I like to think of the Bleach Discussion Forum as its own community, within the community that is AnimeCrazy. I say this because, unlike the Lounge, or the Villiage Malls, not everyone posts in the Bleach Discussion Forum, those of us who do, are of a different persuasion than the rest of AC. While some people like shurikens, or baskets of fruit, us bleach folk like talking stuffed animals, numerical body art, and a good old fashioned ghostly throw down.
This thread, is meant to be the bleach community's welcoming party. The following is a list of answers to questions that are commonly addressed in this forum.
Posting/terminology F.A.Q.
1.
I want to make a thread, but I don't know if there's already a similar thread made, what do I do?
There are endless repeat threads in the Bleach Discussion Forum, it can't be helped, if you make a thread that was already made a month ago, have no fear, your thread will still get posted on. However, if you think the subject may already have been covered, look at the first page of thread titles, maybe even the second, if it isn't there, then you should have no qualms posting away.
2.
How do I get an avatar or a signature picture?
This question doesn’t belong here. You need 30 posts to get an avatar, 100 to get a sig pic, but please don’t try to boost up your post count by spamming Bleach Discussion. There are “Spam Threads” and “Chat Threads” in the Lounge specifically designed for that sort of thing.
3.
This is Bleach Anime Discussion forum, so why are people talking about the manga?
They shouldn't be. There is a manga forum for the discussion of manga. However, many of us are well versed in both the Anime, and the Manga, and things will innevitably be posted here, wrongfully. If you are someone who reads ahead in the manga, try not to post spoilers, and when it is absolutely necessary to do so, use spoiler tags. If you are one of the people who doesn't read the manga, be on the lookout for thread titles that might sound like a manga discussion, because while it doesn't belong here, it may end up here, and I'm sure you don't want the story ruined for you.
4.
What are fillers?
The current season of bleach is a filler arc. The Bleach manga was written before Bleach became an anime, so the storyline in the manga is quite a bit ahead of the anime. However, since both a new episode, and a new chapter are released each week, and any one half hour episode can cover several manga chapters, sometimes the anime catches up. Time for fillers! The writers come up with a new story, and make anime episodes about it, while continuing the normal storyline in the manga, thus allowing the manga to distance itself from the anime.
5.
What is “a epic?”
Nobody is quite sure. It has something to do with Ichigo being alive, and both Grimmjow and Yachiru are classified as “a epic.” If you figure it out, make a thread about it, we would all like to know. You’ll probably be awarded a special title or something for your sig.
.
Storyline F.A.Q. (While I won't divulge any secrets from the Bleach manga, if you are not fully cought up with the anime, do not proceed, there may be spoilers):
1.
Zaraki Kenpachi, he cant talk to his zanpakuto, so it must be in it's unreleased form, right?
Wrong, Zaraki Kenpachi does not know the name of his zanpakuto, however, do to his massive spiritual pressure, overflowing into his sword, it is forced into its first stage of release, shikai, much like how Zangetsu is permanently released.
2.
How did Ichigo get his hollow powers?
Urahara Kisuke cut Ichigo's chain of fate (connection to the living world), in an attempt to spark Ichigo's own Shinigami powers, after losing Rukia's. Cutting the chain, killed ichigo. After being cut, the chain of fate slowly begins to recede into Ichigo's body. Ichigo was put into a pit, and told to climb out, under the condition that if he gets out before the chain recedes completely, he would regain shinigami powers, if he can't, he would become a hollow. Ichigo did make it out of the pit, and did regain shinigami powers, but he cut it
very close, and almost became a hollow. While it isn't "for sure," it is widely accepted that these events coincided with the birth of Ichigo's inner hollow.
3.
Which Squad was Ichigo's dad a captain of?
As we've all seen by now, Ichigo's father is a shinigami. His powers have been dormant for 20 years, and are now awakening again. Now, Isshin wears a robe around his left shoulder, which is believed to be a captains robe, due to his relationship with Urahara, and the dialogue between Isshin and the Grand Fisher. The robe does not bare any indication of which Gotei 13 squad he was captain of, nor does it mention anywhere in the anime, nor in the manga, at least at this point, which squad he was the captain of.
4.
OMG! Did Rukia just use bankai?!?!?
It seems that a lot of people think that the move that Rukia uses against the 9th espada was her bankai. It was not. Rukia's shikai abilities are seperated into 3 stages, referred to as "dances". The technique used against the 9th espada was her shikai's 3rd dance, not her bankai. It is not known yet whether Rukia is able to use bankai, but as of now, there has been no hint that she can.
5.
But in the bount arc....
The Bount Arc, as well as the arc we are currently in, are filler episodes. They are not in the manga, and do not coincide with the storyline set forth in the other arcs. While these arcs are entertaining, and just as much a part of the Bleach world as the Soul Society or Hueco Mundo Arcs, the storylines are seperate, and they should be treated as such. Much like the storylines in the Bleach Movies don't necessarily fit hand in hand with the series.
6.
What is the difference between an arrancar and a vasto lorde?
An arrancar is a hollow, that has had its mask removed, and thus gained the powers of a shinigami, as well as a more humanoid looking form.
A vasto lorde however, is not an arrancar at all. Hollows are grouped into 2 categories, you have your normal hollows, and your Menos Grandes. A menos is a hollow that has become one with hundreds of other hollows, and is thus larger, and more powerful, but, within the menos class, there are also 3 sub-categories.
The first is called "Gillian." A gillian is a standard menos, the most common type. They all look the same, and they lack a dominant personality, and in turn, intelligence.
The next group is called "Adjuchas." An adjuchas is a gillian, who retained a dominant personality when becoming a menos. That dominant personality began to devour other gillian, in an effort to stay dominant, and became smarter, stronger, and developed its own form, rather than the appearance of the standard gillian. An adjuchas needs to continue to devour hollow in order to keep from reverting back into a gillian, and losing power and personality.
The final sub-category is VASTO LORDE! A vasto lorde is an adjuchas that devoured so many hollow, it evolved one last time, and took on a very human-esque form, as well as becoming at least as powerful as a captain class shinigami. A vasto lorde
still has a mask, unlike an arrancar.
The espada were all menos grandes before they became arrancar, the 9th was the only gillian, and the 6th was an adjuchas, though it hasnt been made clear which of the rest were vasto lordes.
More to come as the questions address themselves.
The following is a list of common courtesies to follow when posting in the Bleach Anime Discussion Forums:
1. While a thorough search isnt necessary, please at least check the first couple pages of threads before you post a new thread, to prevent repeats. For example, there are at least 20 different threads discussing the topics "Ichigo's Dad" and "Zaraki's Zanpakuto"
2. When someone makes a new thread, and you know that another thread is already active, about the same topic, post a link to the other thread.
3. If your response is only one sentence long, chances are it doesnt convey your message very well. Don't be afraid to post longer responses, they are a lot more interesting. Bumping a topic with a post like "yes i agree" usually leads to off topic banter.
4. What happens in Bleach Forums,
stays in Bleach Forums. Capish?
5. When posting information that you are unsure of, include a link to the source of the info. So it can be verified.
6. Discussion of the Taco Bell menu is never off-topic.