Bleach: Everything We Know (and Don't) About Its Streaming Future

Though once considered a niche medium, anime has become a powerhouse in the entertainment industry, and you can find signs of its impact just about everywhere. From theaters to cable television and even merchandise deals, anime is big across the globe. Of course, that means major entertainment companies are investing in anime full force, and they are gunning for the industry's best titles. And thanks to Disney, it seems rumors about Bleach and its future are going wild online. 

So of course, we're here to break down what we know, what is being said, and what is still uncertain. The question on everyone's mind right is whether Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War will stream on Disney+, and the current answer is that we just are not sure.

The whole thing popped up this past weekend as well-known influencers in the anime space began posting about Bleach. It was there reports went live that Bleach's new anime would not be streaming on Crunchyroll as anticipated or even Netflix. Instead, it was reported that Disney+ would be streaming the long-awaited series and that more information about the license would be released this September.

The rumor comes after months of radio silence from streaming services regarding Bleach. Viz Media did host a major panel for the upcoming series at Anime Expo, and the company confirmed its license of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War as an IP long ago. The only question that remained was where Bleach would stream since Viz Media doesn't have its own streaming service. The company sublets its license for streaming services, and up until now, the usual culprits for anime deals were Crunchyroll, Hulu, and Netflix.

READ MORE: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Releases New Poster | Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Will Have Special Early Premiere | Bleach Creator Details How New Anime Differs From First Series

And now? Well, if the rumor has any teeth, then Hulu's ties to Disney may have helped Disney+ secure one of this year's top anime licenses.

Of course, the obvious issue with this streaming rumor comes down to heresy. No official word has been given by any company about where Bleach will stream its new anime. This goes for audiences in America, Japan, and the world at large. No service has announced plans to stream the anime, so for now, fans are in a holding pattern. The only whispers we have about Bleach's move to Disney comes from influencers, and while unexpected, fans admit the anime's move to Disney would not shock them.

After all, Disney+ is one of the largest streaming services globally now, and it reaches far more markets than Hulu. When it comes to reach, the service compares to Netflix and Crunchyroll where the global market is concerned. Disney+ has also made concerted efforts in Japan to license series for streaming including Twisted Wonderland, Summertime Rendering, and even Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. The company knows anime brings in subscribers, so it isn't hard to believe Disney would enter the bidding war for Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War. The lack of updates about the show's streaming home speaks volumes, so it was only a matter of time before the fandom began gossiping. And if Ichigo does head to Disney, well – here's to hoping he makes a cameo in the next Kingdom Hearts game!

What do you make of this latest rumor regarding Bleach? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below or hit me up on Twitter @MeganPetersCB.