The tenth season of the Bleach anime series, released on DVD as the Arrancar vs. Shinigami arc, is directed by Noriyuki Abe and produced by TV Tokyo, Dentsu, and Studio Pierrot. The 16-episode season is based on Tite Kubo's Bleach manga series. The episodes' plot continues to follow Ichigo Kurosaki's and his friends' battle against the Espada, the strongest of former Soul Reaper Captain Sōsuke Aizen's army, to rescue Orihime Inoue. Episodes 204 and 205 are centered on a soccer match developed by the Kasumiōji Soul Reapers who appeared in season 9.
The season first aired from October 14, 2008 until February 3, 2009 on TV Tokyo in Japan. The English adaptation of the anime is licensed by Viz Media, and began airing on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim starting on February 5, 2011, and ended on May 21, 2011. Aniplex released the season in a series of DVD compilations, with each of the four volumes containing four episodes. The first DVD volume was released on May 27, 2009, and the fourth one on August 26, 2009.
The episodes use three pieces of theme music: one opening theme and two closing themes. The opening theme is "Velonica" by Aqua Timez. The first ending theme, "Hitohira no Hanabira" by Stereopony, is used for episode 190 to 201, and the second ending theme, "Sky Chord" by Shion Tsuji, is used for the remainder. To promote the third feature film, Bleach: Fade to Black, which was released on December 13, 2008, the credits from episodes 197 through 201 use teaser footage.
After a recap of Ichigo's battles with Ulquiorra and Grimmjow, Ichigo takes Orihime and Nel and… |
Renji and Uryuu find themselves back in the same room as before with Szayel Aporro waiting for… |
The fight between Nnoitra and Ichigo gets more desperate as Nnoitra is about to crush Nel's head.… |
Uryu and Renji struggle against their clones. Szayel reveals a second ability: he is able to create… |
Neliel's past is revealed through her fight with Nnoitra. Meanwhile, Pesche and Dondochakka mounts… |
Neliel finishes calling out her sword, Gamuza, and transforms into a white centaur. Before… |
Kenpachi kills Tesla in one blow and tells Ichigo to stay out of his fight. He informs Ichigo that… |
Zommari, upset over Byakuya refusing to consider him an equal opponent, releases his zanpakuto,… |
Zommari survives Byakuya’s attack but Byakuya, having already discovered how to counter his ability… |
Rukia regains consciousness, but is told to rest and regain her strength for the battles ahead.… |
Szayel, his senses heightened as a result of the drug, feels Mayuri's zanpakuto piercing through… |
Kenpachi manages to wound Nnoitra with the slash, and finds the right amount of force he needs to… |
Kenpachi continues fighting Nnoitra, and although he is able to keep up with his attacks, he… |
After Kenpachi defeats Nnoitra, he demands Orihime heal him. Before Orihime reaches him, the Espada… |
Back in the real world, Ichigo is in school when he happens upon Lurichiyo from the Kasumioji clan… |
The soccer game officially kicks off, with the referees being the proprietors from the Urahara… |