BLEACH Filler Arc Episodes Watch Order Explained [LIST]

Which Filler to watch and plot summary [Bleach Anime]

Introduction to Bleach universe: anime and manga.

Bleach is an anime without a complicated timeline, but plenty of scenes leave the audience scratching their heads. Bleach began as an adaptation of the popular Shonen Jump manga beginning in 2004, animated by Studio Pierrot of Naruto fame. Due to its popularity and similarity to other popular titles, Bleach became known as one of the “Big 3” alongside Naruto and One Piece. Compared to the other two, Bleach is a more modern Japanese setting which, for Westerners, can make it more difficult to get into due to the very noticeable cultural differences displayed.

Although there might be some similarities concerning having amazing animation and action, Bleach, without a doubt, has a unique storyline.

The filler episodes and arcs you can skip on Bleach anime.

As of January 2022, Bleach has 16 seasons and a total of 366 episodes. The numerous episodes demand a lot of your time, but there won’t be a single dull moment if you indulge in it. However, in case you don’t have enough time, don’t mind! Bleach has a lot of filler episodes (45% of total) so you may skip them without compromising story comprehension!

An amazing thing about lengthy anime is that the characters get a plethora of quirky traits and backgrounds. The development of old characters and the introduction of new ones always keep us entertained.

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Which are the filler episodes of Bleach?

The following episodes are anime-original content which you should skip if you aren’t interested in filler. Some of the other episodes include original elements or reference events from filler episodes, but these do not impact the story in the long run so you can safely ignore them.

Written in a compact way the filler episodes and arcs are the following:

Fillers episodes on Bleach: 33, 50, 64-109, 128-137, 147-149, 168-189, 204-205, 213-214, 227-266, 287, 298-299, 303-305, 311-342, 355.

List of Bleach filler episodes, by arc:

  • 033 Karakura Heroes Omake 1
  • 050 Karakura Heroes Omake 2
  • 064-108 Bount arc
  • 128-137 Stolen Hogyoku arc
  • 147-149 Rukia side story. Plot&Character designs by Kubo
  • 168-189 New Captain arc
  • 204-205 Random one-episode fillers
  • 213-214 Karakura Riser Omake
  • 227-265 Zanpakutou Rebellion arc. Character designs by Kubo.
  • 266 Hueco Mundo Recap
  • 287 Magic Lamp Gaiden
  • 298 Hell Chapter Movie Promotion
  • 299 Hell Chapter Movie Prologue
  • 303-305 *Random one-episode fillers
  • 311-316 *Random one-episode fillers
  • 317-341 *Gotei 13 Invasion arc
  • 355 New Year Special

The right order to watch Bleach anime series.

The best way to watch Bleach is the according to its chronological order. As you may know, Bleach anime series consists of Bleach animated series (2004-2012), movies, special episodes and OVAs. Moreover, the final arc Thousand Year Blood War Arc is upcoming on 2022. For more about 2022 best upcoming anime relaeses check this related post.

The best way to enjoy Bleach anime – Chronological order.

  • Origin & Soul Society Arc
    • Bleach (Episodes 1-7)
    • Bleach: Memories in the Rain
    • Bleach: 13 Court Guard Squads Omake
    • Bleach (Episodes 8-63)
    • Bleach: The Sealed Sword Frenzy
    • Bleach (Episodes 64-109)
    • Bleach the Movie: Memories of Nobody
  • Hueco Mundo Arc
    • Bleach (Episodes 110-137)
    • Bleach the Movie: The DiamondDust Rebellion
    • Bleach the Movie: Fade to Black
    • Bleach (Episodes 138-214)
  • Fake Karakura Town Arc
    • Bleach (Episodes 215-299)
    • Bleach the Movie: Hell Verse
    • Bleach (Episodes 300-342)
  • Substitute Soul Reaper Arc
    • Bleach (Episodes 343-366)
  • Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Arc (2022)

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The complete filler list of One Piece

Why Should I Watch Bleach?

It’s one of my favorites, though not my all-time favorite (you can discover my favourite one here) because it isn’t all that good in retrospect (psychologycal-interior side)

I liked it mainly because I found it refreshing to watch a shonen show that didn’t feature an idiot protagonist who was always at some extreme on the emotional spectrum.

Ichigo is a much more mature character at the start of the show than the other protagonists of the Three Pillars of Shonen Jump (Naruto and Luffy are the others, for those who don’t know) at the start of their shows. Unlike the two, he is a reliable older brother character who is intelligent, does well in school, and is still a kind person. He’s the kind of guy you look up to and want to be, while Naruto and Luffy try to appeal to you as you are now.bleach-filler-arcs-complete-list-explained

Why to Bleach deserve a watch: Ichigo can fight at 100%

Lazier authors will make their protagonists orphans ostensibly to do away with the hassle of building a story around a family who can weigh the hero down with emotional burdens and perhaps cause them to hesitate when the going gets tough. Kubo Tite, Bleach’s mangaka, has instead made every member of the Kurosaki family powerful enough to fend for themselves, giving Ichigo the peace of mind he needs to fight at a hundred percent. Adding this to the fact that it’s at least partly set in the real world, and we can say that Ichigo is actually a more relatable character.

Why to watch Bleach: Swords and battles.

I find it cool that the main characters are part of 13 elite military squads with their own philosophies, rules, discipline, tradition and mythos, and not just a ragtag bunch of kooky weirdos. The same thing is present in Naruto to some extent, but the concept doesn’t seem to be as fleshed out as it is in Bleach as it’s simply a hierarchical system that focuses more on small three-man cells than a military establishment.

