Why The Bleach Anime Took Such a Long Hiatus

Summary Bleach was considered the weakest of the "big three" shonen anime due to declining popularity and the anime's cancellation. The 10-year hiatus for the Bleach anime paved the way for improved production values and the complete elimination of filler content, rewarding dedicated fans with a high-quality final arc. The hiatus no doubt shrank the fan base a great deal, and the influx of new fans probably won't make up for it. The shonen "big three" dominated the anime scene in the 2000s, including Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto, Eiichiro Oda's One Piece, and Tite Kubo's Bleach. Each had a serious influence on the anime that came after them and commanded legions of loyal fans. To this day, they are all hugely popular. However, many anime fans consider Bleach the weakest of this legendary trio due to manga volume sales, popularity, and the anime's quality over the years. None of that is to say that Bleach is no longer worth loving, but the anime did suffer a serious blow that left a lasti...