Bleach Watch Order 2026: From Soul Reaper to Thousand-Year Blood War

Bleach is back, and it’s never looked better. After a decade-long hiatus, Tite Kubo’s legendary series returned with the Thousand-Year Blood War anime, delivering some of the most visually stunning animation in anime history. If you’ve been sleeping on Bleach or you’re a returning fan ready to experience the conclusion you were denied in 2012, this is the perfect time to dive into the world of Soul Reapers, Hollows, and Zanpakuto.

The series follows Ichigo Kurosaki, a teenager who can see ghosts, as he gains the powers of a Soul Reaper and becomes embroiled in supernatural conflicts that span dimensions. From the iconic Soul Society arc to the emotional conclusion in Thousand-Year Blood War, Bleach delivers incredible character designs, creative powers, and some of the most stylish battles in anime history.

This guide covers everything you need to know about watching Bleach in 2026, including the notoriously skippable filler arcs, the proper order for the TYBW continuation, and what’s coming next with the Hell arc announcement. Bankai!

Quick Answer: Bleach Watch Order

Bleach Episodes 1-63 (Soul Society arc)
Bleach Episodes 64-109 (Skip Bount filler OR watch)
Bleach Episodes 110-167 (Arrancar arc begins)
Bleach Episodes 168-189 (Skip filler)
Bleach Episodes 190-205 (Hueco Mundo continues)
Bleach Episodes 206-212 (Skip filler)
Bleach Episodes 213-310 (Fake Karakura Town arc)
Bleach Episodes 311-341 (Skip Gotei 13 Invading Army filler)
Bleach Episodes 342-366 (Fullbring arc – finale of original)
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Parts 1-4

Complete Bleach Watch Order Explained

Agent of the Shinigami Arc (Episodes 1-20)

The story begins when Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper, transfers her powers to Ichigo to save his family from a Hollow attack. These early episodes establish the rules of the world, Ichigo’s friends (Orihime, Chad, Uryu), and set up the conflict that launches the series into its first legendary arc.

Episodes: 1-20
Filler: None
Watch on: Crunchyroll, Hulu, Disney+

This arc is pure setup, and while some find it slow, it’s essential for appreciating what comes next.

Soul Society Arc (Episodes 21-63)

The arc that made Bleach legendary. When Rukia is sentenced to execution by Soul Society, Ichigo and friends invade the afterlife to save her. The Soul Society arc introduces the Gotei 13 captains—some of anime’s most beloved characters—and delivers twist after twist.

Episodes: 21-63
Filler: Episodes 33, 50 (minor, optional)
Must-Watch Status: ESSENTIAL

This arc is consistently ranked among the best arcs in anime history. The reveals, the fights (Ichigo vs. Byakuya, Kenpachi vs. everyone), and the emotional stakes are peak Bleach.

Bount Arc (Episodes 64-109) — FILLER

Here’s where Bleach’s filler problem begins. The Bount arc is entirely non-canon and runs for 45 episodes between Soul Society and the Arrancar arc. While some fans enjoy it, most recommend skipping.

Episodes: 64-109
Canon Status: FILLER (Skip recommended)
If you watch: It has decent villain designs but drags considerably

Our Recommendation: Skip directly to episode 110.

Arrancar Arc – Part 1 (Episodes 110-143)

The canon story returns with the introduction of the Arrancars—Hollows that have gained Soul Reaper powers. Aizen’s true plans are revealed, and the Espada (top 10 Arrancars) become the primary antagonists.

Episodes: 110-143
Filler: Episodes 128-137 (minor filler arc)
Key Events: Introduction of Arrancars, Vizards, Grimmjow

Hueco Mundo Arc (Episodes 144-167, 190-205)

Orihime is kidnapped and taken to Hueco Mundo, the Hollow dimension. Ichigo, Chad, and Uryu invade to rescue her, facing the Espada in their home territory.

Episodes: 144-167, then 190-205
Filler to Skip: Episodes 168-189 (New Captain Shūsuke Amagai arc)

The Amagai filler arc (168-189) is skippable. Jump from 167 to 190.

Fake Karakura Town Arc (Episodes 206-310)

The climax of the Arrancar Saga. Soul Society creates a fake Karakura Town to battle Aizen and his forces. This arc features nearly every captain in action and culminates in Ichigo’s final battle with Aizen.

Episodes: 206-310
Filler to Skip: Episodes 206-212 (skip), 213-214 (skip), 227-265 (Zanpakuto Rebellion – SKIP)
Canon Episodes: 215-226, 266-310

The Zanpakuto Rebellion filler (227-265) is a massive 39-episode detour. Skip it entirely.

Gotei 13 Invading Army Arc (Episodes 311-341) — FILLER

Another substantial filler arc. Skip directly to episode 342.

