Gintama 銀魂

2006 spring | Episodes: 201 | Score: 8.9 (407211)

Updated every Thursdays at 18:00 | Status: Finished Airing

Type: TV

Streaming: Crunchyroll | Netflix

Synopsis

Edo is a city that was home to the vigor and ambition of samurai across the country. However, following feudal Japan's surrender to powerful aliens known as the "Amanto," those aspirations now seem unachievable. With the once-influential shogunate rebuilt as a puppet government, a new law is passed that promptly prohibits all swords in public. Enter Gintoki Sakata, an eccentric silver-haired man who always carries around a wooden sword and maintains his stature as a samurai despite the ban. As the founder of Yorozuya, a small business for odd jobs, Gintoki often embarks on endeavors to help other people—though usually in rather strange and unforeseen ways. Assisted by Shinpachi Shimura, a boy with glasses supposedly learning the way of the samurai; Kagura, a tomboyish girl with superhuman strength and an endless appetite; and Sadaharu, their giant pet dog who loves biting on people's heads, the Yorozuya encounter anything from alien royalty to scuffles with local gangs in the ever-changing world of Edo. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Voice Actors

Kugimiya, Rie

Sugita, Tomokazu

Yaguchi, Asami

Yonezawa, Madoka

Sakaguchi, Daisuke

News

Reviews

Faiyaz007
01/24/2021, 02:56 AM
Comedy that never once fails to make us laugh Tear jerking story that actually bring tears after laughing Good action that rival some good shounen out there Very little romance that is not forced that actually spice things up some time Decent story despite being a comedy Great villain that is not bad guy because story needed one At first I was reluctant to watch this, I am glad I changed my mind. This anime has everything, literally! It even have other anime inside it lol. A definite 10/10 and I won't be exaggerating when I call this BEST anime. Bye Gintama and thanks for all the good memories.
Optigisa
09/22/2019, 10:09 AM
Gintama is a very inconsistent and overrated series. Many Anime fans tend to praise Gintama as the best battle shonen Anime of all time, and they inflate it’s status even further by giving it perfect ratings, and while Gintama is a show that does good in some aspects or during some arcs, it fails at being a consistent show throughout it’s long two hundred and two episode run, which hinders it from becoming good or even great by extension. Gintama is definitely not a bad show, far from it actually. It is just that Gintama suffers from problems that cannot be overlooked, and today weare here to see why this Anime is fine as it is, though not good and certainly not the greatest. The first problem or issue that Gintama suffers from are the filler episodes that almost every battle shonen suffers from. While there aren’t many filler episodes in this series, there are still some filler episodes that cannot be overlooked, and they hinder from the overall show. Fillers hinder a show due to them not being necessary to the overall plot, and while the filler episodes here are considerably less than those of other famous battle shonen series, they still exist and cannot be overlooked. A second issue that this series suffers from is the lack of any imagination or thought when it comes to the comedy in it. The comedy throughout the whole series boils down to: -Poop jokes -Toilet paper humor -Someone calling Kagura his boss -Someone saying “Zura Ja Nai, Katsura Da” -References to other Anime such as Dragon Ball, Nausicaa of the Valley of the wind, and such -Funny faces -Jabs at otakus -A homeless man -An angry brother and an angry sister beating people up because they are angry Due to this, the characters become plot devices to convey one or two jokes every episode rather than develop and move on from them. Heaven forbid a character evolves from the same joke he was given since the first few episodes, into a character who actually becomes developed and well written. Heaven also forbid this series learns how to create most of it’s jokes without the need to rely on references from other Anime, take a jab at some, or just use the same joke over and over again until it becomes stale. Toilet humor is hysterical the first time it is used, and the second time is not a big deal, but when it exceeds that line, that is when we have a problem. Besides that, the humor in Gintama is not so bad, the references could work at times and when they do, they turn hilarious and are genuinely some of the funniest episodes an Anime fan could see. Take a look at episode 119, which is probably the best Dragon Ball Z parody an Anime or anything for that matter ever pulled off. The same goes for episode 110, which is easily the funniest episode in the whole series, if not the entirety of Anime as a whole. Gintama has genuinely funny humor when it works, but alas, these episodes are a rare gem to find in a series that uses and repeats the same gags over and over again until they turn trite. The third and most important issue that Gintama suffers from is the lack of a plot or a narrative that connects all the episodes together one by one. It feels meandering, as the viewer wonders why they are watching this series in the first place. Due to there not being a plot, it becomes predictable as to what it’s formulaic episodic structure will be: Either an episode about something absurd that comes out of nowhere due to this world being inhabited by all kinds of zany creatures, some unfunny jokes which are