Bleach: Thousand-Year War Gets First Trailer, Creator Tite Kubo Confirms Heavy Involvement With Anime’s Production
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Studio Pierrot has released a bevy of new info regarding the upcoming adaptation of Bleach’s Thousand-Year Blood War arc, including its first key visual and trailer, as well as a quality assurance from series creator Tite Kubo himself.
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War (2022), Studio Pierrot
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This latest news regarding the return of Ichigo came as part of the Bleach panel held during the recent Anime Expo 2022.
The panel opened with the aforementioned video message from Kubo, who began by telling attendees that he both loved and was very happy with the art style of the series’ first key visual, as seen below.
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Official Website
He then explained that when he originally decided to follow through on the Thousand-Year Blood War as the final arc of the Bleach manga, as the anime was already set to come to an end, he accepted there was a possibility that its contents might not be adapted for television.
As such, he proceeded to go all out in regards to the arc’s violent content and action scenes. However, now, Kubo says he feels confident that the anime can do the arc justice.
Source: Bleach Ch. 592 “Marching Out The ZOMBIES 3” (2014), Shueisha. Words and art by Tite Kubo.
As there were a lot of characters and battles that Kubo never got the chance to realize when he voluntarily brought the series to an end in 2016, the mangaka excitedly confirmed that the Thousand-Year Blood War anime would feature a number of never-before-seen fights originally conceived for the manga, including one between 1st Division Captain Yamamoto and Quincy King Yhwach, as well as a new fight involving the Bambies.
Source: Bleach Ch. 508 “Like an Inferno” (2012), Shueisha. Words and art by Tite Kubo.
Finally, similar to his role in the production of the live-action Bleach movie, Kubo confirmed that he was deeply involved in the anime’s production, working alongside Studio Pierrot to bring it to life, whose staff he believes has a deep understanding of the source material. His involvement is so prominent, he joked, that he felt like he was taking a jobs away from the animators.
Kubo concluded his message by expressing his hope that Bleach fans enjoy the Thousand-Year Blood War anime and promising that he would do whatever it took to make that happen.
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War (2022), Studio Pierrot
After Kubo’s message came the main event: the debut of the Thousand-Year Blood War’s first trailer.
The trailer begins with the lore of the confined Quincy King with the man himself Ywhach (CV: Takayuki Sugo – Iwao Hazuki, Shenmue the Animation), which recounts the legend of how the imprisoned ruler regains his pulse after 900 years, his mind after 90 years, his strength after 9 years, and the world in 9 days.
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War PV 1 (2022), Aniplex YouTube
Then as if the viewer were a part of the ranks, the trailer shows Yhwach’s hand picked Sternritter soldiers, as led by the group’s second-in-command Jugram Haschwalth (CV: Yuichiro Umehara – Weather Report, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean), walking out of the Gate of the Sun.
With a quick shot of Yhwach’s first reaching out and glowing blue, symbolizing his desire to conquer the Soul Society, the narration declares that the world is now on the precipice of its destruction at the villain’s hands.
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War PV 1 (2022), Aniplex YouTube
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Following a glimpse of Ichigo (CV: Masakazu Morita – Whis, Dragon Ball Super) facing down a Hollow, the trailer proceeds with a roll call of the series’ cast, which kicks off with the aforementioned protagonist himself.
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War PV 1 (2022), Aniplex YouTube
In a fantastic transition, the trailer then leaps to the end point of Ichigo’s fight against the Arrancar known as Asiguaro Ebern, wherein the villain can be seen attempting to seal his opponent’s Bankai.
Responding to this attempt to handicap him, the protagonist responds with a Getsuga Tensho.
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War PV 1 (2022), Aniplex YouTube
Next up is Quilge Opie, the executive hunting captain of the first Jagdarmee of the Wandenreich and a member of the 26-member Sternritters.
Among the group of elite soldiers, all of which are given a rank according to the letters of the English alphabet, Quilge holds the title of “J”- Otherwise known as The Jail.
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War PV 1 (2022), Aniplex YouTube
Audiences are then shown Byakuya’s adopted sister and the person responsible for introducing Ichigo to the world of the Shinigami, Soul Society 13th Division Lieutenant Rukia Kukhiki (CV: Fumiko Orikasa – Chun-Li, Street Fighter series).
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War PV 1 (2022), Aniplex YouTube
Making his Thousand-Year Blood Arc debut, 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai (CV: Kentaro Ito: Scop in Fire Force) finds himself using his Zanpakuto Zabimaru as a shield to block an oncoming attack.
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War PV 1 (2022), Aniplex YouTube
The trailer next shows an extreme close up of Yhwach smirking as a series of blue fire pillars herald the arrival of the Sternritters at the Seireitei and the start of their plans to conquer the Soul Society.
