No. of episodes 18 | ||
The third season of the Naruto: Shippuden anime series is directed by Hayato Date, and produced by Studio Pierrot and TV Tokyo. They are based on Part II for Masashi Kishimoto's manga series. The third season aired from April to August 2008 on TV Tokyo. Titled in Japan Twelve Guardian Ninja (守護忍十二士, Shugonin Jūnishi), the anime only season follows Naruto Uzumaki attempting to protect Asuma Sarutobi's monk named Sora.
The season was released on three DVDs in Japan between September 3 and November 5, 2008 by Aniplex. On January 2, 2009 Viz Media and Crunchyroll began providing subtitled Naruto: Shippuden episodes. The English dub began airing on Disney XD on October 28, 2009, with the season aired between November 3, 2010 and March 9, 2011. Viz Media also released it in two DVD boxes on January 25 and April 26, 2011. Manga Entertainment released it in two boxes in the United Kingdom on May 16 and July 11, 2011.
The opening theme for this season was "Blue Bird" (ブルーバード, Burūbādo) by Ikimono-gakari, and the ending themes were "Sunao na Niji" (素直な虹, "Honest Rainbow") by Surface from episode 54 to 63 and "Broken Youth" by NICO Touches the Walls from episode 64 to 71. The second feature film, Naruto Shippuden The Movie: Bonds, based on the series, was released on August 2, 2008. The broadcast versions of episodes 70 and 71 include scenes from the film in the opening themes, while still retaining the original music.