'Bleach' celebrates 20th anniversary with nostalgic video, coincides with 'Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3' release

[Digimaus]

Image: Pierrot Films / ANIPLEX

 

As Bleach celebrates its 20th anniversary, fans are taken on a nostalgic journey through Ichigo Kurosaki’s adventures, this time from Rukia Kuchiki’s perspective. This milestone coincides with the release of the much-anticipated Thousand-Year Blood War (TYBW) Part 3, reigniting excitement among longtime followers and attracting new viewers to the series.

 

The 20th Anniversary special PV, though brief at just 50 seconds, is a powerful reimagining of key moments from the anime. Featuring updated character designs and the polished animation style of TYBW, it revisits some of Ichigo’s most intense battles, including his confrontations with iconic adversaries like Kenpachi, Byakuya, Ulquiorra, and Aizen. The video culminates in a striking montage that showcases Ichigo’s transformation across the series, from his early days as a Soul Reaper to his post-Royal Palace training, symbolizing his evolution as a hero.

 

 

Directed by Tomohisa Taguchi, who also led the first two parts of TYBW and now serves as chief director for the third, the video captures the essence of Bleach’s blend of emotional storytelling and high-stakes action. The creative efforts of Takumi Ichikawa—responsible for planning, unit direction, and editing—combined with the animation expertise of Pierrot Films, have resulted in a visually stunning tribute to the series.

 

The original Bleach anime, which aired from 2004 to 2012, enchanted audiences with its supernatural world, rich character development, and gripping action scenes. However, it wasn’t until October 2022 that fans saw the long-awaited adaptation of the manga’s final arc, Thousand-Year Blood War, which tells the story of the Quincy King Yhwach and his Wandenreich army’s invasion of Soul Society. After the debut of the second cour, Thousand-Year Blood War – The Separation in July 2023, the anime now continues with Cour 3, The Conflict, which premiered on October 5, 2024.

 

In conjunction with the 20th-anniversary celebration, this third installment extends the epic saga with 13 episodes, setting the stage for the climactic battle against Yhwach. Fans are eagerly anticipating the fourth and final cour, which will wrap up this high-stakes conflict. The storyline centers on Yhwach’s return after a thousand-year slumber, threatening Soul Society’s existence and forcing Ichigo and his allies into one final, all-out battle. Despite competition from other major anime titles, Bleach’s return is one of the most eagerly awaited events in the anime community this fall.

 

The overwhelming response to the opening video for BLEACH: Thousand Year Blood War Part 3: The Conflict, with over 2 million views on YouTube in just 24 hours, highlights the series’ enduring popularity. This enthusiastic reception demonstrates that Bleach continues to captivate both longtime fans and new viewers alike. By blending nostalgia with fresh content, Bleach solidifies its status as a cornerstone of anime, promising that Ichigo Kurosaki's adventures will inspire and entertain for years to come. Fans, what epic moments are you looking forward to in this new series?

 

 

 

• https://anitrendz.net/news/2024/10/05/bleach-anime-gets-20th-anniversary-video/
• https://animecorner.me/bleach-reveals-20th-anniversary-trailer-showing-ichigos-journey-from-rukias-perspective/
• https://comicbook.com/anime/news/bleach-anime-remake-announcement/