Bleach: Sennen Kessen-hen - Soukoku-tan

After an awe-inspiring battle with Ichibei Hyousube—leader of the Soul Society's Royal Guard—the powerful Yhwach moves into the final stage of his master plan. He aims to slay the Soul King, the being whose very existence maintains the status quo of three worlds: Hueco Mundo, the Soul Society, and the realm of humans that Ichigo Kurosaki and his closest friends hail from. Conquering his own bout with the remainder of the Royal Guard, Uryuu Ishida joins Yhwach in his efforts to create a new world in his image.

With a flood of resolution and newfound power, Ichigo rushes to stop Yhwach from accomplishing his ultimate goal and save the countless lives within the three existing realms. But Ichigo has a complicated lineage, one that leaves him susceptible to Yhwach's sinister influence.

Meanwhile, in a final desperate gambit, Jirou Sakuranosuke Shunsui Kyouraku, the newly promoted head captain of the Soul Society's combat corps, enlists the help of an old enemy whose immense power may turn the tide of battle.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Kurosaki, Ichigo Main

Morita, Masakazu Japanese

Ishida, Uryuu Main

Sugiyama, Noriaki Japanese

Zaraki, Kenpachi Supporting

Tachiki, Fumihiko Japanese

Urahara, Kisuke Supporting

Miki, Shinichiro Japanese

Aizen, Sousuke Supporting

Hayami, Show Japanese

Hitsugaya, Toushirou Supporting

Park, Romi Japanese

Kuchiki, Rukia Supporting

Orikasa, Fumiko Japanese

Kuchiki, Byakuya Supporting

Okiayu, Ryoutarou Japanese

Jaegerjaquez, Grimmjow Supporting

Suwabe, Junichi Japanese

Shihouin, Yoruichi Supporting

Yukino, Satsuki Japanese

Taguchi, Tomohisa Director, Episode Director, Script, Storyboard, Series Composition

Murata, Hikaru Director, Episode Director, Storyboard

Nagasaki, Yukio Sound Director

Odaka, Yoshinori Episode Director

Reviews

Feb 10, 2025

Justykanna

Recommended

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Conflict is part 3 of the four-part series for the Bleach sequel, and it's still amazing.

Story & Characters: There's really not a ton to expand upon with the story, and, given the landscape that we already have, that's perfectly fine. Ichigo and friends finally make it to the castle where Yhwach is standing by, and the entirely of the Soul Society needs to find a way to stop him - by any means necessary.

Something that often gets expanded upon with new characters in a final season are more backstories. That's something that happens once again with a ... few of the Sternritter and while the stories, particularly with Bazz-B. While these tales are solid on their own, inserting them into the main story really breaks the continuity and pacing of the series. It's so hard to implement well, as something like Demon Slayer has struggled to do this properly. I'm mostly okay with the way Pierrot Films has gone about this because it builds something up for our characters. We even get some background story on Nanao, someone who we haven't seen much during our Bleach journey. It's unique and her weird relationship with her captain makes a lot more sense now.

Some characters from the past return, affecting the story in different ways. It's a bit of a mixed bag, but it never really feels like they're totally there for a reason, outside of "save the world". It's fine, but nothing mindblowing. Fight sequences, however, bring no indecisiveness to what's going on, and while we did get a bit too simple with some fights, there's no question that they're flashy, and display just how strong some of our cast members are. We obviously haven't seen everyone at full power yet, and that leaves us with more to chew on when the final season airs. (Story: 8/10, Characters: 9/10)

Art: Animation remains consistent throughout the season for the most part. This is the studio that also did Naruto, and I was expected some amount of lower quality at some point because of their history. I'm happy to report that the series looks solid. (9/10)

Sound: Monochrome, the ED by suisoh, was probably my favourite tune this time around. I wasn't too high on the OP though. Voice work remains strong, with more returnees from the first series bringing in strong work, including Lucien Dodge (Yukio), Cristina Vee (Riruka) and David Vincent (Grimmjow). Terrance Stone (Mayuri) might've put together my fabourite performance this time around though. (9/10)

Overall: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War - The Conflict remains strong, even if it's still not as good as the first season. There's tons of action, plenty of story weaved in throughout and we can tell we're finally building up to the final showdown. I'm very excited, as should each and every other Bleach fan out there. (9/10)

Reviewer’s Rating: 9

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Dec 29, 2024

logic340

Mixed Feelings

I really wanted this cour to succeed. The promise of new anime-original content gave me some hope that it could fix the flaws of the manga’s poorly received final arc. Unfortunately, this season couldn’t escape the problems of its source material. No amount of nostalgic callbacks, solid animation, or impressive sound design could save it. This feels like one of the most overhyped anime in recent memory. That being said, if you’re a fan of Bleach like I am, I still recommend giving it a watch—but go in with lowered expectations, or you’re bound to be disappointed.

