Hype for Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 4 has never been greater, which is why a new update, courtesy of studio Pierrot, is so disappointing. According to well-known Bleach fan @0ciha, Pierrot revealed at a special Bleach event in Japan that Thousand-Year Blood War Part 4: The Calamity does not have a set release date and will not be released this year.

Though the Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War has followed a yearly release schedule for each of its first three parts, it makes sense that Part 4 would break the mold. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 4: The Calamity isn't just wrapping up this particular Bleach arc; it's concluding the entire series. With many fan complaints of the manga focused on the finale, Pierrot has a herculean effort ahead of them.

How Are Bleach Fans Reacting To The Potential Delay?

Reactions Are Mixed, But More Positive Than Many Would Expect

Many fans are understandably upset that Thousand-Year Blood War Part 4 isn't returning in 2025. X Naruto's four new episodes, which were supposed to release in September of 2023, but still haven't come out.

Despite the potential for Thousand-Year Blood War Part 4 to not release until 2026 though, most fans responding to the news were positive. X @yulcheon132602 summarized the feelings of many fans when they wrote, "It would be better if it was 2026. If it was 2025, there would be quality issues. We can see a trailer around October." Surprisingly, this seems to be the dominant opinion among fans responding to the news on X.

If Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 4 Isn't Releasing In 2025, When Will It Release?

All Signs Point To a 2026 Release For The Last Season Of Bleach's Anime

Though the fourth cour of Thousand-Year Blood War has no official release date, it seems likely that Pierrot will only need an extra year to finish work on the series. Delaying the anime any further might make the last part miss out on the tremendous wave of popularity and visibility the series has seen ever since the Thousand-Year Blood War anime began. A 2026 release date would give Pierrot time to make the series' finale as spectacular as possible while still riding high on hype from other Bleach projects.

Unfortunately, though fans had hoped Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 4 would get a release date during the March 31st Bleach presentation in Japan, that is clearly not happening. Still, though the delay is unfortunate, fans who suggest this delay is largely a good thing have the right idea. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War's final part is one of the most anticipated anime in recent memory, and fans can at least rest assured that it will be anything but rushed.