Bleach/Awesome



Being among the mainstream anime/manga series of this generation, Bleach is overwhelmed with so many powerful moments, that you're guaranteed to love each and every second, no matter how many times you see them again.

Please list the entries under the appropriate arc.

Agents Of Shinigami Arc

 * While fighting the hollow Shrieker, Chad rips a telephone pole out of the ground and hits him with it.
 * Made all the more awesome by the fact that he couldn't actually see him.
 * Orihime first manifesting her powers -- a rare incident of a pissed-off Orihime. It was so awesome that it let her: a) awake her Shun Shun Rikka, b) save a bunch of Brainwashed and Crazy Karakura students (two of them being her friends Tatsuki and Chizuru) and c) kill the Hollow controlling them.
 * This far and no mention of Ichigo's fights? For shame. The first instance Ichigo gets his Shinigami powers; his battle with Shrieker; the fight with Grand Fisher; fighting alonside Uryu against the Hollows drawn to Karakura Town by the Hollow bait, and then cutting the Menos with his first Getsuga Tenshou. These are all just the beginning.
 * "What? You're not gonna do it? Guess you don't need your tongue, then."
 * Ichigo's first encounter with Renji. It begins with Ichigo's Dynamic Entry. Then, after Renji gets a hit in and cuts off Ichigo's Theme Music Power-Up, Renji proceeds to give a Reason You Suck Speech, only for Ichigo to shut him up when Renji tempts fate. Renji releases his Zanpakuto and beats down Ichigo again, only for Ichigo to get another power-up and start kicking Renji's ass.
 * Byakuya demonstrating just why Captains are the top brass of Soul Society by effortlessly defeating Ichigo after he had overpowered Renji.

Soul Society Arc

 * Mayuri responds to Ishida's final form by releasing his bankai, a giant worm with a baby's head that sprouts spikes and spews poison gas. Uryuu's response? Arrow through the head. Just to be clear; he headshotted a fucking bankai!!!
 * That was indeed awesome, however it came out as a tie. Mayuri turned himself into liquid and left, and Ishida was dying from poison and his wounds. Also points to Kurotsuchi for being to fast for Ishida before his one-time power up.
 * No love for Kukaku?! Woman fired Ichigo out of a fucking fire works canon and into the Sereitei! And what about her showing up to help Yoruichi and the minor asskicking she did there (not great compared to others but still). That woman definitely Needs More Love on this page.
 * Agreed, so very much. In the scene with the three giants, Kukaku knocks one of them flat on his ass with a single spell, distracting (?) Aizen enough to keep him from getting away.
 * Ganju has a couple, too. Particularly when he defeated Ayasegawa Yumichika by throwing a bomb at his head.
 * In his most heroic moment, however, Ganju was mercilessly torn to shreds by Byakuya while defending Rukia (who, he had just discovered, is the one who killed his brother).
 * Naah, Ganju got his moment earlier: during his appearence, he's been violently bullied around by his sister both physically and verbally. Then, he grows the balls to shut her up before going to mission with Ichigo and co.
 * You can't deny that Zaraki himself gets a fair few. Particularly when Ichigo's sword isn't powerful enough to cut him at first, when he cuts a skyscraper in half with a single blow of his sword, and when he lets Tousen, an enemy he can't see, stab him in order to get close enough to stab him back.
 * You're forgetting the most important bit of the Tosen fight- after Zaraki is impaled, he yanks the blade out again and tells Tosen that he'll catch his hand before he can strike again. Suffice to say, he does.
 * Hello, HE DOESNT EVEN NEED A BANKAI! HE CAN JUST HOLD HIS SWORD WITH BOTH HANDS!
 * Ichigo himself had his first real "WOW" moment when he forcibly prevents the Soukyoku from executing Rukia. The Soukyoku supposedly has the power of a million zanpakutous, and he blocks it with one. He follows this up by destroying the base (with defensive power of the same magnitude), and promptly taking out three vice-captains at the same time, with his bare hands.
 * A million could just be referring to a million Asauchis-Unnamed Zanpakutou with no powers- not Named and unique swords with individual powers of their own. In that case, then even Kenpachi's Zanpakutou could block the Soukyoku. Which would be epic as well.
