Hell has Lent Me its Power...



A poster depicting some of the movie's characters. Newcomers Kokuto (Upper Left) and Shuren (Center) Join the cast.
Info




The cover of the invitational book, featuring information about the movie.

Bleach: Hell Chapter is the fourth bleach movie to be made, and is the only movie tied directly to the main storyline. The author, Tite Kubo, was the production director, and was involved since the planning and scenario stages of production. This is the only movie he's ever been a part of, aside from designing the characters and concept. To commemorate its release, a special prologue chapter was written called Imaginary 01. the unforgivens, and a special episode was also made from the chapter, with a little bit extra content.

The prologue follows two deceased villains, Szayel Aporro Granz, and Aaroniero Arruruerie, as they fall from the sky onto the hard ground. They look around, confused of their location, when a figure approaches them. He welcomes them to this place, which they then learn to be hell. The man offers them a chance to join him, but they steadfastly refuse. Szayel gets a jump on the man, but is preempted by one of his followers. After being easily defeated, the man says that their power wasn't good enough. They'd need something stronger to tear away the gates of hell to escape. In a small hourglass lies the silhouette of Ichigo, in his most recent transformation, where he loses all semblence of reason. The extra content specific to the anime involves one of the first creatures Ichigo defeated. Shrieker, as he is called, escaped from hell and tries to exact revenge on Rukia, the girl who gave Ichigo his powers. He's a lot stronger this time, and is sporting a new mask/cloak ensemble. During the fight, his cloak is torn off, revealing red chains binding him. Once exposed, the gates of hell appear, and reclaim him.

The movie starts with the man, who introduces himself as Shuren, and his followers that attack Ichigo and his friends after school. Shuren has kidnapped Ichigo's two sisters. They barely hold their own against the new threat, and Ichigo takes Shuren head on. Unsuccessful, he is about to be defeated when a man wearing all white and black bandages over the right side of his face appears. He first rescues one of Ichigo's sisters, then attacks Shuren and holds him off long enough until Shuren finally escapes. The new man reveals his name to be Kokuto. He introduces himself as a togabito, a sinner, meaning a resident of hell. He had escaped like Shuren had. He too is looking for a permanent escape from hell. He offers to help Ichigo rescue his sister. Ichigo accepts, and he along with a few of his friends travel to hell. In hell they must find their way to the inner circles of hell, whilst avoiding the enormous guardians of hell, the Kushannard. Shuren's followers again take on Ichigo's friends, and Kokuto and Ichigo travel on toward his sister. Kokuto explains why he's helping Ichigo. Turns out he had a sister, who was killed, and he felt awful for not being able to stop it. He killed everyone who was involved with his sister's death and was thus sent to hell after death. When they find Shuren, Ichigo and Kokuto take him on. Shuren is reduced to ash by Ichigo after a long battle. Kokuto was also destroyed in the process, tossed into a molten vat by Shuren's followers, but not without taking them with him. As Ichigo is about to save his sister, a black sword pierces him in the chest and he falls to the ground unconscious. Kokuto is standing above him, and jerks the sword out of him. He talks to Ichigo about his true goals and how everyone in hell is continuously reborn.

Ichigo's friends rescue him and his sister from hell while holding off Kokuto, and upon return, is healed by another friend. Once his sister recovers, he regains the will to fight. His friends did not escape hell, and remain with Kokuto. Ichigo rushes back into hell to face Kokuto and to rescue Rukia. During their fight, Ichigo is seemingly crushed by the guardians of hell. Kokuto laughs at his victory, when Ichigo emerges from the guardians' grasp. He is clad in skulls and bones, and sporting a fiery aura. Hell lent its power to him, in an effort to defeat Kokuto. Using this new power, he does, and brings his friends back to the real world.


This movie is one of my favorites from the series. It's much darker and more serious than the others, and really delves into the psychology and thought process of the characters. The animation is beautiful, and fans will recognize the revamped fight at the very beginning, which depicts Ichigo's demonic form, which is a part of the main story. Overall it is very well written and directed, and as always the music is fantastic. Often accompanied by a chorus, it captures the hellish feeling through an orchestra of trumpets and the like.