Watch Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War is the latest installment in the popular Bleach anime franchise that aired in 2022. Based on the manga by Tite Kubo, it continues the story of Ichigo Kurosaki, a high school student who becomes a Soul Reaper and defends humans from evil spirits.

The new series picks up where the previous Bleach anime left off years ago. After losing his Soul Reaper powers, Ichigo has been living an ordinary life. But when a mysterious group of enemies called the Wandenreich declare war on the Soul Society, Ichigo gets pulled back into the world of spirits and death gods.

The Wandenreich are led by the powerful Yhwach, who possesses the ability to bestow pieces of his soul onto others. This allows him to share his immense spiritual energy and make the Wandenreich nearly unstoppable. Their surprise invasion completely overwhelms the 13 Court Guard Squads, the military force of the Soul Society.

To have a chance against this new threat, Ichigo reawakens his dormant powers with the help of some familiar faces like Rukia Kuchiki and Renji Abarai. He once again takes up his zanpakuto sword to protect both the living world and the Soul Society from destruction.

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War features the massive scope and world-ending stakes that Bleach is known for. Entire cities are left in ruin from the fighting as Captains and Lieutenants unleash their Bankai, the ultimate form of their zanpakuto. Allies fall in battle while Ichigo and his friends push themselves to their limits against the Wandenreich's fearsome abilities.

Major themes in the series are redemption, resolve, and defending loved ones. Ichigo struggles to control his inner hollow while trying to rescue old enemies. Former villains like Grimmjow and Luppi join the fray, finding strength in defending their home from invasion. Fan-favorite character Rukia helps Ichigo regain his will to fight in order to protect his friends.

Vibrant animation and thrilling battles return in the new series. Fluid swordplay and magnificent displays of spiritual power are depicted with modern animation technology. Iconic techniques like Ichigo’s Getsuga Tenshō energy blast are enhanced with updated visual effects.

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War manages to expand on the original manga's story with added drama and character depth. New bankai reveals and expanded backstories further develop characters like Byakuya Kuchiki and Tōshirō Hitsugaya. The series also introduces exciting new figures from the Wandenreich like Jugram Haschwalth and Bambietta Basterbine.

For fans of the long-running manga and anime, Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War delivers an intense continuation of the iconic series. It presents an epic new threat that tests the heroes like never before as they fight to protect their friends and home. With striking animation and non-stop explosive action, the new series ushers Bleach into a bold new era.

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War is a series that ran for 3 seasons (40 episodes) between December 31, 2021 and on Hulu