Bount Arc

A race of soul-consuming Bounts clashes with Ichigo in an original anime-only arc spanning twenty-eight episodes.

The fourth season of the Bleach anime, directed by Noriyuki Abe and produced by Studio Pierrot, features an original, self-contained filler story arc known as the Bount Arc. Instead of adapting Tite Kubo's manga, this season introduces the Bount, a race of vampiric beings that consume human souls to extend their lives. The twenty-eight episodes focus on the conflicts between these beings and Ichigo Kurosaki alongside his allies. Aired from January to August 2006 on TV Tokyo in Japan, the English adaptation aired on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim from May to December 2008.

Quick Facts

Season number: 4
Episodes: 28
Network: TV Tokyo
First aired: 17 January 2006
Last aired: 1 August 2006

Lore & Background

The Bount Arc centers entirely on the introduction and conflict involving the Bount, a specific race defined by their need to consume human souls for longevity. This narrative stands apart from the source manga as a unique, self-contained story within the broader series. The season maintains the standard format of following Ichigo Kurosaki and his companions but shifts focus to this new threat rather than canonical plotlines. The arc is composed of exactly twenty-eight episodes that chronicle these specific battles and interactions.

Did You Know?

Two different opening themes were used: 'Ichirin no Hana' for the first eleven episodes and 'Tonight, Tonight, Tonight' for the remainder.
Viz Media released the entire season on seventeen separate DVDs between May 12 and November 17, 2009.
The English adaptation aired on Adult Swim from May to December 2008, while the Japanese original ran from January to August 2006.