To be honest, it might be for the best. I have never felt that the anime ever got back to the same animation quality it had during the SS arc, and I have more or less given up on it, focusing on the manga and watching only when there's an especially good fight from canon coming up or there's a lot of buzz about a given episode or filler one-shot.

I'd love to see the Bleach anime go away and only come back long enough to animate each major manga arc in one go as a single season or some such, if that's feasible.

Same here. I only tuned in for a special fight or a couple episodes or so. Lately I've only been catching the crack!eps about the spreads.

As soon as the last Bleach OP showed that they were taking this season up to Ichigo's final Getsuga Tensho I knew it was possible they were going to gecko the Bleach anime ending. as fast as anime chews through manga chapters, the end of the season would see the bleach manga <20 chapters ahead of the manga. it would take several fillers seasons to regain a large enough lead to start, which would lead to another example of what happened to Rurouni Kenshin and the first Naruto series.

Then of course, as you said, ratings for Bleach have never been mindboggling. Even during its more popular arcs it never scored as high as an adaption of such a popular manga should have, and the latest seasons have seen progressively worse performances. Strong DVD sales have kept the series going from around the amagai arc onward, but since Kubo wrote in a perfect ending place, the anime may not decline to take it.

it's not unlikely in the least. I'd almost wager on it, though I'd hesitate to place a bet juuuust yet.

If they end the anime now, it probably means that everything to happen from here on won't ever be animated, but if the Bleach manga runs the full 'nother decade that Kubo has promised, it's highly likely that at some point OVA adaptions or season-shots of later manga arcs will occur. This would almost be preferable to the current setup, since not only would the animation quality increase, the insane censorship would be lessened.

The anime ending with the arrancar as the final enemies overcame by the heroes... I like it, if for no other reason than that it makes my favorite characters seem like a little more than just cannon fodder for those detestable shinigami creatures.

Someone from ANN's forum: "I'm not worried. This just means they're going to make Bleach Z/Shippuden/Greed Island." I wouldn't be surprised if that's the case. Though I wouldn't be surprised by a hiatus either. I think it's rather doubtful the series will permanently end. Time skip is an appropriate point to give the anime series a new subtitle.

I was thinking about Bleach Shippuden too :D. I hope it will starts soon lol.

Personally, I kind of expected a hiatus after the Aizen fight finished, so this is no surprise. After you take away Ichigo's powers there really isnt much to work with for a filler arc without messing with the main plot.

Hopefully bleach will be back after the manga has had enough time to get far ahead!

Yeah, not surprised. I kinda figured there was a hiatus in order when the new OP premiered.

Honestly, I would be kinda happy that the anime would end.

While one part of me would be upset that they would just cut off the ending with the IchiRuki farewell, if they don't stick to the manga, then why bother? I mean, the manga is wonderful. But from what I've heard about the anime (I don't watch it), they either edit scenes, or their fillers are just...weird.

Plus, it would save everyone from an eternally long english dub! (I mean, seriously, have you people read the Viz translations? I buy the manga more to support Kubo and feel like I'm not pirating the new chapters then anything else, really...).

So, I don't know, maybe it'll come back in 6-10 months, when the plot's developed a bit more and they have room to work. But then again, maybe not.
I don't care either way-I read the manga!

Although, does anyone know who Kubo feels about this? Can't imagine what that would be like...having the show based off your story canceled...

I wouldn't be surprised if this really happened. The quality of the anime hasn't picked up since the SS arc, which has always disappointed me personally. I prefer the manga so this doesn't really bother me, but if it's true I'll miss hearing Rukia's voice. :(

Maybe it's just a hiatus though and if that is the case, can we get better quality animation afterwards?

I could see it going on hiatus and coming back as a second series after the manga has gotten a head start.

But I don't know what you're talking about regarding the quality of the animation. This year's fight with Ulquiorra was spectacularly animated, as were many of the other scenes this year (Starrk and Barragan's resurreccions, for example). And while the Zanpakutou Tales arc was filler, it had some excellent animation in it, with some of the fight scenes being extremely well done. Of course, not every episode will be fantasticly drawn - that's the nature of weekly serialized shows like Bleach - but still, it hasn't been as 'meh' as people here seem to describe.

I think the real problem is that if it is the 'final season', then what happens if the anime diverges from the manga? For example, the handholding scene in the anime between Ichigo and Orihime was absolutely non-canonical and heavily influenced perception at the time. Similarly, Rukia and Ichigo's final meeting before Ichigo returns to Fake Karakura town was in the anime - and even praised by Kubo - despite not being in the manga. What happens if the anime crew decides that they want better closure of the series, and cast additional material that influences the ending?

For example, I could easily see them slipping in a scene where Rukia watches Ichigo recover from the final battle, before he wakes up and has his departing scene with her; almost like a parallel to Orihime in Goodbye Halcyon Days. Or we could see Rukia's reaction while Ichigo can't - maybe she cries afterwards, or thinks something that the audience can hear but no one else can - who knows? Who knows what kind of things they could do to deviate the ending?

And, I think it's actually quite possible. I could see a lot of people (who only follow the anime) get upset that there wouldn't be closure on the Ichi/Ruki/Hime love triangle by the end of the series. I could imagine that the animators would be under pressure to appease the fanbase, so I wouldn't dismiss it that they wouldn't try - my examples above prove that they have before.

