501 Hi, today I stumbled upon the wiki article about the 4 Gatekeepers of the Seireitei walls and it sure does assert with blunt confidence that at some point in Bleach Aizen put those poor Guardians under hypnosis.
While I don’t think it’s unlikely that Aizen or his goons did arrange the 3 out of the 4 guardians to become a distraction while they waited for their negacion elevator to Hueco Mundo - the timing is just right, and since Jidanbo was the only one excluded due to injury therefore he didnt appear under “hypnosis”, its safe to assume it happened between Ichigo and co’s arrival and Rukia’s execution date.
However, let’s observe what happens in the arc itself.
Assumption number 1: Aizen recruited them. Well, obviously, no. They’re not in a right state of mind.
Assumption number 2: “Aizen must’ve done something to them.” Potentially yes.
But is it Kyouka suigetsu’s “hypnosis”? No.
Think about it, their actions are robotic, sluggish to some degree. To the point that Jidanbo easily downs all three of them and they don’t even blink or resist.
“Not even you can fight them while restraining me.”
It’s not about having a fighting force, but about a distraction, since without Kukaku stepping in, there would be no room for the other’s who surrounded him, to fight them too.
However, let’s assume it was Aizen’s Kyouka Suigetsu that put them under hypnosis. All it does is alter someone’s perception to suit Aizen’s needs. Say they are put under hypnosis to regard Jidanbo and the like as enemies. Yet they’re just standing, not fighting back. Say they’re made to believe their surroundings are tranquil. Then why don’t they react when down? Confusion, fear, nothing seems reflected in their eyes nor actions.
Kyouka Suigetsu does use the term “complete hypnosis”, but its nature is far from putting someone in a trance. Even for the smallest tasks/goons Aizen could not take away their agency. And yet, these three Giants seem robbed of it to some degree. Why so?
And why does this happen again, to the one Gatekeeper who could not possibly be under any influence of Aizen’s, Kyouka Suigetsu or otherwise.
Chapter 500. Almost 400 chapters after end of hypnosis arc.
Sounds familiar? The same blank, unresponsive eyes. The absolute lack of personality or agency. Though this time, Jidanbo is more actively destructive (probably because this time the purpose behind the “trance” isn’t just to be a distraction).
We see PePe laughing sinisterly as he watches Jidanbo dismantle the squad 12 laboratories. His powers do actually control people’s actions. And he is, indeed actively using his powers.
On Rin.
a panel with Jidanbo is right there to contrast PePe’s powers with his “Trance”. Everyone under PePe’s spell cannot refuse his demands and requests, but they are *conscious* of their actions. Their agency is robbed, but not their awareness. In fact none of the three “controlling” powers affect awareness. Aizen’s hypnosis is masterfully used by him to *manipulate* people into doing what he wants, but he cannot affect their agency. Both Pepe and Zommari use “love” as a pretext to either control one’s actions via “requests” or directly “conquer” and “control” body parts.
None of this resembles the bizarre mind control that the four Gatekeepers are put under. Almost like its an intrinsic “Manual control” mode put into some robots.
Now, obviously the following questions are: if it truly is some sort of “switch” they intrinsically have, maybe because of C46, or the gotei, or the nobility that both Aizen and Vandereich exploited: why do they know?
Well, Aizen generally snooped around the archives, and outside of those, knows things he should absolutely have no way of knowing.
As for the Quincies well, they did live under Seireitei, listening in through the shadows. If someone slipped a secret, or perhaps they saw Aizen’s squad do it to them, well, there you go.
So, what’s the conclusion:
Basically, no way that’s Kyouka Suigetsu, and while Aizen may have exploited this “trance” mode, in the 3 Gatekeepers who were on duty, he couldn’t have any means to do that to Jidanbo 400 chapters later. And given what sinister secrets we find out the nobility and the gotei continuously keep and sweep under the rug, especially those revealed in CFYOW, I wouldn’t be surprised if they, in their endless paranoia left a “sure-fire” measure to control and subdue the Gatekeepers. Shame it back fired on them. Twice.
Notice how we never see any of the four Gatekeepers again? No mention of them, not even in any of the novels?
