Bleach: Sennen Kessen-hen BLEACH 千年血戦篇

2022 fall | Episodes: 13 | Score: 9.0 (320593)

Updated every Tuesdays at 00:00 | Status: Finished Airing

Type: TV

Producers:TV Tokyo | Aniplex | Dentsu | Shueisha

Streaming: Disney+ | Bahamut Anime Crazy | Bilibili Global | Hulu | Shahid

Synopsis

Substitute Soul Reaper Ichigo Kurosaki spends his days fighting against Hollows, dangerous evil spirits that threaten Karakura Town. Ichigo carries out his quest with his closest allies: Orihime Inoue, his childhood friend with a talent for healing; Yasutora Sado, his high school classmate with superhuman strength; and Uryuu Ishida, Ichigo's Quincy rival. Ichigo's vigilante routine is disrupted by the sudden appearance of Asguiaro Ebern, a dangerous Arrancar who heralds the return of Yhwach, an ancient Quincy king. Yhwach seeks to reignite the historic blood feud between Soul Reaper and Quincy, and he sets his sights on erasing both the human world and the Soul Society for good. Yhwach launches a two-pronged invasion into both the Soul Society and Hueco Mundo, the home of Hollows and Arrancar. In retaliation, Ichigo and his friends must fight alongside old allies and enemies alike to end Yhwach's campaign of carnage before the world itself comes to an end. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Voice Actors