repeated over and over again, or some random enemy coming from afar to wreak havoc on the city. Rinse, and then repeat. It all feels pointless, because why watch Gintama when there isn’t even a plot or end goal in sight? This is my biggest problem with the series. After indulging myself in the long and predictable episodes, I felt dissatisfied with an ending that did not give me a solid conclusion to the series. Now granted, this is a series that is ongoing and there are different seasons, but that is not a valid excuse to end it on a lackluster finale. Take a look at Hunter x Hunter, which is the greatest battle shonen ever created, while the manga was ongoing, the Madhouse staff ended that Anime on a very good note, to the point where it could be considered the actual ending to the series without hurting it’s narrative. Other issues that this series suffers from are the other issues that other battle shonen suffer from: The hero is too strong for his own good, and while he does struggle to get a win, it is still out of the realm of logic how he wins his battles. The fillers which I have mentioned above. The same predictable battle shonen formula that other series suffer from, where a villain shows up and then gets defeated, and the same juvenile jokes repeated over and over again. Gintama only has one thing going for it, and that is the fact that there is no power escalation in the series. Now that we are done with all the narrative elements of Gintama, let us take a look at it’s characters. The characters in Gintama are divisive. Some of them are rather well written and well developed, others are not so much. The characters that are one dimensional in Gintama are: 1.Katsura and Elizabeth, who are only in the series for the simple gist of making referential humor and acting silly to amass some laughs. There is nothing more to Katsura other than calling Kagura boss and saying “Zura ja nai, Katsura da.” He does not develop throughout the whole run of this Anime. 2.Shinpachi, as his whole character arc revolves around bullying his otaku friends and being an obsessed idol fan and having an annoying voice. Granted, he does get some episodes where he falls in love with some girl, but that episode is unnecessary since the Anime glosses over said girl, and is never used to develop his character further. 3.Most of the female cast, with the exception of Kagura. The women in the series either amount to fanservice or to annoy the males, that is it. Kagura is amazing though, as the series centers some or many of it’s episodes on her. The characters who are well developed are Tomoya, Sugo, Gorilla, Kagura and some others from the Shinsengumi, as well as some villains like Itou and lord Housen. Speaking of Housen and Itou, their arcs are the best in the whole series, followed closely by the Benizikura arc. As for the rest of the arcs, they aren’t nearly as emotional nor do they contain the same level of character depth. Overall, Gintama is far from being the best battle shonen out there, as it suffers from many issues to even be called a good series. When an Anime makes you question the first fifty episodes of it’s run and think “When does this get better?” you know that Anime won’t turn out to be a good product. Though Gintama is not a good Anime, it is not a bad one either, as it has some very strong episodes going for it.
Joe_Striker
10/08/2018, 05:10 PM
Gintama is overrated trash. It has a slow start, corny parodies, lame repetitive gags, no concise plot and has "serious arcs" when it's supposed to be a comedy first and foremost. What a complete mess of a series. Plot: (1/10) The comedic episodes that take up 80% of the series is just there to flesh out the characters, the world and repeat the same jokes over again. It’s unnecessary padding that has no affect on the actual plot, hence why it’s filler. You can skip them, look up the serious arc episodes and watch those and you’d still be caught up with the story. The serious arcsare short, overdramatic, have fake deaths, bland sword fights and are filled with the same overused shounen troupes like: nakama power bullshit or villains giving long cliche monologues. None of the arcs are even better than your average shounen arc, especially the overrated Shogun Assassination arc. The whole structure is a mess. Some episodes are dedicated to the odd jobs, then the shinsengumi, one moment is serious then half way through it’s comedy. 3 episodes would be comedy, then the next 4 would be “mini serious arcs”, the plot’s all over the place! Characters: (1/10) The characters are over the top, unrealistic and have barely any development. Seriously, if you compare the Odd Jobs Trio from the first episodes to the latest episodes in the final season, you’ll see that they’re pretty much exactly the same characters. The worst part is the comedy is terrible. It’s as if it was written for 12 yr old weebs. The constant abusive punches/kicks, repetitive gags, overused references to other shows, cheesy dialogue, childish parodies and poop jokes are shit. Also, there’s so many references to Japanese culture that even the average viewer wouldn’t get the humour. Overall (1/10): Seriously, if you want to watch a episodic comedy series then you might as well watch Spongebob instead because it at least doesn’t take 60+ episodes to “get good” like Gintama.
ChouEritto
09/16/2018, 04:31 PM