Episodes: 311-341
Canon Status: FILLER (Skip)

Fullbring Arc / The Lost Agent Arc (Episodes 342-366)

The final arc of the original anime. After losing his powers fighting Aizen, Ichigo encounters Fullbringers—humans with unique abilities—and must reclaim his identity as a Soul Reaper.

Episodes: 342-366
Filler: None
Reception: Polarizing but essential for TYBW setup

Many fans criticize the Fullbring arc, but it provides important character development and is fully canon. It also sets up Ichigo’s state of being at the start of TYBW.

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War (2022-2025)

The long-awaited conclusion. Studio Pierrot delivered their magnum opus with TYBW, featuring movie-quality animation for every episode. The Quincy army, led by Yhwach, declares war on Soul Society, and everything Bleach has built leads to this final battle.

Parts: 4 (The Blood Warfare, The Separation, The Conflict, The Last 9 Days)
Episodes: ~52 total
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Disney+ (some regions)
Canon Status: 100% canon, manga finale

Watch Order:

TYBW Part 1: “The Blood Warfare” (Episodes 1-13)
TYBW Part 2: “The Separation” (Episodes 14-26)
TYBW Part 3: “The Conflict” (Episodes 27-39)
TYBW Part 4: “The Last 9 Days” (Episodes 40-52)

TYBW includes anime-exclusive scenes supervised by Tite Kubo, expanding on fights and adding content that wasn’t in the manga.

Complete Bleach Filler List (Skip Guide)

Episodes to Skip:

33, 50 (Minor standalone filler)
64-109 (Bount Arc)
128-137 (Forest of Menos filler)
147-149 (Filler episodes)
168-189 (New Captain Amagai Arc)
204-205 (Minor filler)
206-212 (Pre-arc filler)
213-214 (Karakura-Raizer)
227-265 (Zanpakuto Rebellion Arc)
266 (Standalone filler)
287 (Filler)
298-299 (Filler)
303-305 (Filler)
311-341 (Gotei 13 Invading Army Arc)
355 (Filler)

Filler Percentage: ~45% of original 366 episodes

TL;DR Canon-Only Episode List: 1-32, 34-49, 51-63, 110-127, 138-146, 150-167, 190-203, 215-226, 267-286, 288-297, 300-302, 306-310, 342-354, 356-366, then all of TYBW.

The Hell Arc: What’s Coming Next?

In 2021, Tite Kubo released a one-shot manga chapter titled “No Breaths From Hell” celebrating Bleach’s 20th anniversary. This chapter hinted at a new “Hell Arc” following TYBW. While no anime adaptation has been announced as of 2026, fans are hopeful that Studio Pierrot will continue with this content after TYBW concludes.

The Hell arc promises to explore the Hell dimension, previously only glimpsed in the Hell Verse movie, and potentially bring back deceased characters in unexpected ways.

Where to Watch Bleach

Crunchyroll — Complete original series + TYBW
Hulu — Original series, may have TYBW
Disney+ — TYBW in some international regions
Netflix — Availability varies by region

For the manga: Bleach Vol. 1 on Amazon

Bleach Movies: Where Do They Fit?

Bleach has four movies, all non-canon but entertaining:

Movie	Release	Watch After
Memories of Nobody	2006	Episode 63
The DiamondDust Rebellion	2007	Episode 125
Fade to Black	2008	Episode 190
Hell Verse	2010	Episode 299

Hell Verse may become relevant if the Hell Arc is animated, so it might be worth watching for context despite being non-canon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long does it take to watch Bleach? A: Canon-only (including TYBW): ~120 hours. With all filler: ~180 hours.

Q: Is the Bleach dub good? A: Excellent. Johnny Yong Bosch as Ichigo is iconic. The dub is widely praised and runs concurrently with TYBW sub releases.

Q: Can I skip straight to Thousand-Year Blood War? A: Absolutely not. TYBW assumes complete knowledge of the original series. You need to watch the canon episodes (or read the manga) first.

Q: Is the Fullbring arc worth watching? A: Yes, despite its reputation. It’s canon, relatively short (24 episodes), and sets up Ichigo’s mental state for TYBW. Don’t skip it.

Final Thoughts

Bleach’s return with Thousand-Year Blood War has reminded everyone why this series was part of anime’s “Big Three.” The original anime has its filler problems, but using our guide to skip non-canon content reveals a tight, stylish, endlessly creative action series. The captains of the Gotei 13 remain some of anime’s coolest characters, and Ichigo’s journey from substitute Soul Reaper to the savior of all dimensions is genuinely epic.

Skip the filler, savor Soul Society, power through Fullbring, and then experience TYBW in all its animated glory. Bleach is finally complete—don’t miss it.