Sugiyama, Noriaki

Morita, Masakazu

News

Reviews

Nano_ZE
04/29/2023, 10:47 AM
When I watched Bleach initially in 2016, I fell in love with Kubo's work. The show felt like it had a life of its own, and out of the big 3, it was quickly my favorite, which is why I felt so disappointed when it finished airing. The final episode of the initial Bleach left me feeling extremely discontent. Not only did it not actually wrap up the story because it needed to include the entire final arc, but the arc we left off on was one of the weakest in the series. Looking back on it, I realized my issues with the show. Theoriginal Bleach anime could have paced significantly better. Often, episodes would drag out things that didn't need to be dragged out, and on top of that, a large amount of poorly written filler added to my distaste. The Bount Arc, for example, was one of, if not the worst, story arcs I have ever watched in all of fiction. The anime's presentation significantly hindered its phenomenal music and well-designed characters. The action, which gave off an air of intensity in the manga, was dragged out to a point where it became almost boring. So what did the new Bleach anime change that makes it so good? It's easy; they cut out all the bullshit. Thousand Year Blood War cuts out all the extra crap and gives us just the story. Bleach is a manga masterpiece, and the only thing holding it back in the past was its poor pacing and disgustingly lousy filler. Without that, the story is very well written. The anime stays utterly faithful to the source material, and because of that, it feels much more engaging. On top of this, the additional time the animators had to work on the project and the fact that the manga is currently finished gives them much more flexibility to work around when it comes to the show. This allows Kubo's writing and character design to shine while also being boosted by the beautiful music from studio Mappa and gorgeous animation and fight choreography. Thousand Year Blood War is the perfect anime adaptation. Full stop. Animation 9/10 Music 10/10 Story 10/10 Characters 10/10 Overall 10/10
SpicySourTofu
01/22/2023, 01:33 AM
Haters gonna hate. From 2004 until now, Bleach always be an underrated show. always compared to naruto and one piece. Now bleach is compared to jujutsu kaisen and chainsaw man. Ratings don't lie, we know OG is always the best.As always the story is unpredictable but too fast just 13 episode, ill be glad if the story is 24-25 episode. People say bleach need this bleach need that stfu enjoy the show newcomers. In terms of story and animation bleach is god tier now just take it that your show is not as good as bleach. Can't wait to watch the part 2 i think it's gonna be lit!
vinayak9999
01/04/2023, 01:07 AM
It is a 10/10 for me waited for 10 years and it paid off. The best adaptation it could've had. Fmatards are going to downvote this series since it is number one now but it will always be better than FMA. Definitely watch it. The art style is great. The action is top notch. The writing is good. Direction is good too. The back stories are great and the new twists will blow your mind. The enimity between Quincy and shinigami is finally addressed. The character development of ichigo is good too.And many new powers are revealed as well. Definitely in my top3 anime of 2022.
stevee007
01/02/2023, 04:14 PM
Been waiting for Bleach to continue since the orginal series stopped airing back in 2012. So far TYBW has amazing animation and is more graphic in nature, as compared to the previous series, which fits Bleach very well. That ED on the first episode was straight fire and nostalgic for all the OG Bleach fans. The color scheme of the anime is great as well, with the animation being head and shoulders above what we've seen before in this show. The music is good too, but definitely not as great as the first series. I don't mind them remixing the original songs, but at leastmake them sound decent. There's one track in particular that adds in a high pitched electric guitar that makes the entire thing sound terrible. Something I'm worried about is the progression of the story, if each season in TYBW has 13 episodes, I hope they have enough time to flush out the entire manga without leaving too much out. In the worst case scenario, I'll end up going back to read the manga but we'll see how it goes. Hopefully the upcoming seasons will build upon the solid foundation this season has layed down. All in all, the updated visuals, characters, and my love for Bleach has carried this season for me.
ArimaKurotetsu47
01/02/2023, 02:32 PM
What's interesting about the storyline The story is definitely not predictable especially for anime onlys, overall for the story it was awesome, sometimes mind-blowing, especially On that one episode was shown, where the Head Captain Yamamoto Shigekuni Genryusai was fighting against the Quincy King, Yhwach, the animation was Top-tier, words can't describe how awesome that episode was, but I can ASSURE you, it was DEFINITELY better than that new season of Demon Slayer (Demons got defeated, u know the scene where demon siblings was in a total defeat, both d£cap!tated, died side by side). The massive plot-twist at the end of episode 9 also caughtus all off-guard despite the Head Captain Yamamoto showing-off his enormous and monstrous powers (4 Bankai destroying "Yhwach") It was a huge disastrous Brute Force against Brilliant Strategy. the Zangetsu = Not really Zangetsu, but rather, the appearance of the Quincy King, 2000 Years ago, legit I was in a massive shook. Y'all won't believe it, my reaction and legit every youtube reactors faces was in TOTAL DISBELIEF, MASSIVE SHOOK hits us hard. The Animation Quality The animation for the art style IS MOST DEFINITELY fits the story 100%, I even consider it's better than the colored manga, NGL TO Y'ALL.. The visuals, artworks, animation quality is a SPOT ON! To the point where it rivals the Demon Slayer new season's OP animation quality, and don't get me wrong! Both has showed us amazing visuals so far. Not to mention the gore visualized from the very start of the episode to eps 13, the brutality, the gore, ruthlessness of the characters was WILD. 💀 I'd like to name every Dangerously OP, characters with Top-Tier Powers of both Warring Factions. Gotei 13 & their second in Command: 1.The Head Captain (Commander in Chief): Yamamoto Shigekuni Genryūsai, age: over 2 milleniums (+2000 Years Old) Powers: Ryūjin Jakka, the Blade of the Enormous Flame, Bankai: East, West, South & North (details on *spoiler alert* episode 9, old man Yama VS Yhwach) 2. Zaraki Kenpachi (Captain), Dangerous man, considered as one of the 5 Special Threats issued by the Quincy King. Powers: Extremely Durable, Relentless Brutal Strikes, Ruthless Deadly Slashes, Overwhelming amount of Spiritual Pressure, Gets stronger everytime he receives strikes. 3. Kyōraku Shinsui (Lately Appointed Head Captain) Powers: He can teleport straight behind, under, and within enemy's shadows to perform a deadly strike, Dual-wielding Zanpakuto user. Deadly and wide huge scale of Bankai radius. He appears weak but deep down, he's too dangerous and cold-blooded. Bankai: Katen Kyokotsukaramatsu Shinju. 4. Aizen Sōsuke (Currently under 20.000 Year of Sentence). A cold-blooded Four-eyes mf, Zanpakuto: KyokaSuigetsu (Complete Hypnosis); He can put every individuals including those with OP traits under his mirage, fake and full of hypnosis, after making visual contact on his Zanpakuto), he can freely put everybody under complete hypnosis whenever he wills. Has reached a higher type of entity above Quincy, Espada, Soul Reapers, Arrancar & Hollows. 5. Urahara Kisuke (Former Captain put under Exile of the Previous Gotei-13) ALSO considered as one of the 5 Special Threats issued by the Quincy King, Master of Tricks, Urahara Kisuke. Mastered every type of Kido & Bakudo, Possess a very mysterious Bankai (a bizarre and deadly one). 6. Kurosaki Ichigo The characters are nice and well written, especially in the colored manga where the details are included. But when they all comes alive in the anime, everything is absolutely SPOT ON and legit comes out with each characters has their own unique and power traits, from the very Top to Low Tier level. Both factions (Gotei 13 & Sternritter) each with their own crazy amount of spiritual pressures and deadly firepowers (legit I mean, they're like the PHD's when it times to brutal k!llings, relentless ch()ppings, slash!ng their enemies with no mercy nor any remorse was truly horrifying, and I'm being honest with y'all, it could affect you psychologically, mentally and it sticks to your minds once you guys witness the brutality shown in the anime like a super glue. None of us manga readers was expecting the gore, none of us manga readers expected any brutality in this massive 10-years long awaited return, and the victims of those brutalities was visualized so real thanks to the voice actors, the screaming, terrifying high-pitched screaming in agony caught us all manga readers off-guard.
LERAGEUXENAMARRE
01/01/2023, 04:27 PM
so I write this review to tell you that in my opinion bleach thousand year blood war is without question the anime of the year without any hesitation everything is refined with rigor passion and cared for by pierrot who have ensured throughout this first cour I really love my viewing throughout I am amazed and I lose words yet bleach was my first manga that I bought from my young age and I can tell you that this constant animation and exceptional additions by Kubo have enormously applied to the anime process also, the return of all our favorite characters had a huge impact on the work,then the osts were remarkable, thank you Sagisu for your work and your collaboration throughout the project and I, a fan of nekketsu, listened to the remix of number one masterpiece over and over. musical in short, great experience on my part and I invite you to catch up before the next cour
aeroror2
12/31/2022, 01:52 AM