[And speaking of novels, in SAFWY (Spirits are Forever with You) which takes place during the fullbringer arc (before TYBW and after Aizen got sealed, basically), the Picaro (child hollows that invade soul society in the novel for, reasons) do fight Jidanbo at the West gate he’s guarding, but the ones entering the North gate fought shinigamis, not a Gatekeeper. ]
So in the manga Ichigo, Number One Oniichan In town, Kurosaki arrives first to rescue his family, in his fancy silly socks and armed with a bat.
This scene is also missing, and I’m slightly saddened because you can also see the little tray of food with the label “For Ichigo-oniichan” which is clearly Yuzu delivering on her earlier promise to bring him some food since he decided to skip dinner bc of his dad.
Ichigo also catches a glimpse of a hollow for the first time. Tensions are high.
You sure sound nonchalant for a person trying to stop him from literally ripping his soul apart. Manga Rukia had some urgency in her smh.
I will admit - literally being “bound” by “words” of a spell is clever and a cool visual. Doesn’t improve the rest of the episode tho....
I’m also very mad that this encounter is changed in the anime. I guess since anime Ichigo had already seen a hollow he rushes in, but this brief moment of fear and hesitation is literally the theme of Bleach.
We fear what we cannot see. What we cannot see we don’t understand. Ichigo is encountering a hollow for the first time here, he is afraid, hesitant to face it. But his love for his family helps him overcome it. He is afraid - but he still has to protect them. He fears what he cannot see, but even so, he continues walking. Ichigo decides, in this moment, to be “brave”. (If you know - you know).
Anyway, Anime fishbone talks again, absolutely ruining the slow reveal of the “nature of the monster” that happens in later chapters, but what is Pierrot if not “subtle” lol.
This part is also removed for obvious reasons.
Some of the dialogue is changed for brevity which is reasonable, but some is also changed to adapt to that fuckin filler “previous day”.
(Not exactly but go off?)
(a brazen assumption)
Manga Rukia just builds up to the reveal.
Again, manga Ichigo’s Reiatsu wasn’t “completely” suppressed - it’s literally what prevented Rukia from finding Fishbone and stumbling into Ichigo’s room. (As per Aizen’s plan, but anyway). It’s unstable and underdeveloped - but like, there. They removed Rukia’s little comment about “unseen filters”, but she still stumbled into his room, and Grand fisher headed towards his house without detours. Pierrot can move and change dialogue all they like - doesn’t mean it’ll add up lmao.
GIRL THATS SOME BOLD CONJECTURE......
Huh?
FDHGDF DO YOU NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR FAMILY?? SHES LITERALLY FINE!
YEAH SAME, YOUR FAMILY LITERALLY GOT ATTACKED TOO DIPSHIT!
OH good YOU REMEMBER. Why start with a random ass girl THATS DEAD, YOUR SISTERS ARE ALIVE REMEMBER!!!
Anyway Manga Ichigo supremacy:
WHY IS HE CHARGING TOWARDS IT!
Instead of having Ichigo charge into battle like an idiot the manga gives Rukia an extremely human moment which changes the tide of the battle:
She didn’t mean to blame him. In the short time they’ve knowne each other,s he already feels for him, and doesn’t want him to get the wrong, self-deprecating message. She knows how it is. Her momentary sympathy towards Ichigo is what takes her out of the battle.
Which forces Ichigo, who now having seen the danger and fearing it and doesn’t charge in like an idiot, to feel responsible for the mess and get involved in the forefront of the battle. Albeit suicidal he plays it off like he can win. Which later on develops in his battle ethos - no matter how hopeless the battle, he won’t win because he’s stronger, but because he has to.
(viz translates this to “so come and kill me” completely missing the nuance of his actual line “Try and get it if you can kill me!” - It’s a brazen challenge. Ichigo, no matter how hopeless is stubbornly not suicidal. Again, it’s not about “can he win” - he “has to win”.)
Anime Ichigo is looking for a quick atonement suicidal fight
and Rukia has to save his clown ass.
Injured manga Rukia saves a stranger that reminds her of her guilt.