Story/Plot: 4/10
The plot is where this cour falls apart. ... Just like in the manga, the story feels barebones and poorly constructed. Many characters are shoved into the narrative not because they serve a purpose, but because their presence panders to fans. It’s bloated, overcrowded, and detracts from moments that could have been better fleshed out. There’s a severe lack of stakes throughout this cour. Weak characters like Chad and Orihime somehow survive impossible situations because they’re fan favorites, but it’s completely unrealistic given the circumstances. This leads to a lot of plot conveniences and fake-out deaths that kill any tension. By this point, the trope feels tired and predictable. Ichigo, Renji, Lille—so many moments could’ve had lasting emotional impact but instead feel cheap and meaningless.

Animation: 7/10
While the animation started off strong, it quickly revealed its limitations. Initially, I was impressed, but as the cour progressed, I noticed more still panels and an overreliance on DBZ-style explosions rather than meaningful choreography. The battles lack creativity, and the muted color palette throughout the season gave the visuals a dull, lifeless look.There were a few standout shots, but some of the most hyped scenes didn’t even match the quality of the original series. For a series with such high expectations, this season's animation felt overhyped overall.

Characters: 6/10
When I say everyone is back, I mean everyone. The Vizards, the Arrancars, Nel, Grimmjow, Kira—the list goes on. While it’s nice to see so many familiar faces, the sheer number of returning characters completely derails the narrative. Most of them have no meaningful role and are just there to please fans. It’s frustrating to see characters like Nel and Grimmjow brought back only to do almost nothing. Chad and Orihime are present all season but contribute absolutely nothing of substance. Instead of developing key players or focusing on meaningful relationships, we get a “greatest hits” montage of cameos that detracts from the story’s flow. It felt like an old Oprah episode: “You get a cameo! And you get a cameo!”

Sound: 8/10
There is not a lot to say here it's Bleach we know what to expect from the sound design. The opening and ending themes didn’t do much for me, but the OST was solid. The nostalgic tracks from the original series were a highlight, and they did a great job of setting the tone for some scenes. However, even great sound design couldn’t save the season from its narrative shortcomings.

Enjoyment: 5/10
My enjoyment of this cour was heavily weighed down by its overreliance on nostalgia and the fanbase’s overhyping of this arc. The execution felt sloppy, and the pacing was all over the place. Instead of focusing on the important parts of the story, the season jumped between scenes in a frantic attempt to cram too much into too little time. The humor also felt outdated, with gags interrupting serious moments and pulling me out of the immersion. Key characters weren’t given the time they deserved, and others shouldn’t have been included at all. It feels like the staff prioritized quantity over quality, which is a shame considering the potential of this arc.

Final Thoughts
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Cour 3 had the potential to elevate one of the series’ weakest arcs, but it fell short in almost every way. While the sound design and occasional moments of animation were enjoyable, the barebones plot, bloated cast, and lack of stakes made it a slog to get through. If you’re a Bleach fan, it’s worth watching for the nostalgia—but keep your expectations low. This cour is a reminder that not everything can be fixed with callbacks and flashy animation. Here’s hoping the next cour delivers on the potential that this one missed.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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Jan 3, 2025

ecktt

Not Recommended

TLDR: It took me 15 years to realise how much shit Bleach really is.

For a series that started off fair enough; the power creep, contrived story, inexplicable superpowers and vintage anime "I will defeat you with will power" nonsense has caught up to the good animation that it has finally received. Or maybe I was naive, and it was always a pig with lipstick. Was Nelliel running around with those 2 idiots not enough to warn me this show failed at trying to be funny, while being serious? Did the horny teddy bear synthetic soul not signal the incoming stupidity? Was Kenpachi and his lolicon ... side kick not a red flag? Was everyone strangely idiotic Bankai not a giveaway? I could go on but that would be a retelling of the entire show. The world building created a mess of chaotic themed factions with the mechanics of a rotary engine. Great at 10000 rpm but utter shit everywhere else. If you ask the typical Bleach fan what they like; it is all about the fights and nothing to do with the stapled-on story with weak characters. So, who really is Bleach for? The only thing I can think of is, adults with the mindset of a 12-year-old, unless you're okay with actual 12-year-olds getting a healthy serving of Matsumoto fan service.

Reviewer’s Rating: 5

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