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Produced by Pierrot Films, Bleach TYBW Part 3 Episode 9 came out on November 30, 2024. Titled Don't Chase a Shadow, the episode witnessed Shunsui Kyoraku's Bankai in all its glory. The Captain Commander of Gotei 13 demonstrated his Shikai and Bankai against Lille Barro, the leader of Yhwach's Elite Forces or Schutzstaffels.
After almost eight years, the fandom witnessed Shunsui's Bankai in animated form. Pierrot Films has done an excellent job of portraying the Captain Commander's fearsome Bankai and his aura in the anime. The esteemed studio captured Tite Kubo's vision and deftly mixed Japanese tradition to accentuate the Bankai.
Undoubtedly, Bleach TYBW Part 3 Episode 9 was all about Shunsui, who shone the brightest in the episode. The production quality was excellent, with the right focus on the art and the OST. Although the episode lacked proper action and choreography, it remained faithful to the manga. Therefore, it was a solid adaptation from a critical perspective.
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Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers from Bleach TYBW Part 3 Episode 9.
Bleach TYBW Part 3 Episode 9 review: Shunsui Kyoraku gets the ultimate spotlight as Pierrot Films delivers yet again
Production-wise, Bleach TYBW Part 3 Episode 9 was a treat to the sore eyes. Picking up the events from the previous episode, the latest installment commenced with Mayuri Kurotsuchi's Bankai being obliterated by Pernida from inside. The narrative switched to Kisuke, Shunsui, Shinji, and others, as they noticed the fluctuation in the 12th Division Captain's Spiritual Pressure.
Right from the onset, Bleach TYBW Part 3 Episode 9 set up the action, providing the scope for an excellent narrative. Soon, the focus was made directly on Shunsui Kyoraku, who decided to initiate the counterattack. Meanwhile, Lille Barro felt his enemies were on the back foot, frightened.
As Shunsui stopped running and faced forward, he heaved a sigh and shot the Soul Reaper in the chest. Just then, he heard a chant nearby and saw Shunsui Kyoraku behind him. That marked the beginning of Shunsui Kyoraku's "children's play" with Lille Barro.
The new Captain Commander demonstrated a new move, called Daruma San ga Koronda against Lille, which went by the name Chocolate Ingles in Lille Barro's culture. From the adaptation's perspective, Bleach TYBW Part 3 Episode 9 retained a long explanation of Shunsui's new move.
Although it acted as a "calm before the storm" moment, it was necessary to give the audience a clue as to how Shunsui escaped Lille Barro's death blow. Meanwhile, Nanao Ise followed Shunsui and arrived at the scene. However, Shunsui told her to go away, since it was dangerous.
Yet, when Nanao refused to go, Shunsui implored her to at least inform others to go ahead without them, to which she agreed. Bleach TYBW Part 3 Episode 9 saw a nice moment between the Captain and the lieutenant, as the latter bickered with her captain before returning to others.
Following that, the episode returned to the exposition of Daruma San Ga Koronda. Lille Barro also learned how Shunsui used the shortest trail of his Spiritual Pressure to catch him off guard. At the same time, he realized that if Shunsui were to be seen in the middle of the game, he would have lost.
Bleach TYBW Part 3 Episode 9 revealed that the Captain Commander was willing to take that risk since that's how his Zanpakuto worked. Following that, the narrative marked the beginning of a fight between Shunsui and Lille Barro. The Captain Commander demonstrated his new move against Lille Barro again, with the addition of Kageyoni.
He was pleasantly surprised when the Sternritter escaped the attack. Production-wise, the scene had a beautiful choreography. Emo Saito and Tomohisa Taguchi worked in the episode's direction, with the former working on the storyboards. Undoubtedly, they did justice to the manga in terms of adapting the events fluidly.
The first half of Bleach TYBW Part 3 Episode 9 was conversation-oriented, typical of Shunsui Kyoraku and Lille Barro, while the second half was reserved for action. While the action scenes weren't as dynamic as the Renji vs. Uryu battle or the Ichigo vs. Yhwach battle, where Tomohisa Taguchi worked previously, it still had its moments.
