‘Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War’ sees the Quincies and their king, Yhwach, wreak havoc on the Soul Society, which leads Ichigo to learn more about his roots. The anime is now streaming on Hulu.
Story
The Soul Society faces the wrath of coordinated attacks from a group representing Wandenreich. They even infiltrate Yamamoto’s office and warn him about the war they are about to wage on the Soul Society.
A thousand years ago, the Quincy Empire known as Licht Reich intended to annihilate all Hollows. The Soul Reapers opposed this decision, which led the Quincy Empire to invade the Soul Society. The Quincies got wiped out by the Thirteen Court Guard Squads.
About 200 years ago, the Soul Reapers decided to exterminate the surviving Quincies, believing that they would disrupt the circulation of souls.
Now, these Quincies have brought war upon the Soul Society. The Soul Society’s most powerful warriors fall one by one, while Ichigo finds himself trapped in another Quincy’s cage.
Positives
The anime has taken quite a dark turn, and it’s evident from the very first episode. One can feel how far the show has come and how it has changed over time.
It wastes no time diving into the main plot. There is a dark, cloudy atmosphere created around the war that the Qunicies are bringing.
The biggest change one can notice is the animation style, which is far superior and meets the 2022 standards. The fight sequences receive a major push through the new animation style.
The mystery surrounding the Quincies is carried well in the first half. The anime slowly unravels the story around them while also keeping the thrill of war intact.
While the first half is action-packed, the second half is more on the lighthearted side and is more story-oriented. It would have been a gamble to wrap up the first part on such a note, but the anime puts forth revelations that leave a viewer in awe.
Negatives
Despite the fact that ‘Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War’ has improved its animation, there are a few sequences that are questionable.
For example, when Yamamato brings back the dead to life while using one of the forms of Zanka no Tachi, the animation of skeletons is not up to the mark.
The Squad 0 members carry traits that are similar to many of the anime characters across the media. On the surface, they are funny and strange, but they are deemed really strong. It’s a combination that’s been used many times before.
Toward the end, only Oh-Etsu Nimaiya ends up standing out the most among them.
Verdict
‘Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War’ starts off satisfying the viewers with the kind of action they were missing. In the second half, it pushes itself toward the story-telling part. Thus, the anime makes a successful return by balancing everything for its final arc.
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War
Director: Tomohisa Taguchi
Date Created: 2022-10-10 21:00
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Also Read: Yamamoto’s Bankai in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War explained