Summary
Bleachfans have been eating well over the past year, with the final arc,Thousand-Year Blood War, in the thick of its second of three announced cours from Studio Pierrot. However,Burn The Witch, another Tite Kubo projectand a spin-off ofBleach, has been dormant ever since its serialization in 2020, which made the recent announcement of a new anime project exciting.
Burn The Witchbegan as a one-shot in 2018 before being serialized in a short 4-chapter run beginning in August 2020, which was promptly adapted to animation by Studio Colorido. The anime was released on streaming platforms in three episodes in October of the same year, while a longer version was released theatrically in Japan.
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“Don’t Judge A Book By Its Cover”
“Burn The Witch #0.8” was revealed on September 16, at the end of the newest episode ofBleach. While the previous film was exclusivelyan adaptation of the serialized run, this new project is actually a prequel that will adapt the one-shot that started it all, “Don’t Judge A Book By Its Cover.” The length and release of the new project haven’t been specified, but given the one-shot’s length, it’s likely to be an OVA.
The main voice cast is returning, and Studio Colorido is once again animating it. Excitingly, this means the return of director Tatsurou Kawano and team Yamahitsuji, of which Kawano is the lead. He has previously served as the animation director on such projects asKabaneri of the Iron FortressandYozakura Quartetin addition to his work onGhost in the Shell,Boruto,Kill la Kill, and many more.
What Is Burn The Witch?
Burn The Witchis a spin-off centered around the Western Branch ofthe Soul Society fromBleach. It is set in London, where the inhabitants of “Front London” go about their lives in ignorance of the threat of dragons, which can only be seen by the inhabitants of “Reverse London.” Ninny Spangcole and Noel Niihashi are two Witches working for Wing Bind, a group that manages the dragon threat, protecting both worlds simultaneously.
This story takes the familiar rules ofBleach’s world but replaces the Japanese aesthetic with one steeped inWestern fantasy tropes and fairy tale influences. Instead of Soul Reapers, there are Witches and Wizards. Instead of Hollows, there are various assortments of Dragons. It’s a fun translation of familiar concepts into a vastly different cultural context, and it’s one of the most striking parts of the series.
Kawano’s team did an exceptional job with the animation, lending this new series a strong visual identity that would be the perfect draw for any new series, much less one associated withBleach. However, despite the visual flare and a great soundtrack by Keiji Inai, the reception toBurn The Witchhas been somewhat mixed.
All of Tite Kubo’s trademarks are there, from impeccably cool-looking characters to creative action, but a common issue among readers/viewers is the world-building and the foundations of the story. While it has all the elements ofa cool new story set in the world ofBleach, it seems to lack the patience to build up a strong foundation from which to tell that story.
From Wing-Bind’s inner politics to concepts like the Dragonclad, to subsequently Ninny and Noel’s guardianship of Balgo, there’s a lot going on. It’s enough to get the audience’s attention, but it perhaps rushes into things a bit too quickly. Then again, to its credit, it’s only had five chapters to introduce readers to this world, but that’s all themorereason that it needs a continuation, which it has lacked for some time.
What’s Next For Burn The Witch?
A “Season 2” of the manga was announced almost as quickly as the first volume came to a close back in 2020, but there hasn’t been anything new written since. It was much the same back in July 2022 when we wrote about the series' future,pondering when it would receive a continuation. As was the case back then, the reason for the story’s hiatus might have to do with Bleach’s return to anime.
Depending on Kubo’s involvement withThousand-Year Blood War, he could be waiting until the series is finished before pouring his time into a new story. Even then, it’s good to temper expectations. While it’s tempting to think ofBurn The Witchas the future ofBleachin a sense, there’s no guarantee that whatever comes next won’t be another short, self-contained story.
With any luck, the announcement of0.8alone is evidence that this story isn’t done just yet, even if the anime is just covering its bases by adapting the remaining chapter.Burn The Witchwasn’t just exciting because of its association withBleach- it was a visually striking concept with a lot of potential. It simply needs time to grow into a real story deserving of the admiration its very aesthetic demands.
