the Soul Reapers of the Soul Society celebrate the new year. Izuru Kira is tasked to organize a special event for this occasion, though at first he was reluctant to participate. He hosts a friendly kite-flying activity, but it slowly turns into a chaotic competition among many of the squad divisions. Kira attempts to stop the chaos, but his plan ultimately fails. Later on, Rukia prepares for an upcoming ceremonial dance her late sister had been in many years ago, but she is unimpressed with her own dancing abilities. Renji Abarai decides to help her out, but she gets angry when he later accidentally spills ink on her ceremonial kimono and tells him to leave. After Rukia is given her late sister's kimono instead, she realizes that Renji was trying to help relax her so she would not worry so much about the dance. Rukia sends a letter of apology to Renji, who was able to come to the dance which turns out to be a huge success. | |||||
| 356 | 14 | "Friend or Foe!? Ginjō's True Intentions!" Transliteration: "Teki ka Mikata ka!? Ginjō no Mienai Kokoro!" (Japanese: 敵か味方か!?銀城の見えない心！) | January 17, 2012 | August 17, 2014 | |
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Ichigo continues his training with Ginjō while Orihime heals him. Yet when Ginjō blinds him and starts to say antagonastic things to make Ichigo angry, Ichigo begins to doubt Ginjō's true intentions. When Ginjō claims that he will kill Chad and Orihime, Ichigo is able to notice his spiritual pressure. Ichigo then manages to wound Ginjō with his Fullbring, reaching its final level, and Ginjō apologizes for his acting. | |||||
| 357 | 15 | "Tsukishima's Ability, the Danger is Drawing Near!" Transliteration: "Shinobiyoru Kyōi... Tsukishima no Nōryoku!" (Japanese: 忍び寄る脅威…月島の能力！) | January 24, 2012 | August 24, 2014 | |
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After Ichigo achieves the final level of Fullbring, he spends his time perfecting it. With Xcution deciding to protect Ichigo so that they can complete their goal, Riruka goes to search Chad and Orihime, who are investigating Tsukishima. Riruka ends being ambushed by Tsukishima, who attacks her with his Fullbring. Tsukishima then confronts Chad and Orihime, who are unable to kill him as a result of his Fullbring causing him to be part of their memories. | |||||
| 358 | 16 | "Clash!? XCUTION attacks Ginjō" Transliteration: "Gekitotsu!? Ginjō o Osou Ekusukyūshon" (Japanese: 激突!?銀城を襲うXCUTION) | January 31, 2012 | September 7, 2014 | |
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After Ichigo puts the finishing touches on completing his Fullbring, Ginjō tells him to go home to see his sisters, but Tsukishima activates his Fullbring that was placed on Ichigo's friends and sisters in order to make them believe that he is a close relative of the Kurosaki family. After running out, Ichigo encounters Ginjō, who tells Ichigo that all the other members of Xcution have fallen under Tsukishima's control. | |||||
| 359 | 17 | "The Sorrowful Battle! Ichigo vs. Sado & Orihime" Transliteration: "Kanashimi no Tatakai! Ichigo tai Sado to Orihime" (Japanese: 哀しみの戦い！一護VS茶渡＆織姫) | February 7, 2012 | September 14, 2014 | |
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Ichigo and Ginjō, figuring out Tsukishima's Fullbring can manipulate the memories of the people he cuts down, are found out by Yukio, who brings them to Tsukishima's mansion. The two are welcomed by Ichigo's affected friends and sisters, but Ichigo, unable to fight with all of them in the crosshairs, runs away to a safer location, only to be stopped by the brainwashed Xcution. Ginjō destroys the staircase and takes on his fellow members himself while Ichigo fights Tsukishima. Ichigo is able to gain the upper hand with his Fullbring and severely injures Tsukishima's arm. However, Chad and Orihime, also affected, arrive and stop him from finishing Tsukishima off, as they explain how he has been a part of their lives from the start. | |||||