 * Any of Byakuya's "bankai moments," especially the first time he reveals it to us (and concludes the awesomesauce-scene with "Your fangs will never reach me. Ever.")
 * "All you had to do was quietly sheathe your sword. Did you seriously think you could defeat me? Renji, don't tell me you have forgotten, that I too have a bankai. ... bankai ... scatter, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi". With the Music Of Awesome, you could feel the Badass..
 * In this editor's opinion, Shunsui and Ukitake standing up to Yamamoto even though they know that they're going to die showed just how Badass they really are (not to mention lasting against him for longer than five seconds).
 * And speaking of Yamamoto, there was the scene where he made Nanao faint by looking at her. Doubles as a Kick the Dog.
 * And the reason why they end up fighting; having the nerve to sabotage the execution by destroying the Sokyoku. Not the most subtle of methods, gentlemen, but what can you say?
 * ...the part where Aizen blocks Ichigo's Bankai with his finger, also cutting short his Theme Music Power-Up in the process. Bad. Ass. Not to mention the part where he wipes away his "harmless scholar" facade by crushing his glasses with two fingers and slicking his hair back with a hand, all while rising up in a pillar of light and claiming "I will stand in Heaven" (the English dub phrases it as "I will stand at the top" in an incredibly awkward attempt to avoid any religious connotations). Epic much?
 * About as epic as when he reveals himself to be the Big Bad. One-shots his own Lieutenant (whom he'd been secretly Mind Raping from the get-go), One-shots an enraged Captain after delivering a particularly polite Hannibal Lecture, walks away from Unohana unscathed... and then goes on to do all of the above and then some, including Curb Stomping ANOTHER captain along his merry way. Best of all, we had NO IDEA that this was coming. This was THE defining twist of Bleach, THE way to reveal a Big Bad, and holy high-flying Hell how!
 * Unohana Retsu might've been one of the forgotten characters, had it not due to her calmly scaring the shit out of the battle-happy Squad 11 with just mere words and a very slightly scary look. That event cements her as awesome, even though she hasn't been in a real fight thus far. Unless the Informed Ability fails her, but we never know.
 * Yoruichi's much overlooked complete outclassing of Byakuya, the resident badass. Just as all hope seems lost. Just as Byakuya is about to bust out his epic yet effeminate super sword. Just as Rukia screams out in horror, begging Ichigo to run for his life. BAM! Yoruichi appears, wrapping Byakuya's sword in bandages and moving past him before he even realizes she's there. She then proceeds to make Byakuya look like a fool by showing how superspeed is REALLY done, before running off with Ichigo over her shoulder.
 * Gin's epic trolling of Rukia when he pretends he's going to rescue her, then straight-up says, "Just kiddin!" what makes this even more impressive is that Rukia has mistrusted Gin since she became a Soul Reaper, and yet he STILL manages to convince her that he's suddenly going to help her.
 * Hanataro willing joins Ichigo and goes against Soul Society in order to help save Rukia,
 * He receives another one when he heals Renji's wounds Renji was near-death, and Hanataro saved his life.
 * Both of Zaraki's subordinates get theirs, one earlier than the other. Yumichika's comes during Soul Society when, Ikkaku's comes during the Arrancar arc when . And he didn't really want to be forced to do it, so he was pissed off about it.
 * In chapter 168-169, Lieutenants Rangiku Matsumoto and face off during the Ryoka Arc. Kira reveals his sword's special ability to  and Matsumoto's sword crashes down on the roof tiles. As Kira smugly announces, "That's not a weight you can run around easily holding", Matsumoto delivers a Pre-Ass-Kicking One-Liner, "So what? If I can't hold it and run...I just won't hold it" and  . Truly, a CMOA, with a side of I Am Not Left-Handed and a soupcon of Out-Gambitted.
 * After Yamamoto orders Soifon to Bad Boss Sentaro and Kiyone (for helping destroy the Soukyoku, Yoruichi saves them by tackling Soifon off a cliff, and then, when Soifon gives a Hannibal Lecture and turns loose the Mooks, Yoruichi beats them all in one panel.
 * Jidanbo knocking three traitors the same size as him flat without taking a hit in return. Bizarrely left out of the anime.