In the manga Rukia’s own carelessness leads Ichigo to be forced into battle - him having to overcome fear in a really desperate position just to have a chance at saving his family. Rukia, similarly selfless, and later on as we find out, ridden with guilt, goes beyond her duty to protect him.
Also funny how this moment is excluded in the anime, where it’s completely Ichigo’s fault that Rukia is injured, while in the manga both slowly contribute to their downfall and yet Ichigo still apologizes, coming to his senses, but ok....
Wish this moment wasn’t this bland in the anime, especially Rukia’s eyes softening, like she’s resigning that she’s about to do something extremely illegal and desperate, potentially fuelled by Ichigo’s emotional whirlwind at the moment.
Anime Ichigo seems mildly troubled by this situation.
Also didnt you like worry about a random girl’s life before your family’s, what’s with the sudden “OF COURSE I WANT TO SAVE MY FAMILY”.
This whole page of explanation
is reduced to
Which I can understand pacing wise, but like....I’ll take it over those 6 minutes of filler that derailed the logic of this episode so....? Also would’ve loved to hear Ichigo’s heartbeat overwhelm the scene.
Ichigo’s fear is ignored once again, and this heartwarming scene where his resolve is finally made is like, non-existent
Manga Ichigo supremacy.
They basically just skip to it in the anime lmao, thanks.
Also...confident much, Ichigo? Why??
Anime Ichigo can never live up to manga Ichigo’s charm sigh...
Sir show some emotions (nitpick)
Anyway yeah. End of episode 1.
I didnt think this would be this draining, but here we are.
If you’ve followed along you can see how in a world where the Bleach manga didnt exist...the anime would be fine. Yet at random ass steps they make these needless changes that just ripple throughout into nonsense. Those 6 minutes of screentime that they dedicated to Rukia and Ichigo meeting earlier could’ve just been used....for literally anything else they cut out.
I’m so tired, thank you for reading this far!! Bye!!
The first deviation we’re greeted with is what the anime presents as the arrival of hollows into the human world. With a likely artistic rendition of them forming from the shadows of Hueco Mundo and dripping/bleeding over into the human world like splotches of ink, after which they disappear - unable to be perceived by humans.
A/N: Which, kubos to the anime, is rather neat.
The anime also decided to incorporate the first volume poem which is the thematic beginning and a great establisher of the mood/themes of Bleach, which roughly translates to:
我らは 姿無きが故に それを畏れ
“We fear that which cannot be seen”
And then they curiously add a line to this poem?
姿無き故に敬う
”We revere that which cannot be seen"
A/N: Which, initially seems on brand with the spiritualism of that “which is not seen” - the shinigami, DEATH itself if you will. However, unlike the themes of “fear” and “fear of death/the unseen”, “reverence” is not really a theme prevalent or definitive for bleach. Reverence is not particularly reserved for death or death gods, but antagonists with themes of divinity/the Soul King himself, but I digress.
Next off the bully scene has a couple of missing/reworded lines, as well as some of the delivery changed, but overall it’s not significant enough to mention.
I also wish they’d kept Ichigo’s shit yourself scary face from this moment right here, since it really underlines how serious and personally invested Ichigo is in bringing small justice to the souls of the departed, but I can only pray a future remake does include it.
^ I am disappointed in y’all :/
vs.
v Karma delivery, bitch
Then for some reason the next scene is changed significantly:
In the manga, it builds up slowly to Ichigo’s reveal of supernatural abilities with the iconic TM character profile intros (which I can see why weren’t recreated in the anime, but I sure wish they put them in....)
with him spooking the bullies off with the ghost girl right behind him
Versus his scary face doing the job instead.....
It’s a small change, and I can see why it would be opted for - we don’t really know if they even saw the ghost in the first place (then again you could argue that would spook them anyway). There is a tonal difference in the long run though. The manga emphasizes once again *why* ichigo is scolding them in the first place - he sees the people disrespected by them knocking down the vase, he wants them to acknowledge their actions *because* in his mind, there are real victims he knows from it. While in the anime, since the ghost is not yet introduced, it feels more like “you are disrespectful to the dead” in a more generalized way vs. him actually being acquainted with the dead and treating them like the living.
