Once part of a trinity of popular shonen anime and manga, Bleach didn't quite have the same longevity of either One Piece or even that of Naruto. This meant that the manga's final major arc, "The Thousand-Year Blood War," was never adapted into the original anime once that show was canceled. Thankfully for fans, they're finally getting the chance to see this storyline animated.
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War brings the final part of the manga's story to life, reviving the anime ten years after it originally came to a close. Those who read the manga version of the arc years ago or only watched the anime will likely want to be caught up with what to expect from the true final season. Here's a look at how bloody things will get in Thousand-Year Blood War and when fans can expect it.
Plot of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War
The plot of the 17th season of Bleach will pick up after the previous one from back in 2012, segueing into an adaptation of the eponymous story arc source material. Last season established the presence of the Quincy, who were eternal enemies of the Shinigami driven into hiding after being defeated by them.
The Wandenreich, a group within the Quincy, will finally rise to strike back against the Shinigami and the Soul Society, resulting in an all-out war between the two factions. The world of the Soul Society is also under siege from a dramatic imbalance of Hollows being destroyed. All of this conflict sends Ichigo back into action, forcing him to become stronger in order to face his greatest challenge yet.
Trailer for Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War
The first trailer, which is more of a hype teaser, was recently released for Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War. The trailer gave a glimpse at the revival's upgraded animation and art quality, while also showcasing the characters fans would be familiar with. Also heard is the rocking jam "Number One" by Hazel Fernandes, further hyping up the action of the upcoming series. Beyond that, however, not much was shown, keeping the final season mostly under wraps for now.
News to Know
The revival of the Bleach anime was announced back in March of 2020, with said reveal being part of a 20th-anniversary celebration of the Bleach manga and franchise as a whole. The new season was solidified as adapting "Thousand-Year Blood War" and finishing the story that the anime abruptly never concluded. The announcement also informed fans of a then-upcoming art exhibit dedicated to Bleach, which recently showed off art for the franchise from various mangaka. This exhibit and the promotional images therein confirmed the final season as being a true season and not some other sort of animated project.
Release Date for Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War
The trailer shown at Jump Festa for Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War revealed that the season would be releasing in 2022, but this was a bit too vague for fans who've been chomping at the bit to see this storyline adapted for years. Thankfully, there's now a more concrete release schedule for the show, though it's definitely a while away yet.
According to a Twitter post, Thousand-Year Blood War will begin airing in October 2022. Thankfully, this gives fans ample time to go back and not only watch all of the anime so far, but also read the Bleach manga to see how the adaptation of its final arc will compare to the original version. Although the wait for Thousand-Year Blood War feels just as long, fans will be able to enjoy the revived series soon enough.
