Are Bleach Movies Canon? Everything Fans Need To Know

There's a question every Bleach fan asks at least once: Are Bleach movies canon? With four movies released over the years, it’s hard to tell which ones actually fit into the main story. Most anime movies are fun side adventures, but sometimes, they connect to the original manga in surprising ways.

Bleach’s movies introduce cool new characters, epic fights, and even new locations. But do they really matter in the grand scheme of Ichigo’s journey? Some fans swear by certain films, while others ignore them completely. So, let’s break it down and see which ones (if any) are truly part of Bleach’s official story.

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Are Any Of The Bleach Movies Canon?

Out of all four movies, Bleach: Memories of Nobody has the strongest case for being canon. The manga itself references the Valley of Screams, a key location from the movie, and Ichigo even mentions having been there before. Even Tite Kubo, the creator of Bleach, told fans to watch this movie to understand more about the Kyogoku (Valley of Screams).

Another big clue is Senna, the movie’s main character. She briefly appears in a later filler episode of the anime, hinting that her existence wasn’t just a one-time thing. While the movie’s events don’t drastically change the main story, the fact that the manga acknowledges it makes Memories of Nobody the closest thing to an official Bleach movie.

The Non-Canon Movies: DiamondDust, Fade to Black, And Hell Verse

The other three movies - The DiamondDust Rebellion, Fade to Black, and Bleach: Hell Verse- are generally considered non-canon. While Kubo had some involvement in their creation, none of them are directly referenced in the Bleach manga. DiamondDust Rebellion even introduces ideas that contradict Bleach’s lore, like twin Zanpakutō, which shouldn’t be possible.

Bleach: Hell Verse is a tricky case. Kubo originally wanted to explore Hell in the manga, but couldn’t due to time constraints. However, he was so unhappy with the final movie that he asked for his name to be removed from the credits. While the concept of Hell is canon, the movie’s events definitely aren’t.

Why Does Canon Even Matter?

For some fans, canon is everything. They only care about the story as Tite Kubo wrote it. If a movie isn’t referenced in the manga, they’ll ignore it completely. But for others, the movies are just extra fun adventures, whether they count or not.

At the end of the day, the movies are still worth watching if you love Bleach. They expand the world, introduce cool villains, and give Ichigo some of his best fights. Just don’t expect them to have a lasting impact on the main story (except maybe Memories of Nobody).

Final Verdict: Only One Movie Is Officially Canon

So, are any Bleach movies canon? Yes, but only one. Memories of Nobody is the only film confirmed to be part of the official story, thanks to manga references and Kubo’s own words. The other three movies are fun side stories, but they don’t affect the main plot.

If you’re a hardcore fan who sticks strictly to canon, you can watch Memories of Nobody. But if you just want more Bleach action, all four movies deliver, especially Bleach: Hell Verse, which has some of the coolest animation in the series.