The next phase of the Arrancar Arc decides to pause the main conflict and shine a light on the Lieutenants of Soul Society, giving them some focus and fodder to defeat before inevitably fading into the background (with the exception of one, anyway…) Is that a bad thing? No, not really. There are some popular characters receiving some forward momentum, which is never a bad thing when the cast is as large as Bleach’s. Let’s take a look!

Very tempted to drop the Arrancar Arc title altogether for this mini-arc, given its entirely set 100 or so years before the current story, but it is both in the Manga and Anime an important part of the overall Arrancar Arc story, showing us how the Visoreds became Visoreds and their connection to Aizen and current events, plus how Urahara, Yoruichi and Tessai became banished to Earth for good measure. Let’s take a look then!

The Arrancar Arc motors on, which is funny as in terms of as-it-aired this was the story arc finally resuming after a long and uneventful filler arc. Instead the only difference felt between this and the previous batch of episodes I covered in the switch to 16:9 full-screen rather than 4:3, which was old hat even at the time. This batch has a lot of memorable moments and fights in it, but doesn’t actually move the story along that much… Let’s take a look!

These episodes are the last before the first big break in the Arrancar Arc adaptation (not that you’ll notice as we cover the arc on this blog!) and are also the last ones in 4:3 aspect ratio. Thankfully they “go out with a bang” as they adapt the third and final fight between Ichigo and Grimmjow, and adapt it well too! … Unlike a lot of the other stuff, sadly. Let’s take a look!