(Again, not sure why change it so much at all........the suspense and reveal are in the manga just the same.... but ok)
As well as cutting off this small moment where you can see Ichigo’s very human (and cute!) interactions with the ghosts. To him they’re just as real as the living, and he lends them a hand whenever they ask for help.
Also lmfao this 4kids level of censorship.....
It goes on rather faithfully for a while, no significant omissions, then Pierrot decides to randomly replace Yuzu’s lines with Karin??
Manga:
Anime:
Which is an odd choice, given that not only does Yuzu sense ghosts just fine (albeit at a much lesser level than her family) and that later comes into play with Fishbone & Grandfisher, but Karin literally later admits that she doesn’t even want to acknowledge their presence, so why the change....?
They also cut short Karin’s little talk about Ichigo’s stats, which is a fair change for screentime’s sake, but mentioned for the record.
There’s a bit of a divergence with Yuzu lore, when the manga explicitly states she sees them, but not “clearly”, the anime focuses on her barely sensing them. I guess it doesn’t matter that much in the long run, since she is not that prevalent in the story, but it’s here for the record nonetheless.
Anime:
vs.
Manga:A
Also this next bit was removed, probably for the sake of pacing (which, totally fair!!), but it’s funny and I love the Kurosaki family so here it is:
It does make the flow a bit better in the manga, since this talk of selling his talents distracts Ichigo and creates an opening for his father to strike, in the anime, the same is done with Ichigo just randomly saying
and thats where his father attacks him, which isnt really an issue, just kind of funny of how the manga is like:
Ichigo’s distracted by his sisters plotting to sell him out and hence Isshin has his chance to strike back
vs the anime being like:
Ichigo randomly thinks about dinner mid convo about ghosts and thats what distracts him from play-fighting with his dad
gfdkhlgfdg okayyyy....moving on
In the manga this scene is interspliced with Ichigo’s inner monologue about the nature of his powers (with hip jargon like “for real” courtesy of Viz )
(but my beef with Viz translations are for another day)
Also the line about “He told me more ghosts than ever have been haunting me” has been given to Karin for some reason, probably to make her feel more included in the scene/Ichigos life.
Notably, Isshin’s response is changed from “What?! He talks about stuff like that with you (Yuzu, singular)” to “What?! He talks about stuff like that with you guys?” as well, again probably to include Karin more into the dialogue. (Mmmm ok....)
Minor detail, but Karin’s lines has been changed to more “boyish” speech structure in the Japanese dub, which may seem insignificant, but ...... that is for later.
.....
This little exchange
is replaced with:
Which, seems innocuous adaptation differences, but Yuzu’s lines keep decreasing and it’s a short enough moment to like....include and establish how motherly Yuzu is acting towards Ichigo.....but ok...huh.
And now we get into the big boy changes.
So, probably for the sake of grounding the supernatural element of the series, the anime decided to skip time to the next morning and introduce the hollow attacks with a news report.
Which.....is an interesting choice. I am assuming this is addressing how the real world perceives the hollow attacks, which Bleach doesn’t put too much effort into addressing, but very soon after this we learn about stuff like memory replacement and other various technology to keep things under wraps so this is either redundant or implying that shinigamis have not been doing their job, which hm......
Next off is the bizarre choice to paint Isshin out of the picture for the night
Not sure why, but ok
Again, where’s the shinigami with their Kikanshinki (memory replacement devices)??? Pierrot where’s the lore coherence......
Anyway, Ichigo goes to replace the girl’s vase, but suprise-surprise she’s gone-zo. Wonder what happened to her.....
(And....again, people vehemently don’t want a reboot when the anime looks like this? )
So Ichigo hears a scream and a hollow scream and follows the sound (Ok?).
Totally random hollows attack. Which Ichigo somehow has never seen so far? Mind you, this isn’t like in the manga, where Fishbone was sent by Aizen specifically after Ichigo to make him aware of it. These are random-ass hollows attacking people, so how come Ichigo suddenly sees them. Ya coulda played it safe Pierrot, and stuck to the book, but we got plot inconsistencies episode one so let’s party.
