Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War Studio Hypes Premiere With Special Art

Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War won’t just be bringing back Ichigo Kurosaki and the Soul Society to the small screen, it will also see Studio Pierrot returning to animating duties on the shonen franchise that they had helped bring to life for over a decade. With Bleach‘s premiere only a few days away, the studio has shared new sketches to get folks ready for the battle against the Quincies, focusing on old and new characters that will help sell this wild new battle.

The Thousand Year Blood War Arc was originally the grand finale for Bleach, arriving in the pages of Weekly Shonen Jump and pitting the Soul Society against the bloodline known as the Quincies. With this collection of supernatural fighters having close ties to Ichigo and his earthly friends, this arc is certainly one of the most brutal for the Shinigami that sprung from the mind of creator Tite Kubo. When the anime debuted in 2004, Studio Pierrot, who anime fans might know best for their work on the likes of Naruto, Black Clover, and Yu Yu Hakusho to name a few, stuck by Bleach, so it was welcome news for many that the animation producers would return to bring the Soul Society to life once again.

In preparing for Bleach’s comeback next month, the animators took the opportunity to revisit the major characters, new and old, that will be a part of the Thousand Year Blood War Arc while also sharing several quotes when it comes to the excitement in bringing Tite Kubo’s work back to the forefront:

While the Shonen’s manga originally came to a close following the Thousand Year Blood War Arc’s conclusion, Kubo surprised many last year when he revealed a new chapter that took place years after the fight against the Quincies. Focusing on Ichigo and many members of the Soul Society with families of their own, the latest installment set up new challenges for the shinigami related to the fate of their deceased captains. Unfortunately, there has been little word regarding whether Bleach’s manga will continue though it’s clear that Kubo might not be done with the world that became his masterpiece.

Are you hyped for Bleach’s return? Feel free to let us know in the comments or hit me up directly on Twitter @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of the Soul Society. 

Via Reddit