This episode is widely considered one of the best in the entire franchise, serving as the spectacular finale to the Separation cour. It expands significantly on the source material with anime-original content that left manga fans stunned.
: The reveal of Senjumaru Shutara’s Bankai , Shatatsu Karagara Shigarami no Tsuji , is the episode's crowning jewel. The animation by Studio Pierrot here is breathtaking, utilizing a unique tapestry-based visual style to depict the defeat of the Schutzstaffel. Bleach Episode 26
: The voice acting and musical score (especially during the Bankai reveal) elevate the tension to a cinematic level. This episode is widely considered one of the
: While it feels slower than the explosive entry into the Seireitei, the episode does a great job of world-building, showing the scale of the Soul Society and the looming threat of the Captains. The animation by Studio Pierrot here is breathtaking,
: A 10/10 masterpiece for the series. It corrected one of the manga's biggest criticisms and provided some of the most creative "domain-style" combat seen in modern shonen.
: A solid "calm before the storm" episode that cements the chemistry of the core cast before the major battles begin. Bleach: TYBW Episode 26 (Season 2, Ep 13): "BLACK" Original Air Date: September 30, 2023
Since Bleach has two distinct runs, here are reviews for from both the original series and the Thousand-Year Blood War (TYBW) arc.