BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3 Another Brilliant Start

BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3  Another Brilliant Start

Key Takeaways

  • Part 3 of BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War ups the dark atmosphere & stunning animation.
  • Yhwach regains power after 999 years & gains an overpowered ability from Schrift “A”.
  • Yhwach wins by killing the Soul King, leaving Ichigo’s group to defend balance of realms.

As a seasoned anime enthusiast with over two decades of immersion under my belt, I can confidently say that this latest installment of BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3 is nothing short of a visual feast for the senses! The artistic ingenuity on display, particularly in the fight between Uryu and Shutara, was truly breathtaking. It’s not every day you come across such conceptual brilliance that manages to captivate both the mind and the eye.


The following contains spoilers for BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3 – The Conflict, Episode 1, “A”, available for streaming on Hulu and Disney+.

In a new development, BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War resumes with Part 3. This segment of the concluding storyline has intensified the ominous ambiance of the show to unprecedented levels. The latest episode, much like its predecessors, offered another breathtaking animation sequence that outshines the already stunning visuals this part of the series is recognized for.

Following a summary of key events from the preceding course, BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3 displays exceptional direction and animation quality, which is now attributed to the Pierrot Studio’s subsidiary, the venerable animation studio that has been associated with the series.

Previously, on BLEACH

The First 10 Minutes Are A Recap of the Final Moments of Last Time

BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3  Another Brilliant Start

One potential rephrase for your text might be: The main drawback of this episode is that around 10 minutes are repeats from previous episodes (except for the initial minute and a half dedicated to the opening sequence). This repetition can be justified because Part 3 of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc begins immediately after Part 2, so the recap helps create a smoother transition into new content. Additionally, it gives viewers another opportunity to witness Shutara Senjumaru’s impressive Bankai and Ichibē Hyōsube’s Shin’uchi, which he used in the past to steal Yhwach’s name and now uses to rename him “Black Ant,” granting him new powers.

The Quincy King Regains His Power

A Style Alteration Gives Ichibe’s Powers The Gritty Atmosphere They Deserve

BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3  Another Brilliant Start

The confined Quincy King…

Regains his pulse after 900 years.

His mind after 90 years.

His strength after 9 years.

And the world…

in 9 days.

In the midst of his plummet towards the ground, the Hooden, Yhwach demonstrates his true might, as foretold by Kaiser Gesang. After 999 years and 9 days, he would reclaim the world. His extraordinary power, Schrift “A” for “The Almighty,” bestows him not only foresight but also omniscience and dominion over the future itself. The episode takes its name from this Schrift’s activation. With it activated, Yhwach’s eyes develop a second iris each, multiplying as his battle with Ichibē Hyōsube progresses. His five loyal soldiers, who had fallen to Shutara’s Bankai, are swiftly revived, altering the course of the fight drastically. He swiftly reappears on the Hōoden and wounds Hyosube in the abdomen as the word associated with him begins to disintegrate. Despite attempts by Hyōsube using Ichimonji, none of the attacks strike home due to Yhwach’s The Almighty.

BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3  Another Brilliant Start

In this scenario, Hyōsube employs an extraordinary skill called “Futen Taisatsuryō” (translated as “The Funeral Pyre of Perpetual Rebirth”), a unique ritual that allows him to tap into the world’s “darkness.” This power is so potent, it’s said to erase everything in its path, leaving behind nothing but blackened, consumed remains. Its destructive force is such that the target is obliterated completely, even preventing reincarnation due to the total annihilation of their existence. To fuel this ability, Hyōsube claims he took darkness from 100 future nights, though Yhwach had already foreseen its use. The technique concludes when Hyōsube’s body is disintegrated. In visual terms, the animation team masterfully brings the Futen Taisatsuryō to life, with a dark, inky aesthetic emphasizing the technique’s connection to darkness, intricate calligraphy-inspired Zanpakutō, a noir atmosphere hinted at in trailers for Part 3, and stark white line colors that add to the scene’s impact. This moment is undoubtedly among the series’ most conceptually brilliant.

Uryu vs Shutara Was Another Visual Treat

A Gorgeous Bankai Sets The Stage For A Short But Elegant Fight

BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3  Another Brilliant Start

Among the five Quincies depicted in Shutara’s tapestries, only Uryu is portrayed involved in combat with Thousand Arms, and this battle sequence offers significant insights into the characteristics of the Schrift he obtained from Yhwach. Since Uryu was resurrected, Shutara decided to kill him again. Despite being repeatedly attacked, Uryu persists, even when a collection of tapestries transformed into a horde of massive Hollows failed to subdue him. Ultimately, Shutara manages to capture Uryu by wrapping him with the tapestries and stabbing him at the back of his neck with a needle, aiming for a fatal wound.

Instead, it was Shutara who found herself bound by the threads of destiny. Uryu struck a fatal arrow into her, ending her life, and in turn, dissolving his Bankai. With the dismantling of the Zero Squad, the Sternritter march forward under their new monarch, heading towards Reiokyu where the Soul King resides, unprotected. He draws upon reishi from the Hōoden as he advances, each step toward the floating castle constructed from the remnants of the Zero Squad’s demise.

Yhwach Wins

The King Falls

BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3  Another Brilliant Start

In the crystal, Yhwach approaches the still form of the Soul King. Unfazed by his arrival, the Soul King remains motionless in suspended animation. With a swift strike, Yhwach plunges his sword into the Soul King’s chest, achieving his goal. The post-credit scene reveals Ichigo’s group arriving at Hooden, where they’re shocked to find the decapitated head of Manako Oshō. Orihime begins tending to him, unaware that he’s miraculously alive. Within Ichigo’s mind, Hyōsube urges him to speak his name. Upon doing so, the monk’s disfigured body reforms, and he informs Ichigo of Zero Squad’s failure. He apologizes for burdening Ichigo, but asks him to do whatever it takes to stop Yhwach. The fate of all realms hangs in the balance. Meanwhile, Captain Commander Shinsui Kyoraku encounters a criminal in the depths of Muken. This opening episode of BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3 was remarkably sparse on action, but hinted at the stunning animation quality we can expect this season.

BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3 is available for streaming on Hulu and Disney+.

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2024-10-07 18:04