Bankai is the second, more powerful release of a Soul Reaper's Zanpakuto in Bleach, the long-running manga and anime series centred on Ichigo Kurosaki, a teenager who gains the powers of a Soul Reaper. When Ichigo calls out the word, he unleashes his sword's true form, Tensa Zangetsu, marking a turning point in a battle. Clips of the shout have circulated widely on soundboards, video edits and streaming channels because the word itself is instantly recognisable to anime fans, even outside its original scene, and it still works as shorthand for a sudden surge in strength.