Bleach: Fade to Black
Movie, 2008, Side stories, Set in Soul Society
Bleach: Fade to Black is #4 of 6 in release order and #4 of 6 in chronological order in the Bleach.
The story
A strange disturbance in the World of the Living sends Ichigo and Kon to the Soul Society, where the Seireitei has been devastated by an explosion of reishi and Rukia is missing. Stranger still, none of the Soul Reapers remember Ichigo, and they think he’s the one responsible for the destruction. Now on the run, Ichigo is forced into a lonely battle in order to find Rukia and stop the real culprits!
Bleach: Fade to Black recap
Two mysterious siblings attack Mayuri Kurotsuchi's lab, causing an explosion of spirit energy. They erase Rukia's memories, and everyone else's memories of her, and take her to the Rukon District. Ichigo and Kon go to Soul Society to find her, but the captains no longer remember Ichigo and treat him as an intruder. Kisuke Urahara learns that a parasitic Hollow is controlling the siblings. When Ichigo and Renji find Rukia, her memories come back.
Bleach: Fade to Black ending explained
The girl's rage fuses the siblings and Rukia into a monster, "Dark Rukia". Ichigo frees Rukia with his own spirit energy, and Byakuya and Renji destroy the monster. The dying siblings regret what they did, and Rukia names them Homura and Shizuku before they die. Ichigo tells Rukia her memories of them won't fade.
Post-credits scenes
The home video release adds a short extra scene of Ichigo, Rukia and Kon heading back to the World of the Living.
Where to watch Bleach: Fade to Black
Bleach: Fade to Black is streaming on Hoopla, Pluto TV, YouTube (free), and Amasian TV in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.1/10, MyAnimeList 7.50
Where it fits
- Release order: after Bleach: The DiamondDust Rebellion, before Bleach: Hell Verse.
- Chronological order: after Bleach: The DiamondDust Rebellion, before Bleach: Hell Verse.
What to watch before Bleach: Fade to Black
Bleach (2004), which Bleach: Fade to Black (2008) continues. Bleach: Fade to Black itself is optional in the Bleach order.
Cast
- Masakazu Morita as Ichigo Kurosaki (voice)
- Fumiko Orikasa as Rukia Kuchiki (voice)
- Kentaro Ito as Renji Abarai (voice)
- Aya Hirano as Homura (voice)
- Hiroshi Kamiya as Shizuku (voice)
- Mitsuaki Madono as Kon (voice)
- Jun Fukuyama as Yumichika Ayasegawa (voice)
- Taro Yamaguchi as Sasakibe Choujiro (voice)
- Takako Honda as Jinta Hanakari (voice)
- Katsuyuki Konishi as Shuuhei Hisagi (voice)
- Rintaro Nishi as Tetsuzaemon Iba (voice)
- Tetsu Inada as Sajin Komamura (voice)
Directed by Noriyuki Abe.