BLEACH ends after 22 years: the final episode of the Thousand-Year Blood War has aired

The BLEACH anime came to an end on October 26, 2026. Episode 50 of BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War - Kōshintan aired in Japan and put an end to a story that began in 2004.

The farewell was not discreet. Along with the final episode, a special ending with the song "Number One" was released, a theme representative of the franchise. The video goes through the cast and staff credits while showing original animation, and closes with a powerful image: a footprint stepping on the word "despair" and revealing "BRAVE."

"THE STORIES VISUAL MOVIE" was also published, a piece that compiles the visuals of Ichigo Kurosaki over the years. The last of them shows the protagonist ten years after the end of the battle for the Soul King, already as an adult.

How the story closed

The final episode, titled "DEATH & STRAWBERRY," shows the survivors of the war that decided the fate of the three worlds each following their own path. The final scene presents Kazui Kurosaki and Ichika Abarai, the characters who represent the next generation.

The Thousand-Year Blood War arc adapts the last great conflict of Tite Kubo's manga. The first part premiered in October 2022, the second arrived in 2024, and the last one, Kōshintan, began in July 2026. With this closure, the TV anime surpasses 360 episodes and four films.

The original manga remains a phenomenon: more than 130 million copies in circulation worldwide since its publication in Weekly Shōnen Jump.

What's coming in physical format

For those who want to keep this ending, there are already dates. The Blu-ray & DVD BOX IV of the Thousand-Year Blood War will be released on March 24, 2027. The Blu-ray edition will cost 22,000 yen and the DVD edition 19,800 yen, both with taxes included.

The same day, the Original Soundtrack III will be released, priced at 3,850 yen. Both the box and the soundtrack will have new illustrations by Masashi Kudo, the character designer.

Have you already seen the ending of BLEACH? Tell us in the comments what you thought of that closure and if the special ending left you wanting to start the series over from episode one.