All hail, the best anime of the year! For almost a decade, one of "big three" has finally came back with its arc finale. What else to say, every episodes is superb! It still have the impact and entertainment value that I've felt years ago. A Thousand Years Blood War Arc is something that has too many stories to tell and all of it are worthy to be tackled. The one thing I love bleach is that it has an abundant variety of characters that has definetely something big to offer to the story. The only time that Ichigo literally shine from this season is during thelast episode since it was all about his families' history. But the rest of the episodes has been well driven by notable characters such as Old Man Yama and Retsu Unohana. I am anticipating more revalations from the anime and hoping that they will not let the fans feel disappointed. There's nothing more to say and I just love that Bleach comeback is being consume by a lot of fans and non-fans on today's generation. Let's meet again on its next season. Happy New Year everyone!
WitchoftheSouth
12/29/2022, 12:20 PM
Bleach is back, and I couldn't be happier. I had previously watched some anime, but Bleach sparked my interest in both anime and Japanese culture back around 2011/2012. That's why I was so excited to hear about the sequel. I've already finished the Manga, so I know what's going to happen, but that doesn't take away from my excitement. And I was not let down. The story resumes where it left off ten years ago. The entire plot line is typical shonen, so it's a little predictable. But Bleach has a captivating atmosphere, mixed with beloved characters and some comedy relief. And the Thousand-Year Blood War archas one significant advantage over the prequel. There is no need for filler episodes because the Manga is already completed, so the storytelling is not disrupted. Splitting the entire arc into separate courses benefits another aspect as well. I've always thought that Bleach has some intense fight scenes, and that for the sequel, they had enough time to properly animate them. The fights between Yhwach and Yamamoto, as well as Yhwach and Ichigo, look incredible. It gave me goosebumps, and I didn't look away from the screen for a second (and I'm easily distracted). The entire Anime was then complemented by a magnificent soundtrack, as you would expect from Bleach. Overall, I'm looking forward to the next courses. Even though waiting can be aggravating, I'm confident it will be worthwhile. I had grown tired of anime, but Bleach: Sennen Kessen-hen revived my interest in it.
gokussjss
12/29/2022, 09:32 AM
Final arc of bleach is finally here and its really great to have bleach back every week. Now it a slight darker tone, more blood. Animation is top tier. They really outdid themselves this time. Fight scenes look amazing. Music is great like always. Remix of some older music felt nostalgic (precipice of defeat). Slight changes from the manga and a bit faster pace which makes it better imo. Cant wait for the next season, waited 10+ years can definitely wait a few months for it now lol. 10/10 would recommend if you enjoy shonen anime but you need to watch the first 366 episodes before starting this.
Pyongmon
12/28/2022, 05:21 PM
Just a masterpiece. Beware, watch this ONLY if you have seen Bleach before. Otherwise you won't understand. Here you get to know many answers that the old series was lacking. Honestly, I am an old fan, I followed Bleach because it was a very interesting and a fresh idea at the time. Sadly, as time was passing, Bleach felt very weird for me and declined a lot. The last chapters felt very rushed and since the end years ago, I felt really bittersweet about everything. It was because Bleach was good, but then I felt it all went to waste. Now, as a returning fan in2022, I can't believe how lucky I am to be alive and have the pleasure to enjoy this sequel. I'm speechless, it was just wonderfull. The first chapters felt a bit weird (maybe I was just trying to adapt again), but then it just became a wild adventure. I am 100% satisfied with this. I recommend every fan of Bleach to see this one.
Mr_Popepo
12/27/2022, 05:49 PM
Let's get something straight, Bleach as a story and everything about it is not a 10/10. But if we're talking about this season and the medium that is anime and what Pierrot has accomplished, this is nothing short of a masterpiece. The directing, the music (Bleach always had the best bangers of all the big 3), the animation, it's peak anime. Judging just solely off an artistic standpoint Bleach TYBW is what other animes strive to achieve and it might be the nostalgia talking but I don't even care, I have no regrets giving it a 10/10. Bleach was once at the top, beating outeveryone and had insane potential. You can tell that the studio and everyone working on this is really passionate about finishing off one of the most iconic anime with the justice it deserves, and as a fan who long awaited for it's final arc to be animated I couldn't be happier with what we got.
LightningApe
12/27/2022, 03:59 PM
I’ve watched bleach a little in the past but never watched past the soul society arc (which I thought was good). With the announcement of this season, I watched from start to finish in order to catch up and be able to watch weekly with friends. Let me say this…: This is EASILY one of my favourite arcs in Bleach, THE RISK, SENSE OF DANGER, REMIXED OSTs, EPISODE TITLE REVEALS, POEMS, ART DIRECTION, THE SYMBOLISM the list goes on and on!! For those who are saying that “it feels rushed” and “seems boring with boring music and dialogue” I’d say coming off of the previous seasonsit does not seem rushed (picking up essentially right where it left off after the fullbringer arc) and pacing has been AMAZING. Fights have been animated beautifully and the stakes are kicked up to 💯 If it’s been years since you’ve watched the previous seasons I’d recommend a recap video on YouTube at least first before diving in. And as for the music?? Absolute BANGER remixes of the beloved OST soundtracks, loved it from start to finish WELL DESERVED comeback 🔥
ZMKatsu
12/27/2022, 03:49 PM
The OG of BIG 3, the anime where everyone knows what is shounen, the anime where many childhood growns in television in west,asia and europe whatever the brand who took the license for in 2004/2005 and last but not least the anime most of the viewer liking the protagonist, relatable like him(most part of it), wear a good fashion so we got a taste and linked with the series wether it was bad,neutral,good or best period. That's bleach, the series long ended without the continuation in the manga. throwing a bad taste for how rush it is but when it adapt as animation, not only itimprove some part of what lack in the material but also blowing all expectation for how good it is! Not only they cut the unnecesary part in the manga but also improve the IMPORTANT moment in the adaptation! When eps 1 came out just be clear, all of you who watch this must be crying alot right? Especially when special ending comes you must be nostalgic the journey of this series comes right? Yeah me too! Not only that, the big moment in eps 6,7,10-13 making it more spotlighted than what people need. But even with cliffhanger in eps 13 it makes all of us excited for july 2023 in cour 2! Pierrot truly makes an forgiveable what they do in the past and we can takes a credit for the staff who works this series so hard in the sake of consistency quality and pacing they give! Cour 2 deserve for our expectation especially when tite kubo admit that he works so hard for cour 2 makes him only get to sleep in 2-3 am. In overall i'm always love bleach so much. this series is part of my childhood growing, opening the gates of anime if i don't know bleach is and lastly it feels so good to be excited like this just like my young self every weekend stay tune for just bleach even i have to wait 7 months it's okay, 10 years can be waiting for this to be so good even cour 2!
Hail_Lelouch
12/27/2022, 10:48 AM
Bleach TYBW gives an insanely amazing comeback to a long ended shounen anime without adapting the final arc of the manga. Starting from the characters to the animation, Bleach TYBW improves a lot. The final arc is a serious and bloody one, with a lot of fights and the first cour is just a start. Pierrot has done an amazing job in splitting the cours, which will not impact the overall production of the final arc, which resumes after 10 years. The characters became more bold, aggressive and the action sequences were totally heavenly. It feels nostalgic and amazing to see an action battle shounen animeto be back with it's most intense arc. Will eagerly wait for the 2nd cour till Summer 2023. My Rating : 10/10
andreea-san
12/26/2022, 01:53 PM
Good, so to cut the introduction stuff cuz it's boring and everyone knows what the series is about, I just want to say WOW. It never occured to me that I would have reactions like dropped jaw and wide opened eyes, even crying of emotion from an anime. Of course, I cried on many animes, but never on Bleatch and it was not from sadness. My best friend told me about Bleach. Her brother have watched it, she didn't get to (yet), but she bought a set of playing cards with the bleach characters she found in a second hand store. ( i'm hella jealousnow). Well after debating on which anime I should start a year ago or so....maybe more...I started Bleach. It was nice I enjoyed It with all the fillers. All of them. Special hate from me to the haters >_< just skip them if u don't like that. After I finished watching the series I tagged it as my favourite anime. I thought It had a nice ending and that was good enough for me even tho the actual happy ending of the manga was not animated. I didn't know much about the manga at the time. When I heard that in 2022 there's going to be a continuing season I was like <oh, okay...so there is a sequel. Nice I'd like to see that> I watched this season and had me literally going crazy. Everything in every single episode was perfect. Especially ep 12 and 13 that I just watched and had me dropping my jaw on the floor. I never thought I was going to like a series so much. I came to the conclusion that Tite Kubo is a freakin' genius. All the entities, the powers, the personalities of the characters he created, all amazed me. I even came to realise that aside from everything, Bleach slays in my heart in comparison to Naruto. Don't get mad at me, I love Naruto with all my might but it is just not the same bread, you know. And I know it is not supposed to be the same. I am not saying that Bleach is better. I just liked it more. But this is my humble opinion, and no one on earth can change it. I kept texting to my bestie after finishing these episodes <IT'S THE BEST. WATCH IT. I'M IN CLOUD NINE! THE BEST SERIES EVER> (literally said this) To conclude cuz I don't want to have you guys bored reading this, no anime is better than another. Why? You may think what I am saying is nonsense. Well, maybe. But not really. Every anime is built different. Created by different minds with different ideas and different visions about life. So we are not to judge on the concept of an art work. Just build an opinion about it and rate it based on our preferences. But never say "anime x is better than anime y". Because that is the actual nonsense. Hope you guys enjoyed this review ( if you got to read it till the end please give me a sign. I just want to be heared out). Have a nice life and enjoy the animes you like, stop spreading hate. I hope you like Bleach just as much as I do. PEACE ^-^