| 360 | 18 | "Ichigo vs Uryū!? Who is the Traitor!?" Transliteration: "Ichigo tai Uryū!? Uragirimono wa Dare da!" (Japanese: 一護vs雨竜!?裏切り者は誰だ！) | February 14, 2012 | September 21, 2014 | |
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Chad and Orihime, who believe Ichigo has gone crazy, try to prevent him from attacking Tsukishima, even when the fight is taken outside. Meanwhile, Ginjō, while confronting his fellow members, runs into trouble with Shishigawara and his lucky punches. An overwhelmed Ichigo is soon about to be slashed by Tsukishima, but Ginjō takes the hit instead. After Ginjō seems to be unaffected, Uryū suddenly arrives and claims that Ginjō was his assailant instead of Tsukishima. Before Ichigo can react, he is stuck down by Ginjō, who reveals that he allowed Tsukishima to slash him twice to return to his original self. He stabs Ichigo with his sword and says he will take Ichigo's Fullbring. | |||||
| 361 | 19 | "A New Appearance! The Gotei 13, Arrives!" Transliteration: "Arata na Sugata! Gotei Jūsan-tai, Kenzan!" (Japanese: 新たな姿！護廷十三隊、見参！) | February 21, 2012 | September 28, 2014 | |
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Ginjō is able to take Ichigo's Fullbring and apply its power to his own. Unable to do anything about his situation, Ichigo falls deep into despair and runs after Ginjō, demanding for Ginjō to give him his power back. Ichigo is then impaled by a sword held by Rukia which causes him to become a Soul Reaper once again. The sword is revealed to possess the powers from the Thirteen Court Guard Squads in order to assist Ichigo in his fight against Ginjō. Ichigo attacks Ginjō with a Getsuga Tenshō, which is powerful enough to clear away a thunderstorm and slice Tsukishima's mansion in half. | |||||
| 362 | 20 | "Revival! Substitute Shinigami: Ichigo Kurosaki!" Transliteration: "Fukkatsu! Shinigami Daikō: Kurosaki Ichigo!" (Japanese: 復活！死神代行･黒崎一護！) | February 28, 2012 | October 5, 2014 | |
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Ichigo eventually overpowers Ginjō using his regained Soul Reaper powers, including Zangetsu, and he also learns that he regained his powers, thanks to the spiritual energies given by all of the captains and lieutenants. Tōshirō Hitsugaya reveals that Ginjō was the first Substitute Soul Reaper. Meanwhile, Chad and Orihime rush to Ichigo, confused as to why Ginjō is being attacked. Tsukishima appears behind them and tries to break their minds by adding new memories to their past, but Urahara and Isshin knock them out. As promised, Ginjō gives the other Xcution members new powers of their own. Ichigo attempts to take them down, but Yukio uses his new powers to protect them and separate the others. Kenpachi Zaraki quickly takes care of Kutsuzawa and cuts him in half, killing him instantly. | |||||
| 363 | 21 | "Fierce Fight! Shinigami vs. XCUTION!" Transliteration: "Gekitō! Shinigami tai Ekusukyūshon!" (Japanese: 激闘！死神vsXCUTION！) | March 6, 2012 | October 12, 2014 | |
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Uryū comes to assist Ichigo in his battle against Ginjō. Byakuya Kuchiki prepares to start fighting Tsukishima while Riruka ambushes Rukia using stuffed animals. Renji encounters Jackie and defeats her without the use of his zanpakutō, having trained to fight an opponent at Aizen's level. As Yukio then attempts to destroy the dimension where Renji and Jackie are situated, he is confronted by Hitsugaya. Hitsugaya manages to capture Yukio in ice and attempts to force him to free his comrades. Meanwhile, Ikkaku Madarame confronts Shishigawara, managing to find his Fullbring's weakness and overpower him. | |||||
| 364 | 22 | "Desperate Struggle!? Byakuya's Troubled Memories" Transliteration: "Zettai Zetsumei!? Kioku o Hasamareta Byakuya" (Japanese: 絶体絶命!?記憶を挟まれた白哉) | March 13, 2012 | October 19, 2014 | |
