Warning: Spoilers for Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, episode #6 and Bleach: Memories of Nobody
Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War made a surprising move in its last episode, seemingly canonizing the first Bleach film. The events of the first Bleach film are referenced directly in the episode, and there is no other explanation that fits.
Overall, the Bleach films are generally considered somewhere between good and not very good, but there is one exception to this: the first Bleach film, Memoirs of Nobody. This particular film was quite well regarded for its lovable original character, Senna, who leaves an impact on Ichigo and friends at the end of the film, only for her very existence to be forgotten as a consequence of what she was. As none of the characters could remember much of the adventure, it was unclear whether the film could be considered canon, although it is by far the closest film to the original canon.
The first Bleach film, Memories of Nobody, is confirmed by Canon
The series references the main setting of the film
In episode #6 of Thousand Year Blood War part 3, Ichigo and friends board a contraption organized by Yoruichi, which was assembled using the powers of the Fullbringers. It is explained that this package of space was once known as Kyogoku, or “Valley of Screams” as it is known in English. These are spaces that exist within the Dangai Precipice World, the space between the dimensions in Bleach. Although things there are generally unstable, the Screaming Valleys are relatively stable realms.
In the episode, Ichigo notes that he has been to a Valley of Screams before, and recognizing that they are not “cute”, realizes that Riruka, whose power only works on things she likes, has done everything she can to help them. However, at no point in the manga does Ichigo visit a Valley of Screams; This only occurs as part of the film No one’s memorieswhen Ichigo is forced to enter the dimension to save Senna from being used by the villains. Senna was a special being known as Shinenju, a composite soul created from those lost in the Valley of Screams.
This line about visiting the Valley of Screams is, in fact, in the manga, and a note from Kubo’s author encourages anyone who wants to know more to watch the film. However, some fans still insisted that the film could not be canon, and that Ichigo must be referring to some other event that happened off-screen. Episode #6, however, includes an eyecatch that explains in detail about the Valley of Screams, and features autumnal leaves and a ribbon in the wind, Senna’s trademarks in the film, confirming the connection. In the Japanese text, it even mentions Shinenju.
The first Bleach movie is still the best
If any Bleach film deserves recognition, it’s the first
The first Bleach film is much more successful than the other Bleach movies for a few reasons. The first is that it’s not very difficult to fit into the canon; There are no wild consequences to this adventure, and while it may be difficult to define it in terms of time, it’s not impossible to squeeze it in. the film really hit the nail on the head with Senna, who appears as an extremely sympathetic character in a tragic situation. Even though fans know that Senna can’t stick around because of who she is, there is still a part of the viewer that hopes that she can somehow survive and carry on.
The film ends on a melancholic and beautiful note, when Ichigo, now returning to his normal life with no memory of Senna, sees a ribbon similar to hers blowing in the wind, and seems for a moment to remember, if only enough to smile. . Senna may have died, but she had a huge impact on Ichigo, even if he can’t remember it. It’s well-executed and definitely worth a watch for any fans who haven’t seen it yet, although the film itself can be a little hard to track down these days.
If there is Bleach film should be retroactively brought into the canon, it makes sense for it to be No one’s memories. The film was designed to not impact the canon too much, doesn’t contradict anything too substantial (a Zanpakuto release is a bit of a misnomer), and, well, it’s just a good film. The fact that it is referenced in this scene (in both the anime and manga) seems to suggest that Kubo feels the same way about the film. If Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War can make this film canon, so it should.