Kslider
12/26/2022, 12:05 PM
I went into this having read the manga to completion years ago, and full well knew what to expect when watching. Despite that I was continuously blown away by how incredible this adaptation was. Studio Pierrot delivered on every front they possibly could've. The animation and visuals are gorgeous, the soundtrack including all of the remixes are amazing, the voice acting (subbed and dubbed) is great, and the addition of new scenes really adds to the experience. If there's one front that the series did struggle with it was how fast paced it was and that leading to some scenes from the original manga needing tobe cut. That being said most of what was cut were small gag scenes or ones that don't really add much to the overall story, which results in the more oppressive and hopeless mood that this arc of the story is trying to portray. If you are a fan of the series and haven't completed the manga, I recommend this. If you have finished the manga I still recommend it. If you've never dabbled in Bleach before I recommend the series just so you can experience this for yourself.
Sahil_kk
12/26/2022, 10:17 AM
Bleach is the Goat and what a fucking finale episode it was! From animation to music everything was top tier. You are guaranteed to have at least 1 goosebumps moment in every episode, I certainly enjoyed it more than overrated CSM. From baddass characters to awesome VA's everything about this first cour is splendid. The best thing for me was the quincy king and his subordinates, they were baddass uff, I enjoyed them the most. I wasn't even that big of a fan of bleach before but now after this marvelous season it's in my top 10. I don't wanna spoil you so without making it any longerlet me tell you watch it enjoy this epic arc.
JKrauser
12/26/2022, 10:17 AM
(Technically this is not a review. This is just the words of a Bleach fan.) When Bleach ended nearly 10 years ago and when its manga ended nearly 6 years ago, I was heartbroken probably like every other Bleach fan out there. I was heartbroken because I thought we'd never get to see Thousand-Year Blood War arc on screen. I DID MY WAITING, 10 YEARS OF IT! Jokes aside, the day I thought would never come finally arrived. I just completed it and I still can not believe I actually watched 13 episodes of TYBW on screen. The day the first episode aired, I was afraidthat my expectations (due to the long waiting) could never be satisfied but I have never felt so wrong in my life. TYBW exceeded my high expectations and left me craving for more. Amazing animations from character designs to battle scenes, heavy tension from the beginning till the end, bloodbath, amazing flashbacks for characters like Unohana, Zaraki, Isshin and Masaki, Yamamoto and so on. TYBW gave me everything I could possibly ask for, except more episodes but hell, my waiting for the arrival of the continuation of this will be easier now compared to the past because I know it will be here sooner or later. Even though I don't really enjoy shounens that much anymore, Bleach will always have a special place in my heart and I will keep enjoying it even if I'm 60 years old. Thank you Tite Kubo for this amazing work and thank you studio Pierrot for bringing this work into life so brilliantly. 10/10
JohnAnimeChannel
12/26/2022, 09:55 AM
Hate or Love Bleach, you cannot deny that Bleach tybw was the perfect adaptation! I waited until the series was completed to rate and give my opinion on the series as a whole. Animation & Art 10/10 - You can tell the love and effort that was put into this arc. Story 10/10 - Bleach has been known for all action and no story, but we got so much revelations, news, lore, flashbacks, and so much more with this arc only. Pacing 10/10 - The problem with OG Bleach was the pacing which is bound to happen with the anime being so close to the sourcecontent, but the pacing in tybw was perfect. not too slow but not too fast. Conclusion: I came into tybw not expecting much, but this series blew me! The best return of any anime i've ever seen. I can't wait for the 2nd cour to come this summer. ICHIGOAT!~
Stark700
12/26/2022, 08:36 AM
In 2012, Bleach ended its long anime-run without adapting the final arc from the manga. Dubbed as part of the 'Big 3', it almost felt like an end of an era. Some fans were left confused that the anime omitted its final arc although it's understandable that the manga was still ongoing at the time. Almost 8 years later, Bleach's massive 20th Anniversary Event breathed new life into the franchise as we got the final arc anime announcement: Bleach Thousand-Year Blood War. Mind you, this isn't just an announcement for what fans wanted after all these years. It's a celebration for the entire Bleach fandom. TiteKubo has amassed a loyal fanbase and I confidentally say that he deserves it for his creative vision and sheer determination. Initially, he didn't expect Bleach to bloosom into the franchise as we know today but mangaka Akira Toriyama provided the encouragement for him to succeed. Tite Kubo's creative vision to make characters dressed up in kimono and supernatural monsters associated with spiritual themes is what made this franchise so special. Of course, he was influenced by other works but Bleach still stands out as a very special show on its own. And with the final story arc, this served as the ultimate sendoff for anime viewers who had hoped to see this one day. Bleach Thousand-Year Blood War is based on the final story arc of the manga, pitching Ichigo Kurosaki, the Soul Society, and his allies, friends against a new enemy known as the Wandenreich. They make an immediately impact by disposing a lieutenant and challenges against the very best of Soul Society. Led by the Quincy King Yhwach, their true agenda remains a mystery but it's clear that they are a prominent threat against all of Soul Society and the human world. Even the world of Hueco Mundo isn't safe from their wrath as Ichigo and his allies decides to take a stand against this new threat. Watching the Thousand-Year Blood War Arc immediately shows just how dangerous and capable the Wandenreich is with their special abilities, equipment, and ruthless ambitions. While not much is known about their, some of their members display a malevolent aura that borderlines on a God-like complex. If there's anything Bleach has taught me about its antagonists, it's that they often come across as charismatic characters such as Sosuke Aizen and the Espadas. While we don't know much yet about Wandenreich, it's clear that they a force to be feared. Our oranged hair main protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki is still the same Shinigami we came to know since previous seasons. Joining him in his quest to stop the Wandenreich includes his loyal friends such as Rukia, Renji, Yasutora Sado, Orihime, and of course, the Soul Society. The oddball of this show is Uryu Ishida, because of his status as a Quincy, and this is a source that gets complex this season. Unfortunately, this season doesn't truly dive into Uryu's motivations or what his true purpose is yet. Most interestingly however, we come to know a deeper background story of a few Soul Reaper captains including Genryuusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Kenpachi Zaraki, and Retsu Unohana. Even Ichigo's parents gets a spotlight this season as we come to know how Isshin and Masaki met in their past. It's important because Bleach has a large cast of characters and we can easily get lost. This season took its time to give these characters more meaning with their stories. But fear not, other favorite characters in the franchise also makes a return including Toshiro and Byakuya. They've received storytelling about their backgrounds in the past before so this season mainly reminds us how strong they've become. Bleach Thousand-Year Blood War is exactly how it sounds, a war with bloodshed and been in the making for a thousand years. Narratively driven, this arc goes to show the importance of how the past can affect the future in the Bleach world. It goes to say that with every story arc, there's usually some sort of main antagonist but also lessons to be learned. Ichigo has learned a lot from his first days as a Shinigami and this season will he will learn again what it means to be one. Watching this series serves as a celebration and ultimately, a way to give fans back what they've wanted all these years. Despite the near decade long absence on television, studio Pierrot knew it had to step up and deliver this arc to its eager fans. Thankfully, the quality of this season received a well-deserved upgrade. Character designs looks like it got a next generation upgrade with their detailed outlines and expressions. Battles scenes have been enhanced to bring the fights alive from the manga. Most importantly are the way this season adapted its character emotions. There are several episodes where we see how characters are pushed to their limits when emotions take over. This season captures the essence of those emotions at their fullest. Similar, the theme songs and battle soundtrack still remains stellar like the old days. You can say whatever you want about the Bleach but the the music has always been top tier class for this franchise. Bleach is a franchise that always stood out with its large colorful cast of characters, themes, and pushes its lore to a level we've fondly remember. This season takes another step forward to showcase the final story arc from the manga. Believe me, Bleach fans have always wanted this for years and this was another one of those cases of 'not if, but when'. The 20th anniversary was the perfect storm to announce this show and since then, we've been graced with one of the most memorable arcs so far in just 13 episodes. Fear not for this is just the first season of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc. There's so much more left to tell and we're only just getting started.