Hueco Mundo Arc
"Isshin: You may have no interest in me...but I came here to kill you."
 * Isshin gets one when he drops the goofy dad act to reveal the fact that he is a Captain-level Shinigami. And then proceeds to use his sword to slice a giant arrancar in half.
 * Let's not forget that it wasn't just any arrancar - it was Grand Fisher, the Hollow who killed his wife. It's Personal.


 * Grimmjow gets one when
 * Orihime's real Moment comes when, after being offering herself as a Barrier Maiden and being imprisoned by Aizen, she is set upon by two jealous Arrancar girls, who give her a rather savage beating. Then, when the two are butchered by a superior (Grimmjow) who has come to take Orihime away, she promptly proves that she is capable of resurrecting the dead -- apparently not holding a grudge against those who just nearly killed her.
 * And before that? When Orihime is being tortured by Menoly and Loly, we get a closeup to her face. She's been beaten up so badly that her face is disfigured... but she hasn't cried a single tear over it. For a soft-hearted and sensitive girl who's very much indefense, it's quite a lot.
 * This troper'd say that the part where she gets plucky and bitchslaps Ulquiorra after he declared that her friends would all die was just as good as that, though.
 * This troper disagrees with that statement, based on the new view this review provided of the situation. She originally planned to destroy the Hogyoku in secret, and created a fake "image" of obedience towards Aizen, so she can do so. When Ulquiorra's statement caused her to slap him, the image of obedience summarily shattered. In essence, it was more of a Break the Cutie... and arguably, a CMOA not for Orihime, but for Ulquiorra since he finally managed to get to her head.
 * Chapter 341 of the manga. Orihime Notice that now she doesn't even need to chant the Rikka spells to do such things, and that this is   we're talking about.
 * Kuchiki Byakuya, in order to keep Espada No. 7 from controlling parts of his body, calmly cuts the tendons in his own arm and leg. Without even flinching.
 * Another one comes shortly after that. #7's power is that, should one of his 50 eyes lock in on a body part, he controls it. He uses this ability on Rukia's head, which allows him to control her brain and, thus, her whole body. He then has Rukia hold her sword up to her neck and threatens to have her kill herself if Byakuya doesn't give up. Byakuya puts his zanpakto away, paralyzes Rukia with Bakudo #61, then proceeds to use his bankai.
 * Mayuri gets his own where he not only comes to save Renji and Uryu while either squicking them out or just plain humiliating Uryu from his Arrancar equivalent Szayel Aporro Grantz, he ends the battle by stabbing him through the heart and hand while the other was under the effect of a drug that heightens his reflexes to the point that the stabbing takes centuries. Seeing as he's amongst the biggest Base Breakers in the series, this would either redeem him slightly in the eyes of the fans or make him look even more evil.
 * He doesn't just stab him, he screws with Szayel by moving v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y so as to d-r-a-g the whole thing out. The amount of time it takes for Mayuri's blade to even reach Szayel's hand takes forever without your perception of time slowed to glacier speed.
 * Redeem him? Fuck that, he was already one of my favourite characters BECAUSE he's a gigantic prick who gets away with all his crazy shit and doesn't afraid of anything. His "fight" with Aporro just made him even more awesome.
 * "HOW DARE YOU CALL YOURSELF A MAN OF SCIENCE!"
 * That speech in and of itself was and is a CMOA; it changed this troper's opinion of Mayuri from passive disgust if not dislike straight into complete and unconditional respect.
 * Oh Mayuri you Magnificent Bastard, Szayel didn't read your book!
 * Yeah. Mayuri's more of a Base Breaker and in many places he's even a Draco in Leather Pants character (like in North America). And I liked how he replaced his organs within less than an hour to prepare for the battle.
 * Every single second Bull Ichigo is on screen.
 * Ishida grabbing arm to  The only thing that could have made it more awesome was if
 * Episode 200. Nnoitra brags about his hierro being the toughest in Espada history. While Ichigo and Orihime just stare on in shock, Yachiru smiles and slowly licks her lips. Even though she didn't actually do anything, there was just something innately badass about that moment.
 * And in the next episode, Zaraki Kenpachi just continues to prove what a walking CMOA he is. Yet all the while, Yachiru stands there smiling, which, compared to Ichigo and Inoue freaking out over everything, somehow just contributes to her awesomeness.
 * This Troper feels the need to point out what he feels is Kenpachi's CMOA of CMOA in this fight: Catching a freaking Cero barehanded and tossing away like a goddamned beach ball. Even Nnoitra's just standing there with a look that just says "Oh. Fuck. Me."
 * The hell with it, the entire freaking eleventh division is made of awesome. If anyone from it is not having a Crowning Moment of Awesome, they will soon enough.
 * Rukia exposing her seemingly ressurected and evil teacher, Kaien Shiba, as Aaroniero Arruruerie, and then proceeding to kill him by cutting him in half using her Third Dance, Shirafune. And verbally owning him as she did so.
 * I agree on this point. The first time we see her Shikai, she one-shots D-roy, an Arrancar that could have killed Sado in one blow, and the second time, Hakuren is used to save Ichigo from Grimmjow. She also beat Rudobon and the Exequias he produced single-handedly when he released, and froze his branches, preventing him from using his power.

Fake Karakura Town Arc
"Barragan: What have you done with your arm? Hachi: I gave it to you."
 * Izuru recently got one in the manga while fighting Abirama. After Abirama criticizes Izuru for not acting like a warrior (chants, goading, insults, etc.), he starts to beat Izuru down, asking him what his weird shaped zanpakuto could possibly do.
 * "A warrior does not beg for his life." SHUNK
 * " Number One. Nadegiri. Is "stop" such a difficult concept to understand, kid?"
 * The revelation of 's Arrancar powers. But it's still awesome for him.
 * Also freaky as hell
 * It also brings up yet another Soifon CMOA:
 * And then Soifon Ban- WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?!?!
 * While we're on her bankai, how about the fact that she usually can't use it more than once because of the toll it takes on her. When Hachigen, he asks Soifon to shoot it again. She does.
 * Ushoda Hachigen is the ONLY Vizard that

"Aizen: "Shit! EVERYTHING'S BACKWARDS!""
 * Starrk's
 * Agreed.
 * Loly's Defiant to the End moment with Yammy, complete with Famous Last Words calling him a scumbag...twice. The girl had spunk: perhaps a little too much of it but there's something admirably ballsy about not giving into fear of someone who far outclasses you and insulting him to his face.
 * Chapter 390, in which Aizen solos the Gotei 13.
 * Chapter 392...oh Aizen. A completely horrifying moment, but also an horribly intelligent plan.
 * Hitsugaya, Kyoraku, and Shinji deserve just as much praise for their truly epic combination attack in the previous chapter against Aizen. Though foiled at the last minute by the aforementioned illusion, they still managed to give Aizen an Oh Crap moment.

