There was a time whenBleachwas a part of the Big Three in the shonen landscape, along withNarutoandOne Piece. While the popularity of this series might’ve waned over time, the show still has its highlights and makes for a riveting watch even now. The show does a pretty good job oftranslating Tite Kubo’s masterful artworkover to an animated medium, making for a great time as viewers watch the amazing battles unravel. With the advent of theThousand-Year Blood War, more and more people will be glad to see the final arc ofBleachbe adapted to completion after the longest time, with the amazing art of the adaptation elevating the source material to new heights.
Of course, as is the case with any serialized shonen anime,Bleachis filled to the brim with filler episodes that were meant to give Kubo time as he penned more canon chapters of the manga. Fans who want to watchBleachand stay informed about its filler should take the following information into account while getting intothis legendary shonen anime. Some people appreciate that the latest adaptation has chosen to air four cours instead of adding somefiller episodes inBleach’s final arc. They don’t mind waiting a total of four years for the entire arc to be adapted with stellar animation, but some fans would’ve appreciated any excuse that let them spend more time with their favorite characters.
Updated on July 31, 2025, by Mark Sammut:As allBleach’s fillerepisodes have been covered, sections have been added to each saga going over whether they are worth watching.
Adventures Of The Karakura Superheroes
33, 50
Chronicles the efforts ofDon Kanonjito fight hollows in Karakura Town, with the members including Kurosaki’s sisters, the children from Urahara’s shop, and Kon as a mascot
The Bount Arc
64-108
Introduces theBount, artificially created beings who are essentially immortal as long as they regularly consume human souls
Stolen Hogyoku Arc
128-137
A collection of stories that explores theArrancar’s relationship with Aizenandand also places the limelight on Hitsugaya
Forest Of The Menos
147-149
Fleshes outBleach’s lore by taking a look at the deserted landscapes aroundHueco Mundo
The New Captain, Shusuke Amagai
168-189
Explores the story ofShusuke Amagai, the captain who replaces Gin Ichimaru only to reveal a sinister side of his own
Rurichiyo And Kenryu’s Feud
204, 205
Two characters from the Shusuke Amagai arc,RurichiyoandKenryu, engage in a bitter yet hilarious feud with a wholesome ending
Exploits Of The Karakura-Raizer Team
213, 214
Chronicles the adventures of theKarakura-Raizer Team, a team of superheroes created by Kisuke Urahara to protect Karakura Town from hollows
A Fun Time At The Beach
228
A simple fan-service episode about the major characters ofBleachenjoying somemuch-needed unwinding time on the beach
Ikkaku And Yumichika’s Adventures
229
A funny side story showing a missionIkkakuandYumichikaare assigned in the human world
Zanpakuto Unknown Tales Arc
230-265
The antagonist of this arc,Muramasa, causes the spirits of everyone’s Zanpakuto to rebel against their masters
A Recap Of The Events In Hueco Mundo
266
As stated in the name, this episoderecapseverything that has happened since Ichigo and his friends broke into Hueco Mundo
Ichigo And The Magic Lamp
287
A side story whereIchigo dreamsabout being a different person in a world inspired byMiddle Easternstyles
Setting Up The Hell Chapter Movie
298, 299
A two-episode story thatsets up the events of the movieBleach: Hell Verse
One-off Episodes
303-305, 311-316
Numerous one-off stories that explore therelationships between different charactersin various lighthearted romps
The Gotei 13 Invasion
317-342
Exploring Ichigo’s waning powers afterbeating Aizen, this arc sees the Gotei 13 being infiltrated by various impostors and wreaking havoc
355
A special episode withBleachcharacters celebratingthe dawn of the New Year
Here’s an extended look at some of themore notable filler arcsinBleach. While some people may not appreciate the idea of watching filler, fans who want to spend some time withBleach’s many beloved characters will be well served by these short stories that do a great job of exploring the dynamics between different people in the series.
Special Mention: Bleach Movies
If a battle shonen anime series is popular enough, movies will eventually follow, and they tend to be non-canon. Exceptions likeOne Piece: Strong World,Dragon Ball Super Broly, and theMy Hero Academiamovies exist, but they are very much not the norm. This practice makes sense, as only a portion of the show’s audience watches the films (and not at the same time), so incorporating these stories into the main narrative could spark confusion.
Not counting the live-action movie,Bleachproduced four films, all of which can generally be ignored if somebody just wants to stick to the core story. That said, like theBleachfiller arcs, the movies do a good job of feeling important, even if they might not be consequential in the grand scheme of things. Therefore, die-hard fans should attempt to check them out as they are enjoyable and feature some of the best action in the series, at least beforeThousand-Year Blood War’s debut.
Let’s go through all four movies and when is the best time to watch them:
Should You Watch The Bleach Movies?