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War PV 1 (2022), Aniplex YouTube
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The trailer then turns to introduce the Gotei 13 themselves, beginning with the group’s Captain-Commander and its 1st Division Commander (CV: Binbin Takaoka – Hanhui Liu, Shenmue the Animation), who is shown unleashing the fire of his Zanpakutu, Ryujin Jakka:
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War PV 1 (2022), Aniplex YouTube
Followed, in order, by Commander-in-chief of the Soul Society’s covert ops Onmitsukido unit and 2nd Division Captain, Sui-Feng (CV: Hoko Kuwashima – Sango, Inuyasha), along with a tease of her clash with the Sternritter ‘K’, BG9:
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War PV 1 (2022), Aniplex YouTube
Recently reinstated 5th Division Captain and former de facto leader of the Visored, Shinji Hirako (CV: Masaya Onosaka – Vash the Stampede, Trigun):
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War PV 1 (2022), Aniplex YouTube
6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki (CV: Ryotaro Okiayu – Zhuge Liang/Kongming, Ya Boy Kongming!), who is seen fighting against Äs Nödt, the Sternritter known as “F/The Fear” and ultimately unleashing the Shikai ability of his Zanpakuto, Senbonzakura:
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War PV 1 (2022), Aniplex YouTube
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In a surprise interjection, the Sternritter with the designation “E/The Explode”, Bambietta Basterbine (CV: Ayana Taketatsu – Nino, The Quintessential Quintuplets), who cuts into the Gotei 13 line-up with her signature Reishi Sword:
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War PV 1 (2022), Aniplex YouTube
However, her appearance only serves to set-up the introduction of 7th Division Captain Sajin Komamura (CV: Tetsu Inada – Juzo Kadokura, Tomodachi Game), who blocks the Sternritter’s attack with his Zanpakuto Tenken.
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War PV 1 (2022), Aniplex YouTube
Returning to the Gotei 13 line-up proper, 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki (CV: Fumihiko Tachiki – Taizo Hasegawa, Gintama) is the next member to make an appearance, attacking Yhwach with his Zanpakuto Nozarashi:
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War PV 1 (2022), Aniplex YouTube
In his wake comes the short icy captain of the 10th Division, Toshiro Hitsugaya (CV: Romi Park – Edward Elric, Fullmetal Alchemist), wielding his Zanpakuto Hyorinmaru:
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War PV 1 (2022), Aniplex YouTube
8th Division Captain Shunsui Kyoraku (CV: Akio Otsuka, All for One – My Hero Academia), referred to in the trailer by the alternate Romanization of his Japanese name Syunsui, who unleashes his Zanpakuto’s Katen Kyokotsu in it’s Shinkai form:
Source: TV anime “BLEACH: Thousand Year Blood War Arc” PV Vol.1 / Broadcasting to begin in October 2022 アニプレックス YouTube チャンネル
13th Division Captain Jushiro Ukitake (CV: Hideo Ishikawa – Polpo, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind):
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War PV 1 (2022), Aniplex YouTube
12th Division Captain and 2nd President of the Shinigami Research branch, Mayuri Kurotsuchi (CV: Ryusei Nakao – Frieza, Dragon Ball series):
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War PV 1 (2022), Aniplex YouTube
14th division Retsu Unohana (CV: Aya Hisakawa – Bulma, Dragon Ball series):
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War PV 1 (2022), Aniplex YouTube
9th Division Captain and, like Shinji, both a Visored and a recent return from exile, Kensei Muguruma (CV: Tomokazu Sugita – Gintoki Sakata, Gintama):
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War PV 1 (2022), Aniplex YouTube
3rd Division Rojyuro “Rose” Ohtoribashi (CV: Shoto Kashii – Devo, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders), another kindred spirit who finds himself in the same situation as Shinji and Kensei:
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War PV 1 (2022), Aniplex YouTube
These intros are closed out with fan favorite Bazzard “Bazz-B” Black (CV: Yuuki Ono – Isami Aldini, Food Wars! The Fifth Plate), the fire manipulating member of the Sternritter who bears the designation “H/The Heat”:
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War PV 1 (2022), Aniplex YouTube
And Wandenreich’s Sternritter Grandmaster, Jugram Haschwalth, otherwise known as “B/The Balance”.
His designation bestowing upon him an ever greater role than just the Quincy King’s second-in-command, Haschwalth plays an extremely significant role amongst the Quincy.
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War PV 1 (2022), Aniplex YouTube
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Then the trailer presents a montage of the Sternritters’ roster, beginning with Mask De “S/The Superstar” Masculine, Driscoll “O/The Overkill” Berci, Nianzol “W/The Wind” Weizol, NaNaNa “U/The Underbelly”, Najahkoop, and one of either Loyd or Royd Lloyd, the identical twins who share the title of “Y/Yourself”
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War PV 1 (2022), Aniplex YouTube
Followed by Cang “I/The Iron” Du , Jerome “R/The Roar” Guizbatt, Robert “N” Accutrone:
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War PV 1 (2022), Aniplex YouTube
Äs “F/The Fear”) Nödt, BG9 “K”, Quilge Opie of “the Jail”, Gremmy “V/The Visionary” Thoumeaux:
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War PV 1 (2022), Aniplex YouTube
And concluding with Sternritter Grandmaster Jugram “B/The Balance” Haschwalth, Schutzstaffel Askin Nakk “D/The Deathdealing” Le Vaar, and Bazz “H/The Heat” B:
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War PV 1 (2022), Aniplex YouTube
And finally, the Quincy King Ywhach:
Source: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War PV 1 (2022), Aniplex YouTube
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War is set to debut this October.
Are you excited for the return of Bleach? Let us know in the comments and social media.
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