Bleach: Sennen Kessen-hen BLEACH 千年血戦篇

2022 fall | Episodes: 13 | Score: 9.0 (320593)

Updated every Tuesdays at 00:00 | Status: Finished Airing

Type: TV

Producers:TV Tokyo | Aniplex | Dentsu | Shueisha

Streaming: Disney+ | Bahamut Anime Crazy | Bilibili Global | Hulu | Shahid

Synopsis

Voice Actors

Sugiyama, Noriaki

Morita, Masakazu

News

Reviews

Nano_ZE
04/29/2023, 10:47 AM
When I watched Bleach initially in 2016, I fell in love with Kubo's work. The show felt like it had a life of its own, and out of the big 3, it was quickly my favorite, which is why I felt so disappointed when it finished airing. The final episode of the initial Bleach left me feeling extremely discontent. Not only did it not actually wrap up the story because it needed to include the entire final arc, but the arc we left off on was one of the weakest in the series. Looking back on it, I realized my issues with the show. Theoriginal Bleach anime could have paced significantly better. Often, episodes would drag out things that didn't need to be dragged out, and on top of that, a large amount of poorly written filler added to my distaste. The Bount Arc, for example, was one of, if not the worst, story arcs I have ever watched in all of fiction. The anime's presentation significantly hindered its phenomenal music and well-designed characters. The action, which gave off an air of intensity in the manga, was dragged out to a point where it became almost boring. So what did the new Bleach anime change that makes it so good? It's easy; they cut out all the bullshit. Thousand Year Blood War cuts out all the extra crap and gives us just the story. Bleach is a manga masterpiece, and the only thing holding it back in the past was its poor pacing and disgustingly lousy filler. Without that, the story is very well written. The anime stays utterly faithful to the source material, and because of that, it feels much more engaging. On top of this, the additional time the animators had to work on the project and the fact that the manga is currently finished gives them much more flexibility to work around when it comes to the show. This allows Kubo's writing and character design to shine while also being boosted by the beautiful music from studio Mappa and gorgeous animation and fight choreography. Thousand Year Blood War is the perfect anime adaptation. Full stop. Animation 9/10 Music 10/10 Story 10/10 Characters 10/10 Overall 10/10
SpicySourTofu
01/22/2023, 01:33 AM
Haters gonna hate. From 2004 until now, Bleach always be an underrated show. always compared to naruto and one piece. Now bleach is compared to jujutsu kaisen and chainsaw man. Ratings don't lie, we know OG is always the best.As always the story is unpredictable but too fast just 13 episode, ill be glad if the story is 24-25 episode. People say bleach need this bleach need that stfu enjoy the show newcomers. In terms of story and animation bleach is god tier now just take it that your show is not as good as bleach. Can't wait to watch the part 2 i think it's gonna be lit!
vinayak9999
01/04/2023, 01:07 AM
It is a 10/10 for me waited for 10 years and it paid off. The best adaptation it could've had. Fmatards are going to downvote this series since it is number one now but it will always be better than FMA. Definitely watch it. The art style is great. The action is top notch. The writing is good. Direction is good too. The back stories are great and the new twists will blow your mind. The enimity between Quincy and shinigami is finally addressed. The character development of ichigo is good too.And many new powers are revealed as well. Definitely in my top3 anime of 2022.
stevee007
01/02/2023, 04:14 PM
Been waiting for Bleach to continue since the orginal series stopped airing back in 2012. So far TYBW has amazing animation and is more graphic in nature, as compared to the previous series, which fits Bleach very well. That ED on the first episode was straight fire and nostalgic for all the OG Bleach fans. The color scheme of the anime is great as well, with the animation being head and shoulders above what we've seen before in this show. The music is good too, but definitely not as great as the first series. I don't mind them remixing the original songs, but at leastmake them sound decent. There's one track in particular that adds in a high pitched electric guitar that makes the entire thing sound terrible. Something I'm worried about is the progression of the story, if each season in TYBW has 13 episodes, I hope they have enough time to flush out the entire manga without leaving too much out. In the worst case scenario, I'll end up going back to read the manga but we'll see how it goes. Hopefully the upcoming seasons will build upon the solid foundation this season has layed down. All in all, the updated visuals, characters, and my love for Bleach has carried this season for me.
ArimaKurotetsu47
01/02/2023, 02:32 PM
What's interesting about the storyline The story is definitely not predictable especially for anime onlys, overall for the story it was awesome, sometimes mind-blowing, especially On that one episode was shown, where the Head Captain Yamamoto Shigekuni Genryusai was fighting against the Quincy King, Yhwach, the animation was Top-tier, words can't describe how awesome that episode was, but I can ASSURE you, it was DEFINITELY better than that new season of Demon Slayer (Demons got defeated, u know the scene where demon siblings was in a total defeat, both d£cap!tated, died side by side). The massive plot-twist at the end of episode 9 also caughtus all off-guard despite the Head Captain Yamamoto showing-off his enormous and monstrous powers (4 Bankai destroying "Yhwach") It was a huge disastrous Brute Force against Brilliant Strategy. the Zangetsu = Not really Zangetsu, but rather, the appearance of the Quincy King, 2000 Years ago, legit I was in a massive shook. Y'all won't believe it, my reaction and legit every youtube reactors faces was in TOTAL DISBELIEF, MASSIVE SHOOK hits us hard. The Animation Quality The animation for the art style IS MOST DEFINITELY fits the story 100%, I even consider it's better than the colored manga, NGL TO Y'ALL.. The visuals, artworks, animation quality is a SPOT ON! To the point where it rivals the Demon Slayer new season's OP animation quality, and don't get me wrong! Both has showed us amazing visuals so far. Not to mention the gore visualized from the very start of the episode to eps 13, the brutality, the gore, ruthlessness of the characters was WILD. 💀 I'd like to name every Dangerously OP, characters with Top-Tier Powers of both Warring Factions. Gotei 13 & their second in Command: 1.The Head Captain (Commander in Chief): Yamamoto Shigekuni Genryūsai, age: over 2 milleniums (+2000 Years Old) Powers: Ryūjin Jakka, the Blade of the Enormous Flame, Bankai: East, West, South & North (details on *spoiler alert* episode 9, old man Yama VS Yhwach) 2. Zaraki Kenpachi (Captain), Dangerous man, considered as one of the 5 Special Threats issued by the Quincy King. Powers: Extremely Durable, Relentless Brutal Strikes, Ruthless Deadly Slashes, Overwhelming amount of Spiritual Pressure, Gets stronger everytime he receives strikes. 3. Kyōraku Shinsui (Lately Appointed Head Captain) Powers: He can teleport straight behind, under, and within enemy's shadows to perform a deadly strike, Dual-wielding Zanpakuto user. Deadly and wide huge scale of Bankai radius. He appears weak but deep down, he's too dangerous and cold-blooded. Bankai: Katen Kyokotsukaramatsu Shinju. 4. Aizen Sōsuke (Currently under 20.000 Year of Sentence). A cold-blooded Four-eyes mf, Zanpakuto: KyokaSuigetsu (Complete Hypnosis); He can put every individuals including those with OP traits under his mirage, fake and full of hypnosis, after making visual contact on his Zanpakuto), he can freely put everybody under complete hypnosis whenever he wills. Has reached a higher type of entity above Quincy, Espada, Soul Reapers, Arrancar & Hollows. 5. Urahara Kisuke (Former Captain put under Exile of the Previous Gotei-13) ALSO considered as one of the 5 Special Threats issued by the Quincy King, Master of Tricks, Urahara Kisuke. Mastered every type of Kido & Bakudo, Possess a very mysterious Bankai (a bizarre and deadly one). 6. Kurosaki Ichigo The characters are nice and well written, especially in the colored manga where the details are included. But when they all comes alive in the anime, everything is absolutely SPOT ON and legit comes out with each characters has their own unique and power traits, from the very Top to Low Tier level. Both factions (Gotei 13 & Sternritter) each with their own crazy amount of spiritual pressures and deadly firepowers (legit I mean, they're like the PHD's when it times to brutal k!llings, relentless ch()ppings, slash!ng their enemies with no mercy nor any remorse was truly horrifying, and I'm being honest with y'all, it could affect you psychologically, mentally and it sticks to your minds once you guys witness the brutality shown in the anime like a super glue. None of us manga readers was expecting the gore, none of us manga readers expected any brutality in this massive 10-years long awaited return, and the victims of those brutalities was visualized so real thanks to the voice actors, the screaming, terrifying high-pitched screaming in agony caught us all manga readers off-guard.
LERAGEUXENAMARRE
01/01/2023, 04:27 PM
so I write this review to tell you that in my opinion bleach thousand year blood war is without question the anime of the year without any hesitation everything is refined with rigor passion and cared for by pierrot who have ensured throughout this first cour I really love my viewing throughout I am amazed and I lose words yet bleach was my first manga that I bought from my young age and I can tell you that this constant animation and exceptional additions by Kubo have enormously applied to the anime process also, the return of all our favorite characters had a huge impact on the work,then the osts were remarkable, thank you Sagisu for your work and your collaboration throughout the project and I, a fan of nekketsu, listened to the remix of number one masterpiece over and over. musical in short, great experience on my part and I invite you to catch up before the next cour
aeroror2
12/31/2022, 01:52 AM