Honestly, none of these films are great enough to warrant going out of your way to check them out. That said, they are not horrible either, and they can get the job done in situations when you just want to spend more time in this universe. I enjoyedFade to BlackandThe Hell Versequite a bit, to the point of thinking they are overall better than some of the more underwhelmingBleachfiller episodes.
Also, the live-actionBleachmovie is a bit of a glorious mess that can be widely entertaining in an “I cannot believe they followed through on this” kind of way. Honestly, it isn’t bad by “live-action movie based on anime” standards, but that bar is not high. The film is on Netflix, too.
7One-Off Fillers (Multiple)
Focus On Side Characters
There’s no denying thatthe characters ofBleachare a joy to witness in many ways. However, it’s a huge ask for viewers to spend a ton of time with them on arcs that do nothing to progress the story or contribute to any character’s development in any way. This becomes harder when viewers don’t likewatching certain side charactersthat have no impact on the plot outside of these anime-original stories.
The only respite that most people have here is that most of thesefiller episodes inBleacharefunny enough to warrant a watchand don’t stick around for too long. The most they’ll go on for is four or five episodes before the anime shows everyone what they want to see — the main plot. Of course, people who only want to watchmeaningful episodesin the show can skip thesefiller episodes inBleachentirely, with some of the long-winded filler arcs being ones that have a consistent plot and recurring characters.
That being said, some of these one-off fillers can be pretty entertaining, especially if fans are invested in the various character relationships inBleach. They aren’t the best parts of the series by a country mile, but they don’t pretend to be; these stories mainly exist just for characters to interact in funny ways. The fact that these mini-stories only last a single episode makes them more bearable for certain viewers, especially for those who don’t mind engaging with the side characters for twenty minutes.
Should You Watch The One-Off Filler Bleach Episodes?
Honestly, yes, just because they start and end relatively quickly. While binge-watching the series, remembering to skip the odd episode due to it being filler can disrupt the process, so it is better to just sit through them. Ultimately, they are mostly decent, and they even sometimes incorporate canon content.
6Forest Of The Menos Arc
A Short But Interesting Arc That Fleshes Out The World
The Forest of the Menos arc is one ofthe more unique arcs in the series. Concept sketches of this forest are present in Tite Kubo’s volumes, and this arc takes a short yet interesting look at an area underHueco Mundo’s deserted landscape. It’s a simple yet interesting arc that fleshes out the world ofBleacheven more. The fact that this filler arc only laststhree episodeswould also be a source of joy for fans who don’t want to invest themselves in a long-winded narrative that is ultimately forgotten in the grand scheme of things.
What makes thesefiller episodes inBleachgreat is that they adapt a storyline that Kubo wanted to add to the manga before eventually scrapping the idea. Thankfully, the anime didn’t shy away from fleshing out the history of the shinigami, although it’s still a crying shame that the Forest of the Menos arc is considered to be non-canon as far as the storyline is concerned. Ashido is a riveting character, and fans will be glad to know that his presence is finally made canon in the light novelBleach: Spirits Are Forever With You.
Should You Watch Bleach’s Forest Of The Menos Arc?
Yes, definitely. Due to its short length and fairly relevant content, Forest of the Menos could arguably be regarded asBleach’s best filler arc, at least in the sense that it does not overstay its welcome by any stretch of the imagination.
5The Bount Arc
Possibly The Worst Filler Arc
After the incredible Soul Society arc,Bleachembarked upon its first set of major fillers in the form of the Bount arc. Most people consider this to be a sub-parfiller arc inBleach, mainly due to how much of a downer it is after Ichigo’s amazing journey throughout Soul Society to rescue Rukia. However, fans who love the awe-inspiring fights inBleachwill love the many battles in this arc, and it helps that the Bount are interesting enough to carry the storyline as riveting villains who need to be taken out by any means necessary.
Ichigo’s plan to relax after the events of the Soul Society arc is dashed when three strangers abduct his friends and force him through atwisted game. It’s soon revealed that this event was a precursor to theintroduction of the Bount, an artificially created race with Hollow-like powers. While they pose a massive threat early on, they eventually get pushed into Soul Society and realize that they’re way out of their depth whenthe Shinigami completely decimate them.
Should You Watch Bleach’s The Bount Arc?
The Bount arc has a few major things going against it. For one, it follows one of the best arcs in shonen anime, making it seem far worse in comparison. 40+ episodes is very long for any arc, let alone a filler saga that cannot have anything of consequence happen in the long run. In a vacuum, The Bount arc is not unwatchable, but it can be dull and, in some cases, could put somebody off from continuingBleachentirely. So, no, do not watch this. If you finish the anime and want some more content, you’re able to always revisit and watch this arc.
