Your Ultimate Bleach Filler Episode List: A Guide For Pure Story Enjoyment

Bleach, stylized in all caps, is a Japanese anime television series. It comes from the manga series by Tite Kubo. Pierrot produced the show, and Noriyuki Abe directed it. The series features voice talents like Johnny Yong Bosch, Michelle Ruff, Stephanie Sheh, and Jamieson Price. High school student Ichigo Kurosaki, who has the ability to see ghosts, gains Soul Reaper powers, you know, and his world changes forever.

This show, which began serialization in 2001, was awarded the prestigious Shogakukan Manga Award in the Shonen category in 2005. Bleach ended its serialization in 2016, but Tite Kubo has since brought more stories. With the recent return of new arcs, many viewers are looking for the best way to watch. So, figuring out the filler is pretty important for a smooth watch.

Table of Contents

• What Is Filler and Why It Matters for Bleach
  • Understanding Anime Filler
  • The Impact of Filler on Your Bleach Experience
• The Complete Bleach Filler Episode List
  • Bleach Season 1: The Substitute Soul Reaper Arc
  • Bleach Season 2: The Soul Society: The Infiltration Arc
  • Bleach Season 3: The Soul Society: The Rescue Arc
  • Bleach Season 4: The Bount Arc
  • Bleach Season 5: The Bount Assault on Soul Society Arc
  • Bleach Season 6: The Arrancar: The Arrival Arc
  • Bleach Season 7: The Arrancar: The Hueco Mundo Sneak Entry Arc
  • Bleach Season 8: The Arrancar: Fierce Fight Arc (Part 2)
  • Bleach Season 9: The New Captain Shusuke Amagai Arc
  • Bleach Season 10: The Arrancar vs. Soul Reaper Arc
  • Bleach Season 11: The Past Arc
  • Bleach Season 12: The Arrancar: Decisive Battle of Karakura Arc
  • Bleach Season 13: The Zanpakuto: Unknown Tales Arc
  • Bleach Season 14: The Arrancar: Downfall Arc
  • Bleach Season 15: The Gotei 13 Invading Army Arc
  • Bleach Season 16: The Lost Substitute Soul Reaper Arc
• Frequently Asked Questions About Bleach Filler
• Making the Most of Your Bleach Watch

What Is Filler and Why It Matters for Bleach

When you watch an anime series based on a manga, sometimes the animation studio creates episodes that aren't in the original comic. This happens a lot, especially with long-running shows. These extra episodes are what we call "filler." They are there to give the manga artist more time to create new chapters, so the anime doesn't catch up too quickly. It's a common practice, you know, in the anime world.

Understanding Anime Filler

Filler episodes often feature new characters, side stories, or even entire arcs that aren't part of the main story written by Tite Kubo. While some of these can be fun, they don't move the core plot forward. For Bleach, which has a very rich and detailed world, these episodes can sometimes feel a bit out of place if you are really trying to follow Ichigo's journey directly. So, knowing which ones are filler can actually help you stay focused.

The Impact of Filler on Your Bleach Experience

Skipping filler means you get a more streamlined experience. You stay right on track with Ichigo Kurosaki's quest to protect his friends and the Soul Society. For many, this makes the pacing much better. You avoid moments where the story feels like it's stalling. It's like taking the express train rather than the local, in a way.

The Complete Bleach Filler Episode List

This list will help you easily identify which episodes you can skip if you want to stick strictly to the manga's story. Remember, Bleach aired on TV for a long time, and during that run, Pierrot added quite a few original stories. So, this guide is pretty helpful for new viewers or those rewatching.

Bleach Season 1: The Substitute Soul Reaper Arc

• Episodes 1-20: All Canon.

This first part introduces us to Ichigo and his new powers. It sets the stage for everything that comes next. There's no filler here, which is great for getting into the story right away, you know?

Bleach Season 2: The Soul Society: The Infiltration Arc

• Episodes 21-41: All Canon.

The journey into Soul Society begins here. This arc is incredibly important for the main plot. You really wouldn't want to miss any of these episodes. It's a very exciting part of the story.

Bleach Season 3: The Soul Society: The Rescue Arc

• Episodes 42-63: All Canon.

The climax of the Soul Society saga unfolds here. The battles and revelations are huge. Again, no filler to worry about. This is where a lot of the major plot points come to a head, so it's all vital, you see.

Bleach Season 4: The Bount Arc

• Episodes 64-109: All Filler.

This is the first major filler arc. It introduces new characters called the Bount. Many viewers choose to skip this entire section to get back to the main story. It's a pretty long one, too.

Bleach Season 5: The Bount Assault on Soul Society Arc

• Episodes 110-131: All Filler.

This arc continues the Bount story. If you skipped the previous Bount episodes, you'll want to skip these as well. It's more of the same, in a way, just continuing the non-canon plot.

Bleach Season 6: The Arrancar: The Arrival Arc

• Episodes 132-137: Canon.
• Episode 138: Filler.
• Episodes 139-141: Canon.
• Episode 142: Filler.
• Episodes 143-146: Canon.
• Episode 147: Filler.
• Episodes 148-149: Canon.

The Arrancar saga truly begins here. There are a few scattered filler episodes in this season, so you'll need to pay a little more attention to the list. It's a very important arc for the overall story, so you want to catch the canon parts.