All hail, the best anime of the year! For almost a decade, one of "big three" has finally came back with its arc finale. What else to say, every episodes is superb! It still have the impact and entertainment value that I've felt years ago. A Thousand Years Blood War Arc is something that has too many stories to tell and all of it are worthy to be tackled. The one thing I love bleach is that it has an abundant variety of characters that has definetely something big to offer to the story. The only time that Ichigo literally shine from this season is during thelast episode since it was all about his families' history. But the rest of the episodes has been well driven by notable characters such as Old Man Yama and Retsu Unohana. I am anticipating more revalations from the anime and hoping that they will not let the fans feel disappointed. There's nothing more to say and I just love that Bleach comeback is being consume by a lot of fans and non-fans on today's generation. Let's meet again on its next season. Happy New Year everyone!
WitchoftheSouth
12/29/2022, 12:20 PM
Bleach is back, and I couldn't be happier. I had previously watched some anime, but Bleach sparked my interest in both anime and Japanese culture back around 2011/2012. That's why I was so excited to hear about the sequel. I've already finished the Manga, so I know what's going to happen, but that doesn't take away from my excitement. And I was not let down. The story resumes where it left off ten years ago. The entire plot line is typical shonen, so it's a little predictable. But Bleach has a captivating atmosphere, mixed with beloved characters and some comedy relief. And the Thousand-Year Blood War archas one significant advantage over the prequel. There is no need for filler episodes because the Manga is already completed, so the storytelling is not disrupted. Splitting the entire arc into separate courses benefits another aspect as well. I've always thought that Bleach has some intense fight scenes, and that for the sequel, they had enough time to properly animate them. The fights between Yhwach and Yamamoto, as well as Yhwach and Ichigo, look incredible. It gave me goosebumps, and I didn't look away from the screen for a second (and I'm easily distracted). The entire Anime was then complemented by a magnificent soundtrack, as you would expect from Bleach. Overall, I'm looking forward to the next courses. Even though waiting can be aggravating, I'm confident it will be worthwhile. I had grown tired of anime, but Bleach: Sennen Kessen-hen revived my interest in it.
gokussjss
12/29/2022, 09:32 AM
Final arc of bleach is finally here and its really great to have bleach back every week. Now it a slight darker tone, more blood. Animation is top tier. They really outdid themselves this time. Fight scenes look amazing. Music is great like always. Remix of some older music felt nostalgic (precipice of defeat). Slight changes from the manga and a bit faster pace which makes it better imo. Cant wait for the next season, waited 10+ years can definitely wait a few months for it now lol. 10/10 would recommend if you enjoy shonen anime but you need to watch the first 366 episodes before starting this.
Pyongmon
12/28/2022, 05:21 PM
Just a masterpiece. Beware, watch this ONLY if you have seen Bleach before. Otherwise you won't understand. Here you get to know many answers that the old series was lacking. Honestly, I am an old fan, I followed Bleach because it was a very interesting and a fresh idea at the time. Sadly, as time was passing, Bleach felt very weird for me and declined a lot. The last chapters felt very rushed and since the end years ago, I felt really bittersweet about everything. It was because Bleach was good, but then I felt it all went to waste. Now, as a returning fan in2022, I can't believe how lucky I am to be alive and have the pleasure to enjoy this sequel. I'm speechless, it was just wonderfull. The first chapters felt a bit weird (maybe I was just trying to adapt again), but then it just became a wild adventure. I am 100% satisfied with this. I recommend every fan of Bleach to see this one.
Mr_Popepo
12/27/2022, 05:49 PM
Let's get something straight, Bleach as a story and everything about it is not a 10/10. But if we're talking about this season and the medium that is anime and what Pierrot has accomplished, this is nothing short of a masterpiece. The directing, the music (Bleach always had the best bangers of all the big 3), the animation, it's peak anime. Judging just solely off an artistic standpoint Bleach TYBW is what other animes strive to achieve and it might be the nostalgia talking but I don't even care, I have no regrets giving it a 10/10. Bleach was once at the top, beating outeveryone and had insane potential. You can tell that the studio and everyone working on this is really passionate about finishing off one of the most iconic anime with the justice it deserves, and as a fan who long awaited for it's final arc to be animated I couldn't be happier with what we got.
LightningApe
12/27/2022, 03:59 PM
I’ve watched bleach a little in the past but never watched past the soul society arc (which I thought was good). With the announcement of this season, I watched from start to finish in order to catch up and be able to watch weekly with friends. Let me say this…: This is EASILY one of my favourite arcs in Bleach, THE RISK, SENSE OF DANGER, REMIXED OSTs, EPISODE TITLE REVEALS, POEMS, ART DIRECTION, THE SYMBOLISM the list goes on and on!! For those who are saying that “it feels rushed” and “seems boring with boring music and dialogue” I’d say coming off of the previous seasonsit does not seem rushed (picking up essentially right where it left off after the fullbringer arc) and pacing has been AMAZING. Fights have been animated beautifully and the stakes are kicked up to 💯 If it’s been years since you’ve watched the previous seasons I’d recommend a recap video on YouTube at least first before diving in. And as for the music?? Absolute BANGER remixes of the beloved OST soundtracks, loved it from start to finish WELL DESERVED comeback 🔥
ZMKatsu
12/27/2022, 03:49 PM
The OG of BIG 3, the anime where everyone knows what is shounen, the anime where many childhood growns in television in west,asia and europe whatever the brand who took the license for in 2004/2005 and last but not least the anime most of the viewer liking the protagonist, relatable like him(most part of it), wear a good fashion so we got a taste and linked with the series wether it was bad,neutral,good or best period. That's bleach, the series long ended without the continuation in the manga. throwing a bad taste for how rush it is but when it adapt as animation, not only itimprove some part of what lack in the material but also blowing all expectation for how good it is! Not only they cut the unnecesary part in the manga but also improve the IMPORTANT moment in the adaptation! When eps 1 came out just be clear, all of you who watch this must be crying alot right? Especially when special ending comes you must be nostalgic the journey of this series comes right? Yeah me too! Not only that, the big moment in eps 6,7,10-13 making it more spotlighted than what people need. But even with cliffhanger in eps 13 it makes all of us excited for july 2023 in cour 2! Pierrot truly makes an forgiveable what they do in the past and we can takes a credit for the staff who works this series so hard in the sake of consistency quality and pacing they give! Cour 2 deserve for our expectation especially when tite kubo admit that he works so hard for cour 2 makes him only get to sleep in 2-3 am. In overall i'm always love bleach so much. this series is part of my childhood growing, opening the gates of anime if i don't know bleach is and lastly it feels so good to be excited like this just like my young self every weekend stay tune for just bleach even i have to wait 7 months it's okay, 10 years can be waiting for this to be so good even cour 2!
Hail_Lelouch
12/27/2022, 10:48 AM
Bleach TYBW gives an insanely amazing comeback to a long ended shounen anime without adapting the final arc of the manga. Starting from the characters to the animation, Bleach TYBW improves a lot. The final arc is a serious and bloody one, with a lot of fights and the first cour is just a start. Pierrot has done an amazing job in splitting the cours, which will not impact the overall production of the final arc, which resumes after 10 years. The characters became more bold, aggressive and the action sequences were totally heavenly. It feels nostalgic and amazing to see an action battle shounen animeto be back with it's most intense arc. Will eagerly wait for the 2nd cour till Summer 2023. My Rating : 10/10
andreea-san
12/26/2022, 01:53 PM
Good, so to cut the introduction stuff cuz it's boring and everyone knows what the series is about, I just want to say WOW. It never occured to me that I would have reactions like dropped jaw and wide opened eyes, even crying of emotion from an anime. Of course, I cried on many animes, but never on Bleatch and it was not from sadness. My best friend told me about Bleach. Her brother have watched it, she didn't get to (yet), but she bought a set of playing cards with the bleach characters she found in a second hand store. ( i'm hella jealousnow). Well after debating on which anime I should start a year ago or so....maybe more...I started Bleach. It was nice I enjoyed It with all the fillers. All of them. Special hate from me to the haters >_< just skip them if u don't like that. After I finished watching the series I tagged it as my favourite anime. I thought It had a nice ending and that was good enough for me even tho the actual happy ending of the manga was not animated. I didn't know much about the manga at the time. When I heard that in 2022 there's going to be a continuing season I was like <oh, okay...so there is a sequel. Nice I'd like to see that> I watched this season and had me literally going crazy. Everything in every single episode was perfect. Especially ep 12 and 13 that I just watched and had me dropping my jaw on the floor. I never thought I was going to like a series so much. I came to the conclusion that Tite Kubo is a freakin' genius. All the entities, the powers, the personalities of the characters he created, all amazed me. I even came to realise that aside from everything, Bleach slays in my heart in comparison to Naruto. Don't get mad at me, I love Naruto with all my might but it is just not the same bread, you know. And I know it is not supposed to be the same. I am not saying that Bleach is better. I just liked it more. But this is my humble opinion, and no one on earth can change it. I kept texting to my bestie after finishing these episodes <IT'S THE BEST. WATCH IT. I'M IN CLOUD NINE! THE BEST SERIES EVER> (literally said this) To conclude cuz I don't want to have you guys bored reading this, no anime is better than another. Why? You may think what I am saying is nonsense. Well, maybe. But not really. Every anime is built different. Created by different minds with different ideas and different visions about life. So we are not to judge on the concept of an art work. Just build an opinion about it and rate it based on our preferences. But never say "anime x is better than anime y". Because that is the actual nonsense. Hope you guys enjoyed this review ( if you got to read it till the end please give me a sign. I just want to be heared out). Have a nice life and enjoy the animes you like, stop spreading hate. I hope you like Bleach just as much as I do. PEACE ^-^
