Bleach is one of the anime that popularized the shounen genre and is well-liked and well-received by the anime community.
Bleach is a thrilling experience to watch, especially if you are a fan of the supernatural. If you are looking to delve into Japan’s adaptation of their own version of the grim reaper – this is the perfect anime for you.
With high tension, animated fights, and exciting “Bankai” transformations, it’s no wonder it gets viewers hooked.
If you are interested in Bleach but do not know where to start, then this watch order is for you!
Watch Bleach by Chronological Order
The best way to watch Bleach is by streaming by chronological order of events. Watching it in succession helps to encapsulate the whole plot and universe of the series without confusion.
By watching by succession listed below, viewers won’t be thrown off by the events as they unfold.
| Watch Order | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Bleach Episodes 1 – 7 |
| 2 | Bleach: Memories in the Rain – Special |
| 3 | Bleach: 13 Court Guard Squads Omake – Special |
| 4 | Bleach Episodes 8 – 63 |
| 5 | Bleach: The Sealed Sword Frenzy – Special |
| 6 | Bleach Episodes 64 – 109 |
| 7 | Bleach the Movie: Memories of Nobody |
| 8 | Bleach Episodes 110 – 137 |
| 9 | Bleach the Movie: The DiamondDust Rebellion |
| 10 | Bleach the Movie: Fade to Black |
| 11 | Bleach Episodes 138 – 299 |
| 12 | Bleach the Movie: Hell Verse |
| 13 | Bleach Episodes 300 -342 |
| 14 | Bleach Episodes 343 – 366 (END) |
| 15 | Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War |
Can I Skip Watching the Bleach Movies?
The Bleach movies are anime-canon or anime originals. Hence, they are not related to the original plot of the series.
However, the movies add some insight into the Bleach universe, though not entirely canon. It also introduces new villains that are not in the series.
Hence, it is safe to say these movies are complete standalone films that offer some uniqueness and thrill to the franchise.
Is Bleach: Thousand Year War a Continuation of the 2012 Anime?
Yes, Bleach: Thousand Year War is a sequel to the Bleach series that features the official final arc written in the manga. Hence, viewers must watch this to see the anime being tied together.
Where to Watch Bleach (October 2022)
| US | Hulu, Funimation, Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime |
| Canada | Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime, Funimation, Crunchyroll |
| UK | Crunchyroll |
| Australia | Crunchyroll |
If you are outside the US and want to watch all seasons of the show, we recommend watching it on Crunchyroll.
If the episodes are not accessible because they are unavailable to watch in your country, you can watch them by using a VPN.
It is important to note that not all seasons, movies, and specials are made available to watch on one site. Thus, streaming on different sites would be your best bet to follow the anime without encountering issues.
Complete Summary of Bleach
| # of Episodes | 336 |
| Runtime | Approximately 24 minutes per episode |
| Manga Canon Episodes | 1-7, 9-26, 28-31, 34-45, 47-49, 51-63, 110, 112-115, 117-118, 121-123, 125-127, 138-140, 142, 144-145, 150-155, 157-159, 162-167, 191-192, 194-203, 208, 210-212, 215-221, 224-227, 269-273, 275, 277-283, 286, 289, 292-294, 296-297, 300-302, 306-309, 344, 346-350, 352-354, 356, 358-366 |
| Anime Canon Episodes | 284 |
| Filler Episodes | 33, 50, 64-108, 128-137, 147-149, 168-189, 204-205, 213-214, 228-266, 287, 298-299, 303-305, 311-341, 355 |
| Mixed Canon/Filler Episodes | 8, 27, 32, 46, 109, 111, 116, 119-120, 124, 141, 143, 146, 156, 160-161, 190, 193, 206-207, 209, 222-223, 267-268, 274, 276, 285, 288, 290-291, 295, 310, 342-343, 345, 351, 357 |
| Special Episodes | 3 |
| OVA | 1 |
| Movies | Bleach the Movie: Memories of Nobody (2006), Bleach the Movie: The DiamondDust Rebellion (2007), Bleach the Movie: Fade to Black (2008), Bleach the Movie: Hell Verse (2010) |
Bleach is one of the “Big Three” shounen anime during its time. The anime has a total of 336 episodes and 16 seasons.
