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Bleach seasons

Bleach's anime comes in two phases. The original series, produced by Pierrot and directed by Noriyuki Abe, aired on TV Tokyo from October 2004 to March 2012 and ran for 366 episodes, including anime-only arcs. After a ten-year break came Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, which adapts the final arc of Tite Kubo's manga in four parts of 13, 13, 14 and 10 episodes, 50 in total. Pierrot made the first two parts and Pierrot Films the last two. Altogether that is 416 TV episodes. Thousand-Year Blood War streams on Disney+ in most regions and on Hulu in the US.

Season	Premiere	End	Episodes	Studio
Bleach (original series)	October 5, 2004	March 27, 2012	366	Pierrot
Thousand-Year Blood War Part 1: The Blood Warfare	October 11, 2022	December 27, 2022	13	Pierrot
Thousand-Year Blood War Part 2: The Separation	July 8, 2023	September 30, 2023	13	Pierrot
Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3: The Conflict	October 5, 2024	December 28, 2024	14	Pierrot Films
Thousand-Year Blood War Part 4: The Calamity	July 25, 2026	October 26, 2026	10	Pierrot Films

Bleach (original series)

The classic series follows Ichigo from the day he becomes a Substitute Soul Reaper, through the invasion of the Soul Society to rescue Rukia, and on to Hueco Mundo. It aired on TV Tokyo from October 5, 2004 to March 27, 2012, for 366 episodes produced by Pierrot. Some arcs are anime-only, so viewers can skip them without losing the manga storyline.

Thousand-Year Blood War Part 1: The Blood Warfare

Part 1 of Thousand-Year Blood War, subtitled The Blood Warfare, opens the final arc: an army of Quincy called the Wandenreich declares war on the Soul Society. It ran for 13 episodes from October 11 to December 27, 2022, produced by Pierrot, and marked the anime's return after ten years off the air.

Thousand-Year Blood War Part 2: The Separation

Part 2, The Separation, continues the war against the Wandenreich and digs into the past of several characters while Ichigo looks for answers about his own roots. It ran for 13 episodes from July 8 to September 30, 2023, still produced by Pierrot with the same directing team as Part 1.

Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3: The Conflict

Part 3, The Conflict, moves the fighting to a new stage and puts captains and allies into decisive battles. It ran for 14 episodes from October 5 to December 28, 2024, now produced by Pierrot Films. Tomohisa Taguchi and Hikaru Murata, who have directed the project since 2022, stayed on.

Thousand-Year Blood War Part 4: The Calamity

Part 4, The Calamity, is the final part, with 10 episodes. It premiered on TV Tokyo on July 25, 2026, produced by Pierrot Films. The last two episodes were pushed to October 19 and 26, 2026, which the production committee said was to raise quality before the climax. With them, the manga adaptation is complete.

Next season Airing now

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 4, The Calamity, is currently airing and completes the manga adaptation. On September 12, 2026, the production committee moved episodes 49 and 50 to October 19 and 26, 2026 on TV Tokyo, with BS TV Tokyo a day later, to improve quality. As of October 2026, no new Bleach anime has been announced. Staff released a teaser reading 2027.2.27&28 ON STAGE, pointing to an event on February 27 and 28, 2027, but what it is has not been confirmed.

FAQ

How many seasons of Bleach are there?

There are two phases: the original series, with 366 episodes aired from 2004 to 2012, and Thousand-Year Blood War, split into four parts with 50 episodes in total. Together that makes 416 TV episodes.

Is Bleach finished?

Yes, the adaptation is wrapping up. Part 4, The Calamity, is the last one and covers the end of the manga's final arc, with episode 50 scheduled for October 26, 2026 in Japan. No further anime has been announced.

What order should I watch Bleach in?

Start with the original series, episodes 1 to 366, then move on to Thousand-Year Blood War Parts 1 to 4. The anime-only arcs in the classic series can be skipped without missing anything from the main plot.

How many episodes does Thousand-Year Blood War have?

Fifty episodes across four parts: 13 in The Blood Warfare, 13 in The Separation, 14 in The Conflict and 10 in The Calamity. They continue the numbering after the original series as a separate show.

Who is the main character of Bleach?

Ichigo Kurosaki, a Karakura Town high schooler who can see spirits and becomes a Substitute Soul Reaper after receiving Rukia Kuchiki's powers. Masakazu Morita voices him in Japanese.

Will there be more Bleach anime after Thousand-Year Blood War?

Nothing has been announced as of October 2026. The staff teased an event on February 27 and 28, 2027, but have not said what it involves.

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Sources

Updated October 22, 2026