Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 2: The Separation (BLEACH 千年血戦篇-訣別譚-, Bleach Sennen Kessen-hen Ketsubetsutan) is a 2023 television anime series based on Tite Kubo’s manga series Bleach and a continuation to both the 2004 anime series Bleach and the 2022 anime season for Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War. The season was adapted by studio Pierrot, and the staff credits include director & series composition writer Tomohisa Taguchi, series composition writer Masaki Hiramatsu, character designer Masashi Kudo, and music composed by Shirō Sagisu. The anime season first aired in Japan on July 2023.
Background:
“THE BLOOD WAR BETWEEN SOUL REAPERS AND QUINCIES HAS FINALLY BEGUN. News of the sudden attack by the Quincies reaches Ichigo, propelling him to join the battle. However, the Soul Reapers are slaughtered one after another by the invaders, led by Yhwach, the Father of Quincies.
Meanwhile, Uryu uncovers the truth hidden in his grandfather’s diary and comes to understand his purpose in this world. The battle enters a new phase as Yhwach names his successor, stirring controversy among his subjects. The time of separation looms in the air as darkness shrouds the Soul Society!”
Plot Synopsis via Anime Limited, March 2024
The manga concluded but the anime is still going. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War is a four-part anime series that adapts the manga’s final story arc known as the ‘Thousand-Year Blood War’ which is an arc that encountered a lot of stumbles due to various factors with its source material (whether its due to health issues or Shonen Jump threatening to end it due to low ratings with its magazine), so many fans felt the story was rushed.
The fact that an anime adaptation of that arc is happening was a complete surprise given the fate of the manga, but Tite Kubo and Studio Pierrot want to at least end the story on a bang than a whimper. The first cour of the anime aired in October 2022, known as Part 1: The Blood Warfare, adapted Chapters 480 to 542 which are in Volumes 55 to 61 of 74, and now we’re on the second cour, Part 2: The Separation, which aired in July 2023. The third cour recently wrapped up whilst the fourth cour has yet to air at the time of this write-up.
Like the first cour, North American distributor Viz Media secured the streaming and home video rights for Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, with Disney+ covering the streaming availability. The UK, Ireland and French home video rights went to Anime Limited, who announced their acquisition in 2024 alongside the original Bleach series.
Collector’s Edition Contents:
As mentioned previously, there’s going to be at least four sets for Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War and each of them will receive the collector’s treatment, mirroring most of the contents showcased by Viz Media’s own limited edition sets.
This release is presented with a rigid box containing an Scanavo case to house the Blu-ray discs, and alongside the case is a 78-page booklet. The booklet contains an episode guide, behind the scenes with the staff, and character designs from the anime series.
The rigid box artwork is free of any information or BBFC content and the info sheet covers the information and specification like previous Anime Limited releases. The collector’s edition Blu-ray has 1000 units printed for an SRP of £69.99, with a standard edition Blu-ray available for retailers at an SRP of £39.99.
The series was included as part of their February 2025 early bird line-up which I have ordered from. The set was on offer for £39.99 + £3.50 postage, with the Anime Unlimited membership lowering the cost down to £35.99 + £3.50 postage (totalling £39.49). My copy was bundled with The First Slam Dunk, but didn’t dispatch until a few weeks after everyone had received theirs because there was a notable defect on the second disc so they reprinted the stock to include the replacement disc (noted as v22.22) with the set.
Physical Contents:
- Rigid Slipcase with clean artwork
- Scanavo packaging
- Info sheet for specification and BBFC description
- 78-page Booklet
On-Disc Contents:
Distributor: Anime Limited
Released: 31st March 2025 (AllTheAnime – Original stock), 14th April 2025 (AllTheAnime – Amended stock & Other Retailers)
The collector’s edition Part 2 release for Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War contains the second cour of the series, episodes 14-26, across two Blu-ray discs. Both discs have been authored and encoded by Com’om Screen, the French authoring company who mainly works with Anime Limited’s French branch.
You have the option to choose between English & French menu text at the start and can switch back and forth without having to reset the player. Audio options available include Japanese with English & French subtitles, the STUDIOPOLIS, Inc. English dub commissioned by Viz Media, and the Iyuno-SDI France French dub. French’s dub/subtitle options are tied to the French menu, while English’s dub/subtitle options are locked to the English menu.
The white subtitles are locked during playback, and the discs are region locked to players set to B.
Blu-ray Specs:
| Languages | English, French, Japanese |
| Audio | English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 French DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 |
| Video | 1080p High Definition Native format 1.78:1 aspect ratio |
| Region | B |
| Subtitles | English, French |
| Locked Subtitles | Yes |
| Discs | 2 BD-50s |
Blu-ray On-Disc Extra Features:
Disc 2:
- Lookback (05:14 runtime)
- Eien – Tatsuya Kitani Official Music Video (03:10 runtime)
- PVS:
- The Bambies (00:41 runtime)
- The Thirteen Court Guard Squads (00:41 runtime)
- Trailer 1 (02:21 runtime)
- Trailer 2 (01:36 runtime)
- Ending (04:01 runtime)
Unboxing Photos:
Final Notes:
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 2 is available to purchase on Blu-ray by Anime Limited in the UK & Ireland.
The collector’s edition Blu-ray release can be bought through different retailers including AllTheAnime Store, Amazon UK, and Anime-on-Line, while the standard edition Blu-ray can also be bought through different retailers including AllTheAnime Store, Amazon UK, and Anime-on-Line.
(Disclaimer: Amazon links are also included when available. They are affiliated so if you decide to order them, I’ll earn a small percentage if they ship which will help me with any hauls or small bills.)
The Normanic Vault 
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