Well, we say famed, but actually most of us Europeans haven’t seen much of the cult Japanese anime series over here yet. That’s all about to change.

The TV series is a massive hit in Japan and the USA already, and has begun rolling out across Europe this year. We’re sure it’ll do just as well when it hits the UK, too.

Broadly speaking the series charts the adventures of a young human hero named Ichigo Kurosaki, who has the ability to see ghosts. Among these ghosts are powerful beings called Soul Reapers, whose main role in (after)life is to ensure the passage of souls to a realm known as the Soul Society, as well as protecting humans from dangerous beings known as Hollows. One such Soul Reaper - Rukia Kuchiki - transfers her powers to Ichigo after being wounded in a battle with a Hollow, setting Ichigo off on a fantastical adventure.

Lots of very cool fighting is the order of the day, then, and it’s made even cooler by the fact Soul Reapers do their jobs with stunning supernatural swords.

Already smash hits in Japan, SEGA’s fighting-game counterparts to the TV anime and manga books are now being prepared for a launch in Europe.

BLEACH: Shattered Blade arrives early next year on the Wii. In it you’ll be able to choose from 32 of the show’s leading characters, each with their own unique styles and weapons, or Zanpaku-to’s. All the characters sport their own powerful Bankai super-moves, and are voiced by the actors from the anime series. The game features an exclusive storyline, created specially for the game, as well as a new character created for the game under the supervision of the manga’s author. The best bit, though, will be wielding the Wii Remote as if it were your very own Zanpaku-to.

Releasing at the same time will be BLEACH: The Blade of Fate for Nintendo DS. Featuring 28 characters from the anime series, the action on the DS will have you leaping between two battlelines to chase or evade your opponents - all while attempting to master combos and super-moves taken directly from the series. Seven game modes keep the action coming, and you’ll be able to battle up to three friends via Wi-Fi, or indeed anyone elsewhere in the country. A customisable spirit-card deck is accessible via the stylus as well, which you’ll use to boost things such as health, attack and defence attributes.

See more here.