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Tsukishima, revealing that he can use his Fullbring on inanimate objects as well, hits Byakuya's zanpakuto, thus learning all he needs to know about Byakuya's weaknesses. Meanwhile, Rukia fights against Riruka and gets her body trapped in a stuffed animal, and attempting to fight with kido was ineffective. Riruka tells about how the Fullbringers, through their tragic childhood pasts, were gathered together to form Xcution. Using this distraction as an opportunity, Rukia touches Riruka with her zanpakuto, but Riruka, unable to dodge Rukia, uses a special ability from her Fullbring to vanish while causing Rukia to collapse. Meanwhile, Tsukishima is able to overwhelm Byakuya and manages to inflict a serious injury. However, Byakuya shoots out his bankai from his hand, piercing Tsukishima's chest. Before Tsukishima falls to the ground, Byakuya thanks him for an exciting battle. | |||||
| 365 | 23 | "Ichigo vs. Ginjō! Secret of the Substitute Badge" Transliteration: "Ichigo tai Ginjō! Daikōshō no Himitsu" (Japanese: 一護VS銀城！代行証の秘密) | March 20, 2012 | October 26, 2014 | |
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Ichigo and Uryū continue their battle with Ginjō. However, when Ginjō senses that Tsukishima is near death, he tells Ichigo they have no longer have a reason to fight while revealing that the Substitute Soul Reapers have been constantly spied on by the Soul Society to monitor their actions. However, using his bankai Tensa Zangetsu to destroy the dimension with the other Soul Reapers looking on, Ichigo admits knowing about the revelation yet still intends to trust the Soul Society for aiding him in protecting the people close to him. This has Ginjō releases his own bankai in response to Ichigo's resolve as the two have a final clash. | |||||
| 366 | 24 | "Changing History, Unchanging Heart" Transliteration: "Kawariyuku Rekishi, Kawaranu Kokoro" (Japanese: 変わりゆく歴史、変わらぬ心) | March 27, 2012 | November 2, 2014 | |
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The battle between Ichigo and Ginjō comes to a close when the latter receives a mortal wound. Just as Ginjō is about to die, the dying Tsukishima tries to kill Ichigo but is stopped by Riruka as she emerges from Rukia's body. Shishigawa proceeds to carry Tsukishima away while the other surviving Xcution members decide to separate. Ichigo later returns to the Soul Society and requests that Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto let Ginjō's body be buried within the human world as the last thing he can do for him. Yamamoto agrees just as Ichigo accepts to continue being a Substitute Soul Reaper. Rukia sees Ichigo off, recalling their time together and silently thanks him. Ichigo returns to Karakura Town where he is greeted by his friends and family. | |||||
References
edit- General
- "Bleach episodes" (in Japanese). TV Tokyo. Archived from the original on April 5, 2013. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
- "Bleach episodes 355-366" (in Japanese). TV Tokyo. Archived from the original on May 6, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
- Specific
- ^ "BLEACH 死神代行消失篇 1 [DVD]" (in Japanese). Amazon (Japan). Retrieved August 5, 2012.
- ^ a b c "Bleach Staff and Credits" (in Japanese). TV Tokyo. Archived from the original on October 7, 2011. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
- ^ "Bleach TV Anime Ending on March 27". Anime News Network. February 23, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2012.
- ^ "BLEACH 死神代行消失篇 1 [DVD]" (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
- ^ "BLEACH 死神代行消失篇 6 [DVD]" (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved 2012-10-11.
- ^ "Viz Officially Announces Bleach Anime". Anime News Network. March 15, 2006. Retrieved April 13, 2009.