Bleach is one of the most popular anime series in the world. It is a part of the "Big Three" of Shueisha'sShonen Jump. It has a large fanbase that was eagerly awaiting the return of the anime, and it finally happened in 2022. The Thousand Blood War arc has been exquisitely animated, which has earned the series many new viewers.
​​​​​​The first cour has already finished, and the second is set to be released in July 2023. This means there is ample time to rewatch the show or get into it before the next set of episodes starts to air. For a person who is short on time, it would be smart to start with the shortest Bleach arcs in order to refresh their memories.
8 Soul Society: The Rescue Arc (22)
The Soul Society: The Rescue arc brings an end to the retrieval of Rukia. Ichigo and his friends infiltrate the Soul Society in hopes of rescuing Rukia, but many powerful characters stand in their way. These characters want to ensure that she is punished properly.
The arc is fast-paced, so even the twenty-two episodes feel very short. The story and the action make it one of the best arcs in the entire Bleach series despite being one of the shortest.
7 Soul Society: The Sneak Entry Arc (21)
At the end of the first arc of the anime, the members of the Soul Society find out about Rukia's actions. They take her away and sentence her to death. Ichiho, being a noble man, decides to rescue her, but the journey turns out to be rather arduous.
In the Soul Society: The Sneak Entry arc, Ichigo and his friends try to enter the Soul Society to help Rukia. The arc has exciting battles featuring the likes of Kenpachi, Renji, and Ikkaku. It also includes the fake death of Aizen, which turns out to be an important event in the future.
6 Agent of the Shinigami Arc (20)
The Agent of the Shinigami is the very first arc in the series. It introduces Ichigo and various other characters who play an important role in the anime. In the arc, Ichigo meets Rukia, and it causes his entire life to change. Ichigo gains the power of a Shinigami and successfully fends off hollows that threaten his family.
Ichiho tries his best to balance life as a Shinigami and a high school student. He initially struggles to maintain the dual life, but over time, he manages to gain stability. Despite being the first arc, it does have a decent amount of action, and it comes in the final episodes.
5 Arrancar: The Hueco Mundo Sneak Entry Arc (20)
When Orihime was taken to Hueco Mundo, Ichigo had no other option but to go there and rescue her. Aizen commanded the Arrancar to kidnap Orihime. For the production of this arc, Tite Kubo actually stepped in and helped the studio produce the episodes.
The standout moment from the arc involved Grimmjow, who regained his arm and reclaimed his position as one of the Espada. For some people, the arc may feel a bit boring as there are nine filler episodes, but it's still a good arc.
4 Arrancar: Decisive Battle of Karakura Arc (17)
As the name suggests, this arc focuses on the battle taking place in Karakura Town, which is important for the existence of Soul Society. In the arc, the Soul Reapers engage in combat with Aizen's Arrancar army. The Soul Reapers try to stop Aizen from using Karakura Town to invade Soul Society.
The Arrancar: Decisive Battle of Karakura has fights involving Yamamoto, Ichigo, and Rangiku, to name but a few. The arc does have a few filler episodes though, which unnecessarily increases the overall count to 17.
3 Arrancar vs. Shinigami Arc (16)
In the Arracar vs. Shinigami arc, fans get an opportunity to see multiple battles that involve different Espada and Soul Reaper Captains, which is reason enough for anyone to be hyped. The different fights mean that there are various types of powers on display.
In the arc, Kenpachi locks horns with Nnoitra, which makes for an intense fight. There is a lot of action involving Nel, who finally returns to her normal adult form and joins the fray. Aizen also reveals his plan to trap Ichigo and co. in Hueco Mundo.
2 Arrancar: The Fierce Fight Arc (16)
Arrancar: The Fierce Fight arc is packed with action, and it offers many enthralling battles. It starts with Ichigo continuing his battle with a former Espada, who tries to force the protagonist into using his powers.
Later in the arc, Ichigo clashes with Grimmjow. The fight between them is exquisite, and a person can watch it multiple times without getting bored. After a rough start, Ichigo eventually manages to take down Grimmjow and take Orihime away from Las Noches.
1 The Past (7 Episodes)
The Past is the shortest arc in the entire Bleach anime. It consists of only seven episodes, which means it can easily be finished in a single day. The arc is focused on Aizen, and it takes place 110 years prior to the current timeline. It showcases his betrayal and how he managed to frame Kisuke Urahara.
Due to this reason, Kisuke Urahara was banished from the Soul Society. The Past is a solid arc, and it does not extend the story unnecessarily, which has made it a major hit within the Bleach community.