Kslider
12/26/2022, 12:05 PM
I went into this having read the manga to completion years ago, and full well knew what to expect when watching. Despite that I was continuously blown away by how incredible this adaptation was. Studio Pierrot delivered on every front they possibly could've. The animation and visuals are gorgeous, the soundtrack including all of the remixes are amazing, the voice acting (subbed and dubbed) is great, and the addition of new scenes really adds to the experience. If there's one front that the series did struggle with it was how fast paced it was and that leading to some scenes from the original manga needing tobe cut. That being said most of what was cut were small gag scenes or ones that don't really add much to the overall story, which results in the more oppressive and hopeless mood that this arc of the story is trying to portray. If you are a fan of the series and haven't completed the manga, I recommend this. If you have finished the manga I still recommend it. If you've never dabbled in Bleach before I recommend the series just so you can experience this for yourself.
Sahil_kk
12/26/2022, 10:17 AM
Bleach is the Goat and what a fucking finale episode it was! From animation to music everything was top tier. You are guaranteed to have at least 1 goosebumps moment in every episode, I certainly enjoyed it more than overrated CSM. From baddass characters to awesome VA's everything about this first cour is splendid. The best thing for me was the quincy king and his subordinates, they were baddass uff, I enjoyed them the most. I wasn't even that big of a fan of bleach before but now after this marvelous season it's in my top 10. I don't wanna spoil you so without making it any longerlet me tell you watch it enjoy this epic arc.
JKrauser
12/26/2022, 10:17 AM
(Technically this is not a review. This is just the words of a Bleach fan.) When Bleach ended nearly 10 years ago and when its manga ended nearly 6 years ago, I was heartbroken probably like every other Bleach fan out there. I was heartbroken because I thought we'd never get to see Thousand-Year Blood War arc on screen. I DID MY WAITING, 10 YEARS OF IT! Jokes aside, the day I thought would never come finally arrived. I just completed it and I still can not believe I actually watched 13 episodes of TYBW on screen. The day the first episode aired, I was afraidthat my expectations (due to the long waiting) could never be satisfied but I have never felt so wrong in my life. TYBW exceeded my high expectations and left me craving for more. Amazing animations from character designs to battle scenes, heavy tension from the beginning till the end, bloodbath, amazing flashbacks for characters like Unohana, Zaraki, Isshin and Masaki, Yamamoto and so on. TYBW gave me everything I could possibly ask for, except more episodes but hell, my waiting for the arrival of the continuation of this will be easier now compared to the past because I know it will be here sooner or later. Even though I don't really enjoy shounens that much anymore, Bleach will always have a special place in my heart and I will keep enjoying it even if I'm 60 years old. Thank you Tite Kubo for this amazing work and thank you studio Pierrot for bringing this work into life so brilliantly. 10/10
JohnAnimeChannel
12/26/2022, 09:55 AM
Hate or Love Bleach, you cannot deny that Bleach tybw was the perfect adaptation! I waited until the series was completed to rate and give my opinion on the series as a whole. Animation & Art 10/10 - You can tell the love and effort that was put into this arc. Story 10/10 - Bleach has been known for all action and no story, but we got so much revelations, news, lore, flashbacks, and so much more with this arc only. Pacing 10/10 - The problem with OG Bleach was the pacing which is bound to happen with the anime being so close to the sourcecontent, but the pacing in tybw was perfect. not too slow but not too fast. Conclusion: I came into tybw not expecting much, but this series blew me! The best return of any anime i've ever seen. I can't wait for the 2nd cour to come this summer. ICHIGOAT!~
Stark700
12/26/2022, 08:36 AM
In 2012, Bleach ended its long anime-run without adapting the final arc from the manga. Dubbed as part of the 'Big 3', it almost felt like an end of an era. Some fans were left confused that the anime omitted its final arc although it's understandable that the manga was still ongoing at the time. Almost 8 years later, Bleach's massive 20th Anniversary Event breathed new life into the franchise as we got the final arc anime announcement: Bleach Thousand-Year Blood War. Mind you, this isn't just an announcement for what fans wanted after all these years. It's a celebration for the entire Bleach fandom. TiteKubo has amassed a loyal fanbase and I confidentally say that he deserves it for his creative vision and sheer determination. Initially, he didn't expect Bleach to bloosom into the franchise as we know today but mangaka Akira Toriyama provided the encouragement for him to succeed. Tite Kubo's creative vision to make characters dressed up in kimono and supernatural monsters associated with spiritual themes is what made this franchise so special. Of course, he was influenced by other works but Bleach still stands out as a very special show on its own. And with the final story arc, this served as the ultimate sendoff for anime viewers who had hoped to see this one day. Bleach Thousand-Year Blood War is based on the final story arc of the manga, pitching Ichigo Kurosaki, the Soul Society, and his allies, friends against a new enemy known as the Wandenreich. They make an immediately impact by disposing a lieutenant and challenges against the very best of Soul Society. Led by the Quincy King Yhwach, their true agenda remains a mystery but it's clear that they are a prominent threat against all of Soul Society and the human world. Even the world of Hueco Mundo isn't safe from their wrath as Ichigo and his allies decides to take a stand against this new threat. Watching the Thousand-Year Blood War Arc immediately shows just how dangerous and capable the Wandenreich is with their special abilities, equipment, and ruthless ambitions. While not much is known about their, some of their members display a malevolent aura that borderlines on a God-like complex. If there's anything Bleach has taught me about its antagonists, it's that they often come across as charismatic characters such as Sosuke Aizen and the Espadas. While we don't know much yet about Wandenreich, it's clear that they a force to be feared. Our oranged hair main protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki is still the same Shinigami we came to know since previous seasons. Joining him in his quest to stop the Wandenreich includes his loyal friends such as Rukia, Renji, Yasutora Sado, Orihime, and of course, the Soul Society. The oddball of this show is Uryu Ishida, because of his status as a Quincy, and this is a source that gets complex this season. Unfortunately, this season doesn't truly dive into Uryu's motivations or what his true purpose is yet. Most interestingly however, we come to know a deeper background story of a few Soul Reaper captains including Genryuusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Kenpachi Zaraki, and Retsu Unohana. Even Ichigo's parents gets a spotlight this season as we come to know how Isshin and Masaki met in their past. It's important because Bleach has a large cast of characters and we can easily get lost. This season took its time to give these characters more meaning with their stories. But fear not, other favorite characters in the franchise also makes a return including Toshiro and Byakuya. They've received storytelling about their backgrounds in the past before so this season mainly reminds us how strong they've become. Bleach Thousand-Year Blood War is exactly how it sounds, a war with bloodshed and been in the making for a thousand years. Narratively driven, this arc goes to show the importance of how the past can affect the future in the Bleach world. It goes to say that with every story arc, there's usually some sort of main antagonist but also lessons to be learned. Ichigo has learned a lot from his first days as a Shinigami and this season will he will learn again what it means to be one. Watching this series serves as a celebration and ultimately, a way to give fans back what they've wanted all these years. Despite the near decade long absence on television, studio Pierrot knew it had to step up and deliver this arc to its eager fans. Thankfully, the quality of this season received a well-deserved upgrade. Character designs looks like it got a next generation upgrade with their detailed outlines and expressions. Battles scenes have been enhanced to bring the fights alive from the manga. Most importantly are the way this season adapted its character emotions. There are several episodes where we see how characters are pushed to their limits when emotions take over. This season captures the essence of those emotions at their fullest. Similar, the theme songs and battle soundtrack still remains stellar like the old days. You can say whatever you want about the Bleach but the the music has always been top tier class for this franchise. Bleach is a franchise that always stood out with its large colorful cast of characters, themes, and pushes its lore to a level we've fondly remember. This season takes another step forward to showcase the final story arc from the manga. Believe me, Bleach fans have always wanted this for years and this was another one of those cases of 'not if, but when'. The 20th anniversary was the perfect storm to announce this show and since then, we've been graced with one of the most memorable arcs so far in just 13 episodes. Fear not for this is just the first season of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc. There's so much more left to tell and we're only just getting started.

