One Piece season 13
Luffy infiltrates Impel Down to save his brother Ace.
The thirteenth season of the One Piece anime series, titled "Impel Down," was produced by Toei Animation and directed by Hiroaki Miyamoto, based on Eiichiro Oda's manga. It focuses on the imprisonment of Portgas D. Ace and Luffy's attempt, with Boa Hancock's help, to infiltrate the great prison Impel Down to save him.
- title
- One Piece season 13
- also_known_as
- Impel Down
- broadcast_dates
- October 18, 2009 – June 20, 2010
- episodes
- 35
- network
- Fuji Television
- director
- Hiroaki Miyamoto
- studio
- Toei Animation
Lore & Background
The season begins with Luffy's attempt to rescue his adoptive older brother Portgas D. Ace from the great prison Impel Down, aided by Boa Hancock. Along the way, Luffy encounters several old enemies from his past who are also prisoners, including Buggy the Clown, Mr. 2 (Bon Clay), and Mr. 3. The season also includes a four-episode arc titled "A Gold Lion's Ambition," set outside the current continuity, which serves as a prologue to the concurrently released One Piece Film: Strong World, featuring Luffy and his crew's run-in with pirates hired by Shiki, the film's main antagonist.
Reader's Guide
The Impel Down season is significant for its intense prison-break storyline and the reintroduction of past antagonists as allies. It aired on Fuji Television from October 18, 2009, to June 20, 2010, totaling 35 episodes. The season used two opening themes: "Share the World" by TVXQ and, from episode 426 onward, "Kaze o Sagashite" by Mari Yaguchi with the Straw Hats. In North America, Funimation Entertainment recategorized the season as the end of "Season Seven" and the opening of "Season Eight" for its DVD release. The season's beginning was announced in the One Piece Movie 10 Guide Book, "One Piece-Pia." DVD compilations were released in Japan on June 1, 2011, and September 6, 2011.
Did You Know?
- The season consists of 35 episodes broadcast from October 18, 2009, to June 20, 2010.
- The four-episode arc "A Gold Lion's Ambition" serves as a prologue to One Piece Film: Strong World.
- The second opening theme, "Kaze o Sagashite," was performed by Mari Yaguchi with the Straw Hats.
- In North America, the season was recategorized as the end of Season Seven and the start of Season Eight by Funimation Entertainment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is One Piece season 13?
It is the 13th season of the One Piece anime, commonly referred to as the Impel Down arc, in which Luffy mounts a desperate rescue mission to free his brother Ace from the world's most heavily fortified prison. The season was produced by Toei Animation under director Hiroaki Miyamoto.
How many episodes are in One Piece season 13 and when did it air?
The Impel Down arc spans 35 episodes and broadcast on Fuji Television from October 18, 2009, through June 20, 2010.
What is the main plot of One Piece season 13?
After the Marines capture Ace, Luffy turns to Boa Hancock for her aid in infiltrating Impel Down, the maximum-security prison, to reach his brother before his execution date. The breakout attempt spirals into a full-scale prison upheaval that draws in other notorious inmates and challenges the warden's control.
Who are the key characters in One Piece season 13?
The arc is anchored by Luffy, Ace, and Boa Hancock, while also giving major roles to Impel Down's warden Magellan and fellow inmates such as Enel and Crocodile who become entangled in the chaos.
Why is One Piece season 13 important to the overall story?
It acts as the essential bridge between the Amazon Lily storyline and the Marineford war, crystallizing the emotional stakes of Luffy and Ace's brotherhood and setting the stage for the naval battle that follows.
More in One Piece seasons 1-22
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