Bleach is an action, thriller, supernatural, and shounen anime that takes on the concept of spiritual warriors known as the Shinigami or “Soul Reapers.”
Tite Kubo is the mangaka artist that wrote and illustrated the series. The original manga counterpart of the anime series was first published on August 7, 2001, in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump.
Bleach Complete Anime Synopsis
1. Bleach Episodes 1 – 7
| Media | Series |
| Original Release | October 5, 2004 – November 16, 2004 |
| Runtime | Approximately 24 minutes per episode |
| IMDb Rating | 9.1/10 |
Ichigo Kurosaki, the main protagonist of the series, possesses the ability to see spirits.
One day he came across a little girl being chased down by a big black silhouette-like creature called a “Hollow.” During that freak incident, he met Rukia Kuchiki, a Shinigami.
One night, Ichigo’s family was being attacked by a Hollow, and so to save them, he absorbed Rukia’s powers and became a Shinigami.
In the later episodes, Ichigo will face great obstacles as Rukia’s substitute and must learn the ways of soul cleansing.
2. Bleach: Memories in the Rain – Special
| Media | Special |
| Original Release | December 18, 2004 |
| Runtime | 24 minutes |
| IMDb Rating | 6.8/10 |
Ichigo continues to act as a substitute for Rukia while she is still recovering her powers.
Ichigo stumbles upon his mother’s murderer. However, it turns out to be one of the Hollows that he’s chasing. This discovery fueled him with the desire to exact his revenge.
3. Bleach: 13 Court Guard Squads Omake – Special
| Media | Special |
| Original Release | June 12, 2005 |
| Runtime | 3 minutes |
| IMDb Rating | 6.5/10 |
This special features all of the Gotei 13 and the lieutenants stationed under it.
4. Bleach Episodes 8 – 63
| Media | Series |
| Original Release | November 23, 2004 – January 10, 2006 |
| Runtime | Approximately 24 minutes per episode |
| IMDb Rating | 8.4/10 |
On the anniversary of their late mother’s death, Ichigo and the rest of his family went to visit her grave in remembrance of her life. However, their period of mourning was cut short.
Ichigo and Rukia were attacked by Shinigami. They were sent by the Soul Society to bring Rukia and face her punishment.
In later episodes, Ichigo travels to Soul Society and meets other significant characters in the series who will help him on his mission to save Rukia from her nearing execution.
5. Bleach: The Sealed Sword Frenzy – Special
| Media | Special |
| Original Release | March 23, 2006 |
| Runtime | 33 minutes |
| IMDb Rating | 6.2/10 |
A Shinigami that goes by the name Baishin, a Zanpakuto-less shinigami, starts wreaking havoc on earth.
He was sealed away by Soul Society for merging with his Zanpakuto but escaped from the ruins.
He went on to enact acts of barbarism by summoning Hallows and killing off those who he sees indiscriminately.
6. Bleach Episodes 64 – 109
| Media | Series |
| Original Release | January 17, 2006 – January 4, 2007 |
| Runtime | Approximately 24 minutes per episode |
| IMDb Rating | 8/10 |
After his eventful journey in Soul Society, Ichigo returns to the human world and goes back to his hometown in Karakura Town. He resumes his daily routine of living a normal life as a high school student.
In the succeeding episodes, Ichigo experiences more difficult battles and a particularly bizarre encounter with a human race called “Bounts.”
He later finds out that these Bounts consume human souls in order to receive immortality and powers.
