Viz Media obtained foreign television and home video distribution rights to the Bleach anime in March 2006. In addition to adapting the manga series it is based on, the anime periodically includes original self-contained storylines and characters not found in the manga. His newfound powers force him to take on the duties of defending humans from evil spirits and guiding departed souls to the afterlife. The story follows the adventures of Ichigo Kurosaki after he obtains the powers of a Soul Reaper-a death personification similar to the Grim Reaper-from another Soul Reaper, Rukia Kuchiki. The series aired on TV Tokyo from October 2004 to March 2012, spanning 366 episodes. It was produced by Studio Pierrot and directed by Noriyuki Abe. Bleach (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese anime television series based on Tite Kubo's original manga series of the same name.