Bleach Season 7: The Arrancar: The Hueco Mundo Sneak Entry Arc

• Episodes 150-151: Canon.
• Episode 152: Filler.
• Episodes 153-159: Canon.
• Episode 160: Filler.
• Episodes 161-167: Canon.

Ichigo and his friends enter Hueco Mundo. This arc is full of action and key developments. Again, there are a few individual filler episodes mixed in, so keep this list handy. It's almost like a puzzle, finding the canon ones.

Bleach Season 8: The Arrancar: Fierce Fight Arc (Part 2)

• Episodes 168-189: All Canon.

The battles in Hueco Mundo intensify. This entire season is pure canon, which is great for continuous viewing. You can just sit back and enjoy the main story without interruption here, you know?

Bleach Season 9: The New Captain Shusuke Amagai Arc

• Episodes 190-203: All Filler.

This is another full filler arc. It introduces a new captain and a new threat to the Soul Society. If you're only interested in the manga's story, you can skip this whole section. It's a rather self-contained story.

Bleach Season 10: The Arrancar vs. Soul Reaper Arc

• Episodes 204-205: Canon.
• Episode 206: Filler.
• Episodes 207-212: Canon.
• Episode 213: Filler.
• Episodes 214-226: Canon.

The conflict between the Arrancar and Soul Reapers escalates. This season has a few more scattered filler episodes, but mostly it's canon content. It's still very much a part of the core narrative, so it's worth following closely.

Bleach Season 11: The Past Arc

• Episodes 227-229: Canon.
• Episode 230: Filler.
• Episodes 231-265: Canon.

This arc reveals important backstory about the Soul Society and certain characters. It's mostly canon, with just one filler episode to look out for. This arc gives a lot of context to later events, so it's quite important.

Bleach Season 12: The Arrancar: Decisive Battle of Karakura Arc

• Episodes 266-299: All Canon.

The final showdown with Aizen and his forces is here. This entire season is pure, intense canon. You'll want to watch every single episode to see how this major conflict plays out. It's almost the peak of the original anime's story.

Bleach Season 13: The Zanpakuto: Unknown Tales Arc

• Episodes 300-302: Canon.
• Episodes 303-305: Filler.
• Episodes 306-310: Canon.
• Episodes 311-316: Filler.

This arc focuses on the Zanpakuto, the Soul Reapers' swords. It's a mix of canon and filler. The main plot points are important, but there are definitely some episodes you can skip if you prefer. It's kind of a unique filler arc, as it involves the weapons themselves.

Bleach Season 14: The Arrancar: Downfall Arc

• Episodes 317-342: All Canon.

The conclusion of the Arrancar saga. This is another fully canon season, bringing a major storyline to its end. You'll be on the edge of your seat with these episodes, so it's great that there are no interruptions.

Bleach Season 15: The Gotei 13 Invading Army Arc

• Episodes 343-366: All Filler.

This is the last major filler arc of the original Bleach anime. It features clones of the Soul Reapers. If you're following the manga's story, you can skip this entire section. It's a pretty distinct story that doesn't tie into the manga's ending.

Bleach Season 16: The Lost Substitute Soul Reaper Arc

• Episodes 367-368: All Canon.

The final episodes of the original Bleach anime are all canon. They set up the next major arc, which is now being animated. These are important for understanding where Ichigo's story goes next, so they're worth watching. So, you definitely want to see these last few.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bleach Filler

People often have questions about how to watch Bleach and deal with its filler. Here are some common ones that might help you out.

Is Bleach filler worth watching?

For many, Bleach filler is a mixed bag. Some arcs, like the Bount arc, are quite long and can really slow down the main story's pace. Other individual filler episodes might offer a fun, lighthearted break. It honestly depends on what you are looking for in your viewing experience. If you want more time with the characters, some filler might be okay, but if you're keen on plot, it's usually a skip.

How much of Bleach is filler?

Bleach has a significant amount of filler. Out of its 366 episodes in the original run, a good portion, more than 160 episodes, are filler. This means over 40% of the original series is not part of the manga's direct story. That's a pretty big chunk, you know, to consider when planning your watch.

Where can I watch Bleach canon episodes?

You can stream Bleach and other popular TV shows and movies, including new releases and classics, on services like Hulu. It's also available on Crunchyroll, where you can experience the latest and greatest anime. You can browse to watch series, episodes, movies, and music videos of your favorite anime in subbed or dubbed formats. For more general anime info, you could check out MyAnimeList.

Making the Most of Your Bleach Watch

Watching Bleach can be an incredible adventure, especially with its rich characters and exciting battles. Knowing which episodes are filler simply helps you tailor that adventure to your liking. You can choose to stick strictly to Tite Kubo's original narrative, or you can watch some of the filler for extra content. It's really up to you, of course.

High school student Ichigo Kurosaki, who has the ability to see ghosts, gains Soul Reaper powers. This premise leads to so many amazing moments. By using this bleach filler episode list, you can ensure your journey through the Soul Society, Hueco Mundo, and beyond is exactly what you want it to be. You can truly appreciate the story as it was meant to be told, in a way.

Whether you're a seasoned Soul Reaper or a newcomer to the Soul Society, this guide is here to make your viewing experience smooth and enjoyable. You can learn more about Bleach on our site, and if you're looking for other great anime series, you might want to check out this page for more suggestions. Happy watching, and may your journey be filled with thrilling canon moments!