Beautiful Bleach ED 26

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

I'm verklempt!

Among rumors that the Bleach anime was ending or at the very least going hiatus, ROOKiEZisPUNK‘D premiered new music today for a Bleach ED that plays fan nostalgia for all its worth. "Song for..." was billed in a television ad as "a love song for a special woman," but then when the ED premiered it was a Bleach retrospective told from Rukia's point of view. Rukia doesn't appear in the ending--she's a Hell butterfly flitting over a montage of the nakama and mostly Ichigo.

The scene where Ichigo pops Rukia lightly on the forehead KILLED ME DEAD and apparently others watching as well because there was fanart in cyberspace right after the airing.

Scene where he pops her on the forehead:






Art by Larva






The current OP is my favorite, and while "Echoes" was my favorite of the EDs (the one with the war-weary nakama gathering after the Arrancar battles), this one surpasses it by far. It makes me remember why I love Bleach, and like the chapter "Farewell Swords" now renamed "Bleach My Soul" in the volume, it's a fitting marker for an anniversary.

It's also overwhelmingly IchiRuki. Like I wrote in the IR FC at BA this morning,the montage of images are so wonderful, not only because they are so nostalgic Bleach-wise but because they are from Rukia's POV--and in a wonderful parallel the song and scenes also show us Ichigo's feelings for Rukia. There are three key expressions featured before the gates close: 1) the look on Ichigo's face as he lies helpless on the ground the first time Rukia is taken by Byakuya and Renji to Soul Society 2) the look on Ichigo's face when he stands before the great bird of fire in his most heroic moment in the whole bleach manga to rescue Rukia--a man and no longer a boy and 3) that wistful look of longing and gratitude on his face as Rukia disappears in the last chapter--that moment that marks a relationship's vector point--there's a quiet epiphany here. The anime adds a blush on Ichigo's face in the ED and I'm not that impressed with it--blushes don't equal romance in my book (Renji blushed over Orihime's words in the last anime episode) and peoples' faces get red in cold weather. For me what is more important are the expressions in the characters' eyes when Kubo draws them, and in the case of this ED, the juxtaposition of romantic lyrics, nostalgic scenes, and two characters POVs.

I don't know how anyone can watch this ending and not see a love story, but then again people can read the last panels of "Bleach my Soul" and go okay, okay, move along, nothing to see here, they're just friends, just friends, just GOOD GOOD GOOD CLOSE FRIENDS.

Keep telling yourself that.

Whatever it is to you, in this ED the beauty of the Ichigo and Rukia relationship shines bright as a tear.

Oh and the crack!ep was awesome. So much Ishida goodness. He was an anemic vampire, rotflmao. And I got some IchiIshi love <3 and RenIshi to boot tooooooo! <3


eta: translation by pikeish  of heartbreaking description (oh dear lord I'm beyond verklempt now--I'm all a fan googly mess!) of the song by ROOKiEZisPUNK‘D (Thanks Syn for infos):
:

"In (the album) "Complication", dedicated to a girl that has always been by his side, supporting the guy that has been struggling to shine, could be, so to speak a piece of work that was done with all might, as a continuation of "Complication". Is the important thing from this on forth for the both of our lives, to continue this relationship? Or to say goodbye! It is no doubt that in the final season, this will resonate across many couples who are drawing near to this ultimate choice. Warmth and hopelessness, a spectacle and devastation, hope and despair, put together in this work"

This was the band description for "Song for..." here.

ETA:  SGKK translated the lyrics in their subs
You can find them here. The lyrics include, curiously, Kubo's quote about Rukia's meaning to Ichigo:

I'll pull down the single ray of light

What's more curious is that it's an old song, never released but only performed at concerts yet it was so fitting.

Comments

[summelbaerli.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, yes, YES!! Ive been ranting for hours on skype with fellow IchiRuki-lovers right now xDD
Can't stop watching this ED *w* And can't wait to edit with it! ^o^

[velvetsword.livejournal.com]

Wow, there's a lot of dust in the air in my house apparently.

Or it's raining.

[ce-lestic.livejournal.com]

I think it's lovely they decided to do a Rukia POV seeing how sorely we've been missing Rukia. I'm going to wave the anime a grudge-less goodbye just for this.

[qwirky.livejournal.com]

This ED is so beautiful and makes me cry and I can't stop watching it T___T

The head-poke was the cutest part. I also died happily at the part with Ichigo and the little spirit kid - soooo adorable. (Who doesn't love a guy who's good with kids?) The blush wasn't significant but it was still cute to see him do it.

Of course the nakama, Kon, and the Kurosaki family were present in Rukia's memories, which was very sweet, but it's Ichigo who's the primary focus. He's the most important person to her, after all. Ichigo and Rukia's bond is wonderfully captured by this ED. I love that Rukia has seen Ichigo in his good moments and his bad moments; that both are shown really suggests that Rukia accepts Ichigo for who he really is, and seeing older scenes from canon also drives home the development of their relationship.

*puddle of goo from this ED*

[escarboucle.livejournal.com]

It's dust. I know I have the same in my eyes since this afternoon. Damn annoying :/

[fefecchi.livejournal.com]

I agree with you, debbie: this new ending remembered me why I love Bleach so much.
And, OH GOD, Ichigo and Rukia's relationship. I can't understand how animators could have pictured it in such a beautiful way, with re-animation and stuff.
I CRIED, OH! I CRIED SO BAD. ;____;
This is my favorite ED, for sure.

Well, about the episode... I loved Renji-the-Mummy-Pirate's flashback, LOL. And, aww, Ishida is anemic, like I am. xD

[rabidbunny001.livejournal.com]

Yeah, not much else to add here... I still have a lump in my throat from watching.

