• Air date: 28 Jul '09 36 episodes
      The thirteenth season of the Bleach anime series is based on Tite Kubo's manga with the same name. It is known as the Zanpakut?: 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, zanpakut?, assume human forms and declare war against their wielders, led by a mysterious man named Muramasa, who is a former zanpakut?. 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, "Sh?jo 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.
  • List of Episodes (36)
    • 26. Final Chapter Zanpakuto Unknown Tales

      26 Jan '10
      As the dome grows unstable and the Soul Reapers fight the Gillians outside, Ichigo fights Muramasa inside his inner realm, which is collapsing from the grudges of the hollows he consumed to sustain himself. Ichigo questions Muramasa's devotion to Kouga in spite of his apparent motives for freeing the zanpakutos, and insists that he should know what a true bond between a Soul Reaper and a zanpakuto is. Ichigo defeats Muramasa, causing the two to leave his inner world. Muramasa dies after realizin
    • 27. Byakuya's Anger! The Kuchiki Family Collapses

      02 Feb '10
      While Byakuya allows his squad to hold a sakura viewing party at his mansion, two strange attackers arrive, but one of them is quickly defeated by Sode no Shirayuki and Senbonzakura, who have since rematerialized, while the other escapes. Captain Kurotsuchi refers to these attackers as "Sword Fiends", which are zanpakuto who have killed their masters. Rukia and Sode no Shirayuki try lure out the other by having a drinking party, but fail. Soon Rukia and Sode no Shirayuki find the sword fiend att
    • 28. A New Enemy! The True Nature of the Beast Swords

      09 Feb '10
      In the real world, Ichigo encounters a sword fiend, and he and Hitsugaya fight it, but it retreats. Ukitake and Kyoraku infer that there are at least as many sword fiends as the number of Soul Reapers lost in the war, and plan on stabilizing them to return them to sword form, despite Mayuri's lack of interest. The sword fiend is attacked by a hollow, but manages to absorb it. It overpowers Rangiku when she tries fighting it, but Ichigo comes to fight it, disarming it. The hollow-fused sword fien
    • 29. Stray Snake, Tortured Monkey

      16 Feb '10
      Renji and Zabimaru come to the real world following a sword fiend. Chimpette and Snakey split up to search. They find the sword fiend quickly but he escapes. Snakey follows him and is covinced that being free is better. Snakey has trouble doing anything since most people can't see him. Karin is the only person who can see him and ends up taking him home. Renji and Chimpette are wiating in the park and Chimpette is feeling lonley because Snakey isn't there. Ichigo returns home and finds Snakey. A
    • 30. Terror! The Monster That Lurks Underground

      23 Feb '10
      Nanao, Ikkaku and Yamada are all sent to investigate Soul Society's underground waterways following a string of thefts from the 4th Squad's barracks. Despite numerous booby traps the trio soon find the culprit. However, they also find a very dangerous Beast Sword as well.
    • 31. Conclusion?! Hisagi vs. Kazeshini

      02 Mar '10
      Kazeshini, despite being free of Muramasa's control, attacks Hisagi when he, Ikkaku, Izuru Kira and Tetsuzaimon Iba go on a mission to fight Sword Fiends in the Rukon District. After killing a Sword Fiend, Kazeshini finds a dying man who begs him to take care of his child. Kazeshini is frequently annoyed by the child's behavior, but often shows concern for it, and abandons a chance to attack Hisagi when he hears it crying. After defeating another Sword Fiend that is attacking a woman who came fo
    • 32. The Person with the Unknown Ability! Orihime is Targeted

      09 Mar '10
      While Ichigo, Rukia and Urahara investigate a Sword Fiend attacking students, a girl named Kyoko Haida, who has the ability to predict the future and know things she would otherwise not, transfers to Karakura High School. Orihime tries to become friends with her, but learns that her best friend, Mai, rejected her after learning of her ability. A Sword Fiend merges with Kyoko and tries to take over her body, but Ichigo, Rukia and Orihime confront it. Orihime uses her healing powers to separate th
    • 33. Haineko Cries! The Tragic Sword Beast

      16 Mar '10
      While on a mission with Rangiku to fight sword fiends, Haineko encounters one named Narunosuke, whose master was a coward, and who went with the others in order to become stronger. Haineko becomes friends with Narunosuke, sneaking him food and medicine despite Rangiku and the other Soul Reapers' belief that the sword fiends inevitably lose control of themselves and Narunosuke's gradual loss of control. Rangiku arrives to deal with Narunosuke and Haineko tries to stop her, but when Narunosuke los
    • 34. Imprisonment?! Senbonzakura & Zabimaru

      23 Mar '10
      Whilst trying to deliver a recently defeated Beast Sword to the 12th Squad's Barracks Senbonzakura and Zabimaru accidentally get trapped inside. The Zanpakuto then manage to upset Ashisogi Jizou, uncover some of Mayuri's unethical surveillance and destroy the 12th Squad's building.
    • 35. Battle of the Females? Nanao vs. Katen Ky?kotsu

      30 Mar '10
      Nanao decides to bond with Ky?raku's zanpakut?, Katen Kyokotsu. While the older one sips sake with Ky?raku, Nanao and the younger Katen Kyokotsu become friends under the flowers of the garden.Nanao wants to find out what affects the younger Katen Kyokotsu when she sees her playing around with a Sword Fiends life
    • 36. Evolution?! The Wonder of the Final Sword Beast

      06 Apr '10
      As all the Shinigamis' Zanpakuto are struggling fighting a Sword Fiend we flash back a day before to the events that lead to this battle. Kazeshini is battling with a Sword Fiend who has been corned by 9th division, as they get separated Kazeshini is about to give the fatal blow the Sword Fiend turns back to a regular sword. Later on when Kazeshini, Zabimaru, H?zukimaru and Fuji Kujaku (Ruriiro Kujaku) gather together they discuss how they found "that Sword Fiend". They discuss how the Sword Fie