Masakazu Morita, the voice of lead character Ichigo Kurosaki in Japanese anime series Bleach, and Bleach director Noriyuki Abe are coming to the Gold Coast in April to appear as guests of the Gold Coast Film Festival and the Gold Coast Supanova Expo.

Bleach is one of the most globally popular Japanese mangas (graphic novels) in history, spanning television shows and films (anime), games and merchandise loved all around the world. Over 350 episodes of the show have run since 2004, and over 450 chapters of the manga have been released, selling 75 million copies in Japan alone.

Mr Morita and Mr Abe will hold a ninety-minute anime master class at this year’s festival on Friday the 20th of April, which will include a discussion of why Bleach has received such international adoration, the process of voice acting and directing voice actors, as well as key advice to Australians wishing to work in the industry. It’s a rare chance to interact with key figures of this international phenomenon.

(c) Tite Kubo/Shueisha, TV TOKYO, dentsu, Pierrot (c) BMP 201

Masakazu Morita (Ichigo)

 Masakazu Morita Professional Biography

Best known for playing the central character, Ichigo Kurosaki in the worldwide popular animation series BLEACH. Morita also appears in many films, stage plays, and TV dramas.

His major voice works includes, animation series:Pegasus Seiya (Saint Seiya The Hades Chapter Inferno and Elysion/Knight of the Zodiac The Hades Chapter Inferno and Elysion) Ryuji Takamine (Ring Ni Kakero 1/Put it all in the Ring 1) Barnaby Brooks Jr. (TIGER & BUNNY) Keiji Maeda (Sengoku BASARA/Devil Kings) and Video Game series: Tidus (Final Fantasy Ⅹ).

He also voices as Troy Bolton in the Japanese dubbed version of High School Musical. He hosts radio show of “ BLEACH “B” STATION”, and “Masakazu Morita’s ADULT.EX” (Niconico.com).

Noriyuki Abe (director)

Noriyuki Abe Professional Biography

Noriyuki Abe started working with Studio Pierrot from 1983 as a storyboard and choreographer assistant for Norakuro-kun and Heisei Tensai Bakabon.

He soon begins to unleash his talents on animation production when he first directed the highly popular comic-original, Yoshihiro Togashi's Yu Yu Hakusho.　

Abe is best known for working with Studio Pierrot's smash major hits, such as NINKŪ, Yu Yu Hakusho,and BLEACH (Director for both theatrical and TV series for those three titles), as well as Midori no Makibao, Tantei Gakuen Q, GTO, Flame of Recca, and Tokyo Mew Mew (Director for the last five animation titles).

Bleach the Movie: Fade to Black

A mysterious figure has broken into Mayuri Kurotsuchi's laboratory in the Seireitei. Rukia witnesses this catastrophe, and the intruders abduct Rukia as she feels something inside of her fade away.

Meanwhile, in the World of the Living, Ichigo and Kon experience a strange disturbance and head to Kisuke Urahara's shop for some answers. When Kisuke informs them about the destruction of the Seireitei, the two set out for the Soul Society.

What awaits Ichigo in the devastated Seireitei, however, are Soul Reapers who seem to have lost all memory related to both him and Rukia. Ichigo must find out what happened to Rukia and try to save her before the two are forced to part ways forever!

Mr Abe and Mr Morita will participate in a 30minute Q&A following Bleach the Movie: Fade to Black

The Fade to Black screening at the GCFF is courtesy of

Bleach the Movie: Hell Verse (Australian Premiere)

Hell – A place where beings that have committed mortal sins during their lifetime are sent. It is a realm where even Soul Reapers are forbidden to interfere.
 
When a group of vicious Sinners plot to escape from this eternal prison, they discover that Substitute Soul Reaper Ichigo Kurosaki is the key to their freedom. The Sinners launch an attack and in the process kidnap Ichigo’s younger sister Yuzu and take her to Hell. With the help of a mysterious man named Kokuto, Ichigo and his friends must now travel into the depths of Hell to stop the Sinners and save Yuzu, unaware that their actions could bring Hell to the World of the Living.

Special thanks to

who are the distributors of all the Bleach DVDs and films in Australia and who will be releasing Hell Verse in due course.

Check the schedule for screening and seminar times

Tickets to all Bleach events are on sale now