The girl is, of course, not eaten and they run away.
She trips at the most inconvenient moment. (can ghosts trip? Ghost don’t even have legs in japanese lore and Kubo draws them floating around so okkkkkkkk)
(ok ok, im just being petty, bUT YKNOW)
(convenient tripping on deadass levelled ground is convenient)
(also God I really want that bag Ichigo’s got on his shoulder, it looks so nice)
Random-ass hollow closes in and
BOOM
Rukia
(Now, if the rest of Bleach and the manga didn’t exist I would like this moment. We get a glimpse into Rukia’s abilities, into shinigami as a concept and we don’t really get to see her slice and dice hollows that much overall so the moment itself is rad in isolation.
Now, unfortunately for Pierrot’s screenwriters, Bleach manga exists and so does it’s lore, which again, would not be inconsistent with each other if the adapation was faithful. Now, Ichigo sees a shinigami, for some reason, for the first time in his 15 years of life. All of a sudden.
You could argue, that much like in the manga, this is all part of Aizen’s plan TM, but like, she literally leaves right after leaving Ichigo gaping in awe ghfkjgdf. Why’d Aizen give him an appetizer, I really don’t understand how this change is benefitting the narrative in any way. It’s ....dare I say....generic.)
Rukia yeets the hollow
(why is this kid suddenly not wearing shoes?)
and goes off on her merry way, leaving Ichigo shooketh
ALSO RUKIA MA’AM THERES A FUCKING STRAY GHOST RIGHT AT YOUR RIGHT????? ISNT IT YOUR LIKE....JOB.......... TO HELP GHOSTS MOVE ON??? i know killing hollows is the fun part, but like ghjkfdlgfd ??? are you gonna ignore her???
( his fucking face ghfjdkgdlfgfd)
So after this wholeass pointless detour (you’ll see why it’s pointless in a moment) we timeskip again (the filler is strong in this one. These 6 minutes were worth not coming up with something cohesive and removing scenes that actually make sense ah yes)
Ichigo is in deep thought TM about who tf is the stranger he’d just seen. Likely mulling over the monsters and how this person was able to slay said monsters. Probably thinking how unusual they are.
and as if on cue
the stranger makes their presence once more
(my God these faces gfhgkldfg)
....
Now let’s briefly address what happens in the manga instead.
Instead of the whole timeskip scene with the fight, Ichigo simply returns to his room on the same day, and oddly enough recognizes the species of the butterfly he sees? (nerdy boi! nerdy!! boi!)
rukia arrives much the same
(With the little text emphasizing how he’d never been aware of soul reapers, which is unsurprising given their secrecy, and makes sense in the long run since their first meeting is specifically orchestrated by Aizen. Two species that werent meant to interact brought together by his schemes.)
Back to the anime:
Ichigo pauses to ponder who tf they are and why the fuck they’re there.
and then the anime has the gall to suddenly revert to sticking to the manga, which like.... Ichigo kicks her for no reason? I guess because she isn’t answering? Even though Ichigo knows she has a sword and can wield it? Reckless boy.
Manga Ichigo thinks she’s a burglar, therefore, unsurprisingly, is comfortable kicking her outta his house. It’s a silly moment, but it also shows how accustomed or stupidly brave he is with the supernatural.
In the anime Ichigo asks her who she is instead of all that, and she responds pretty similarly to the manga
AND THE NEXT SCENE IS WHERE IT CLICKS WHY THEY WENT OUT OF THEIR WAY TO REMOVE ISSHIN FROM THE HOUSE.
(Ichigo and Rukia addressing the pointless filler, this leads nowhere)
Rukia check him out like she’s checking if the oranges on sale dont have mold on them
slapstick ensues
and Rukia decides to answer his question.
Vs. the manga in which Isshin doesn’t leave his children home alone for some random conference and is actually used very efficient for two reasons:
1) building up on the burglar gag with actually funny slapstick that is based on a previously established joke
2) Instead of Rukia just saying “oh usually people can’t see me”, we get an actual demonstration of it, the reader gets to see “oh Isshin can’t see her - she must be a spiritual entity,” which further clicks with her surprised reaction at him being able to kick her in the first place.
