BLEACH：To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the TV anime broadcast, visuals of the powerful enemies are released, along with comments from the "powerful voice actors"

A key visual has been released to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the TV anime adaptation of Kubo Tite's popular manga "BLEACH," which was serialized in "Weekly Shonen Jump" (Shueisha). It depicts the formidable foes that Ichigo Kurosaki has fought fiercely against, such as Byakuya Kuchiki, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, Ulquiorra Cifer, Sousuke Aizen, Kugo Ginjo, and Yhwach. The stellar voice actors who played these formidable foes have provided comments.

Okiayu Ryutaro, who plays Kuchiki Byakuya, commented, "Congratulations on the 20th anniversary of the BLEACH anime. Even at the time, the studio had a lively cast and was full of the desire to make the work even better. I was probably a bit cheeky at the time, but I'm sure I was filled with that desire as well. I couldn't be happier that a sequel to BLEACH has been revived as a TV series 10 years later, and that we actors will be able to play the same characters. I'm also full of gratitude to everyone who supported us. Let me express my strong desire to see the end of the work in the words that are synonymous with Byakuya: 'Scatter.'" Suwabe Junichi, who plays Grimmjow Jeagerjaquez, said, "Celebrating the 20th anniversary! At the launch party for the TV anime series in 2012, Kubo-sensei said to me, 'Grimmjow isn't dead!' That was a memorable moment for me. I was happy when he reappeared in the original work, but I was sad that I would never get the chance to play him. And I never expected it to happen! He was matched up with the main character and left his mark on the story. I'm really glad that so many people still love him. I hope you'll look forward to his appearance in the Thousand-Year Blood War arc!" Namikawa Daisuke, who plays Ulquiorra Cifer, commented, "At the time, the dubbing was done in a studio that was not particularly large, and the atmosphere was filled with heat. It felt like I was in the middle of a whirlpool of enormous energy. Suddenly, I was added as a cool character. The tension didn't fluctuate, the voice volume wasn't loud, and if I tried to add color or tone to it, it wasn't needed. It was my own struggle among characters that were like lumps of passion. The many words of encouragement that drew attention to this were very encouraging. And above all, I was happy to have been able to play a character that was loved by so many people. 20th anniversary! Of course, it's all thanks to the power of the original work, but also thanks to all the support. It's an especially special thing for a voice actor to be able to play the same character for so long. I'm truly grateful. This is what the heart is like." Hayami Shou, who plays Aizen Sousuke, said, "Congratulations on the 20th anniversary. It's been so long already. It seems like just the other day that his fierce battle with Ichigo took place. Aizen never compromises and exists as a strong, solitary figure. Those days of facing considerable difficulty and pressure were fulfilling. Of course, I intend to continue to play Aizen correctly. Please continue to enjoy BLEACH." Tochi Hiroki, who plays Ginjo Kugo, commented, "Hello, I'm Tochi Hiroki, who plays Ginjo Kugo. I remember how happy I was when I found out I could appear in the hugely popular 'BLEACH' at the time. I remember being conscious of varying the pace when playing Ginjo, as he has a calm yet cruel personality. There was a battle scene with Ichigo where strength collided with strength. I have fond memories of sweating in the studio, my veins almost bursting. I'm very happy to be able to play such a fascinating character again, and I'll do my best to make everyone happy, so please look forward to it!"

Takayuki Sugo, who plays Yhwach, said, "I have participated as Zangetsu for 20 years. At the time, I was not used to recording anime, so I relied on Masakazu Morita, who plays Ichigo, to play Zangetsu. And then there's Yhwach. The characters are similar, but I feel that the magnitude of his presence makes it all the more rewarding. There are many BLEACH fans around me, and some even send me illustrations of Yhwach that they made, and I'm amazed at the power of the work. Thank you everyone! Please continue to support BLEACH even more!!" BLEACH is a manga that depicts Ichigo Kurosaki, who has acquired the powers of a Shinigami, fighting evil spirits called Hollows with his friends and going on an adventure across other worlds. It was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 2001 to 2016, and became one of the magazine's most popular works. The TV anime series aired from 2004 to 2012, and four animated films were released, as well as a live-action film starring Fukushi Sota in 2018. The final chapter, "The Thousand-Year Blood War Arc," based on the original work, will be broadcast in four separate seasons, with the first season airing from October to December 2022 and the second season from July to September 2023. The third season, "BLEACH: The Thousand-Year Blood War Arc - Conflict Story," will air on TV Tokyo and other channels from 11:00 PM on October 5th.