That's what would worry me more. That they won't leave the right opening for the series to pick up again as Bleach 2, or Bleach Z, or Bleach Shiiiiipppppuuuuuden, or whatever it is they wanna call it. That's more of my concern.

Well, for me it would be a shame if the anime ended, I just love the openings and endings, and the voices are already in my mind when reading the manga xD buuut I agree it kinda has been a bit deceiving in the last times, and I don't like censorship (I mean, she was cut in a half, I wanted to see that!). If the anime ended where the espada arc ends in the manga it would be sad, though. Just think of your fav anime ending like this: sad separation of canon nakama. Very unfair XDDD so I hope it's an hiatus and soon they'll be hopefully following the manga outline (but please no more fillers!).

This happened to Gintama for a bit, and it's coming back this year.
AND THERE WAS GREAT REJOICING~

*REJOICES*

*rejoices*

*JOINS IN THE REJOICING*

REJOICES FOUR. Long live Sorachi Hideaki, we'll see his charactes hitting the screen in HD at April 2011~~ <3

Happening with Reborn. Why not.

I think it's just a hiatus.

Bleach is still incredibly popular - especially the manga.

As an anime fan I way prefer when shows take a break rather than do a lot of fillers. Bleach has had entire seasons of fillers, so it's time to take a break. The animation has already suffered, best to go away before it completely loses all credibility.

The manga has taken a hit in popularity due to the HM arc. I've seen people joking that the new 'Big Three' is Naruto, One Piece and Kimi ni Todoke since Bleach has dropped in the Oricon ranking.

That's actually hilarious XD

(and I like Kimi no Todoke)

Kubo is a dark horse with his manga, he'll pull out some kick-ass surprise soon and everyone will be talking about it.

Bleach anime taking a break would be nothing but positive for the quality of the show.

has anybody commented already on how they love your icon?

coz I totally do! <3 <3 <3

I still like the anime adaption as much as the manga so I'd be happy if it was just a hiatus.

I love your icon. <3!

I love it, too :D Your Rukia is really gorgeous, tho' :)

Hmm, can't say I'll be sad, either. I used to like the anime a veeery long time ago, but these days it just embarrasses me. The seiyuu are all such sweethearts, though, I feel bad for them if this is true. No more Morita interviews...that does sound depressing D;

It doesn't surprise me; I kind of hope the Bleach anime will end and then when the manga finishes up they can animate the rest and make it look really good. I know it happened with Inuyasha so it seems pretty likely.

Haven't watched the anime in ages--only up through the SS arc. It's not really breaking my heart that it's going away for awhile.

After all, the anime has given me more "shipper headachers" then anything else.

I just feel bad for Morita! He loves this job...

Well, I'm really happy with this. I love Bleach as MANGA, but honestly the anime hasn't been very good since the end of Soul Society Arc (filler, bad animation etc.). I think that a break (or end?) is a good thing.

Maybe they will do some OVA, who knows? I would really like them.

I honestly think it's for the best. We're just gonna keep getting lot's of filler anyways. I am not surprised the ratings are low...

Like the majority have already said, I also typically only watch the crack eps or major fights. I wouldn't say that it is ending for good per say, but likely more of a hiatus. I mean Gintama & Reborn are both doing it, and it's probably a smarter move in that they can save on their budget & maybe come back with higher quality stuff.

The only way I would be worried is if there WASN'T a timeskip. The anime ending shortly after a timeskip in the manga is quite obvious evidence that we'll see a sequel series once there's a enough manga content that the anime won't quickly blow through.

Please let this be true. I haven't even got today's ep DL'd yet and my fingers are already tired from screencapping. (Even though I am looking forward to watching the episode.)

Personally, i haven't seen all the anime yet nor read all the manga chapters, because in Latin america the anime/manga nerchandise is a mess. Honestly, the animax latin version DO NOT SHOWS ANIME (yes, you read it) and it was the only channel that showed the first 60 episodes... now, nobody knows who has the rigthts for the series... the manga, in my country is on vol 9... aside all the economy troubles here, anime is excepcionally popular in south america and all the week ends cosplay party are made in different places. So. I can't give a tottally correct opinion on the anime, but the Bount arc was unsuferable (a friend got me he fansubed version) and I got to read the end of the Aizen battle (I still have a promise to fullfil: kill Kubo when he finishes the manga 'cos he killed Gin) I liked more the manga version I have read than the animated, but I found the end of the Aizen battle a little forced and rushed. Like "I finish this here"... well, that's my opinion....

Didnt we just hear that bleach has been planned out for ten more years, i mean yeah the fillers might have lower ratings but come on the main anime is beyond popular even more so than naruto.

From Inuhanyou on Bleach asylum:

"Morita Yosuke, the assistant recording director of Bleach anime, denied the rumor that "The airing schedule has been fixed far in advance and it won't be ended soon." ROOKiEZ is PUNK'D removed the post in their blog."

I liked bleach when it first started but the thing that keep turning me off was all thoses stupid fillers that is what in my opinion annoyed the hell out of people making people wait and wait to get to the main fight scene all they did was just drag it on and on!

I dont wanna bleach to end YET I still prefer for them to make more fillers until they continue the main story with the thousand year arc no matter what u people i dont agree WITH ALL OF U the fillers are awesome not annoying they just waste time which is true but those are good stories i am hoping they create one last filler story arc a big filler story so that people can watch more action a story which is different from the other fillers I LOVE THE FILLERS

I watch every single EPISODE!