The next scene is the classique Pierrot censorship.
Ghost girl runs away from what I’m assuming is Fishbone.
Aside from not showing her get eaten, the scene is pretty much delivering the same message,
bUT
BECAUSE OF THE STUPID ASS FILLER WITH THEM MEETING RUKIA BEFORE THIS, I CAN ACCUSE RUKIA OF NEGLIGENCE.
UNLIKE THE MANGA, where Rukia arrives the night before and is specifically seeking Fishbone, therefore having no time to help this girl pass away,
This vvvvvvv
could have been prevented if SOMEONE DID THEIR FUCKING JOB THE DAY BEFORE VVVVVVV
(I rest my case. Thank you Pierrot for making Rukia either negligent or an idiot. Awesome, And mind you, these changes were unnecessary. The manga’s pacing is fine. They could’ve extended scenes. But nope, had to go for making them meet beforehand.)
Anyway, we get to see some actual stakes in the manga
The next scene which is this in the manga
has two changes to it. Firstly, obviously Isshin being consoled by Yuzu isn’t included since he isn’t home in the anime, and even if he were, I can see why that would be removed, cute as it may be.
And secondly, due to them having met prior Ichigo asks two additional questions:
And Rukia nods at both, which means she acknowledges that she had seen the girl the hollow was after and yet did nothing to help her pass on.
(Reminder the Bleach anime was in production WAAAAY past the first 4 volumes, which gave a good general idea of the series, which y’know, was fine to adapt as is.
You’ll see these changes add up into becoming inconsistent with further Bleach lore. There’s a reason people call Bleach a hot mess, and I’m afraid Kubo ain’t really it.)
(Volume 14 Note from Kubo where he talks about the anime being announced)
Back to the series
Pet peeve time: Wish the anime was half as expressive as the manga
These scenes are supposed to represent
This panel:
(Nitpicking? Perhaps, but idc)
So uh, this scene is odd
Again, because of the addition of that filler with the hollow
Ichigo has seen her in action
And they even added Rukia trying to convince him
even though, yknow???
LITerally the previous day???
Anyway in the manga, where Ichigo has reason to be distrustful of her and her claims since y’know hes never seen her or a shinigami in action, but has enough proof that she’s a ghost bc his dad didn’t see her, he simply dismisses her before she can reply, and instead of just getting angry for being called a pipsqueak
she shows both Ichigo and the audience proof of her spiritual powers by binding Ichigo and forcing him to quietly listen to her explanations.
(To reiterate - Anime Rukia has to verbally try to convince Ichigo WHO SAW HER FIGHT A HOLLOW THE OTHER DAY that shes no ordinary ghost. And because of that, she has no other reason to use Sai on him other than that shes mad she was called a pipsqueak bc she just tried to verbally convince him shei is a shinigami. When they could just adapt the manga and have her both demonstrate her powers and put him in his place at the same time. Wild.)
Also CRIMINALLY BORING SHOT, WITH CRIMINALLY BORING RUKIA
#NotMyRukia
LOOK AT THE MANGA
LOOK AT HER SMUGLY OWNING ICHIGO’S IGNORANT ASS #FuckYeahRukia
Also the subs may not show it if you’re watching it on Netflix, but anime Rukia says “I am not allowed to lay my hands on humans outside orders,” which like, you ARE LITERALLY DOING THAT. Manga Rukia is fine with bullying Ichigo, but she draws a line at killing him, but man Anime Rukia, you give no fucks about the laws huh.
why so cheerful?
(also Rukia be right tho)
(specifcally compared to hell you could say Soul society is a resftul place lmfao)
Also anime salary man gets to rest in peace, even like, pray and shit
Meanwhile the manga
YEET TO SOUL SOCIETY
(also notice how we’ve been robbed of ichigo’s silly socks
I swear the anime knows how to suck the soul out of the manga
Get it? Soul! haha ....moving on.)
Really Rukia? One of your jobs?
