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Bleach: A Comprehensive List of Filler Episodes
Do you know that roughly four out of every ten episodes of Bleach show things the original creator did not draw? Bleach, the long-running animated show based on Tite Kubo's comic book series, earns respect for its intense fights, unforgettable characters, and complex world design. Yet, similar to a lot of animated adaptations, Bleach holds a significant count of filler episodes - show parts absent in the first comic book. The purpose of these episodes often appears as a way to give the comic book a chance to move ahead of the animated show's speed of adaptation.
A few trusted sources, such as Beebom, Anime Filler Guide, Escapist Magazine, SlashFilm, as well as HowStuffWorks, state that Bleach contains about 163 to 164 filler episodes from its total of 406 episodes. This means around 40% of the entire series consists of unique animated show material absent from the comic book.
Major Filler Arcs and Episodes
Below sits a list of the main filler storylines and episodes in Bleach. We gathered this information from separate and trusted sources.
- Episodes 33 & 50 - Early episodes where the storytellers added things. These feature side tales involving Ichigo's sisters, also Don Kanonji.
- Episodes 64–108 - The Bount Arc, a long filler story arc that brought in new bad guys and plot lines. The comic book did not possess these.
- Episodes 128–137 - The Stolen Hogyoku Arc. This offers more information about Arrancars, showing their growth as people, but it is not a core part of the main story.
- Episodes 147–149 - The Menos Forest Arc, a separate side story focusing only on Rukia.
- Episodes 168–189 - The New Captain Arc, focused on a new character, Shusuke Amagai, in addition to a secret trouble inside the Soul Society.
- Episodes 204–205 - Rurichiyo as well as Kenryu's Feud, a brief filler story arc.
- Episodes 213–214 - The Karakura-Raizer Omake Arc, a funny side story that one need not watch.
- Episode 228 - “Summer! Sea! Swimsuit Festival!” - an episode made mostly to please the audience.
- Episode 229 - “Ikkaku plus Yumichika's Adventures,” a funny filler episode.
- Episodes 230–265 - The Zanpakuto Unknown Tales/Rebellion Arc, a significant filler story arc. Some fans believe this one holds value for its character talk and action.
- Episode 266 - “A Recap of Hueco Mundo Events,” an episode that just goes over prior events.
- Episodes 287, 298–299, 303–305, 311–316 - Various one-time filler episodes and special segments.
- Episodes 317–342 - The Gotei 13 Invasion Arc (also known as the Reigai Uprising Arc), the final big filler story arc. It follows the events after Aizen's defeat.
- Episode 355 - “Shinigami at War (New Year Special),” a stand-alone special segment.
Notable Points
What pieces of information about Bleach filler deserve note?
- The Bount Arc (episodes 64–108) appears often in talks as one of the longest filler story arcs. For some viewers, it carries less importance than others.
- The Zanpakuto Unknown Tales/Rebellion Arc (episodes 230–265) and the Gotei 13 Invasion Arc (episodes 317–342) sometimes win praise from fans and critics. They call them filler story arcs with interesting plot lines and memorable moments for the characters, even though they sit outside the official comic book story.
- A viewer bypasses most filler episodes without missing story points important to the comic book narrative. Still, some episodes give extra depth to characters or just offer good entertainment.
Conclusion
Bleach's filler episodes present a mix of secondary stories, character study, next to unique adventures. Although a viewer does not need them to grasp the main story, they add to the size of the series’ world. If you seek an experience true to the comic book, skip these episodes. For those interested in a wider viewing, certain filler story arcs perhaps bring enjoyable content.
This list finds its basis in information from separate and trusted sources. This ensures an unbiased view of Bleach's filler content.
FAQ
Do I need to watch the filler episodes to understand the main story?
No, you do not need to watch the filler episodes. The purpose of filler episodes is usually to let the comic book create more material ahead of the animated show. You understand the main plot fully even if you skip these parts.
Which filler arc is the longest?
The Bount Arc, which runs from episode 64 to episode 108, holds the title of the longest major filler arc in Bleach.
Are any of the filler arcs considered good?
Yes, some fans and critics give good marks to the Zanpakuto Unknown Tales/Rebellion Arc (episodes 230–265) and the Gotei 13 Invasion Arc (episodes 317–342). They say these arcs possess good action and character moments, even if the comic book did not write them.
Resources & References:- https://beebom.com/bleach-filler-episodes-list/
- https://www.animefillerguide.com/anime/bleach/
- https://www.escapistmagazine.com/complete-list-of-bleach-filler-episodes/
- https://www.slashfilm.com/1803071/bleach-filler-episodes-list/
- https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/bleach-filler-list.htm
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bwfKueFqYg
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