For instance, Shunsui Kyoraku's wide range of Shikai abilities was interestingly done in the episode, adding variety to the episode. The production team, with Kosei Takahashi, Kumiko Kato, and Ichiro Ino as the animation directors, and Kumiko Takayanagi as the chief animation director, ensured the episode had fluid action for Shunsui's movements.
Hence, the Kage Okuri, a new move by Shunsui, appeared excellent to the naked eye. Besides that, Bleach TYBW Part 3 Episode 9 featured a scene, where Shunsui's several shadows leaped onto Lille Barro, forcing him to open his closed eye. That's when the Sternritter explained his Schrift to Shunsui, including how his eyes allowed him to use the quintessence of his X-Axis power.
Bleach TYBW Part 3 Episode 9 then witnessed Lille Barro demonstrate his Vollstandig form, Jiliel. In some way, the transformation scene was better depicted in the manga, but the anime did a decent job nonetheless. The episode then showcased Lille Barro vs. Shunsui, where the Soul Reaper demonstrated a kido blade, Hado No: 78, Zangerin.
Since the attack did no damage to Lille, Shunsui felt he had no choice but to go for his trump card. That's when the Captain Commander activated his Bankai, Katen Kyokotsu Karamatsu Shinju, for the first time in the series. Pierrot Films hit it out of the park by infusing Shunsui's Bankai with proper Buddhist-themed OSTs and traditional Japanese art style.
The overall outcome was a visual spectacle. Notably, the color scheme for Shunsui's Bankai in Bleach TYBW Part 3 Episode 9 was a pleasant surprise. Since the sky was dark, the production team opted for a jaundiced yellow, to suit the theme of melancholy and despair.
Shunsui's Bankai's range was so pervasive that Ichigo Kurosaki, who was in another area, felt the chills. The production team perfectly captured the essence of Shunsui's Bankai, with accurate emphasis on all four acts/ Dan. Even though Shunsui performed those acts in succession, it didn't seem rushed.
Finally, prior to the fourth act, Shunsui's Zanpakuto spirit, Katen, whom he referred to as Ohana, appeared. After a casual chat with his Zanpakuto, Shunsui performed the final act of his Bankai to cut and blow off Lille Barro's throat. The scene was a visual splendor, with the characters being engulfed in deep waters.
Only a ray of light could be seen above. Lille Barro flapped his wings but couldn't reach the surface. After his supposed death, the Sternritter fell to the deep abyss, while a tired Shunsui rested on Ohana's lap.
The episode everything right for Shunsui's Bankai, and did complete justice to Tite Kubo's source material. The episode covered Chapters 645-648, and Chapter 649 without the final two pages. That's why, Bleach TYBW Part 3 Episode 9 ended rather abruptly, with the screen going dark at the end.
Bleach TYBW Part 3 Episode 9 review: Ichigo gets a redemption
Besides Shunsui Kyoraku and Lille Barro, Bleach TYBW Part 3 Episode 9 marked an interesting turnaround for Ichigo Kurosaki. In the manga, he was seen defeated by Askin Nakk le Var, since he couldn't withstand the Sternritter's Lethal Dose.
However, the anime slightly changed the scene and revealed that Ichigo Kurosaki had gained the ability to withstand Askin's Lethal Dose. Having said that, it's probably a momentary victory for Ichigo, as Askin decided to increase the dose. In other words, the anime will play out the same fate for Ichigo, except, delayed his loss in Bleach TYBW Part 3 Episode 9.
Conclusion
Bleach TYBW Part 3 Episode 9 was a beautiful experience for Shunsui fans, who waited for years to see their favorite character's Bankai in the series for the first time. Pierrot Films did almost everything right, providing the Captain Commander with the aura he always deserved.
Also read:
- Bleach TYBW episode 35 full highlights
- Bleach TYBW part 3 episode 8 review
- Bleach: Thousand-year Blood War part 3 complete release schedule