"Soifon: "I'm sorry. I said, but you probably "..."
 * And the best part about it? Shinji's smile as he nonchalantly releases his shikai.
 * Kyoraku showing he can play quietly when he feels like it, by using speed and his swords alone to attack Aizen, only using the shadow game on the couple of occasions he got the opportunity. When Kyoraku manages to stab him through a shadow on the ice, Aizen - of all people - calls him a bastard. To which he is typically unconcerned.
 * Chapter 393, and Aizen is still on a roll: Old Man Genocide steps up to bat. How does he go about fighting Aizen?  Does Aizen have a plan to counter the strongest fighter in Soul Society? You bet he does, and the name of this plan is...
 * Old Man Genocide gets one somewhat, as Aizen explicitly states that Yamamoto is stronger than he is. That's right. Aizen himself says he cannot beat Yamamoto alone. Considering the fact that Aizen was thought to be the strongest person in the series thus far, that's saying a lot.
 * To put it in perspective, the official data for their personal combat ability (persumably excluding zanpakutou powers) put Aizen and Yamamoto as equal in terms of total point score; Aizen, however, states that Ryuujin Jakka's unrivaled offensive power would tip the scales in Yamamoto's favour.
 * Chapter 394:
 * His bragging about how not one Shinigami in the past 1000 years has ever been stronger than him also qualifies. It's essentially admitting that the Soul Society is run by Klingon Promotion - or at least the 1st Division.
 * In the latest chapters, Yamamoto proves his Badass status by, in order,
 * Up against someone like Yamamoto, Aizen seems to have nothing but his magical toy and his game-breaking sword and still has a couple of close calls. The old man, OTOH, is willing to sacrifice himself (and everyone else...which trope should that be?) uses unlikely, reckless tactics - allowing himself to be stabbed - and is most importantly not limited to the powers of his sword. What Aizen got through luck and bastard-ness, Yamamoto got through experience and...being a different kind of bastard.
 * Chapter 398 features an absolutely EPIC moment,
 * This can interpret in two ways:
 * He is so good, he can perform Kido powerful enough to affect without mumbling a single word.
 * He is so ''AWESOME, he can send flying just by
 * Ukitake gets one in the manga when he backhands the Lilynette's cero out of existence. He asked the kid several times to not bother him, and when kid refused to listen, BAM. Gone.
 * Ukitake revealing his shikai ability for the first time when he deflects Starrk's ceros. Also, his "no arguments" line to Kyoraku when he tries to protest. Starrk's theory on over-powering Ukitake's zanpakuto may be sound, but we never saw Ukitake have any trouble no matter how many ceros Starrk fired or how fast he moved.
 * The hints at Kyoraku's bankai are a Crowning Moment waiting to happen, just the fact that Jushiro (Terminally ill yet still backhands ceros) Ukitake seems worried about what it could do.
 * Neither of them like to risk lives unnecessarily, and as far as we've seen will not fight with any kind of force unless they have to. The moment these two secondary characters of greatly implied ability get a reason to 'get serious' (okay, so Kyoraku totally mocked the notion, but anyway...) it's going to be a CMOA.
 * Hachi's comes during the flashback arc when he
 * Big Badass Wolf Komamura Sajin is normally thought as one of the weaker captains, but in the recent chapter, he gets one Crowning Moment of Awesome when after being knocked down by an opponent that managed to, quickly gets back on his feet, blocks and throws away his opponent, even though the opponent's size is way more immense than him, then rather than toying around, quickly curb-stomped him with Bankai. From that point on, the audience know that Komamura's not just all bark.
 * Marechiyo Omaeda who has up until now been a fat rich guy who has only been known to stuff his face and getting owned by a bare-handed Ichigo. Then when he fought Nirgge Parduoc, he was simply being seen getting thrown around and doing little damage with his sword. The Fraccion was even able to mock him for his slow speed. That made this editor go "Daaaayuuuum" after reading the chapter.
 * The most recent Soifon CMOA, now from the manga? Not only does she, but she
 * The most recent Soifon CMOA, now from the manga? Not only does she, but she


 * In the manga as well... is cornered by three Arrancar ladies as  fights . Guess who comes to the rescue in a GREAT Big Damn Heroes?  Yes, one of the most hated characters, who isn't fully healed of  HUGE traumas but has at least assumed that there are things  has to do. And even pulls a small Batman Gambit by . This Troper was literally squealing after reading said manga chapter, so overjoyed she was at all of this.

Deicide Arc

 * Chapter 399 has Ichigo.
 * Chapter 402
 * AWESOME!!
 * Chapter 403 is nothing but this for everyone involved:
 * Aizen
 * Aizen
 * Remember Keigo? . Well, he went  Granted, it's not his, but that kid's still got balls
 * This is nothing against the sheer Crazy Awesomeness of the other one of Those Two Guys: Mizuiro was
 * HE caused - double CMOA for him.
 * Gin in 414.
 * It's hard to overstate how awesome that was. In a series where everyone explains their ability in full before using it, Gin
 * To make this clear: No wonder  was so pissed off.
 * As of Chapter 417
 * What makes it even more awesome is that  has no clue how it happened.
 * Well, it may well be THE most awesome moment in the last twenty episodes, considering
 * Chapter 418: It says a lot when someone who's been a Smug Snake through basically the entire manga has a Villainous Breakdown.
 * Would it be awesome or stupid if  ended up being an Anticlimax Boss? I'm not even sure anymore.
 * I've been pretty much expecting  to be an Anticlimax Boss, but this is ridiculous. It's somewhere between really awesome and really stupid. Still, out of context it was a pretty good "fight".
 * Chapter 420:
 * Somewhat defusing the awesome of the above,
 * And recently, the Fuck You Boom Finger Isshin aimed at
 * And recently, the Fuck You Boom Finger Isshin aimed at

