One Of The Biggest Anime Series Ever Made Officially Begins Its Final Season Next Month

Throughout the 21st century, there have been countless anime series that have defined the genre and made this form of storytelling so popular, but in just a month’s time, a pioneer will officially air its final season. While classics like Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon paved the way, the 2000s helped anime become even more mainstream.

Naruto and One Piece (which technically started in the late 90s) are by far the biggest of this era, but anime had a so-called “Big Three” back then, with Bleach making up that third spot. Having premiered back in 2004, the show ran for 16 seasons, concluding in 2012 despite not adapting the full manga.

However, it returned in 2022 with Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, and the fourth and final season is set to debut in July. Whereas Bleach had plenty of skippable filler episodes, Thousand-Year Blood War is all-out action, with improved visuals and more intense storytelling, making it the anime at its absolute finest.

The Soul Society and Arrancar arcs featured no shortage of thrilling fights and jaw-dropping action, but the Thousand-Year Blood War run raises the stakes as we’ve never seen before. With some of Bleach‘s strongest characters making their first appearances during this saga, the upcoming season could wind up being the biggest in the anime’s history.

Given this is where the manga ends, there is nothing left to cover after Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War comes to an end, meaning its return in July will be huge. While no official date has been set, there is nothing to suggest Bleach won’t stick to its promised July release, marking the beginning of the end for this juggernaut.

Why Bleach Finally Ending Is Such A Big Deal

Alongside being one of the most popular and talked about anime of all time, Bleach ending is huge as it will be the second of the Big Three to wrap up. Although the Naruto franchise has continued through Boruto, Naruto: Shippuden‘s 2017 conclusion brought an end to the main story, which was a significant moment for the industry.

Now, Bleach is set to follow suit over two decades after its first episode, which will mark a seismic shift in the world of anime. It may not be as popular as it once was, but Bleach‘s legacy is undeniable, and its definitive conclusion leaves a major gap in the market that could be occupied by more modern shows.

Bleach‘s popularity helped lift the entire genre, leading to endless debates about a new Big Three. However, without the original trio, anime might not have taken off in Western areas to reach the point it’s at now, meaning Bleach deserves praise for helping this art form grow, playing into why the show’s departure is so significant.

It really is the end of the old guard, as One Piece will be the only one of these three OG projects that is still ongoing. Considering the series has a live-action adaptation on Netflix and a remake coming, all while the original show continues, it’s safe to say the One Piece franchise is only getting better.

Still, with one of its earliest competitors wrapping up, things will simply never be the same. Unlike Naruto, there is no obvious follow-up show for Bleach either. Instead, after the Thousand-Year Blood War season 4 finale, this incredible franchise will be gone for good unless there’s a resurgence, which officially ends the Big Three once and for all.

Therefore, it’s safe to say Bleach‘s fate is a massive deal, and it creates an uncertain future ahead.

Why Bleach Has Taken So Long To Conclude

Bleach‘s long-winded story hasn’t been the result of 20 years’ worth of content, nor has it been strictly due to excessive filler. In reality, the reason for such a lengthy run is far more complicated. As established earlier, while Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War follows the manga, it is technically a separate entity from the original anime.

Officially, Bleach ended in 2012 after the Substitute Shinigami arc, as it had a proper send-off and didn’t seem like it would return. The reason for this simply comes down to the fact that the anime had caught up with the source material by the time the Thousand-Year Blood War arc started, leaving nothing left to adapt.

Considering Bleach already had plenty of filler by this point, it would have to pad out a lot for it to continue running alongside the manga. As a result, ending it somewhere logical felt like a more fitting decision than limping on for years at a time without any real new content.

Its hiatus was straightforward in that sense, but there are still some mysteries about why it took 10 years to return. Such an iconic anime was surely going to come back for a proper conclusion eventually, but perhaps the dwindling reputation towards the end of the manga run made studios a little reluctant to take the risk.

Additionally, author Tite Kubo’s health issues resulted in the manga having a divisive ending, another reason networks may have wanted to avoid picking up Bleach. Inevitably though, Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War eventually got the green light, and considering the improved animation and storytelling, the time away arguably worked in its favor.

The new series has felt rejuvenated and has even prolonged certain fights while adding a few upgrades, making it worth watching without question. Fortunately, this return has given one of the most influential shōnen anime series the chance to end on its own terms, and while it may have taken longer than expected, Bleach‘s ending is finally upon us.

Bleach’s Thousand-Year Blood War Finale Is A Must-Watch For All Anime Fans

Having been over 20 years in the making, Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War‘s finale season isn’t one anime fans will want to miss. Naturally, watching only the final season wouldn’t be advised, as you’d miss the context of the entire story. Likewise, watching Bleach‘s original run is also recommended to connect with the characters and understand the lore.

With all that said, it’s never too late to start, and this upcoming season will go down in anime history. For better or worse, Bleach‘s ending will make a lot of noise in the anime sphere, and whether you’re a hardcore Bleach fan who is completely up-to-date or someone unfamiliar with the franchise, these final episodes are worth checking out.

Even if you aren’t able to watch the Thousand-Year Blood War‘s final season while it’s airing, it would be a real shame to miss out on it, especially if you enjoy violent and gritty anime. The episode ratings speak for themselves, as the majority are above a 9.0, and not a single one has been below an 8.0 on IMDb so far.

The gorgeous animation is undoubtedly a key factor in that, but the twists, fights, and well-written story all combine to make it Bleach‘s best outing by far. Even if people don’t wind up loving the ending, it’s hard to imagine season 4 dropping below these high standards, suggesting a real masterpiece is on the horizon.

After so many years of being in and out of the limelight, Bleach‘s final chapter is destined to be the most talked-about anime event of the year. Therefore, it holds an appeal to pretty much anyone interested in the industry, making Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War season 4 unmissable, and July can’t come quickly enough.

Release Date

October 10, 2022

Network

TV Tokyo

Showrunner

Tite Kubo

Directors

Tomohisa Taguchi, Mitsutoshi Satô, Hikaru Murata, Hodaka Kuramoto

Writers

Tite Kubo

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