‘Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity’ Sets July Premiere on Hulu, Disney+, Viz Media Reveals (EXCLUSIVE)

Viz Media will premiere “Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity” on July 25, streaming exclusively on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ in select international markets.

The installment continues the adaptation of Tite Kubo’s bestselling manga and advances the franchise toward the close of its long-running Soul Reapers saga. As concealed truths about the Soul Reapers are revealed, Ichigo Kurosaki confronts a battle that will decide the fate of all worlds.

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Pierrot Films is producing the installment, with Taguchi Tomohisa directing and handling series composition alongside Hiramatsu Masaki. Sagisu Shiro composed the music. Kubo continues to oversee the anime’s final arc.

“‘Bleach’ helped define modern anime for an entire generation of fans and creators, and its impact continues to be felt around the world today,” said Brian Ige, general manager at Viz Media. “‘Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity’ marks a pivotal moment in the final arc of this extraordinary story, bringing audiences closer than ever to its long-awaited conclusion. We’re excited for fans everywhere to experience what is shaping up to be one of the most unforgettable chapters in anime history.”

“Bleach” began as a serialized manga in Weekly Shonen Jump and has expanded into a global franchise spanning television, film, video games, consumer products and live events. The franchise’s return with “Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War” has drawn renewed worldwide attention, with the series consistently ranking among the most-watched and most-discussed anime titles since its relaunch.

According to the official synopsis, the new installment picks up as the Thousand-Year Blood War between the Soul Reapers and the Quincies nears its end. The Royal Guard’s Squad Zero confronts Yhwach as he breaches the Royal Palace, shattering Squad Zero’s Bankai before entering the Reio Greater Palace. Ichibe Hyosube tasks Ichigo and his allies with protecting the Soul King, but Yhwach’s deception leads Ichigo to strike down the Soul King himself, triggering distortions across the Three Worlds. The Thirteen Court Guard Squads and surviving Quincies advance on the Royal Palace, now transformed into the Wahr Welt under Wandenreich control, setting up battles against the Royal Guard as Ichigo confronts Uryu’s true motives and the Almighty-empowered Yhwach.