Lost Substitute Shinigami Arc.
""Hey, Kuchiki. I wanna switch opponents. Your guy looks stronger. Mine looks boring." (cue OHK) "See? Boring.""
 * In Chapter 424, Ichigo  while beating up a mugger, reveals that all the Training From Hell he went through left him with incredible reflexes. He demonstrates by casually catching a knife stab between the fingers of one hand while punching out the mugger with his other hand.
 * In Chapter 439, Orihime shows her Messiah ID again
 * , anyone?
 * 448. Orihime and Chad go to the X-Cution HQ.  questions Orihime's presence. She stands her ground and refuses to leave Congratulations. *clapclapclap*
 * 449. When  attacks her, Orihime calmly pulls out her hairpins and uses her powers to defend herself. No incantation, no shock or fear, she just... does it. And by the looks of it,   * stands up and claps more *.
 * "Sadistic? I don't mind you calling me that. If you don't want to get hurt, don't attack me when I say not to."
 * "These 17 months ... Neither Sado-kun nor I were sitting on our thumbs, Kurosaki-kun. We believed that one day, the time would come when you would regain your powers and fight again. So we swore to ourselves, me and Sado-kun... when the time came, we'd be right there beside you, and we would NEVER fall behind again!" Seriously, screw the haters trying to devalue and decry how this arc is doing wonders on Orihime, she's awesome!
 * 451 can be said to be a Full Chapter of Awesome for, who may be in the way to Magnificent Bastardry for completely outclassing  ... both physically and mentally.
 * Conversely, 453 is a Chapter of Awesome for, who subjects Ichigo to a swift but brutal Mind Rape by  ... but via   This is so clever, complex and well-done  that this might be one of the rare moments where Crowning Moment of Awesome overlaps with Kick the Dog or Moral Event Horizon... we still don't have that "Crowning Moment of Evil" trope, do we?
 * 459. After a really long number of Nightmare Fuel-filled chapters, Ichigo has lost. Just then,
 * Not to mention that  That is a piece of awesome that overshadows the entire chapter.
 * 460.  Strawberry just got broken, Again.
 * Just to emphasise the point, it doesn't "cut" the top of the building off like Kenpatchi did way back in the Soul Society arc, the top of the building is just gone like it's been vaporized completely.
 * Not to mention when his
 * 461 reveals that Head Captain Genryuusai Yamamoto, Old Man Genocide himself, ordered (not just suggested, ordered)  Best, thank you, EVER.
 * "Sorry. I missed." Did no one else find that awesome?
 * Yes. Also, "You are not going anywhere."
 * 463. Kenpachi OHKs Giriko. That is all.

""...I see. Your parents abandoned you.""
 * Byakuya gets one in chapter 464 when he goes up against Tsukishima. He decides that he's happy to be fighting Tsukishima because of how he despises the way he fights. He then calls him a coward and declares his intention to kill the Mind Raping bastard before he finishes swinging his blade.
 * There's also the fact that he blocked Tsukishima's attack without looking.
 * 465: Ikkaku flexes his dislocated shoulder back in place.
 * Renji effortlessly curb stomps Jackie.
 * "These past 17 months, I've been training to fight Aizen. You people just don't cut it."
 * 466: Hitsugaya also effortlessly trolls... er, defeats Yukio using the latter's Fullbring against himself.
 * "That reminds me. shouldn't you be deactivating those settings? 'They'll chase me wherever I go and and crush me', was it?"
 * WHAM!
 * Also, Hitsugaya's perfect armor-piercing statement that shatters Yukio's facade in an instant.

"Tsukishima:"
 * Chapter 467: Ikkaku vs Shishigawara. Both major Crazy Awesome and hilarity ensue.
 * Also,  Well played, man.
 * In what this troper considers a Crowning Moment of Awesome ; Even after his Heel Face Turn, This Troper couldn't stand Byakuya doing stupid shit for the sake of Honor and pride, so when he boasted that Tsukishima was unworthy of a noble death and he would kill him before Tsukishima could even swing his blade and he would cast his body aside, This Troper just sighed...and then cue    , followed by:

"Ichigo: Screw you. I'm tired of you idiots trying to shake my resolve like this."
 * 469: Byakuya shrugging off
 * 472: Byakuya
 * 473: Byakuya
 * 474:  Ichigo's response?:
 * And then he says:


 * 475: Ichigo's Bankai release utterly destroyed what was supposedly an indestructible ability within seconds. Deathberry just keeps getting more badass as this story arc goes on.
 * Okay. this troper's favorite bankai is once again Tensa Zangetsu; anyone else think the new style of Ichigo's bankai is yet another example of taking a level in badass?
 * "No, seriously. Shut up."
 * Ginjo revealing
 * 477 has THREE of these for . She first , then  , and then she

The Thousand-Year Blood War Arc
""I am here. There is no better security than this.""
 * Chapter 481. After Ichigo's Big Damn Heroes to save Yuki and Shino, we have for the first time Ichigo, Ishida, Chad AND Orihime... fighting side by side killing hollows. And in a simply awesome two-page Badass Pose.
 * Notice that Orihime being there is, well, pretty meaningful. Formerly, Ishida and Ichigo didn't want her to intervene in their fights and tried to shield her (unlike Chad, one must say). Now, she's fighting with them and Chad in equal conditions. It also looks like there's a
 * 482. Ivan not only shows that he's not intimidated by Ichigo, but also
 * That's not even the best.
 * 483. The Vandenreich comment on how easy it was to break into the Captain-Commander's room, chiding Yamamoto's lack of security. Yama-jii's reply?