Of course, Bleach also has some things that the others have, such as the typical shonen trope of “power rankings“, notably in the Arrancar arc where you have the villain group’s ranks literally tattooed on their bodies. I’m not sure if this was supposed to be some sort of meta kind of mockery of this particular shonen trope–given how Kubo names his mini-arcs in the manga, I wouldn’t put this beyond him–but I like it.

Bleach better than Naruto and One Piece?

In the end, I think the synthesis of these elements, makes Bleach a show with a target audience age a bit above the ones for Naruto and One Piece, from the art style that places emphasis on uniforms to the story elements–Ichigo stabs himself in the heart in the very first episode, for example.

I like shows that are a bit more mature than the average, while I think the other two cater more to the average level of maturity (or lack thereof).

And that’s why I think Bleach is so great.

What are the filler arcs in Bleach about?

Bleach Filler explained: Bount Arc 64-109.

Urahara’s secret mod souls encounter Ichigo, Chad, Renji, and Orihime, at which point they are deemed to be enemies and treated as such. Later, however, it becomes clear that Kisuke has invented Noba, Kurodo, and Ririn in order to identify certain entities known as Bounts (who are basically ordinary people with the ability to imbibe innocent spirits and therefore obtain immortality). The Seiretei hierarchy is rather anxious about the Bounts, while Team Ichigo ends up meeting the chief antagonist, Jin Kariya, who effortlessly overcomes the protagonist.

Is Bount arc of Bleach worth watching?

Like most filler arcs this one introduces characters who show up later in random episodes and fillers, but not in the main story line since they don’t exist in the manga.  This arc introduces three mod-souls who show up often in subsequent filler arcs.

Bleach Filler explained: Captain Amagai arc Arc 168-189.

After Aizen’s betrayal in the first major arc, he takes Kaname Tosen and Ichimaru Gin along with him (as his accomplices) when he flees to Hueco Mundo with the help of the Negacion. This leaves a vacancy in Divisions 3, 5, and 9, the first of which is filled by Shusuke Amagai, a previously unknown Shinigami. At the same time, the Princess Kasumiouji Rurichiyo travels from Soul Society to Karakura Town, where she and her “bodyguards” disguise themselves as students at Ichigo’s school, as per usual. Unexpectedly, random villains appear and attempt to kill Rurichiyo, forcing Rukia and Ichigo to take them on.

Is Captain Amagai arc of Bleach worth watching?

This arc is not as painful as the Bounto arc was, but also not especially exciting.  It introduces Rurichia-sama, who comes back in other fillers.

Bleach Filler explained: Zanpakuto Unknown Tales arc Arc 227-265.

Another filler arc that partly focuses on Yamamoto’s Ryujin Jakka — this one has a rogue zanpakuto spirit named Muramasa whose aim is apparently to obtain independence from what he calls Shinigami oppression. He breaks the bonds between nearly all Shingami and their zanpakuto, making them turn on their original “masters.” In the beginning, it looks like Muramasa has trapped the Captain-Commander within an unbreakable barrier, but when Ichigo throws a Getsuga at him, he blends it with some of his own reiatsu and deflects it at the old man, destroying the green pyramid.bleach-characters-filler-arc-to-watch-worth-explained

Is Zanpakuto Unknown Tales arc of Bleach worth watching?

I recommend you do not skip this arc, as it introduces a whole slew of new cool characters to a series which already has an amazing amount of cool characters.

Bleach Filler explained: Gotei 13 Invading Army arc Arc 317-342.

Ichigo arrives in Soul Society, where is absolutely flummoxed to find his old pals, Ikkaku and Renji, trying to attack him. Yoruichi rescues him before anything gets worse, disclosing to him that the two Shinigami are, in fact, inventions of a researcher known as Inaba Kageroza. This villain has inexplicably managed to create replicants of every important character in Seireitei, each of whom possess the same memories, knowledge, as well as powers. Known as the reigai, their motivations are unclear at this point, except that they want to destroy the Gotei 13 for some reason. In Karakura Town, Team Ichigo meets Kujo Nozomi, a gentle person who is being chased by Kageroza and his minions.

Is Gotei 13 Invading Army arc of Bleach worth watching?

As filler arcs go, this one isn’t too bad, but because Ichigo is losing all his reiatsu, he’s not as effectual as you’d like him to be.

Are Bleach fillers worth watching?

You have better watch Bleach filler episodes only once you’ve finished the canon story. In fact, all they do is interrupt the main story and they were only produced because the anime consistently catched up to the manga.

The Final Arc of Bleach being adapted on 2022.

The final arc of the manga, comprising of volumes 55 to 74, has not been adapted until now. This is because while the anime finished back in 2014, the manga finished two years later in 2016.

Where to watch Bleach episodes.

Depending on your location, you may find Bleach on these streaming platforms: Hulu, Netflix and Crunchyroll. As happened for Naruto:Shippuden, the episodes are also available on free online website.

If you’re Italian based you may try to watch Bleach in the dubbed version on Amazon Prime or AnimeUnity.

What is Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War about?

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War sees the return or soul reaper Ichigo Kurosaki as he jumps back into the battle with Zanpakuto in hand. Unfortunately, all hell is breaking loose, as an uptick in Hollows descend upon the World of the Living, and the soul reapers’ home, Seireitei, comes under attack.