Before the final battle: Bleach revisits Soul Society Arc with special youtube release

As fans await the final chapter of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War , a new retrospective project is taking viewers back to where the anime’s legacy truly took shape, the iconic Soul Society Arc.

A special initiative titled BLEACH “THE STORIES” has been launched to celebrate the long-running anime adaptation of Tite Kubo’s hit manga series. The project revisits past arcs through re-released episodes, opening and ending theme videos, and exclusive round-table discussions with cast members.

The latest update reveals a new key visual for the Soul Society Arc retrospective, along with a detailed release schedule. Beginning February 21, 2026 , batches of Soul Society Arc episodes will be uploaded weekly on the official Bleach YouTube channel. Each episode will remain available for two weeks after its premiere, though access may vary by region.

From February 23 , opening and ending theme sequences from the arc will also be released every two to three days, offering fans a nostalgic look at the music and animation that defined one of the series’ most beloved storylines. Cast interview and discussion videos are scheduled to follow in March , with exact dates to be announced later.

The retrospective comes in the run-up to the final installment of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War , which adapts the concluding arc of the original manga. The anime’s revival began in 2022 with Part 1, followed by The Separation in 2023 and The Conflict in 2024. The fourth and final part, titled The Calamity , is set to premiere in July 2026 on Disney+ and Hulu.

Hulu describes the series as the story of Ichigo Kurosaki, a Substitute Soul Reaper who returns to battle when a powerful new enemy threatens the balance between worlds.

In addition to the anime content, the franchise is also expanding into gaming. A new smartphone title, BLEACH Mirrors High , is slated for release in summer 2026 , further marking a major year for the long-running property.

With the Soul Society Arc widely regarded as one of the most influential chapters in anime history, the BLEACH “THE STORIES” project offers longtime fans and newcomers alike a chance to revisit the moments that helped turn Bleach into a global phenomenon just in time for its final showdown.