Posted in: Anime, Current News, Editor's Picks TV News, Movies, Trailer, TV, YouTube | Tagged: Adult Swim, anime, bleach, cartoon network, hollow, Ichigo Kurosaki, manga, Shinsuke Sato, Sōta Fukushi, soul reaper, Tite Kubo, Toonami, tv. television, viz media, warner bros. japan, Zanpakuto

Live-Action 'Bleach': First Teaser Trailer, 2018 Release Confirmed

Ichigo Kurosaki fans are getting their first look at the live-action film adaptation of anime classic Bleach as Warner Bros. Japan released a visual of the series' hero as well as a teaser trailer. It was also confirmed through the film's Twitter account that Tite Kubo's manga-turned-movie would premiere Summer 2018, with previously-announced Sōta Fukushi as Kurosaki and Shinsuke Sato assuming the director's chair.

While the teaser trailer itself is a lot more "teaser" than "trailer," it does a good job of setting the movie's tone over the course of 20+ seconds. Fans get a brief glimpse of Kurosaki, standing with his back to us and  putting his Zanpakuto to good use by cutting-off the hand of a particularly large Hollow. We're then given a close-up of Kurosaki as he stands before a wall of fire, looking at the ground as his weapon rests cautiously on his shoulder.

Here's what Viz Media wants you to know about Bleach:

"Ichigo Kurosaki never asked for the ability to see ghosts—he was born with the gift. When his family is attacked by a Hollow—a malevolent lost soul—Ichigo becomes a Soul Reaper, dedicating his life to protecting the innocent and helping the tortured spirits themselves find peace."

Fans of the anime series have been cautiously awaiting more details since the live-action film adaptation was announced back in 2016, shortly after the Bleach manga wrapped-up its run. Filming began last fall and wrapped before winter's end, leaving Warner Bros. Japan more than enough time to convince fans that this live-action anime adaptation wouldn't end-up going the route of other films that failed miserably. And with good reason: the anime series Bleach ran from 2004-2012 for a total of 366 episodes as well as four anime films, video games and a series of novels. The anime was also a staple of Cartoon Network/Adult Swim's Toonami anime programming block from 2006-2014.

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