Image via Anairis Quiñones’ Twitter account

Voice actor Anairis Quiñones recently shared some unexpected news on Twitter that has left Bleach fans in a state of shock. Quiñones announced that she will no longer be voicing the character Yoruichi in the Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War anime. Apparently, the studio and client made a decision to change the direction of the character, resulting in her recordings being replaced. However, Quiñones will continue to voice the character Hiyori.

But here’s where the story takes an intriguing twist. Wendee Lee, the original voice of Yoruichi in the original Bleach anime, revealed that she is returning to the role for Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3 – The Conflict. This unexpected development has brought a wave of excitement among fans, and they can’t wait to hear Lee’s portrayal of the beloved character once again.

The Dubbing Studio Clarifies

Following the announcement, dubbing studio Studiopolis provided clarification on the situation. It turns out that there was a misunderstanding regarding the availability of the original cast members for Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War. In an unfortunate error, Quiñones was offered the role of Yoruichi. By the time the mistake was discovered, it was too late to rectify it before Episode 22 was released. The studio deeply apologized for the confusion and expressed gratitude for the incredible talents of both Quiñones and Lee, who will continue to contribute their voices to Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War. Lee will take on the role of Yoruichi Shihoin, while Quiñones will lend her voice to Hiyori Sarugaki.

Quiñones, in response to the situation, posted a tweet stating that she has not privately responded to Lee, as she is not ready to discuss the matter. She requested that people respect her decision and asked Lee to apologize to her fellow voice actors who had shown their support. Quiñones also stated that she would be taking a break from social media.

A Triumphant Return and Other Casting Changes

It seems that the return of Wendee Lee as Yoruichi isn’t the only casting change in the Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War anime. Some other voices have also been replaced, adding a new dynamic to the English dub. For example, Alain Mesa has taken over the role of Chad, replacing Jamieson Price. Price explained on Twitter that he made the difficult decision to decline auditioning for roles of characters who are people of color. Despite this, he warmly welcomed Mesa’s casting and praised his performance. Mesa himself expressed admiration for Price’s previous portrayal of Chad, stating that Price was a rockstar who brought the character to life. It’s worth noting that Chad is a character of Mexican and Japanese descent, while Mesa himself hails from Cuba.

Additionally, Laura Bailey has been replaced by Anairis Quiñones as the voice of Hiyori in the new anime’s dub. This change has sparked curiosity among fans, who are eager to hear Quiñones’ take on the character.

A Spectacular Arc Continues

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War premiered in October 2022 in Japan and has captivated audiences with its thrilling storyline. The anime, which is streaming on various platforms such as TV Tokyo, Hulu, Disney+, and Ani-One Asia, covers the final arc of the original manga. This arc, known as the Thousand Year Blood War arc, spans volumes 55-74 of the manga.

The English dub of the anime made its debut on Hulu in November 2022, attracting a wider international audience. Fans have been eagerly following the second cour of the series, which premiered on Hulu in the United States, Star+ in Latin America, and Disney+ in select countries on July 8. And the best news is yet to come—the third part of the arc will be released in 2024, promising to deliver even more excitement to fans.

With all these unexpected twists and turns, the Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War anime continues to keep fans on the edge of their seats. Stay tuned for more updates on this incredible series!

Source: Anairis Quiñones’ Twitter account, Wendee Lee’s Twitter account