The 22-year run of one of Japan’s Big Three has officially come to a close, with uproarious praise and celebration worldwide.

BLEACH creator Tite Kubo and Pierrot Films are currently celebrating with fans as the BLEACH: THOUSAND-YEAR BLOOD WAR Anime officially comes to a close with the release of Episode 50: Death and The Strawberry.

This marks not just the end of the season, but the end of the BLEACH Anime in general, finally fulfilling the promise made to fans back in 2012 when the original anime ended to bring the final arc to the silver screen when the time is right. And now, over 14 years later, that ending is finally on screen.

Despite the original manga’s mixed reception on its conclusion back in 2016, the final two episodes of BLEACH: Thousand Year Blood War, which adapt the chapters widely considered part of the ‘rushed’ conclusion of the source material, currently sit at a 9.3 rating for episode 49 and a 9.1 rating for episode 50 on IMDb, respectively, marking them as some of the highest-rated episodes in the entire franchise. Showing that with a new, modernized production to go along with Kubo’s personal involvement in the direction and writing of the anime, a second chance was possible for one of Japan’s most influential contemporary works to receive the conclusion it deserved.

Episode 49 ‘The Blade’ and episode 50 ‘Death and the Strawberry’ adapt just the final two chapters of the original manga, leaving lots of room open for new additions, and that is exactly what is done here, with the final battle of Bleach focusing on the ensemble of big players and fan favorites from the arc like Uryu Ishida, Shunsui Kyoraku, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, and more instead of just Ichigo on his own with light assistance, leaving fans with a more spread-out and slower-paced final battle that was originally seen as undercooked back when the final chapters were initially released.

Fans on social media, along with the staff, are saying their goodbyes and thanks to the story on social media. Popular Anime YouTuber and Bleach fan @DBZimran says in a Twitter post: “BLEACH TYBW Episode 50 was the PERFECT send-off, cannot believe BLEACH is over for now…”

This celebration is joined by many others also speculating whether or not this is truly the end. With many light novels and a manga one-shot teasing a potential sequel still possible, nothing is off the table for there to be more BLEACH stories on-screen in the future.

Long-time Voice Actor for the BLEACH anime, Ryotaro Okiayu, who portrays Byakuya Kuchiki, even said himself: "I'd love to see the one-shot released after this animation someday too." Per his own personal account @Chikichikiko on Twitter.

But for now, with nothing guaranteed, BLEACH is officially over. Though time will tell if it'll remain permanent.