Season 13

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, 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. 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" 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" by Porno Graffitti, and the second ending theme, "Sakurabito" by SunSet Swish, are used from episode 243 to 255. The third ending theme, "Tabidatsu Kimi e" by RSP is used for episodes 256 to 265.

Season episodes list 13

S13E01

S13E01 : The Materialization of Zanpakutō 7.88/10 (aired on 07/28/2009)

A mysterious man informs a group of strange beings that it is the time to strike. Ichigo Kurosaki…
S13E02

S13E02 : Byakuya, Disappearing with the Cherry Blossoms 7.77/10 (aired on 08/04/2009)

Ichigo finds Rukia injured in the world of the living, and that she is being attacked by a strange…
S13E03

S13E03 : Sode no Shirayuki vs. Rukia! Confused Heart 7.74/10 (aired on 08/11/2009)

Rukia rushes back to the 6th Division HQ and is reunited with Renji. However, Byakuya's status…
S13E04

S13E04 : Zangetsu Becomes an Enemy 8.14/10 (aired on 08/18/2009)

Muramasa sends Sode no Shirayuki away, and Ichigo asks why he wanted the zanpakutō to gain…
S13E05

S13E05 : Renji Surprised?! The Two Zabimarus 7.75/10 (aired on 08/25/2009)

Rukia is found by the 4th Division and sent to recover from her injuries. Hisagi and his men patrol…
S13E06

S13E06 : Clash! Hisagi vs. Kazeshin 8.02/10 (aired on 09/01/2009)

Kyoraku and Ukitake discuss the possibility that defeating the zanpakutō spirits will destroy the…
S13E07

S13E07 : Release! The New Getsuga Tenshō 8.18/10 (aired on 09/08/2009)

Hisagi is wounded in a surprise attack by Kazeshini, but Izuru intervenes to help him, and using…
S13E08

S13E08 : Soi Fon, Surrounding the Zanpakutō 7.76/10 (aired on 09/15/2009)

Ichigo reports his findings of Muramasa's abilities to Ukitake, Shunsui and Unohana. In order to…
S13E09

S13E09 : Friendship? Hatred? Haineko & Tobiume 7.78/10 (aired on 09/22/2009)

Ichigo continues searching for Byakuya, and encounters the spirits of Tobiume and Haineko, who are…
S13E10

S13E10 : The Awakening Hyōrinmaru! Hitsugaya's Fierce Fight 7.77/10 (aired on 09/29/2009)

Ichigo is still trapped in the ice prison Hyorinmaru imprisoned him in as Toshiro and Hyorinmaru…
S13E11

S13E11 : Byakuya's Betrayal 7.8/10 (aired on 10/06/2009)

Mayuri experiments on Gegetsuburi, and discovers that the zanpakuto only return to their owners'…
S13E12

S13E12 : For the Sake of Pride! Byakuya vs. Renji 7.73/10 (aired on 10/13/2009)

The shinigami discuss Byakuya's betrayal, and the discovery that if a zanpakuto is killed by anyone…
S13E13

S13E13 : Shinigami and Zanpakuto, Total Sortie 8.34/10 (aired on 10/20/2009)

Ichigo goes to confront Byakuya, but Senbonzakura intercepts him, and he and Ichigo fight each…
S13E14

S13E14 : One-to-One Fight! Ichigo vs. Senbonzakura 7.93/10 (aired on 10/27/2009)

Soifon fights Tengen and Gonryomaru, making some progress, but then her zanpakuto, Suzumebachi…
S13E15

S13E15 : The long awaited... Kenpachi appears! 8.3/10 (aired on 11/03/2009)

Isane and Iba come face to face with Ashisogi Jizou, Tobiume and Haineko. It is then up to Hinamori…
S13E16

S13E16 : Pursue Byakuya! The Confused Gotei Divisions 7.94/10 (aired on 11/10/2009)

Ichigo continues fighting Senbonzakura while Kenpachi fights Byakuya, but Ashisogi Jizo appears and…
S13E17

S13E17 : Special Mission! Rescue Captain-Commander Yamamoto! 8.35/10 (aired on 11/17/2009)

The Captains begin planning on how they're going to rescue Yamamoto, knowing that they're going to…
S13E18

