Fall 2024 Preview: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3

Bleach has made the comeback of the century with Thousand-Year Blood War. After going through ten years of hiatus for the anime, the manga experienced a rushed ending due to Tite Kubo's health. Bleach faced continuous criticism from non-fans. In 2022, Bleach came back with the premiere of Thousand-Year Blood War, with spectacular modern animation, a soundtrack even greater than ever, and a fixed narrative thanks to Kubo's involvement in the production. Part 2 - The Separation continued the quality, proving that Bleach was here to stay. Now Part 3 - The Conflict promises greater quality than before and more story expansion and addition than before from Tite Kubo.

While there have been reports of troubled production, Kubo's statements about the production going well and the official trailer eased most fans' worries. Part 3 continues the excellent quality seen in the two previous parts and expands on it thanks to the restructuring at Studio PIERROT and the massive success of the anime thus far.

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Ichigo and the Gotei 13 Face The Quincy Elite

The War Rages On

Back in Part 1, The Wandenreich, the hidden Quincy army led by Yhwach (CV: Takayuki Sugo) declares war on the Soul Society. They swiftly invaded and massacred thousands of Soul Reapers. The Quincy had evolved, bearing new techniques and technology, giving them the upper hand against the Soul Reapers. The Wandenreich easily dominated the Gotei 13, suffering only four losses, while the Soul Reapers lost Captain Commander Yamamoto.

While the Gotei recovered and healed their wounds, Rukia Kuchiki (CV: Fumiko Orikasa), Renji Abarai (CV: Kentaro Ito), and Byakuya Kuchiki (CV: Ryotaro Okiayu) trained at the Royal Palace with Squad 0. And Ichigo Kurosaki (CV: Masakazu Morita) discovered his through origins thanks to his father. When O-Etsu Nimaiya forged him a new Zanpakutou, Ichigo uncovered the truth about Zangetsu (CV: Takayuki Sugo/Masakazu Morita), that his real Zanpakutou was the Hollow within him. But he ultimately accepted the two beings as his Zangetsu, and the same as him. Ichigo is now complete.

Part 2 saw the second Quincy invasion, and the Soul Reapers came prepared with greater power than ever. They were able to recover their stolen Bankai, as well as several of them attaining new power. Several Sternritters were killed by the empowered Soul Reapers. Right when Ichigo, with greater power than ever, arrives on the battlefield, Yhwach and his two right-hand men, Jugram Haschwalth and Ichigo's friend, Uryuu Ishida, travel to the Royal Palace, where Squad 0 were expecting them.

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Part 3 picks right where the battle between Squad 0 and the Quincy King and his Royal Guard left off. Senjumaru Shutara (CV: Rina Sato) had seemingly killed each member of the Schutztaffel with her Bankai, while Ichibei Hyosube (CV: Naomi Kusumi) had decimated Yhwach. As the trailers have revealed, the Schutztaffel has broken free of Senjumaru's Bankai and continued the fight, and the members of the Gotei 13 get their shot at the Quincy Elite. Notably, the new Captain Commander Shunsui Kyoraku (CV: Akio Otsuka) will reveal his long-anticipated Bankai, while Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi (CV: Ryuusei Nakao) joins the fight once again.

The Staff Behind Bleach TYBW Part 3

A New Studio PIERROT for a New Bleach

While Tomohisa Taguchi worked as series director for the first two parts, Hikaru Murata will now take his position while Taguchi takes on as chief director. Murata had previously worked as episode director for episodes 1, 4, 10, and 11 of Part 1. As well as episodes 14 and 26 of Part 2. He also worked on the storyboards for said episodes, meaning Murata was responsible for the second portion of Kenpachi Zaraki vs Yachiru Unohana, the first half of Everything But the Rain, and Squad 0 vs The Schutztaffel, including Senjumaru's never before seen Bankai. While some fans have expressed disappointment with Murata's new role, he has also worked as episode director for some of the best episodes of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Parts 4, 5 and 6.

The soundtrack is once again composed by the legendary Shiro Sagisu, of Neon Genesis Evangelion and Berserk The Golden Age fame. The action animation directors are Atsushi Wakabayashi, who worked in Naruto Shippuden for the Six Tails Naruto vs Pain fight; Michio Hasegawa, who worked in Puella Magi Madoka Magica, the Persona 3 movies and Horimiya; and the last animation director is Satoshi Sakai, a legendary animator who has worked in Attack on Titan, the Fate series, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure most recently Itadori vs Chouso in Jujutsu Kaisen season 2.

Studio PIERROT has seen drastic changes since the release of Part 2. They've now created a sub-studio called PIERROT Films, with the intent of delivering productions of greater quality, inspired by the success of Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen. Bleach Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3 is the first project for the new sub-studio, and they're directing more resources and better working conditions for the production.

Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War Part 3 - The Conflict will feature many more additions and expansions to the original story thanks to author Tite Kubo being directly involved in the production. While the new PIERROT Films seeks to deliver the best Bleach fans have ever seen. With a star-studded cast and staff, Bleach TYBW Part 3 will be the biggest cour so far.

Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War Part 3 - The Conflict premieres on October 5th, 2024 on Hulu and Disney Plus in all other countries.

Source: Anime News Network