The ending theme for the first thirteen episodes is 'Life is Like a Boat' by Rie Fu, while the remaining seven used 'Thank You!!' by Home Made Kazoku.
The opening theme is Orange Range's single ' Asterisk'. The episodes use three pieces of theme music: one opening theme and two ending themes. The arc started airing in the UK starting in September 2007 on AnimeCentral. It was shown on YTV's Bionix programming block in Canada and Cartoon Network's Adult Swim in the United States, with Bionix airing the show one day sooner. The first English airing of the series was from Septemuntil January 26, 2007. The arc initially ran from Octoto Februin Japan on TV Tokyo. The episodes' plot covers the adventures of Ichigo Kurosaki after becoming a Soul Reaper and assuming the duties of Soul Reaper Rukia Kuchiki. The season adapts the first eight volumes (chapters 1–70) of Tite Kubo's Bleach manga series, spanning twenty episodes. In the English release by Viz Media, the title is changed to The Substitute. The episodes are directed by Noriyuki Abe, and produced by TV Tokyo, Dentsu and Studio Pierrot. The Agent of the Soul Reaper arc ( 死神代行篇, Shinigami Daikō Hen) is the first season of the Bleach anime series.