S13E18 : Deceived Shinigami! The World Collapse Crisis 8.2/10 (aired on 11/24/2009)

Whilst trying to rescue Captain-Commander Yamamoto Kyouraku faces off against Katen Kyoukotsu,…
S13E19

S13E19 : Dragon of Ice and Dragon of Flame! The Strongest Showdown! 7.89/10 (aired on 12/01/2009)

Ichigo and the others are trapped in the fires of Ryūjin Jakka, he and the others try to free…
S13E20

S13E20 : Senbonzakura's Bankai! Offense and Defense of the Living World 7.67/10 (aired on 12/08/2009)

While Yamamoto, Kyouraku, Hitsugaya and Ukitake deal with Ryuujin Jakka, Kenpachi is finally…
S13E21

S13E21 : That Man, For the Sake of the Kuchiki 7.72/10 (aired on 12/15/2009)

In a flashback several centuries ago, it is revealed that Kouga was part of the Kuchiki Clan as…
S13E22

S13E22 : Dark History! The Worst Shinigami is Born 7.65/10 (aired on 12/22/2009)

The 3 elites are gloating over their success when Kōga and Muramasa appear. Kōga kills them, and…
S13E23

S13E23 : Byakuya, the Truth Behind His Betrayal 7.9/10 (aired on 01/05/2010)

Kōga Kuchiki sees Byakuya Kuchiki’s scarf and hairpiece and, having never met Byakuya before,…
S13E24

S13E24 : Muramasa's True Identity Revealed 7.89/10 (aired on 01/12/2010)

After Kouga's defeat, Muramasa becomes unstable, as he had absorbed hollows in order to sustain…
S13E25

S13E25 : Byakuya and Renji, the 6th Division Returns 7.39/10 (aired on 01/19/2010)

The Shinigami and their newly deprogrammed Zanpakuto arrive to join the fight against Muramasa.…
S13E26

S13E26 : Final Chapter: Zanpakutō Unknown Tales 7.81/10 (aired on 01/26/2010)

As the dome grows unstable and the Soul Reapers fight the Gillians outside, Ichigo fights Muramasa…
S13E27

S13E27 : Byakuya's Anger! The Kuchiki Family Collapses 7.57/10 (aired on 02/02/2010)

While Byakuya allows his squad to hold a sakura viewing party at his mansion, two strange attackers…
S13E28

S13E28 : A New Enemy! The True Nature of the Beast Swords 7.48/10 (aired on 02/09/2010)

In the real world, Ichigo encounters a sword fiend, and he and Hitsugaya fight it, but it retreats.…
S13E29

S13E29 : Stray Snake, Tortured Monkey 7.28/10 (aired on 02/16/2010)

Renji and Zabimaru come to the real world following a sword fiend. Chimpette and Snakey split up to…
S13E30

S13E30 : Terror! The Monster That Lurks Underground 7.71/10 (aired on 02/23/2010)

Nanao, Ikkaku and Yamada are all sent to investigate Soul Society's underground waterways following…
S13E31

S13E31 : Conclusion?! Hisagi vs. Kazeshini 7.34/10 (aired on 03/02/2010)

Kazeshini, despite being free of Muramasa's control, attacks Hisagi when he, Ikkaku, Izuru Kira and…
S13E32

S13E32 : The Person with the Unknown Ability! Orihime is Targeted 7.24/10 (aired on 03/09/2010)

While Ichigo, Rukia and Urahara investigate a Sword Fiend attacking students, a girl named Kyoko…
S13E33

S13E33 : Haineko Cries! The Tragic Sword Beast 7.2/10 (aired on 03/16/2010)

While on a mission with Rangiku to fight sword fiends, Haineko encounters one named Narunosuke,…
S13E34

S13E34 : Imprisonment?! Senbonzakura & Zabimaru 6.94/10 (aired on 03/23/2010)

Whilst trying to deliver a recently defeated Beast Sword to the 12th Squad's Barracks Senbonzakura…
S13E35

S13E35 : Battle of the Females? Nanao vs. Katen Kyōkotsu 6.92/10 (aired on 03/30/2010)

Nanao decides to bond with Kyōraku's zanpakutō, Katen Kyokotsu. While the older one sips sake with…