"The Unnamed : "Fear us Shinigami. As of now, the  will purify you.""
 * Ivan baits Ichigo into activating his bankai just so he can whip out his special anti-Bankai technique. What follows is a full 5 pages of special effects and Ichigo's Oh Crap face. Then, just when you're convinced that Ichigo is royally screwed,
 * 484. The Vandenreich
 * Not only that, but  Oh, and later we learn that   It's both awesome and horrible.
 * Tying with the above, even when, we have to give him points for
 * 487: The return of  is made of this. Not to mention
 * 488: Despite their epic entrance last chapter, Kirge Opie
 * 489: There is one for Ichigo: the moment the leader of the Vandereich learns that Ichigo is in Hueco Mundo and currently occupied fighting against Kirge Opie and his henchmen,he IMMEDIATELY orders an attack against Soul Society. Why is this a CMOA for Ichigo? Because this showed that the Vandereich considers him alone more dangerous than the entire army of Soul Society!!!
 * Mayuri gets one, too, in this chapter. Why? Take one look at Yamamoto. He is pissed. Beyond pissed. Then he calls in Mayuri as someone to point a finger at. Mayuri not only has the guts to point it right back, but explain exactly why. No respect for feelings. No primal fear of angry Yamamoto. And it's exactly what Old Man Genocide may have needed to hear.
 * 491: Kirge gets one when he unleashes his powers and not only, but also  . Thinks whatever you want about him, but that's pretty badass.
 * And then?
 * 492:
 * And even better/worse/whatever...  Yeowch, it's both horrible and awesome.
 * Pretty subtle until you sit back and think about it, but Ichigo vs. Kirge. Kirge has gone Quincy Final Form 2.0, while Ichigo... has stuck with his Shikai. I repeat, Ichigo is fighting a Quincy stronger than a regular captain with his initial release. And doesn't seem to be having that much trouble. And we now know why their leader wanted to invade while he was busy.
 * The other Vandereich get one crossing with Kick the Dog, as they
 * 494: One that overlaps with Moral Event Horizon:
 * 494: One that overlaps with Moral Event Horizon:

": "My and I are already crying. Don't think you can make back home alive,"
 * 495:  going without hesitation towards the Stern Ritter member that , in a total Tranquil Fury mode. Don't let us down, man.


 * Also,

Movies

 * A moment of Byakuya's occurs in the movie, Memories of Nobody. Rukia was getting her ass handed to her by one of the Dark Ones, things were looking bleak. Then, you saw the blades from Byakuya's bankai rise from the ground, without actually seeing Byakuya. He gives the command, ripping the Dark One to shreds, and then just turns around and mutters over his shoulder something to the effect of "Let's go home." Rukia books to catch up to him. This troper saw the dubbed movie in theaters, and the audience broke out into applause as soon as the blades began to appear.
 * Forget your Byakuya, I saw this dubbed in theaters also and while that drew applause, Kenpachi showing up caused people to STAND AND CHEER! Not to mention his total WTFPWN of his opponent.
 * Soi Fon in the movie Memories of Nobody was also deserves a mention here. First, while one of the Dark Ones, Benin (the girl with purple hair), was about to fire an arrow at Yumichika. She fires the arrow ... only for Soi Fon stole her arrow the second she fired it. In fact, it takes her a while to realize her arrow disappeared and Soi Fon had to call out to her for her to truly realize.
 * Also from the movie, Kenpachi and Yachiru were just walking around when suddenly something sharp cut Kenpachi's face. He grabbed the blade and flung it to where the Dark One was hiding. He backed up and bam! Kenpachi was right behind him. Then, he tried to run away, only to be easily caught up with Yachiru, who was laughing the whole time, seeing it as a game.
 * In the Hell Chapter movie, . After a pep talk from both Byakua and Orihime, Ichigo shows up at the hell gate with a look that clearly says "I fucking DARE you to try and stop me." The Hell's Will guardian showing up provides them with a convenient excuse to ignore him, but you can tell Toshiro was thinking "Nah man. I like having my spinal cord intact." It's not a fight or a big victory, but it's a great moment that shows that you never want to get in Ichigo's way.
 * That was still nothing compared to Ichigo temporalily becoming . That has got to be THE most awesome scene in all the four movies.

