We’ve known for a while that the second part of “Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War” would come out in July 2023. Now, we have an exact date and a trailer. The new episodes, called “The Separation,” will start airing on Saturday, July 8, 2023, at 7:30 a.m. PT. The show will be available with subtitles in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, and German for viewers outside Japan. We can expect more information about dubbed versions after the premiere.
“Thousand Year Blood War” is based on the final storyline of Tite Kubo’s manga series, which was originally published in Weekly Shonen Jump. “Bleach” tells the tale of Ichigo Kurosaki, a rebellious Japanese teenager with red hair, who has the unique ability to see ghosts. One day, he is attacked by a malevolent spirit known as a Hollow, but is saved by Rukia Kuchiki, a girl from the Soul Society (also known as a “Soul Reaper” in English). Rukia grants Ichigo the power to defeat Hollows, and these powers are channeled through Zanpakuto, which are personalized swords.
The storyline of “Thousand Year Blood War” revolves around the Soul Society, the realm where the Soul Reapers reside and where mortals go after death, being invaded by the Quincies, a group of humans who can manipulate spiritual energy. Ichigo, driven to defeat the leader of the Quincies named Yhwach, uncovers unexpected connections between himself and Yhwach that he never could have anticipated.
The “Bleach” anime first aired from 2004 to 2012, but it went on hiatus as the manga series came to a close. The manga concluded in 2016, and after a period of inactivity, the anime returned in 2022 to provide a proper ending. Under the direction of Tomohisa Taguchi, the new anime adaptation titled “Thousand Year Blood War” will consist of a total of 52 episodes divided into four parts, with each part containing 13 episodes.
Watch the trailer for Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War Part 2: The Separation
“Thousand Year Blood War” Part 1 covered the storyline from “Bleach” chapters 480 to 543, concluding with Ichigo creating his new swords and the revelation that his friend Uryu Ishida had joined the Quincies. The recently released trailer continues from there, featuring Yhwach appointing Ishida as his successor. The majority of the trailer showcases different character shots, presenting the Quincies strategizing for war and the Soul Reapers preparing to retaliate. Additionally, the trailer confirms the introduction of new Quincy villains and their respective voice actors: Aoi Yūki as the gluttonous Liltotto, Tsuyoshi Koyama as the Valkyrie-themed Gerald, Sōichiro Hoshi as the fork-tongued Nianzol, and Nao Tōyama as the necromancer Giselle.
Regarding the aesthetics, which are a vital aspect of “Bleach,” the trailer maintains the same high-quality animation seen in Part 1. The shading enhances the colors, resulting in a visually appealing presentation. The prevalent colors in this trailer, and seemingly throughout “The Separation,” are blue and red. The skies of the Soul Society have turned red due to the Quincies’ massacre, while the title text appears in blue. A new poster showcases Ichigo and Ishida standing apart, with Ichigo in red and Ishida in blue. In contrast, Part 1 predominantly featured pink hues in its trailers and title sequence.
New Key Visual! ⚔️ Ichigo Kurosaki will face the rise of Uryu Ishida.#BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War, Part 2 – The Separation streams in six languages starting on July 8. pic.twitter.com/lwfa1gYyKb
— VIZ (@VIZMedia) May 28, 2023
The trailer for “Thousand Year Blood War” Part 2 introduces the new theme song titled “STARS” by the Japanese band w.o.d., replacing the previous theme song “Scar” by Tatsuya Kitani. Personally, I still have a preference for the previous theme, but we’ll have to wait and see what the accompanying title sequence for “STARS” has to offer.
In the United States, the new episodes of “Bleach” will premiere on Hulu, where the rest of the series is currently available for streaming.
Source: Slash Film
