The recently released trailer for Bleach: Thousand Years of Blood War Part 2 finally reveals Shinji’s long-awaited Bankai.
Bleach fans will finally see Shinji’s banned Bankai, with a report from Sportskeeda compiling a collection of reactions to its glimpse in the recent trailer. This teaser features a moment where Shinji Hirako, the captain of the Gotei 13’s 5th squad, shows off his bankai. The reveal was a monumental moment for Bleach fans as the bankai was never featured in the manga, due to its impractical use on the battlefield. Tite Kubo, the series’ creator, decided he wanted to launch it as an anime adaptation, and the creators agreed.
The trailer reveals an early scene where Shinji confronts a group of regular Wandenreich infantry soldiers. He looked nonchalant about the encounter, smiling at them before speaking and revealing his bankai. The camera then aimed at his eye before cutting it off. Twitter exploded after the trailer went viral, with many users expressing excitement at the chance to see the bankai. One user even called Shinji “the most underrated character in Bleach”, thanks to the nature of his forbidden powers.
The Bleach Manga Never Revealed Shinji’s Bankai
Shinji’s Bankai never appeared in Kubo’s manga, as it was banned after being deemed too dangerous. The power, known as the “Treasure Seal of the Eight Evil Reverses”, disorients opponents and causes them to fight each other. Despite its powerful potential, Shiniji is never allowed to use it as there is a risk of causing his allies to lose sight and perform friendly fire. Shunsui Kyōraku once described it as a bankai that “does not distinguish between friend and foe.” Its only canonical appearance at the time of writing is in the novel Bleach: Can’t Fear Your Own World
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War adapts the final installment of the Kubo manga, focusing on the battle between the Soul Reapers and The Quincy. The anime is directed by Studio Pierrot, which began in 2004 and continued until 2012 when production abruptly ceased. The series went on hiatus for ten years before returning with its latest installment in 2022. It was warmly received by fans and critics alike.
Bleach: The Thousand Years’ Bloodshed Part 2 will return on July 8, 2023. The original series and sequel are available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu.
Source: Sportskeeda