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Bleach Anime Watch Order in the correct order

How to watch Bleach in order, including all arcs, filler episodes, and the Thousand-Year Blood War

Last updated: July 12 2026

Written by: ChronoBob

Bleach is one of anime's legendary 'Big Three' alongside Naruto and One Piece, featuring Soul Reaper Ichigo Kurosaki in supernatural battles across the living world and the spirit realm. With over 360 episodes and the acclaimed Thousand-Year Blood War continuation, this guide helps you navigate the full franchise.

Created by Tite Kubo, Bleach follows teenager Ichigo Kurosaki, who unexpectedly gains the powers of a Soul Reaper — a death deity responsible for guiding souls to the afterlife and defending the living world from evil spirits called Hollows. What begins as a rescue mission to save his kidnapped sister spirals into universe-spanning conflicts involving rogue Soul Reapers, invading Arrancars, and the ancient Quincy king. The original series ran from 2004 to 2012, and the highly anticipated Thousand-Year Blood War arc finally received its anime adaptation starting in 2022.

🕐 Release Order

Release order is the standard way to watch Bleach, following the story as it was originally aired. Be aware that the series contains significant filler arcs — episodes not from the manga — which you can skip if you prefer.

  1. Bleach (2004–2012) — Episodes 1–366 (original series)
  2. Bleach: Memories of Nobody (film, 2006)
  3. Bleach: The DiamondDust Rebellion (film, 2007)
  4. Bleach: Fade to Black (film, 2008)
  5. Bleach: Hell Verse (film, 2010)
  6. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 1 (2022)
  7. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 2 (2023)
  8. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3 (2024)

The four theatrical films are side stories that don't impact the main plot and can be watched at any point after episode 63. The Thousand-Year Blood War arc is a direct sequel to the original series and adapts the manga's final arc with much higher production values.

📖 Story Chronology

Bleach's story is largely linear. The chronological order matches the release order for the main series. The films are non-canon side stories.

  1. Bleach Episodes 1–63 — Agent of the Shinigami & Soul Society arcs
  2. Bleach Episodes 64–109 — Bount filler arc (skippable)
  3. Bleach Episodes 110–131 — Arrancar arc begins
  4. Bleach Episodes 132–167 — Hueco Mundo arc
  5. Bleach Episodes 168–189 — Fake Karakura Town filler (skippable)
  6. Bleach Episodes 190–203 — Arrancar: Downfall arc
  7. Bleach Episodes 204–316 — Fullbring arc and conclusion
  8. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 1–3 (2022–2024)

Which Order Should You Choose?

Watch Bleach in release order, but feel free to use a filler guide to skip the non-canon arcs if pacing is a concern — particularly the Bount arc (eps 64–109) and several other filler stretches that the original run is known for. The Thousand-Year Blood War anime is a must-watch and serves as the true conclusion to the story. The films are entertaining but entirely optional and non-canon, so treat them as bonus content.

🔗 Related Guides

  • Naruto Watch OrderGuide
  • Dragon Ball Watch OrderGuide
  • Attack on Titan Watch OrderGuide

Did we miss anything? Let us know and we'll keep this guide up to date!