7. Bleach the Movie: Memories of Nobody
| Media | Movie |
| Original Release | December 16, 2006 |
| Runtime | 1 hr. 35 minutes |
| IMDb Rating | 7.1/10 |
In Ichigo’s hometown in Karakura, spirits called “Blanks” began materializing out of nowhere. Senna, a fellow Shinigami, began to cleanse the area of the unidentified spirits.
8. Bleach Episodes 110 – 137
| Media | Series |
| Original Release | January 10 – August 22, 2007 |
| Runtime | Approximately 24 minutes per episode |
| IMDb Rating | 7.8/10 |
The tension between Shinigami and Arrancar is at an all-time high.
Sosuke Aizen, a former captain of the Gotei 13, now leads the Arrancar. The tension is just waiting to bubble over from the heated apprehension the two spiritual beings held against each other.
The episode starts in Hueco Mundo, which borders the space between Soul Society and Earth. The hollow Grand Fisher turns into an incomplete Arrancar and enters the world of humans. There, an intense battle ensues.
9. Bleach the Movie: The DiamondDust Rebellion
| Media | Movie |
| Original Release | December 22, 2007 |
| Runtime | 1h 32 minutes |
| IMDb Rating | 7/10 |
A rare artifact known as the “King’s Seal” was stolen by Sojiro Kusaka. It was said that the seal possessed a powerful and mysterious power.
10. Bleach the Movie: Fade to Black
| Media | Movie |
| Original Release | December 13, 2008 |
| Runtime | 1h. 34 minutes |
| IMDb Rating | 7.1/10 |
An explosion happens in Seireitei, caused by a spiritual particle called reiatsu. Ichigo was sent to Soul Society, tasked with a mission to investigate the mysterious incident.
However, he was attacked by other shinigami upon his arrival. Oddly enough, nobody knew who he was. Moreover, their memories of Rukia have been erased, as if she never existed.
11. Bleach Episodes 138 – 299
| Media | Series |
| Original Release | August 29, 2007 – November 30, 2010 |
| Runtime | Approximately 24 minutes per episode |
| IMDb Rating | 7.4/10 |
Still situated in the land of Hueco Mundo, former Gotei 13 Captain Aizen made Wonderweiss Margera using the powers found in the orb of Distortion.
Meanwhile, the protagonists of Soul Society gear up and train themselves in preparation for their war with Aizen and the Arrancars.
12. Bleach the Movie: Hell Verse
| Media | Movie |
| Original Release | December 4, 2010 |
| Runtime | 1 hr. 34 minutes |
| IMDb Rating | 7.3/10 |
In the town of Karakura, a group of Masked Hell denizens emerged. Rukia and Renji were authorized to investigate the incident.
After a short while, a fight between the denizens and the Shinigami duo broke out.
Karin, and Yuzu, both of Ichigo’s sisters, got involved and caught up in the mess.
13. Bleach Episodes 300 – 342
| Media | Series |
| Original Release | December 7, 2010 – October 4, 2011 |
| Runtime | Approximately 24 minutes per ep. |
| IMDb Rating | 6.7/10 |
Urahara enters the battle and uses whatever tricks and strategies he can execute to help in gaining their victory over Aizen.
But, their efforts with the other shinigami seem to be not working. Moreover, their chances of winning grow dimmer with each passing moment they engage with Aizen.
This is the climax of the battle between Ichigo and Aizen.
15. Episodes 343 – 366 (END)
| Media | Series |
| Original Release | October 11, 2011 – March 27, 2012 |
| Runtime | Approximately 24 minutes per ep. |
| IMDb Rating | 6.7/10 |
Ichigo tries to live a normal life after losing all his shinigami powers in his fight with Aizen.
He meets Ginjo Kugo, who proposes that there is a way for him to gain his powers back.
16. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War
| Media | Series |
| Original Release | October 10, 2022 – present |
| Runtime | Approximately 24 minutes per ep. |
| IMDb Rating | 9.7/10 |
The Thousand-Year Blood War of Bleach is still ongoing. It covers chapters 480-698 of the manga.