BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Adds New Scenes for Enhanced Quality and Depth in Season 3
-- Do you have a favorite line or scene from BLEACH, inside or outside Thousand-Year Blood War?
Taguchi: I love the poem at the beginning of Volume 72: “If words had form, they wouldn’t reach you standing in darkness.” I’m drawn to the paradox that because words are formless, they can reach someone in the dark. It makes me wonder what kind of experiences led Kubo-sensei to write something so profound.
Murata: I’d choose Ichigo’s line to Yhwach: “Even if someone else could do it, that’s no reason for me to run away.” It perfectly captures Ichigo’s personality and left a strong impression on me.
Scene from BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Conflict (C) Tite Kubo / Shueisha, TV Tokyo, dentsu, Pierrot
-- Has your working relationship with Kubo-sensei changed over the course of the two previous cours?
Taguchi: I’d say our connection has grown deeper. It feels like there’s less hesitation when suggesting original scenes, which we do carefully and only after thorough internal discussion. Kubo-sensei is becoming even more involved in improving the anime.
Murata: Yes, whenever he provides feedback on the storyboards, it gets everyone’s spirits up!
Taguchi: With each cour, it feels like he’s not just contributing as the “original creator” but as someone fully invested in enhancing the BLEACH anime.
Murata: He really seems to view it through the “anime production” lens, which is amazing.
-- Do you have any questions or messages for each other as Chief Director and Director?
Taguchi: We’re not done yet, but how are you finding the experience of directing? (laughs)
Murata: (laughs) I want to say, “You’ve done so well through both the first and second cours!” Taguchi-san manages multiple projects alongside BLEACH, even during overlapping schedules with other studios. It’s incredible to see him maintain such high quality across the board. Meanwhile, I’m only focused on BLEACH, and it’s already a handful!
Taguchi: I couldn’t do it without the amazing staff, including you, Murata-san. We have such capable people who take ownership of their episodes, allowing me to pop in at key moments (laughs).
Murata: I’d like to ask you something. In boxing, they say that defending a world title is harder than winning it. As someone with more experience, could you share any tips for staying steady as a director?
Taguchi: Tips for keeping at it as a director? I have no idea (laughs). I may not be the most detail-oriented, but I make a point to keep things moving on schedule and stay supportive of the production team. Setting an early target is key too. At the outset of Thousand-Year Blood War, I asked the producers to promise we’d aim for a quality comparable to “a certain masterpiece.” Establishing that goal, then working with the production team to discuss any adjustments needed, helps us aim high and avoid getting bogged down if things don’t go perfectly.
Scene from BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Conflict (C) Tite Kubo / Shueisha, TV Tokyo, dentsu, Pierrot
-- Finally, could you share what fans can look forward to in Thousand-Year Blood War, and any closing messages?
Taguchi: Our team is giving it everything we’ve got in this third cour, Conflict, and I hope everyone looks forward to what’s coming!
Murata: We’re including even more original scenes in this cour. Like Uryu’s spirit wings in Episode 30, many of these moments don’t appear in the manga but are seamlessly integrated. I hope fans enjoy seeing how these additions enhance the story, especially with Kubo-sensei’s guidance tying everything together.
Scene from BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Conflict (C) Tite Kubo / Shueisha, TV Tokyo, dentsu, Pierrot
Series Overview
BLEACH was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 2001 to 2016. The story follows the protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki, who gains the powers of a Soul Reaper after meeting Rukia Kuchiki, and chronicles the adventures of Ichigo and his friends.
BLEACH, which was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 2001 to 2016, tells the story of Ichigo Kurosaki, who gains the powers of a Soul Reaper after meeting Rukia Kuchiki, and his adventures with his friends.
The manga has sold over 130 million copies worldwide, and it has been adapted into video games, a live-action movie starring Sota Fukushi in 2018, and a TV anime series that aired from 2004 to 2012. The Thousand-Year Blood War arc is being animated all the way to the series’ conclusion, marking the return of the TV anime after about a 10-year hiatus, with the first cour airing from October to December 2022, and the second cour from July to September 2023.
Episode 31 "AGAINST THE JUDGEMENT" Synopsis
After absorbing the Soul King, Yhwach unleashes a dark torrent of energy across the Soul Society, creating monstrous humanoid entities that attack the Soul Reapers. The Gotei 13 struggles to fend off this relentless assault, but as they are nearly overwhelmed, former 5th Division Captain and infamous traitor Aizen Sosuke suddenly appears. Shunsui Kyoraku’s decision to release Aizen from prison may be the only hope left—but can they trust him?
Scene from BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Conflict (C) Tite Kubo / Shueisha, TV Tokyo, dentsu, Pierrot
Streaming Platforms
Distributor: Hulu
Streaming Start Date: Oct 5
Update Date: Every Saturday
Please note that availability may vary by region. Check official sources for details.
Anime BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Conflict Official Web SIte
Source : ORICON NEWS