Bleach (Cartoon Network)

common sense media says

Mature anime series is spooky and violent.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the 15-year-old protagonist of this mature anime series doesn't get along with his father; in fact, they often get into fistfights. While this is a cartoon, it's also part of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim line-up for a reason -- the ghostly subject matter and sometimes-bloody action scenes might be upsetting for younger (or particularly sensitive) viewers.

Positive messages: The protagonist argues and fights with his father, but he also stands up for the less fortunate in his community.
Violence: Bloody scenes involving knives, as well as fistfights between family members. The show's suburban setting means that the violence is less over the top than some other adult anime series, but there's still a fair amount of it.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Relatively mild: "Ugly bastard," "what the hell is that?" etc.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on Bleach

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about ghosts and whether they really exist. Do you think anyone can actually communicate with the dead? If you could talk to someone who's passed on, who would it be? What would you ask them?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Everything changes for 15-year-old Ichigo Kurosaki (voiced by Johnny Yong Bosch) when he receives a visit from a Hollow, a spiteful soul that descends upon Ichigo's home and attacks him and his family. When it becomes clear that the valiant Ichigo can't fend off the attacker, the Shinigami (Death God) Rukia Kuchiki (Michelle Ruiff) comes to his aid. But when Rukia is attacked by the Hollow as well, she's forced to give her powers to Ichigo. Armed with these new abilities, Ichigo takes on the role of Soul Reaper and finds himself working to protect the innocent and help lost souls find peace, regularly interacting with ghosts and other supernatural beings.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Parents with cartoon-addicted kids should probably watch a few episodes before giving the green light to non-teens. While it's more like a traditional cartoon than some of the other, darker Adult Swim offerings, BLEACH is clearly geared toward mature audiences, and some scenes and themes will likely give families pause.

 

For example, Ichigo, whose mother has died, has a tense relationship with his father and picks fights with him -- which result in physical assaults. While no blood is shed, it's difficult to watch a teen and his father throwing punches at each other. And Ichigo's two younger sisters, who are both intensely sarcastic and jaded, seem to be left to their own devices when their father is absent.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-14
Network: Cartoon Network
Cast: Johnny Yong Bosch, Michelle Ruff, Stephanie Sheh
Genre: Science Fiction
Where to watch: Cartoon Network

This review was written by Lucy Maher
 
 

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What parents & educators say

12

Most useful reviews by all members

 
Bleach: Perfect for older kids, but not for tweens
I happen to love Bleach, and will admit... I am a major fan of the series. It draws me in. However, it isn't something I would give to a thirteen year old or younger, unless they were really mature. Message: The message revolves around protecting those one cares about. Good Role Models: Ichigo is one example of the good role models in there. Sure, he is tough, but he does go and study so he can make good grades at school. The reasons he fights is honorable. Bad Rolemodels: Kyoraku Taicho is a drunk, Rangiku shows a lot of skin... even to the point she is nude, though it doesn't show any of her private area.

animefreak00
kid, 11 years old
 
deserves more than three stars
sheesh.you rated this like you haven't even watched Bleach.yes the violence can be very intense sometimes,but it's not graphic or anything.Yes there is cursing,but there's much more in the subtitled version.Actually watch things before u rate them.

A.lineup
teen, 15 years old
 
I watch it
I like this show but if parents like to get a "more safer" version of it just find the bleach eps. translated by viz media. Viz media takes out most of the words that most Americans probably wouldn't like their kids to hear/see. I haven't been up to date with the newer eps but I have been reading the manga (For people who don't know what manga is, it's a Japanese word for comics) in one of the chapters it shows a nude women with her private parts covered by clouds because she transformed into her original form. Don't worry the main character sees this and demands her to put on some clothes so he's not a pervert. ;D Anyways, this is a good anime. It's shonen (meaning it's aimed to boys 10-18, note; I'm a tomboyish girl) so it has to have some violence and action. Has some good morals though.

mcguire217
kid, 10 years old
 
17+
The are bad sence.Bad langage.Bad violence.

oyuky m
teen, 16 years old
 
Ok...
i was nice on giving it 4 stars i mean its a good show but it can put me to sleep sometimes. orhime is a bad example for girls though i mean shes really stupid. there is also some cursing and sexual stuff and samurai fighting but its not so bad aside from the fact that charaacters are really aggresive sometimes. but the show is too much of a wannabe naruto and YES it came AFTER naruto.

 
Annoyance at how anime is generally treated.
I agree that this particular anime is NOT for young children but i have a beef with people who think that anime which isn't watered down bullspit is horrible. My Sis-in-law was shocked when she saw that i had a great collection of japanese media. She said how can i allow Bellatrix and Vash (Yes my fangirlism is that bad. I named My Daughter Bellatrix after the Harry Potter charter and My son after Vash the Stampede) to see such filth. She, like most people, believe that unless its shown on 4kids or on Cartoon Network's morning block it is pornographic and violent. I highly reccomend parents screen such shows before d***ing them.

scar66
teen, 16 years old
 
one of my favorite animes
bleach is a wonderfully developed anime with a highly developed plot (eccept for the bount arc. ugh. that wasn't even in the manga). ichigo's relations with his dad are more comical than violent, so i wouldn't take that as a turn-off. bleach may be violent at times, but underneath, it teaches valuable morals. i would also like to point out that in japan, this series is meant for childeren 8+. my mom also likes this series.

toshirofangirl
teen, 17 years old
 
This anime is my favorite! Although younger kids might not like it because of all the violence...

kaze19
teen, 14 years old
 
I would recomend it to anyone 13 and older.
This is one of my favorite anime, but it seems to be getting pretty long, so I haven't been watching it much. It's pretty normal, nothing really over the top, but the violence,may be much for parents, theres quite a lot of blood in the series but, trust me there are shows that are worse,and the language may be a concern for some parents, but really it's mostly PG-13 language,such as what was listed above, but really I don't think its really that much of a concern. I would recomend it if you are an anime fan that dosen't mind watching something with 100+ episodes, otherwise you might get bored with it. Bleach is an anime with a great storyline, and amazing characters that have strong senses of pride and will fight to protect what is important to them, and the animation is pretty good too.

