The long-awaited return of Bleach has breathed new life into an anime classic, with the Thousand-Year Blood War Arc becoming a dream come true for those who’ve always wanted arresting visuals, fluid action scenes, and stylish character designs in the anime’s original run.
A special commemorative video for its 20th anniversary gives a tantalising glimpse of the possibility, recreating iconic scenes in the modern style that the revival series is known for. In it, Ichigo’s first Hollow transformation and his battles against Kenpachi, Byakuya, the Arrancars, Aizen, and more are featured in cutting-edge animation, making for a glorious sight and prompting fan requests for a remake of the original show.
The influence of the anime’s visual revamp extends to the upcoming Bleach: Rebirth of Souls, a 3D arena fighting title due in 2025. As part of the celebration, a key visual and an accompanying video were previously unveiled, with the ending song sequence for Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3 — The Conflict also shared in the wake of its pilot episode’s release on 5 October.
The first cour (quarter of a year) of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Arc aired from October to December 2022, concluding with a one-hour special that combined its 12th and 13th episodes. A sequel followed in July 2023, with the latest outing rounding out three out of the four planned non-consecutive cours.
The anime will cover the final arc of the manga, which spans volume 55 to 74. SIX LOUNGE performs the opening theme song “Kotoba ni Sezu Tomo” (Even if You Don’t Say It) for Part 3 — The Conflict, while suisoh helms the ending theme song “Monochrome”. Pierrot Films, Studio Pierrot’s new studio, is leading the production.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
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