Filler Arc/Unsorted
in this series? ""I made a decision. I won't use my fists for my own sake.""
 * Orihime has a crowning moment in her fight against Mabashi where she walks straight through everything a supercharged, mind-controlled Rukia can throw at her without flinching, throws off the insane soul-sucker with an offhand attack, and then hugs her friend back to sanity via giving her a hug and then activating her healing shield.
 * And this is after a scene which has eerie parallels to the  flashback. With Rukia as   begging Orihime to attack her before she's mindcontrolled, Orihime as "Rukia" refusing to do so, and   as "Ukitake" telling Orihime to attack (though with the difference that  . And Orihime manages to resolve the dilemma without either staying aside or attacking.
 * Uryuu gets two smaller moments of awesome after the Soul Society Arc, both of which get upstaged by his father. In the first, he shows that even without his powers he's not defenseless against a Menos...before Ryuuken shows that he can save Uryuu's scrawny neck AND take out two incomplete Arrancar with three shots. In the second, Uryuu is about to get run into the ground by his father and pulls off a bit of Functional Magic that appears to have stopped the assault in its tracks...until Ryuuken (He gets better.)
 * Renji, Matsumoto and Hitsugaya's simultaneous lifting of their limiters, at a point where we'd long forgotten those even existed. They open a can of hardcore whoop-ass right afterwards. (This scene was agreed to be notably more majestic in the manga, though)
 * The exact way he says it makes the moment even more epic. Everyone else who has revealed it, says it in a semi-calm way. Ikkaku?
 * Yumichika gets a second one when he's fighting
 * Ichigo was getting beaten up pretty badly by Nnoitra's subordinate, and all seemed lost until - He's here, he's here, he's here, he's here........!! ZARAKI KENPACHI!!!!!!!!!!!!
 * Urahara also gets one during the third training exercise with Ichigo. He tells Ichigo to knock his hat off. As soon as he makes an attempt, Urahara produces his own sword and promptly reduces Ichigo's weapon to a handle.
 * Chronologically, his first crowning moment of awesome was during is less than pleased with him, and proceeds to kick him in the crotch. He doesn't even flinch. Bad. Ass. It is immediately topped by the next panel, which shows the attacker tending to her injured foot, while mumbling "What are they, made out of brass or something?" (Manga: "What does that bastard wear under his hakama.."). Yes. Yes they are.
 * Talkin' about "BALLS OF STEEL".......
 * There's scene that came not long after!: Urahara offers to let fight him if she really hates him that much. During the fight, she launches herself and kicks him in the face so fast that his  mention that he "didn't even have time to react". Afterwards,  reveals that Urahara was fast enough to step out of the way of the kick, smile at her, and get back in the way, showing his expertise in hand-to-hand combat and showing  that he might not be the doofus she thought he was.
 * And that he's a good enough guy to take a drop-kick to the face so that his new lieutenant wouldn't be humiliated. Only someone like the self-effacing, goofy-yet-badass Kisuke would do such a thing.
 * Inoue and Uryu get love, but none for Sado?
 * Two Words -
 * Two More -
 * While impressive in the manga, seeing it animated managed to make this particular Crowning Moment of Awesome Take A Level In Badass!
 * This troper is more impressed with Chad's backstory and the nature of his character than his first battle. He's one of the most devoted pacifists in anime, on par with the likes of Vash. Before making his promise to Ichigo, his method of fighting Delinquents was to stand there and take it -- despite being bigger, stronger, and very capable of beating the crap out of them.

"Tenken: Bankai!
 * While we're discussing Chad's backstory, let's talk about the little incident involving Chad's peso. One moment goes to Chad for sticking to his guns when a gang of thugs tries to rob him. Another goes to Ichigo who, upon arriving on the scene, dials the hospital while counting off each gang member so they know how many ambulances to send. Needless to say, ass was kicked. Doubles as a Crowning Moment of Heartwarming as it solidified Ichigo and Chad's friendship.
 * Soifon gets one (unfortunately it's only in the filler): She gets in a fight with Ichigo, and after a few minutes of even fighting, she sticks her sword in the ground, attacks him unarmed, and proceeds to kick his butt all over the place until Rukia bails him out.
 * For more Soifon Filler Awesome, check out her trashing of Mabashi during the Bount Arc. Mabashi has poisoned her, and assumes after a certain point that she's dead. He makes the mistake of coming too close, and she takes this opportunity to deliver the second strike of her zanpakuto, killing him instantly. So awesome, you almost forget you're watching filler.
 * gets one of these after reverting to her true form, when she casually eats Nnoitra's cero and spits it back at him. With her own cero alongside it!
 * What truly solidified this troper's love of her, though, was her contemptuous, epic put-down of Nnoitra when he tried to get her to kill him shortly afterward.
 * That entire battle was crammed full of concentrated awesome (for both sides? Hmm...). This troper's personal favorite was the flashback, where, usually a calm pacifist, opened a can of hurt on Nnoitra for harming her fraccion.
 * A tiny one but... after beating Ichigo silly. Grimmjow pulls off an Ali Shuffle - I found it epic.
 * For this troper, Grimmjow sending into a freaking Wheel of Fortune spin doubled as so awesome it should not be legal and so funny that she was nearly wetting her pants laughing. GO GRIMMJOW~!
 * Filler one, Kira destroying a traitor and cutting his Bakkoutou in half.
 * From filler:
 * Bleach episode 235: . Ichigo and Renji's "I won't lose" speeches to and Renji   should tell you that.
 * The way Renji defeats in Episode 236. He tricks  into grabbing his zanpakuto, breaks it with kido (which Zabimaru didn't think he could do), then uses Higa Zekkou to shoot the shards at, defeating them. It's quite a brilliant way to defeat an opponent who knows exactly how he fights.
 * Episode 241, while filler, is a twenty minute list of reasons why Byakuya Kuchiki is fucking awesome.
 * And on a related note, the episode also shows that Bleach is still capable of hosting some awesome battles. All three of 241's fights were fast-paced, well-choreographed and best of all highly enjoyable to watch.
 * Episode 243, of the Zanpakuto arc, has Kira with a bluff on his shikai, and defeats him with kido. Wabisuke himself then sneaks up on Kira, and using his blade,  And he did this without making a sound, or, and he carries a giant tombstone, and ball and chain tied to his leg.
 * We mustn't forget : he appears by.
 * Yes, that is a Crowning Moment all by itself. See for yourself.
 * He then proceeds to take this even further by Here it is in all its glory.
 * Let's not forget him and this episode is a CMOA itself.
 * In truth Zaraki is so Badass that, when you hear his bells it's a Crowning Moment of Awesome! That's right, he doesn't even have to be seen to be awesome, just hearing him, and knowing he's somewhere close, is enough for peaple to start cheering!!!
 * Bleach episode 247 for Muramasa, also counts as Moral Event Horizon: He found his method using  The first thing he does is . Seriously, this guy just became as dangerous as Aizen.
 * And how could we possibly forget Muramasa's "Keikaku doori" (Yes, he actually said those exact words) right after he explains what he's been planning, combined with his Kira face (which bears a striking resemblance to Light's face when he thinks "Omoidoori!" three times in episode 36 of Death Note) immediately after incinerating Katen Kyoukotsu and Sogyo no Kotowari.
 * Bleach episode 248 for Hyourinmaru. Yes, Hitsuguaya's Zanpakuto. His bankai his him basically turning into a dragon, and he all to the music of Number One. If you read the spoilers, you read right: Hyorinmaru can freeze FLAME!
 * In episode 252, despite being a filler, had one big CMOA for Byakuya. It appears that he hadn't It was all to . In the following battle...let's say that Byakuya's bankai never looked so awesome.
 * Byakuya delivers a "The Reason You Suck" Speech, it's because he lacks
 * Bleach episode 259. Three words: Fulfill, Akeiro Hisagomaru!
 * Kenpachi vs. Tenken (episodes 246-249)! In particular, Tenken's first words:
 * Kenpachi vs. Tenken (episodes 246-249)! In particular, Tenken's first words:

