The recent announcement of nominees for the Crunchyroll Anime Awards sparked an outcry among fans regarding one notable omission – Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 2.
This highly anticipated continuation of the iconic Bleach anime franchise was overlooked in major categories like Anime of the Year, despite being considered one of 2022’s biggest releases.
While shows like Chainsaw Man and Jujutsu Kaisen received nominations, fans felt Bleach deserved recognition, given the years of built-up hype and creator Tite Kubo’s long-awaited return to the series.
"If Bleach were to ever come back, would you let it win" pic.twitter.com/LOM95Ajlqk
— Daku | To Love Ru Arc | (@DakuKurosaki) January 17, 2024
On forums and social media, supporters expressed frustration that Kubo’s brilliant direction and visual flare in the final arc went unnoticed by the awards.
For many, Bleach defines their love of anime, making its absence feel like an injustice. The stunning animation and emotional conclusion to the saga resonated deeply with longtime devotees.
To exclude it from awards consideration thus struck a painful chord with the passionate fanbase.
In their eyes, few shows matched Bleach’s scale, artistry, and cultural impact last year. By overlooking Part 2, the awards risked alienating swathes of anime viewers who saw Kubo’s epic finale as 2022’s crowning achievement. While they congratulated other worthy nominees, fans concurred Bleach deserved a seat at the table.
Crunchyroll’s Awards Snub and the Unrecognized Significance of Bleach Thousand-Year Blood War
Crunchyroll’s failure to nominate Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War for any major awards has left the entire Bleach fandom disgruntled. While fans aren’t necessarily stating it deserved to win Anime of the Year outright, they feel excluding it from the nominations altogether is unacceptable.
Supporters are perplexed why neither Part One nor the highly-praised Part Two received recognition, given Bleach’s cultural significance and long-awaited return last year. After a decade without new episodes, Tite Kubo’s comeback should have at least warranted a nomination nod.
Fans argue Bleach TYBW deserved acknowledgment as one of 2022’s most monumental anime events. By honoring Kubo’s return along with stunning new animation and an emotional conclusion, the awards could have celebrated both Bleach’s legacy and future.
Instead, Crunchyroll overlooked the intensity of fan devotion and anticipation tied to this sequel series. For devotees who consider Bleach integral to their anime fandom, this snub feels like an erasure of something deeply meaningful.
Even without winning, TYBW’s nomination would have validated years of loyalty now left unrecognized.
While supporters congratulate other worthy contenders, excluding Bleach from consideration strikes an altogether different nerve – one of the fans longing to see Kubo’s vision finally get its due, even belatedly. Its absence leaves them not angry but confused by the message it sends about what merits acclaim.
Fans Express Disappointment Over Crunchyroll’s Awards
After waiting patiently for a decade, Bleach fans finally received the anime’s long-promised final arc – the Thousand-Year Blood War. To their delight, Studio Pierrot exceeded sky-high expectations in adapting creator Tite Kubo’s climax, earning raves for its storytelling, animation and faithfulness to the manga.
Given the years of built-up hype, not to mention the series’ cultural footprint, fans felt Bleach TYBW Part 2 more than deserved awards consideration from Crunchyroll.
Even if victory wasn’t guaranteed, simply recognizing Kubo’s return would have resonated with loyal supporters awaiting this finale.
Seeking answers, some fans speculated rights issues impacted Crunchyroll’s decision since Disney now holds exclusive Bleach streaming rights.
However, most agree it’s unlikely an esteemed organization like Crunchyroll would exclude TYBW from nominations over corporate pettiness or rights alone.
Whatever the reason, fans concur Bleach deserved acknowledgment for excelling after a 10-year wait, helmed by creator Kubo himself. Overlooking that achievement – and fans’ long loyalty – left devotees confused and longing for their dedication to receive higher praise.
While the Awards honored other great series, excluding Bleach struck an altogether deeper nerve for its faithful fandom.
Bleach fans were upset by more than just its snub for Anime of the Year. Supporters also took issue with the acclaimed Thousand-Year Blood War sequel being excluded from Best Score considerations.
Throughout the climactic arc, Bleach’s soundtrack and background cues heightened the drama during pivotal battles and emotional moments. Composers Shiro Sagisu and Masafumi Mima earned praise for blending classic Bleach musical cues with soaring new orchestral pieces.
Fans argue the score brought together old and new sonic elements perfectly to underscore Tite Kubo’s storytelling. It punctuated both the series’ legacy and fresh style, making its absence in scoring categories another confusing snub.
Especially after a decade-long wait, Bleach TYBW’s music resonated deeply along with its animation and plot. Supporters believe that the combination warranted awards validation. Instead, judges focused on newer breakout hits while ignoring a cultural institution’s acclaimed return.
