Just like its popular counterparts Naruto and One Piece, the extended Bleach anime is well-known for incorporating a lot of additional episodes that aren’t essential to the main storyline, often referred to as “fillers.” Approximately one-third of the Bleach anime consists entirely of filler content, with some episodes being a mix of filler and canonical material. While this might not bother more relaxed anime enthusiasts, those who prefer a narrative-driven experience may find these extra episodes unnecessary. If you’re looking to avoid the fillers, the manga is always an option; however, the Bleach anime is still worth watching for many fans.
For dedicated Bleach fans who prefer the main plotline and wish to save time, it’s advisable to bypass the standalone filler episodes. Additionally, they can combine watching the filler episodes along with the genuine storylines (mixed filler/canon episodes) and the unadulterated canon ones. This approach allows them to avoid missing anything significant. However, be aware that this strategy involves skipping approximately 50 standalone filler episodes. The challenge is that these filler episodes are scattered throughout the Bleach anime, making it necessary for new fans to follow a guide or map to locate and steer clear of these hidden filler arcs/episodes.
Originally penned by Ajay Aravind on June 9, 2025: The last four episodes of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc for Bleach are still pending release, anticipated to drop sometime between late 2025 and early 2026. It’s worth noting that this final storyline will be free of any filler episodes. However, fans of the series should brace themselves for more filler content before they can complete the anime adaptation entirely, so additional details have been added to this article.
Why Does Bleach Have Filler Material, and Should You Skip It?
Shonen Anime Once Featured Copious Amounts of Filler
For those who are newer to the world of anime, they might ponder why a series like “Bleach” includes episodes that aren’t directly tied to the main storyline. Longer anime such as “Bleach” incorporate filler arcs not just for the sake of adding content, but for practical reasons that are crucial during the anime’s broadcast run. When an anime like “Bleach” adapts a continuing manga series, it is essential that the manga remains ahead so that the animation studio has sufficient source material to draw from when producing new episodes.
To ensure the anime stays in sync with the manga, animators sometimes add extra episodes or arcs (known as “fillers”). This approach gives the manga creators more time to produce new content and allows the anime producers to keep making seasons that mirror the manga’s storyline. Tite Kubo, for instance, needed this extended period to work on his Bleach manga, which explains why a significant portion of the anime consists of filler episodes. The same can be said about Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto, although One Piece has fewer fillers. To get the most accurate representation of the manga in the anime, it’s best to watch Bleach without the filler episodes.
| Big 3 Shonen Anime | Total Episodes | Filler Episodes | Filler Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bleach | 392 (ongoing) | 163 | 41.6% |
| Naruto | 220 | 90 | 40.9% |
| Naruto Shippuden | 500 | 203 | 40.6% |
| One Piece | 1104 (ongoing) | 94 | 8.5% |
Regarding whether it’s worth watching filler episodes in an anime like Bleach, there isn’t a definitive answer; each anime fan might have their own convincing arguments for or against. Some fans may continue to watch filler because they are set within the familiar world of the anime they adore. Additionally, these extra episodes frequently delve into unique, humorous, or experimental concepts that the main story doesn’t always have time for. Whether canonical or not, filler episodes provide additional perspectives on how a universe like Bleach’s can be expanded and enriched, such as exploring themes like rebellion against their owners.
The Bleach Anime Fillers Undermine the Canon Narrative
Opting to watch only the non-filler episodes of “Bleach” is a solid choice, backed by fundamental reasons that are universal to any narrative, particularly pacing. He made this decision for good reasons, and it was clearly demonstrated in some of the more impactful story arcs. However, anime filler episodes can disrupt the flow by momentarily diverting from the main plot to delve into an unrelated tale. This abrupt shift from a gripping, canonical storyline to a light-hearted, entirely novel narrative and then returning to the canonical story as if nothing had occurred can be quite jarring.
Although Bleach isn’t known for its intricate storyline in anime, devoted fans may find it challenging to keep up with all the details due to filler episodes disrupting the plot progression. To truly appreciate Bleach as Tite Kubo envisioned, it’s essential to bypass these filler episodes. However, if fans want to enjoy some light-hearted filler content for entertainment purposes, they can do so at their leisure. Watching Bleach without the filler will ensure that they don’t miss any crucial elements of the story.
Filler-Only Bleach Episodes That Can Be Safely Skipped
Fans Can Enjoy Bleach Without Filler
For a novice fan of the anime series, Bleach, their initial viewing experience will be seamless as the first season avoids having filler-exclusive episodes. However, some filler content is integrated into a few episodes within the initial 30. The first authentic filler episode appears early in the “Soul Society” narrative at Episode 33. The second and final filler episode in the “Soul Society” arc can be found in an incongruous position during its climax, at Episode 50. The rest of the original Bleach arc, as well as the highly acclaimed “Soul Society” arc, are uncomplicated for those who prefer watching Bleach without filler episodes.
Following episode 63, the anime adaptation of Bleach delves into a substantial stretch of non-canonical episodes, spanning from episode 64 to episode 108. The main plot resumes in episode 109. This significant interruption in the anime’s pace adds numerous episodes to the runtime between the “Soul Society” and “Arrancar” storylines. To replicate the tight pacing and immersive narrative experience found in the original Bleach manga, viewers might skip from episode 63 directly to episode 109, keeping in mind that some characters introduced during the “Bount” arc will be interspersed into canon episodes.