Kenpachi: Hah-HAH! Now we're talking! I hope that giant body ain't just for show!"


 * For this troper, it's a wallbanger, I was really hoping to see a rematch between Tenken and Komamura, but it never happened. It's no contest that Zaraki won, even though the fight was never shown finishing.
 * Backtracking to the Amagai arc for a bit here. Izuru and his squad are out in the Dangai, and they're facing certain death. So, what happens? Amagai makes a Big Damn Heroes and ONE-SHOTS AN ONCOMING KOUTOTSU. While drunk.
 * Crosses into Narm Charm and Crowning Moment of Funny when he passes out right after saving them. Kira's Oh Crap face is priceless.
 * Speaking of Amagai, he looks absolutely AWESOME once his Bakkoto and Bankai are active. In one hand, he has a hooked sword with a flame cannon on the other side (Bankai) and in the other hand, he has a green lightsaber coming out of the mouth of a black dragon (Bakkoto). However, the eyeballs he literally wears with them is unnerving.
 * No mention of episode twenty? After Ichigo learns his sword's name, his first slice with it cuts Uraharas hat. Along with most of the ground behind him. In half. Coupled with the shows' Crowning Music of Awesome.
 * Episode 324. Kenpachi vs. Kenpachi. All that needs to be said.
 * Nemu, of all people, earns her first in a filler arc. As Rukia is having trouble fighting A Dark Clone of Nemu, and two Artificial Beings, Nemu shows up and quickly offs her clone by stabbing it in the heart with her hand. Badass.
 * Bleach Episode 325. Toshiro's Dark Clone has sealed Byakuya up in an ice golem. Byakuya, much to Toshiro's surprise, manages to burst out due to Senbonzakura. Reigai Toshiro begins to boast that he stills has the advantage and lunges to finish Byakuya only for Byakuya to catch the blade, and then surround both himself and Reigai Toshiro with his Gokei Technique.
 * I would call the most recent filler arc (from episode 316 ongoing) a Crowning Moment of Awesome for the animators. Pretty much every single episode in it has seen beautiful artwork and animation throughout, and at least one of which was of such high movie-like quality that it made this troper's jaw drop.
 * Episode 327,
 * Also, in the most recent episode,
 * Why do the video games have no love yet?
 * In Bleach: The 3rd Phantom, after defeating  Keep in mind you're playing as an unseated officer with nowhere near as much experience as , who is a FORMER CAPTAIN.
 * In Dark Souls,
 * The Maggot's Nest scene, in which Kisuke Hiyori also gets her moment here when
 * Anytime the Captains work together to take down a common enemy. Examples include the climax scene of all three movies and the recent episode 328. All filler/non-canon unfortunately BUT STILL VERY EPIC.
 * During the Gotei 13 Invasion arc, the reigei Unohana attacks Yamamoto with all of the high level hakudo spells we've seen thus far, completely sealing him up. The original Unohana reminds her double that Yamamoto is the Commander General for a reason. Cue Yamamoto fucking melting through all of the restaints.
 * During the Gotei 13 Invasion arc, the reigei Unohana attacks Yamamoto with all of the high level hakudo spells we've seen thus far, completely sealing him up. The original Unohana reminds her double that Yamamoto is the Commander General for a reason. Cue Yamamoto fucking melting through all of the restaints.