 
A much less innpropriate show than naruto
So, I've seen every episode of Bleach and Naruto, in japanese and English, including Naruto Part 2, Bleach is actually much less violent than the original uncut naruto, which is in the uncut boxsets, so unless your kids are older, caution them when buying Naruto uncut box sets, but bleach is not a bad show, no where as violent or sexual as the majority of animes, and if you trust your kid with not using curse words, then they should be able to watch it, not a bad show, but later on gets really dull and boring, but starts out great, where as Naruto starts out boring ,but as the show progresses the plot becomes deeper and a much better show, watch Naruto instead, but only in Japanese

Da Blogger
teen, 15 years old
 
A show for Teens
I personally like the Anime, But for younger kids this is a no-go. It is violent and scary, and in a few episodes deals with rape. I reccomend this for people ages 13 + up.

xXAnimeFanaticXx
teen, 15 years old
 
My Parents May Not Like It, But I Watch It Anyway!
I adore Bleach, and have watched it from age ten, along with a medley of other anime titles, such as Naruto,Fullmetal Alchemist, and InuYasha. More lax parents should consider this series ok, though conservative parents, be warned. There is mild swearing, which teens lke me find fascinating. lol. As for violence, it is somewhere around medium- high on the scales, but does that really matter in today's society?? As for sexual innuendo, this series is somwhere around medium level. No actual sex takes place (well, not yet at least), but there is definitely some romance and sexual tension between the protagonists, Ichigo and Rukia. Also, the perverted antics of Kon, the mod- soul taking the form of a stuffed animal, are sure to make conservative parents wary.Overall, this is still a fantastic series!

BlueDragonMaster98
teen, 18 years old
 
Complex
It's confusing but still good. Most of the female characters are strong, but many have large, over-bearing breasts. Violence is, well, bloody but nothing more, and the hollows aren't THAT scary for those maybe 8 and older. Some characters drink Sake, white rice wine, but don't get drunk. The arcs tend to be shorter than One Piece, but they switch to the future after the bad guy is defeated, back to the present near the current middle of this on-going show. To be honest, the beginning to the episode where Rukia is saved is the best you see of Bleach apart from the awesome movies. It gets old after that.

 
Good for teens 14 and up!!
This show is good for older teenagers,but includes anything innapropiate that pushes the TV 14 rating. It contains strong cartoon violence and sexual situations. Good for mature teens 14 and up!!

 
I think it's up to the parent/teen's discretion
Bleach is a very long on-going series...With lots of random filler episodes...I do like Bleach, but it can get rather boring. There are a LOT of suggestive scenes...There is a point in the Arancar Arc where Nemu passes out, and her captain revives her (she makes a lot of whiny sounds and the off-standing characters make a joke like "that isn't appropriate for family tv" etc.). Rangiku has rather large boobs, and likes to wear skimpy clothing when in the human world...There is a small arc with a beach trip where the female characters (most of which have rather large boobs) are wearing rather skimpy swimsuits...There is some nudity, but nothing is really shown explicitly. I say, it's up to you to decide, but I wouldn't let a pre-teen or younger kid watch this...

xOAnim3Fr3akOx
teen, 14 years old
 
BLEACH-THE ULTIMATE SHONEN MANGA
I personally love Bleach. Every chapter is filled with action, and very thorough characters.Yes, there is plenty of swearing and violence in this particular anime, but as being a typical asian girl who was brought up with Pokemon, Sailor Moon,and ect, I am used to the violence. Many people simply disregard this particular anime for its popularity, like its another "Naruto" (please don't take that offending-i watch Naruto,lol :] ) but Bleach has become popular for many resons. I like it because of the characters, and how you can relate to them. I know that not everyone is fighting Aizen, Hollows, or even creepy Ginjo, but the main point is the frindship. I prefer Rukia over Orihime, so naturally i ship IchiRuki.....Now, onto the "mature parts.." Rangiku and Orihime both wear rather revealing clothing, and are rather busty. -__- Ichigo fights with only one thing in mind-to protect his friends. This is a very good message to kids, and overall, this anime is definitely worth a shot. There is some drinking, but it is rather mild. I RECOMMEND IT! For late tweens and up! (I started watching Bleach when i was eight O.o)

epicuchiha827
teen, 16 years old
 
teens only
overly violent once it gets near about episode 100, there is a really messed up character named kon, who is slightly perverted, and some female characters dress slightly skimpy, but they might have censored that in the english version( I watch the japanese version). There is quite a bit of language, but only from certain characters. THERE IS A LOT OF BLOOD. They really overdo it on the blood

neko17
teen, 13 years old
 
Depends on the Child
Well a friend got me into Bleach and so far what I've been watching it's really good,but at time they may use language you might not want your kids hearing or speaking. And yes it is pretty violent, but that's pretty much what the whole anime is about,fighting. Also on several occasions some people do die or get killed. I would say talk to your child first and make sure they understand that they shouldn't use that language and if they are not o.k. with violence Bleach is not a good show for them. If they are o.k. with it and you are too and they are at least above the age of 12 or 13 it 's o.k. for them to watch.

AbyssalRuin
teen, 13 years old
 
Best Anime Ever!!!
I love this show. My Fave of all TV Series.

anano
kid, 10 years old
 
not for kids
good aineme but why is it on adult swim anyway adult swim is only in the uk

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