Watching canon episodes with mysterious extra characters might feel uncomfortable at first glance, yet if anime enthusiasts know about these unexpected elements upfront, they can easily ignore such quirks. In the heart of the “Arrancar” saga, from Episodes 128 to 137, you’ll find a stretch of filler episodes. During this period, Ichigo Kurosaki and his Soul Reaper companions clash with Sosuke Aizen’s Arrancar minions in Karakura Town. A brief three-part filler subplot unfolds between Episodes 147 to 149, focusing on a forest of Menos in the Hueco Mundo realm, where they encounter a Soul Reaper named Ashido Kano. Surprisingly, this mini-arc was initially intended for the manga but got cut due to Tite Kubo’s busy schedule.
A significant portion of non-canonical episodes, featuring Captain Shusuke Amagai, extends from Episodes 168 to 189. Additionally, two groups of filler episodes disrupt the “Fake Karakura Town” storyline, specifically Episodes 204, 205, 213, and 214. Another extensive stretch of filler episodes occurs before Ichigo’s final battle with Ulquiorra, covering all episodes from 228 to 266. Then skip Episodes 287, 298, 299, as well as Episodes 303, 304, and 305. After that, another large chunk of filler episodes from Episode 311 to Episode 341 should be skipped. Finally, only one more filler episode remains for dedicated Bleach fans to pass over, which is Episode 355.
How to Buy Bleach Boxsets While Avoiding Filler
For enthusiasts of anime, both Amazon and the Crunchyroll Store offer options to purchase Blu-ray and DVD collections of Bleach. However, it’s essential to note that some box sets may contain only filler episodes. It’s worth mentioning that the fourth season of Bleach is entirely filler, so fans can skip the Season 4 box set to enjoy the series without these additional episodes. Instead, they should proceed directly to Season 5. The same applies to Seasons 9, as well as Seasons 13 and 15. While it’s impossible to completely avoid filler episodes in other seasons’ box sets, fans who prefer the canonical story can skip Seasons 9 entirely, and possibly Seasons 13 and 15 if they wish to watch Bleach without any filler content at all.
Both Kubo and the Fandom Would Like a Bleach Reboot
Remaking Bleach Like One Piece Would Result in Less Filler
Enthusiasm for the reimagining of “One Piece,” now known as “The One Piece,” has ignited a global buzz among anime enthusiasts, who are eagerly demanding updates to their beloved series. Notably, the creators have disclosed that this remake will feature a more condensed timeline and strictly adhere to canon material. It’s clear that many iconic animes, such as “Naruto” and “Bleach,” could greatly benefit from a complete revamp due to their extensive length. Given their complexity, transforming these series into a sleek, contemporary format would undoubtedly be appreciated by fans worldwide.
It’s intriguing to note that Tite Kubo has expressed a desire for a reboot or faithful adaptation of Bleach using today’s technology, and more recently, he mentioned preferring an anime adaptation of the series. The anticipation among fans is high because of this, especially given the criticism Bleach faced for its fillers in the past. Prospective producers should keep this in mind when considering a remake. However, whether or not such a project materializes might hinge on the success of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc.
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War & Anime Viewing Options
The Newest Bleach Anime Adapts the Rest of the Manga
Thankfully, it’s just the initial Bleach anime that was plagued with continuous fillers. On the other hand, the latest version is a more contemporary production in all aspects, boasting superior animation, swift tempo, and absolutely no filler episodes. By the time Thousand-Year Blood War started, the original Bleach manga had already concluded, thus eliminating the primary cause for the creation of filler episodes in the Bleach anime. The first season of the Thousand-Year Blood War story arc, consisting of 13 episodes, contains no filler episodes or episodes that blend canon with fillers.
The following two arcs have kept up this speed and it appears that this trend will carry on in the final segment. Consequently, the Thousand-Year Blood War stands as a faithful representation of Bleach, devoid of filler content. Notably, Kubo has utilized the Thousand-Year Blood War storyline within Bleach to introduce fresh characters, abilities, and plotlines into the ongoing series, such as the original Gotei 13 and Hirako Shinji’s Bankai. While some of these elements weren’t present in the manga, everything related to the Thousand-Year Blood War arc from the second arc onwards is considered canonical.
There’s Another Bleach-esque Anime That Fans Forget
Burn the Witch Is Part of the Bleach Universe
The revival of the popular series “Bleach” started in 2018, with Tite Kubo’s release of “Burn the Witch” continuing the trend in 2020. Initially published as a single issue, “Burn the Witch” takes place in the same world as “Bleach,” featuring a British version of the Japanese Soul Society. Although it didn’t maintain the same level of ongoing development and has not been revisited since Kubo’s commitment to the new “Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War” anime, it was warmly welcomed and renewed interest in “Bleach.” The main characters are Noel Niihashi and Ninny Spangcole, with only a minimal connection to the primary “Bleach” storyline.
In essence, the animated series “Burn the Witch” is considered part of the official Bleach universe, as it doesn’t conflict with the main anime. This can pose a challenge for viewers who prefer watching Bleach without additional content, but it’s also entirely canon due to this connection. Therefore, those focused on the main storyline can choose to bypass it. Interestingly, the Burn the Witch series is more concise than the filler episodes in Bleach, making it a quicker option for those wanting to move through non-essential content swiftly.
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2025-06-11 00:13