Bount
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In the anime series Bleach, the Bounts[1] (baunto, also referred to as Bounto, Bound and variations in fan translations) are a group of humans with special abilities. They are the villain race of the filler Bount arc in the anime. The Bounts live by consuming human souls, which potentially gives them everlasting youth.
Bounts normally consume the souls of dead humans, but under the leadership of Jin Kariya, they have started consuming living souls. Consuming living souls causes a Bount to age to a degree, however, only one Bount so far (Sawatari) consumed enough living souls to look like an old man.
The Bounts were officially discovered by Kisuke Urahara, although they have been known for centuries in the guise of vampires. Their creation was the result of an early Soul Society experiment gone wrong.
A researcher named Rantao experimented with eternal youth when her laboratory exploded and sent particles from her research cells into the human world, which infected certain humans, who gained eternal life.
Contents |
[edit] History
Although the individual Bounts originated at various locations throughout the world, they have a distinct German theme. For instance, the German language is used in their incantations and the names of their dolls are distinctly German.
Traditionally Bounts have lived alone and had minimal interaction with each other, however, they lived by a code that strictly forbade the consumption of living souls. It is known that some Bounts bonded together - Jin Kariya married Yoshino Sōma, and lived together with Koga Gowa (then named Claude) after the death of a fellow Bount, Cain Nao.
At some point, the Bounts battled the Quincy, although it is not clear why. It is stated multiple times that the Bounts need the Quincy in order to achieve their goal of ruling the world. It has been explained that in order for them to enter Soul Society, they need to have their bodies be converted to spirit particles. This can only be done with the help of a Quincy.
It's been recently revealed that the Bounts are trying to gain access to Soul Society to exact vengeance on those who first gave them life. Years ago, shinigami scientists led by Rantao were conducting experiments upon the human soul. They created something (a kind of soul), using their souls as the base model mixed with the souls of ordinary humans, which was very unstable. This soul exploded from its container opening a rift into the real world spreading in many pieces and entering the bodies of the unborn in this world, thus giving birth to the Bounts.
Learning of their existence, the shinigami decided to erase their mistake by secretly purging all existing Bounts.
[edit] Known Bounts
[edit] Dolls
Each Bount, after having reached a certain power quota, is able to summon a doll, which is subordinate to him and can grow to have substantial attacking power. Like the shinigami zanpakutō spirit, which must be subdued for the final release (bankai), the dolls must also be subjugated by their masters. Dolls must also be released in order to use them. In their unreleased state they look like a variety of items, Dalk for example looks like a metal sphere in her unreleased state. A doll may kill a Bount who is not powerful enough to contain it, as was the case with Cain Nao. Moreover, if either the doll or its Bount partner sustains severe damage in a battle, the Bount may lose control over his doll, depending on the amount of damage dealt. Once losing control, the doll goes berserk and may kill its own master, as with Cain Nao and Ugaki.
To summon a doll, a Bount needs to undergo a ritual where they chant an incantation. The instructions for this ritual were written by Jin Kariya. It is unknown how the Bount knew how to summon dolls earlier. The ritual includes sulfur, phosphorus, carbon, water, fat, magnesium and lime. (These are ingredients of the human body.) When a doll is summoned, it is small in size and power, but can grow as the Bount's power grows. In order to call upon a Bount's doll, the phrase "Zeige dich" is said, which is a German phrase, meaning "Show yourself".
- Dolls with unknown owners - In the recent episode during Jin's recall of the Bounts' history, a young Bount had a stone golem doll. This could be Sawatari, since the doll had the same skin as Baura. In another flashback, there was a doll that was a humanoid bat creature, one that looked like a werewolf, one that was a dragon, and a humanoid creature with swords where its head should have been that had many arms that were used to carry various weapons. They were all slaughtered by the Quincy.
[edit] Bit
The bit or bitto are mosquito-like beings created by Jin Kariya and Ugaki, that consume living souls and bring them back in the form of an elixir to the Bounts. They were summoned by a ritual at the time of Yoshino's death. This liquid significantly increases the Bounts's strength when drunk. Mabashi refused to drink this liquid, on the basis that it could make him age and violated taboo, but was taken care of by Jin Kariya, and forced to drink it, becoming powerhungry.
[edit] Poem
The liner notes of "TV Animation Bleach Official Soundtrack 2" contains two poems, one pertaining to the Bounts, with the second likely to as well:
"A long time ago... An infinitely long time ago... We lived in the shadows of history. Countless are those who have experienced hardships, tragedies beyond description... it is under these circumstances, that now, the Bounts will finally emerge from the darkness."[1]
"WE HAVE LIVED ON FOR AGES... SO LONG, THAT OUR COUNTLESS MEMORIES HAVE LONG SINCE TURNED ASH-GRAY."[2]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Bleach Original Sound Track 2, CD Jacket, page 6
- ^ Bleach Original Sound Track 2, CD Jacket, page 9
|
|
|---|
| Races: Shinigami | Quincy | Hollow | Vizard | Bount |
| Characters: Characters | Hollows | Bounts |
| Places: Soul Society | Urahara Shōten | Hueco Mundo | Karakura Town |
| Combat: Zanpakutō | Demon arts |
| Media: Media and materials | Manga chapters | Anime episodes | Movie | Video games | Musical |