Bleach: Sennen Kessen-hen BLEACH 千年血戦篇

North American Anime & Manga Releases for March

'Bleach: Sennen Kessen-hen' Gets Second Part in Summer 2023

PV Collection for Oct 3 - 9

PV Collection for Sep 26 - Oct 2

Fall 2022 Simulcast List [Update 10/30]

Q4 2022 Anime & Manga Licenses [Update 12/6]

Fall 2022 Preview

'Bleach: Sennen Kessen-hen' Reveals Additional Cast, Second Promo, Theme Song Artists

'Bleach: Sennen Kessen-hen' Unveils Supporting Cast, Second Key Visual

'Bleach: Sennen Kessen-hen' Reveals Additional Staff, First Promo

'Bleach: Sennen Kessen-hen' TV Anime Debuts in Fall 2022

'Bleach' Anime Returns After Eight Years, Adapts Final Arc

Bleach: Sennen Kessen-hen BLEACH 千年血戦篇

North American Anime & Manga Releases for March

'Bleach: Sennen Kessen-hen' Gets Second Part in Summer 2023

PV Collection for Oct 3 - 9

PV Collection for Sep 26 - Oct 2

Fall 2022 Simulcast List [Update 10/30]

Q4 2022 Anime & Manga Licenses [Update 12/6]

Fall 2022 Preview

'Bleach: Sennen Kessen-hen' Reveals Additional Cast, Second Promo, Theme Song Artists

'Bleach: Sennen Kessen-hen' Unveils Supporting Cast, Second Key Visual

'Bleach: Sennen Kessen-hen' Reveals Additional Staff, First Promo

'Bleach: Sennen Kessen-hen' TV Anime Debuts in Fall 2022

'Bleach' Anime Returns After Eight Years, Adapts Final Arc