Quick answer: Watch Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War in release order, Part 1 to Part 4 (episodes 1 to 50). The original 366-episode Bleach series (2004–2012) comes first if you want the full story, but the new anime adapts manga chapters 480 to 686, so you can start Thousand-Year Blood War directly. All four parts are complete as of November 13, 2026.
Bleach has two anime series, four films and a finished manga, which makes the order confusing for new viewers. This Bleach Thousand-Year Blood War watch order guide lays out every Bleach anime in the order you can watch it, what each part covers, and where the manga fits. Everything below is current as of November 13, 2026, now that the final episode has aired.
Bleach watch order: the short version
There are two sensible routes:
- Full story: the original Bleach series (366 episodes, 2004–2012), then Thousand-Year Blood War (50 episodes, 2022–2026).
- Fast route: go straight to Thousand-Year Blood War, which is the final arc of the manga and is presented as a direct continuation of the original series. You will meet many returning characters without a recap, so expect some gaps.
The films are optional extras. Release order is the way to go for all of it.
Full Bleach anime order (release order)
| Order | Title | Type | Run | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bleach (original series) | TV | Oct 5, 2004 – Mar 27, 2012 | 366 |
| Optional | Bleach: Memories of Nobody | Film | Dec 16, 2006 (Japan) | 1 film |
| Optional | Bleach: The DiamondDust Rebellion | Film | Dec 22, 2007 (Japan) | 1 film |
| Optional | Bleach: Fade to Black | Film | Dec 13, 2008 (Japan) | 1 film |
| Optional | Bleach: Hell Verse | Film | Dec 4, 2010 (Japan) | 1 film |
| 2 | Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, Part 1 (The Blood Warfare) | TV | Oct 11 – Dec 27, 2022 | 13 (1–13) |
| 3 | Part 2 (The Separation) | TV | Jul 8 – Sep 30, 2023 | 13 (14–26) |
| 4 | Part 3 (The Conflict) | TV | Oct 5 – Dec 28, 2024 | 14 (27–40) |
| 5 | Part 4 (The Calamity) | TV | Jul 25 – Oct 27, 2026 | 10 (41–50) |
Dates are Japanese broadcast dates per Wikipedia’s series pages; US streaming days can differ by a day. Part 4’s finale aired on Hulu in the US on October 26, 2026.
The original Bleach series: what you need to know
The first anime ran for 366 episodes on TV Tokyo and adapted manga chapters 1 to 479, according to Wikipedia. It ended in March 2012, and the anime then sat idle for a decade. Thousand-Year Blood War picked up exactly where that story stopped, which is why its premiere is numbered as a continuation. A long series can be a lot to commit to, so many viewers choose the fast route above and read a summary of the earlier arcs instead.
The four films are separate stories. They are standalone adventures made while the manga was still running, so you can skip them without losing the main plot. We have not sourced where each film streams in the US, so check your service’s listing.
Bleach Thousand-Year Blood War watch order: the four parts
Studio Pierrot adapted the arc in four parts, each broadcast as a block of episodes:
- Part 1 – The Blood Warfare (episodes 1–13): premiered October 11, 2022, and was the first new Bleach anime in more than ten years.
- Part 2 – The Separation (episodes 14–26): July 8 to September 30, 2023.
- Part 3 – The Conflict (episodes 27–40): October 5 to December 28, 2024, with 14 episodes.
- Part 4 – The Calamity (episodes 41–50): premiered July 25, 2026. Hulu confirmed 10 episodes. The last two episodes were delayed to October 19 and 26, 2026, and the finale, titled “Death & Strawberry”, closed the series.
Part 4 was animated by Pierrot Films, per Wikipedia. Watch them in order: the parts are one continuous story, not seasons you can reorder.
Where the anime ends in the manga
Tite Kubo’s Bleach manga has 74 volumes and 686 chapters. The original anime covers chapters 1 to 479. Thousand-Year Blood War adapts chapters 480 to 686, which are the final arc and the end of the manga.
| Anime | Manga chapters | Manga volumes |
|---|---|---|
| Original Bleach (366 episodes) | 1–479 | 1–54 (volume 54 ends at chapter 479) |
| Thousand-Year Blood War (50 episodes) | 480–686 | 55–74 |
Volume 55 is titled “The Blood Warfare” and starts at chapter 480. The final volume, volume 74, is titled “The Death and the Strawberry”. We could not find an official chapter-by-chapter split between the four parts, so we do not list one. Anime adaptations can change or add scenes, so the manga and the anime are not guaranteed to match scene for scene.
Should you read the manga or watch the anime?
- You finished the 2022–2026 anime: the story of the manga is now fully adapted. Reading volumes 55 to 74 shows what was changed or added, but nothing is missing.
- You watched only the original 366 episodes: the anime did not adapt the final arc until 2022. Continue with Thousand-Year Blood War rather than the manga if you prefer animation.
- You want to skip ahead: start at volume 55.
How many episodes is the whole Bleach anime?
Adding the two series together gives 416 episodes (366 original episodes plus 50 from Thousand-Year Blood War), not counting the four films. That is the full commitment if you watch everything. Thousand-Year Blood War alone is 50 episodes, which is why many newcomers start there. If you take the fast route, the four-part structure above is the only order you need to remember: Part 1, then Part 2, then Part 3, then Part 4, with no side stories to fit in between.
Where to watch Bleach
- US: Hulu streams Thousand-Year Blood War in Japanese with English subtitles, and in English and Spanish dubs. Viz Media licensed it for Hulu in the US and Disney+ outside Asia.
- English dub of Part 4: the final two episodes arrive on Hulu on November 23 (episode 49) and November 30, 2026 (episode 50).
- Original series and films: availability changes by country and over time, so search your regional service.
Is there more Bleach anime after episode 50?
As of November 13, 2026 no new Bleach anime has been announced. For the latest on the finale and anything that follows, see our Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War episode 50 guide, our Fall 2026 anime season guide and the Anime News hub.
Quick FAQ
Do you need to watch the original Bleach first? No, but the 2022 series is a continuation, so it helps. How many episodes does Thousand-Year Blood War have? 50, across four parts. Is the manga finished? Yes, at 74 volumes.
Watch the official trailer
FAQ
What order should I watch Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War in?
Release order: Part 1 (episodes 1–13), Part 2 (14–26), Part 3 (27–40), then Part 4 (41–50). The original 366-episode series comes first if you want the whole story.
How many episodes does Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War have?
50 episodes across four parts, which ended with the finale on October 26–27, 2026.
Where does the Bleach anime end in the manga?
The original anime covers manga chapters 1–479. Thousand-Year Blood War adapts chapters 480–686, the end of the manga, so nothing is left to read ahead.
Sources: Wikipedia: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, Wikipedia: Bleach (TV series), Wikipedia: List of Bleach chapters (424–686), Anime Corner: Part 4 confirmed for 10 episodes by Hulu, Anime News Network: episodes 49–50 delayed, VIZ: Where to watch Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 4, ComicShopLocator: Bleach release schedule.