Specialises in hidden gems, isekai, and anything with great world-building.
Let's be honest: Bleach has a reputation problem. "Too much filler." "Falls off after Soul Society." "The ending was rushed." You've heard all of it. But is Bleach actually worth watching in 2026?
Yes. Absolutely. With caveats.
The honest case for Bleach
Bleach at its best is peak shonen anime. The Soul Society arc (episodes 21–63) is one of the greatest arcs in anime history — tension, reveals, fights, and an all-timer villain twist. The character designs are among the most stylish in the medium. The Bankai reveals are hype incarnate. And the soundtrack? Bleach has arguably the best OST of any shonen anime.
Thousand-Year Blood War (2022–present) is legitimately some of the best anime being produced right now. Studio Pierrot's animation is jaw-dropping, the fights are epic, and the story delivers payoffs decades in the making.
The honest case against Bleach
The filler rate is 45%. That's nearly half the original anime being non-canon padding. The Arrancar arc, while having incredible fights, suffers from pacing issues. And the Fullbring arc (episodes 343–366) is genuinely divisive — some love it, many find it the weakest canon arc.
The verdict: how to watch Bleach in 2026
Skip the filler (use our Bleach watch order guide), and you get approximately 203 episodes of the original + 39 episodes of TYBW = about 242 episodes of quality content. That's very manageable.
The path is:
- 1Watch episodes 1–63 (Soul Society). If you're not hooked, stop.
- 2Skip filler, continue through the Arrancar and Hueco Mundo arcs
- 3Push through Fullbring (it sets up TYBW)
- 4Watch TYBW and experience the best Bleach has ever been
Is Bleach better than Naruto?
Different strengths. Bleach has better fights, better aesthetic, and better music. Naruto has better character development, better villains, and a more cohesive ending. Both are worth watching.
Frequently asked questions
Can I just watch TYBW without the original?
No. You'll miss all the character context and emotional investment that makes TYBW's payoffs meaningful.
Is the Bleach dub good?
Yes, one of the best in anime. Johnny Yong Bosch as Ichigo is iconic.
How does Bleach compare to modern shonen like JJK?
JJK was heavily inspired by Bleach (Gege Akutami has said so). If you like JJK, you'll likely love Bleach's influence on it.
Check our complete [Bleach watch order](/blog/bleach-watch-order) to skip the filler and get straight to the good stuff.