GUESS YOU WERE OFF DUTY HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(I’M SORRY BUT LIKE, SEE HOW POINTLESS THIS FILLER IS UGH!!!)
(Again pet peeve but look at how ugly this screen is COMPARED TO THE MANGA)
(What have they done to you, queen)
(also they never mention the name Konso ( or as Viz calls it here -”soul funeral”, thanks Viz)
Next on, not a pet peeve, but an observation:
Anime Rukia keeps her sketchbook in her kimono
Manga Rukia keeps it at the titty
Yep, which you neglected to do the day before,
she literally says “With the konso I did just a moment ago” like she used the word before. Like you can contextually get it, but why cut that line out of the dialogue if you don’t change the next line it’s referenced in?
There’s also a dialogue change from the manga’s well, Viz uses “vaporize” which is not a bad choice given the specific wording Kubo uses, but the original says
昇華 • 滅却
sublimate/convert • extinguish
which is a clever little nod/foreshadowing to the nature of souls in bleach and that they can be “converted” in and out of a hollowfied state.
While the anime just says “to slay hollows”, and albeit it lacks the little nod the manga has to offer, I can’t see how they’d include it in the anime at that stage so I’m fine with them simplifying it to like, an exorcism.
A better question then Rukia - WHY DIDN’T YOU SEND OFF HER SOUL????
also WAIT THE GIRL IS STILL ALIVE?? she’s dead-dead by this point in the manga.
BULLSHIT !!! YOU LITERALLY EXPLAIN LATER WHY!! ACTUALLY YOU EXPLAINED EARLIER WHY!!! YOU LITERALLY SAID THIS, 1 MINUTE AGO :
Anyway, Fishbone almost grants her the priviledge of escaping this God-awful anime, but is suddenly stopped?
AND CAN TALK??
wait WHY DOES FISHBONE TALK?? GHFJD isnt this supposed to be a juicy reveal for later when Ichigo realizes “hey theyre not actual complete monsters - but used to be humans!” Hm, ok.
Also leaves her alone? Damn ok...
Reminder:
Moooving on...
Speaking of the manga, this little moment is missing:
Since there is no pointless filler that would make him ask about the ghost girl therefore exposing Rukia’s slacking off of her duty, Ichigo realizes that there must be a hollow nearby bc in the manga he actually has braincells to spare.
Also wiping off the Baron’s moustache moment is gone 😢
Missing and dearly missed is also this moment, which consolidates how protective Ichigo is of his family. He only needs to hear Yuzu scream to click that the hollow is nearby and his family is in danger. I feel like anime Ichigo should be even more worried since his sisters are alone but ok??
Also foreshadows their dynamic of Rukia trying to stop his reckless attempts at pushing himself to protect his family, bc yknow....she has her own Kaien trauma to process.
Next off....
This is .... a choice....
They were very eager to give Yuzu’s lines to Karin just a couple of moments ago but now this whole exchange:
Where we see a very pragmatic yet soft side of Karin
She doesn’t know what is happening, and doesn’t expect her brother to fight it - he just wants him to be safe, because she loves her family. At least warn him before it gets to him and hurts him.
is replaced with this:
Yuzu, sweetie, what do you think he can do to achieve that.
I guess at least Anime Ichigo tries to get Rukia to do her job as she looks down on Yuzu in silence.
But compare it to the manga:
#MyRukia stops by Karin to check for a pulse and reassures Ichigo that his sister is alive.
Manga Ichigo is NUMBER ONE oniichan in town and doesnt have time to call out to a stranger to save his family - HES BEYOND READY TO GO FIGHT, RECKLESS AS IT IS, EVEN THOUGH HIS OWN FAMILY BEGS HIM TO JUST RUN. because he cant let himself be unable to protect them. He cant live with himself if he doesnt try his darnest to protect them.
*elevator music playing as ichigo tries to get rukia’s attention but she fucks off downstairs, but instead of doing shit he just does the worm on the floor*
which I guess is more realistic for a teenage boy, but Ichigo is literally traumatized by being unable to protect a family member. Y’all think a ghost he’s never seen before is gonna stop him?