4Stolen Hogyoku Arc
Aizen Becoming The Leader Of The Arrancar
The Stolen Hogyoku arc is a bit of amixed bag. The arc features manyone-off episodeswhile also exploring the side of the Arrancar and how a lot of them aren’t happy withAizen becoming their leader. It has some interesting moments, evenif thepoor pacingand the ham-fisted nature of its inclusion severely take it down a notch. However, the entirety ofBleachis notorious for its pacing issues, so fans likely won’t mind this misstep as long as they get to see the lore of the series expand while their favorite characters enjoy some time in the spotlight.
A definite highlight of this arc is Hitsugaya, who gets his time to shine and does so brilliantly. There’s a reason why this character is one of the most popular shinigami in the entire series. As long as viewers don’t mind the slower sections of this filler arc, they’ll findthis unique piece of contentto be well worth watching. After all, Aizen is one of the most compelling shonen villains of any time, and most fans would jump at any excuse to see his character be fleshed out before the events of the original story.
Should You Watch Bleach’s Stolen Hogyoku Arc?
Probably the most inconsistentBleachfiller arc, Stolen Hogyoku is passable when highlighting Arrancar who are trying to move away from Aizen’s influence. This content is mostly covered between episodes 128 and 131, with the rest of the filler telling mostly standalone stories with almost no stakes. They are fine for what they are, but nothing of consequence is lost by skipping them.
3The New Captain Shusuke Amagai Arc
Shusuke Amagai Gets The Spotlight
Shusuke Amagai is a character who isa memorable figure in his own right. The first few episodes of this filler arcshow a ton of promise, but the pacing falls off after a while. Still, it’s far from egregious and will let fans enjoy a great time as they get to see Soul Society struggle as the new captain enacts his wrathful plan. It’s one of the betterfiller arcs inBleachfor many fans, even if the placement of this arc may puzzle many fans since it comes smack-dab in the middle of an existing storyline.
The new characters introduced in this filler arc may take a while to imprint themselves in the minds of fans, but they make a strong impression once viewers give them a chance. To make things better, these characters appear in otherfiller episodes inBleach, lending a sense of continuity to the events that take place in later storylines. Theslow pacing of this filler arcmay make it hard to get through, but the payoff comes in the form of some epic battles, making it worth it in the eyes of many.
Should You Watch Bleach’s The New Captain Shusuke Amagai Arc?
An enjoyable arc that is far better than The Bount saga, The New Captain Shusuke Amagai gets by with good action and a strong sense of mystery, at least initially. Its length is, admittedly, intimidating and exhausting, but it is worth a watch if you just want moreBleach.
2Zanpakuto Unknown Tales Arc
Zanpakuto’s Rebellion
Bleachsaved its better filler arcs for the latter half of its run. The idea of everyShinigami’s Zanpakuto rebellingagainst their master is a unique prospect that is explored quite brilliantly in the Zanpakuto Unknown Tales arc. It helps that the antagonist at the heart of it all, Muramasa, is also a pretty engaging character in his own right. The novelty of watching the Captains fight against the spirits of their Zanpakuto is enough for many fans to hail this as one of the betterBleachfiller arcsthat fans can subject themselves to.
As is the case with most filler arcs,the story goes down a rather predictable routebefore ending with Ichigo taking care of the big baddie once and for all. This is to be expected given the limitations of most filler stories, and props should be given to the Zanpakuto Unknown Tales arc forexcelling even with these limitations. The appearance of Zangetsu in this arc may cause a plot hole given what fans know about the true nature of Ichigo’s Zanpakuto during the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, but it’s an oversight most are willing to forgive as long as they get to see some of thebest filler episodes inBleachand the unique ideas they bring to the table.
Should You Watch Bleach’s Zanpakuto Unknown Tales Arc?
This arc is a cut above most filler sagas, and not just the ones inBleach. That said, Zanpakuto Unknown Tales' length and placement hurt its appeal since it really disrupts the anime’s momentum. Watch this after you complete the canon arcs. It works well enough in a vacuum.
1The Gotei 13 Invasion Arc
One Of The Best Filler Arcs
Most people are split on whether this arc or Muramasa’s rebellion is thebest filler story inBleach. It’s atestament to the high qualityof both stories that this debate still doesn’t have a clear answer to this day. The idea of impostors posing as Shinigami captains andwreaking havoc within Soul Societyis quite engrossing, and this arc does a great job of adapting such a story, given Ichigo’s waning powers after his fight against Aizen.
This arc may have some fights that take too long to complete, but that’s a minor gripe in an otherwise great experience. There’s no denying that these are some of the betterfiller episodes inBleachthat fans will love to watch if they’ve invested in the characters and how they rise against the odds to beat down anyone standing in their way. For the finalfiller arc inBleach’s original run, The Gotei 13 Invasion is riveting and a great excuse for fans to spend more time with their favorite characters as they take place in this high-stakes conflict.
Should You Watch Bleach’s The Gotei 13 Invasion Arc?
Similar to the Zanpakuto arc, The Gotei 13 Invasion tells a solid action-packed story that mostly lives up to theBleachname. However, again, you might want to just watch this after completing the main show.