I think what gets to me the most is the way their physical proximity is so well-illustrated and brought to life in this ED. They punch, poke, and prod each other all the time on screen, but the first person angle adds an entirely new dimension to their interaction and really hits home how comfortable and right it is to be physically next to each other. I've been in a long distance relationship for a while now, so this really gets to me. All I can say is that I'm going to be a freaking mess when Farewell Swords/Bleach My Soul is actually animated.

And dammit, those soft expressions and that big smile from Ichigo, not to mention his face at the very end just killed me. Absolutely no one can deny that they have a very special bond that's stronger than any in Bleach, be it romantic or otherwise.

[aentee.livejournal.com]

This ED is so beautiful ;____; I'm so happy we're able to see things from Rukia's POV for once. That little head tap, the look on Ichigo's face when she left, the entire montage really, makes me wibble.

*goes to find download so I can replay it over and over*

[(Anonymous)]

I mean, "what we have*", of course.

[kitty-mcdaniels.livejournal.com]

I'm crying. Like an idiot.

Damn it Kubo, you can have me for the next ten years ;___; I just want to see this end happily for them.

[ryfee.livejournal.com]

This. T_________________T

[ryfee.livejournal.com]

I feel like crying now. It was so beautiful... and perfect. I can't even. /dies

[strawberries-85.livejournal.com]

I've been so emotional this week and though I don't usually tear up over the anime, this actually made me tear up. It is so beautiful and it brings back so many good memories. Thank you, Bleach anime. :'D

[escarboucle.livejournal.com]

Copied right from the FC

So, if I understood right: while the song is a "love song for a special woman", we can see everything through Rukia's eyes, as if what she does is echoed by the song? As if the animation was done especially FOR this song If I'm not mistaking, it is an old song that's released just now I wonder if they picked it because it matched so well and it was never released?

Seeing this Ichigo through Rukia's eyes though... seriously, guys, these are the eyes of love Seriously, like Athena said, there's everything, all Ichigo's sides, and she's there to watch them. She knows him inside outside out, and he looks just so handsome and boyish with him. It definitely is a warm ED, even if a bittersweet one.

And the face he makes at the end is soooo... TAT The tenderness in that look TAT He looks so young, so vulnerable, while watching her go away - not thinking she won't be back TAT

And what's more, the song is described as "A love song of tears that is offered by a guy that was struggling to shine, to a girl that has always been in his support" [translation thanks to pikeish who definitely shouldn't be doing this right now ].

Does that remind you something? And to think the singer said it fitted the end of vol 48 [IchiRuki departure] too TAT It definitely fits Ichigo (the guy who struggles to shine) and Rukia (that girl who's always been his support).

I can only hope that they'll make a creditless version of this ED, like they did for Gallop too :beg I can't wait to have the translated version, so we can compare the song with what's happening.

And because pike is being a bad girl right now:
"In (the album) "Complication", dedicated to a girl that has always been by his side, supporting the guy that has been struggling to shine, could be, so to speak a piece of work that was done with all might, as a continuation of "Complication". Is the important thing from this on forth for the both of our lives, to continue this relationship? Or to say goodbye! It is no doubt that in the final season (or season finale whatever XD), this will resonate across many couples who are drawing near to this ultimate choice. Warmth and hopelessness, a spectacle and devastation, hope and despair, put together in this work"

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

Thank you to Pike-chan for the translation <3

*sniff*

It is no doubt that in the final season, this will resonate across many couples who are drawing near to this ultimate choice.

Well, dawwww.

Ah, yes...the rain....

[bonefield.livejournal.com]

(http://tinypic.com?ref=2hnusly)

It's just the rain. Nothing but the rain.

[velvetsword.livejournal.com]

(http://tinypic.com?ref=2zf0ajq)

[strawberries-85.livejournal.com]

Omg, the translations. I'm going to cry again. ;_____;

[12domba.livejournal.com]

newest ending awesome
OMG rukia...
I miss her so much >+

[velvetsword.livejournal.com]

"It is no doubt that in the final season (or season finale whatever XD), this will resonate across many couples who are drawing near to this ultimate choice. Warmth and hopelessness, a spectacle and devastation, hope and despair, put together in this work"

(http://tinypic.com?ref=2lsh1mp)

[ryfee.livejournal.com]

The translations ;__________________________;

I think I'll cry more when the full translation is out. T____T

[(Anonymous)]

ok ... I'm crying, literally crying and shaking ... I hope to become a normal human by tomorrow meanwhile (por qué DIOS MÍO?! déjalos reunirse!) lovin ma Bleach ;___;

[lady-leia-solo.livejournal.com]

Aw the bump on the head was the cutest!

[nijibug.livejournal.com]

This ED made my heart ache ♥
It feels like a wonderful culmination of how far the manga & anime has come

[sugary-nitemare.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I agree. This ending has so many mixed emotions. I can't exactly tell all the things going on in Rukia's head at the time, but without a doubt, there are some romantic thoughts. *Stares lovingly at Ichigo* =3

Sometimes, I myself am jealous of Rukia... she has Ichigo, Renji, and Byakuya to protect [even though she doesn't like it] and watch over her. I personally want my own Ichi, but I think MANY fans could agree with me! >3< Life's not fair [all the time]! She also has so many people surrounding her. :)

Enough of my ramblings! Anyways, the head poke made me squeal and almost pass out. It's plain ol' sweet X3, very cute. I was happy until I read a comment from a fan saying that this ending wasn't IchiRuki and that it was only Rukia's 'obsession' over Ichigo. I didn't reply, but that me awfully mad. I was ready to bite someone's head off. >:(