Legend mangaka Tite Kubo’s final arc in his iconic fantasy adventure Bleach is getting adapted to animation, and VIZ Media has acquired worldwide rights (excluding Asia) to launch the series in October 2022. The celebrated creator announced that the Thousand-Year Blood War story will finally be brought to life in a special message to fans during Shueisha’s JUMP FESTA in Tokyo this weekend.
An award-winning and best selling manga series, Bleach has over 120 million copies in print since its debut in Weekly Shonen Jump (2.7 million copies in the U.S.), while the anime produced 366 episodes and today is revered as one of the greatest of all time. In addition to the critically acclaimed manga and legendary anime, the Bleach universe includes video games, musicals and a live-action film adaptation all making Bleach a cultural reference point for millions of fans globally.
“Through his visual genius, Tite Kubo has had an indelible impact on the fandom world and the course of manga and anime history. He is also a supremely gifted and accomplished storyteller, and it is a great honor for VIZ Media to acquire this final arc in his legendary catalogue Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, for fans everywhere,” said Brad Woods, Chief Marketing Officer, VIZ Media.
In celebrating the return of Soul Reaper Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends, the complete series of Bleach (English dubbed, 13 seasons, 366 episodes) will be available to buy as one product on digital EST for a limited time during anime month, February 2022, in the U.S. for $99. Amongst the top anime echelon, this is an “industry-first” special offer.
VIZ Media’s exclusive acquisition of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War includes video on demand, home video, electronic sell-through, television and merchandise rights.
Synopsis: Was it all just a coincidence, or was it inevitable? Ichigo Kurosaki gained the powers of a Soul Reaper through a chance encounter. As a Substitute Soul Reaper, Ichigo became caught in the turmoil of the Soul Society, a place where deceased souls gather. But with help from his friends, Ichigo overcame every challenge to become even stronger.
When new Soul Reapers and a new enemy appear in his hometown of Karakura, Ichigo jumps back into the battlefield with his Zanpakuto to help those in need. Meanwhile, the Soul Society is observing a sudden surge in the number of Hollows being destroyed in the World of the Living. They also receive separate reports of residents in the Rukon District having gone missing. Finally, the Seireitei, home of the Soul Reapers, comes under attack by a group calling themselves the Wandenreich.
Led by Yhwach, the father of all Quincies, the Wandenreich declare war against the Soul Reapers with the following message: “Five days from now, the Soul Society will be annihilated by the Wandenreich.” The history and truth kept hidden by the Soul Reapers for a thousand long years is finally brought to light. All things must come to an end — as Ichigo Kurosaki’s final battle begins!
Produced by studio Pierrot, the Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War anime is led by series director Tomohisa Taguchi (Persona franchise, Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna, with character design by Bleach stalwart Masashi Kudo and music once again handled by Shiro Sagisu.
Characters and voice cast:
Ichigo Kurosaki – Masakazu Morita
Rukia Kuchiki – Fumiko Orikasa
Uryu Ishida – Noriaki Sugiyama
Orihime Inoue – Yuki Matsuoka
Yasutora Sado (Chad) – Hiroki Yasumoto
Renji Abarai – Kentaro Ito
Kisuke Urahara – Shin-ichiro Miki
Yoruichi Shihoin – Satsuki Yukino
Shigekuni Yamamotogenryusai – Binbin Takaoka
Sui-Feng – Houko Kuwashima
Rojuro Ohtoribashi – Shouto Kashii
Retsu Unohana – Aya Hisakawa
Shinji Hirako – Masaya Onosaka
Byakuya Kuchiki – Ryotaro Okiayu
Sajin Komamura – Tetsu Inada
Shunsui Kyoraku – Akio Otsuka
Kensei Muguruma – Tomokazu Sugita
Toshiro Hitsugaya – Romi Park
Kenpachi Zaraki – Fumihiko Tachiki
Mayuri Kurotsuchi – Ryusei Nakao
Jushiro Ukitake – Hideo Ishikawa
Ichibee Hyosube – Naomi Kusumi
Ouetsu Nimaiya – Yoji Ueda
Tenjiro Kirinji – Tomoyuki Shimura
Senjumaru Shutara – Rina Sato
Kirio Hikifune – Ayumi Tsunematsu
Yhwach – Takayuki Sugo
Jugram Haschwalth – Yuuichirou Umehara
Askin Nakk Le Vaar – Shunsuke Takeuchi
Bambietta Basterbine – Ayana Taketatsu
Bazz-B – Yuki Ono
Candice Catnipp – Yumi Uchiyama
Gremmy Thoumeaux – Natsuki Hanae
Lille Barro – Satoshi Hino
Learn more at www.viz.com/bleach.
