Second Season for VIZ Media’s Bleach

SAN FRANCISCO, January 29:
VIZ Media will roll out a 52-episode second season of its hit supernatural
action-based animated series Bleach on March 1 on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim block.

Bleach is based on a best-selling manga graphic novel of
the same name, which is published domestically by VIZ Media. The series centers
on 15-year-old Ichigo Kurosaki, a normal high-school kid who has the ability to
see ghosts. His fate takes an extraordinary turn when he meets Rukia Kuchiki, a
Soul Reaper who shows up at Ichigo's house on the trail of a Hollow, a
malevolent lost soul. Drawn to Ichigo's high level of spiritual energy, the
Hollow attacks Ichigo and his family. Rukia steps in to help but is injured and
unable to fight. As a last resort, Rukia decides to transfer a part of her Soul
Reaper powers to Ichigo. Ichigo, now a full-fledged Soul Reaper, and Rukia,
minus her powers, join together to face the challenges that lie ahead. The
second season will see a stronger and more powerful Ichigo, and his journey
takes him back to the World of the Living where he must deal with a new
assortment of supernatural enemies as well as the rigors of high-school life.

“Bleach is a riveting story and the debut of the second
season on Adult Swim has been
highly anticipated by millions of fans,” said William Germain, VIZ Media’s
director of animation production. “The plot thickens in season 2 as Ichigo and
his friends battle soul reapers. With 52 episodes there will be plenty of
surprises in store for viewers. Bleach possesses a story and style that has transcended the graphic-novel
genre to become a very successful animated and video-game property and we are
committed to continuing its development.”

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski