Country of origin Japan Original network TV Tokyo | No. of episodes 36 | |
Original release July 28, 2009 (2009-07-28) – April 6, 2010 (2010-04-06) | ||
The thirteenth season of the Bleach anime series is based on Tite Kubo's manga with the same name. It is known as the Zanpakutō: The Alternate Tale arc (斬魄刀異聞篇, Zanpakutō Ibun Hen), is directed by Noriyuki Abe and produced by TV Tokyo, Dentsu, and Studio Pierrot. The episodes' plot focus on a new set of events in which the Soul Reaper's swords, zanpakutō, assume human forms and declare war against their wielders, led by a mysterious man named Muramasa, who is a former zanpakutō.
The season began airing on July 28, 2009 until April 6, 2010 on TV Tokyo in Japan. The English adaptation of the Bleach anime is licensed by Viz Media, and this season began airing on November 12, 2011 on Adult Swim in the United States, eventually joining the newly relaunched Toonami block on the same network in the middle of airing the season on May 26, 2012. Aniplex released the season in a series of nine DVD volumes, each containing the first four episodes, from May 26, 2010 to January 26, 2011.
The episodes use five pieces of theme music: two opening themes and three closing themes. The first opening theme, "Shōjo S" (少女S, Shōjo Esu) by Scandal, and the first ending theme, "Mad Surfer" by Kenichi Asai, are used for episodes 230 to 242. The second opening theme, "Anima Rossa" (アニマロッサ) by Porno Graffitti, and the second ending theme, "Sakurabito" (さくらびと, Cherry Blossom Person) by SunSet Swish, are used from episode 243 to 255. The third ending theme, "Tabidatsu Kimi e" (旅立つキミへ, "Leaving You") by RSP is used for episodes 256 to 265.