This content contains spoilers from the Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War ArcAfter following Ichigo's story for nearly two decades, the Bleach epilogue left fans with much to be desired with its impetuous execution. The Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Arc depicts a battle of epic proportions, as Kurosaki Ichigo and his fellow Shinigami clash with King Ywach and his Quincy Clan. With Gotei 13 members disintegrating left and right, the almighty Yamamoto included, all hope seems lost - until Ichigo finally gets an opening and overthrows the formidable King.
But all too quickly, the scene skips ahead a decade into the future, showing the unexpected coupling of Ichigo and Orihime alongside Rukia and Renji, as they go about their day in a technologically advanced Seireitei. This epilogue seemed quite abrupt and hastily assembled, leaving readers with more questions than answers.
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Tite Kubo's Health
Physically speaking, Kubo reported that he suffers from torn tendons in his shoulder along with a partial fracture, caused by drawing for hours on end for a solid 15 years. By 2011, his overall health began deteriorating significantly due to a recurring cold that he could not shake. The Mangaka artist would often be bedridden for up to a week at a time, only to recover and fall ill yet again. Although he regularly worked through the pain, Kubo's declining health undoubtedly affected his productivity and made prolonging the Bleach arc a strenuous task. Mental health issues also became problematic as the talented artist battled with depression, aggravated by his creative process which could become a very solitary and isolating experience, debilitating his motivation to continue working on Ichigo's epic tale.
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While deciding the fate of the Manga, Kubo received some fan-mail from a young boy's deathbed, urging the creative genius to continue with his work on Bleach. The anonymous youngster was given 18 months to live out his life, confined to a hospital, and therefore decided to spend his remaining days with his favorite Manga characters. Bleach quickly became his top choice, and he reached out to his favorite Mangaka with his dying wish - asking Kubo to remain true to himself until the very end of Bleach. This request allegedly motivated the artist to finish what he started, and to create something to be proud of. The way that things ended may seem hastily assembled to some viewers, but it was allegedly a calculated decision, and one which leaves doors open for future endeavors.
A possible Spin-off in the Works
The Bleach creative team stand by their word that the show ended how and when they intended it to. Viewers speculate that there is a valid reason for the sudden, uncomfortable time-jump experienced at the end of the Manga - that it was not a rushed ending but instead a platform from which to launch a new arc. Kubo has already tested the waters of spin-off creation with Burn the Witch in 2020, the first season consisting of 12 episodes and the hopes of a second season's release later in 2022. Besides having the same creator, there is a strong link between Burn the Witch and Bleach, as the new spin-off is set in "Reverse London", a magical city within the Soul Society's West Branch. However, no direct connection between the dragon-themed anime and Ichigo's story has been officially made - yet.
The Mangaka has also supplied fans with a one-shot Bleach Manga, Howl From The Jaws Of Hell, which fits in perfectly after the Thousand-Year Blood War Arc. Since sharing a glimpse at Ichigo and Rukia's children, Kazui Kurosaki and Ichika Abarai, Kubo could not resist delving further into the storyline of the next generation of Shinigami. The final Bleach Arc also throws the concept of death on its side, as Yhwach suggests that one's last breath may not truly be the end. This titillating detail, further explored in the one-shot Manga, opens up a world of opportunities for allies and enemies to make a come-back. Hopefully, the creative genius will follow a more lenient routine that is not detrimental to his health, in order to give Bleach fans what they so desperately crave.
A Drop in Ratings
Some fans speculate that Kubo could have continued with the creation of Bleach, albeit at a slower rate, but that Shōnen Jump pressured him into tying up the story. According to a translation by scheneizel on Reddit, Ryohgo Narita made a statement in 2015 claiming that Kubo had intended to end the series within a "year or two." However, a formal announcement was released by the Shōnen Jump editorial department stating that the show needs to be completed by 2016.
This intervention suggests that they had a greater influence on the show's time frame than Kubo did - who claimed that he could offer another two years to the production process. With a significant rise in One Piece's popularity (which aired its 1000th episode in November 2021), it appears that the production company set its priorities elsewhere. Considering that the artist has since released Burn the Witch and Howl From The Jaws Of Hell, suggests that Kubo's creative juices are still flowing, and the highly respected Mangaka is not ready to hang up the towel.
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