Bleach TYBW Part 4 Episode 5 (BLEACH 千年血戦篇-禍進譚-) broke the internet with Ichigo’s new form and Orihime’s ultimate sacrifice. Not only were Ichigo’s new powers incredibly broken, but they were also completely anime-original. Still, Kubo didn’t simply pull the form out of thin air; it has deeper connections to Ichigo’s past transformations and his journey throughout the series.
Bleach TYBW Part 4: Ichigo’s New Bankai Explained
Ichigo’s Fight With Ulquiorra Got Called Back Hard
In the previous episode, there were many throwbacks to the past; yet nothing was clearer than Ichigo’s True Bankai. The moment his new form is showcased, it takes the audience to the days of Ichigo fighting with Ulquiorra. When Ichigo took on his terrifying Full Hollow form in his final fight with Ulquiorra, he lost control and transformed into a monster. At that time, he completely lost his humanity and even hurt Uryu, without thinking twice. The form that we got in this episode is almost similar, but still completely different.
The Blood Chains Ichigo essentially takes the Hollow characteristics and incorporates them into his Bankai. Here, the biggest difference becomes Ichigo’s control over his powers. Back then, Hollow Ichigo was on demon time without thinking about anything other than to attack and destroy. Now, Ichigo is more capable of deliberately accessing that Hollow power while still retaining humanity within himself. In other words, his earlier form accidentally got unlocked, while this one is deliberately activated by Ichigo.
Ichigo’s Two Horns and Chains Have a Much Deeper Meaning in Bleach
In the new form, Ichigo also gets 2 horns. This was also a throwback to his Vasto Lorde Hollow form, where he has 2 huge horns. At the time, Ulquiorra cut one of the horns, which made it possible for Ichigo to return. But it is not just the horns that were already evoked previously. The chains were not entirely new either. These chains connect to Tensa Zangetsu.
Ichigo’s Dangai form also had chain-like things around his arm. The only difference is that this time, he can actively manipulate those chains to do his bidding. In this episode, he also utilised those chains to protect Orihime and Rukia. Those chains kind of elevated from just being there as part of his design to having some role in combat.
The Mugetsu Connection Behind Ichigo’s New Black Getsuga
The biggest callback could also be Ichigo’s Final Getsuga Tensho, or the Mugetsu form. When Ichigo used this technique against Aizen, he essentially became the embodiment of Getsuga itself, which is why Mugetsu looked so different from his usual Getsuga attacks. Now, in his new True Bankai form, Ichigo once again produces black, crescent-shaped Getsuga, whose size and presentation recall Mugetsu.
Usually, Ichigo uses Getsuga Tensho as an attack; with Mugetsu, he entered an extreme state where he became the ultimate manifestation of Getsuga. In his new form, meanwhile, his overwhelming reiatsu manifests as a gigantic black Getsuga.
Ichigo’s New Bankai Changes the Meaning of His Hollow Mask
A very important visual detail is the fact that Ichigo loses his Hollow mask in this form. Usually, Hollow power equals having a mask. But now Hollow power gets infused with Ichigo completely. That’s why the presentation of Ichigo’s ordinary face is so meaningful as well. His full Hollow form against Ulquiorra had the Hollow mask completely consuming his identity, which is why we did not see his face at all. Only when his mask breaks and his face becomes visible does he return to being a human.
Blood Chains Ichigo instead has only the horns, which means that he doesn’t need to hide behind a Hollow identity anymore. The Hollow power has become infused into his Bankai.
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