Gintama has become somewhat of a favourite amongst many in the anime community, as evident to anyone who views the Top Anime on MAL. However, does popularity directly correlate to quality? With a 5/10 rating, it's obvious my answer is no, but why exactly is that? The series has a good start with it's interesting setting being a mix of Japanese history and sci-fi with a cast of colourful characters. After the first few episodes of character introductions, however, the story can be hit or miss at times...when it shows up. The plot continuity tends to be quite thin, with what is the main story onlyshowing up every dozen or several dozen episodes before being succeeded by episodic comedy arcs. This leaves the series feeling disjointed when it takes so long for what appears to be the core narrative is given a background seat constantly and the comedy dominates the series. It also doesn't help that when the serious arcs crop forward, the story seems to borrow too heavily from Rurouni Kenshin in many narrative elements, particularly concerning Gintoki. This would be fine when the series brands itself as a comedy primarily, if not for three major factors. First would be the scope/length of the series. Pushing the main plot back somewhat in order to make the characters more entertaining would be fine if it was a short and concise series that got to the point. When your series is going on for several hundred episodes whilst building up several plot events and constantly shifting to a more serious tone when doing so yet taking too long to deliver, however, it's quite an inexcusable problem when most of the comedic arcs weren't essential for fleshing out the plot or characters. The second major flaw would be what the comedy consists of; referential humour. Whilst I got most of the references, even some of the more niche ones, and got a laugh out of them, I can't say it really makes for quality when by nature referential humour is directed at a select few and serves more to just advertise another series, which tends to make a series inferior to the one it's referencing by default due to the joke purely relying on the latter. The humour was fine for the first 40 or so episodes, where there was far more of a reliance on slapstick and the references were very subtle. When you get to characters exclaiming things such as "Isn't this Dragon Ball?" or calling out the reference in such an explicit manner lacks creativity and overall ruins the joke. Moreover, the constant need to make fun of other Shonen Jump titles comes off as quite a double-standard when the series is fine with overusing many Shonen tropes in the serious arcs such as power of friendship. It even comes off as bad world building when the vast differences in this world with aliens and Edo Period customs merged obviously wouldn't produce the same origin for ideas for many manga and therefore makes the references something that shouldn't be anything similar to what they were. This would be a poor nitpick in a typical comedy series that doesn't take itself seriously, but therein lies the third major flaw in the comedy, being tonal whiplash and inconsistency. When you go from a series that constantly changes reality through breaking the fourth wall that will all of a sudden become entirely serious and oblivious to such a fact about their comedic universe leaves the series inconsistent. This isn't the only comedic element of the series as the character interactions are quite funny at first...until the running gags get repeated far too much. It's fine having the joke of Kondo being a stalker repeated one or two times. Doing so about fifty or so times is annoying. The characters could make up for this with their personality and the writing behind them if not for the fact that, aside from Gintoki and perhaps Kagura, the main cast tend to only have one or two main character traits to remember them by whenever the arc isn't serious. Even for the more serious arcs, what character development occurs is never a permanent thing. An arc where Sougo learns to treat Hijikata with more respect? He's back to aiming a bazooka at him the next arc. An arc where Shinpachi is given the opportunity to grow as a person? He's going to be treat as just a pair of glasses in the next episode. The sexual tension between Gintoki and Tsukuyo in particular is quite the perpetual pile of nothing with neither taking the initiative, especially when the two are adults in their late twenties at least and not middle schoolers with a crush. As far as the superficial aspects of art and sound go, these are very good. The art and the usage of it's animation helps offer a lot of comedy from the purely physical gags as does the excellent voice acting with the seiyuu having such distinctive voices that their characters have truly become a part of them. The soundtrack is also great in it's variation that always manages to set the tone of the scene. Despite all that, these are just superficial aspects that don't act as much of a saving grace for the series. So, overall, Gintama is a series that had many elements that could have been good had the execution of it's pacing and comedy been executed far better. Unfortunately, this didn't improve as the series went on and whilst the series is fine as pure entertainment, it certainly isn't the 10/10 many would hail it as. At least this first series is still better than the sequels to succeed it. As for alternative recommendations, if you want a parody series that doesn't take itself seriously at all and remains dumb fun throughout, there's the series that likely inspired it Dr. Slump. If wanting a comedy series that offers more food for thought than a few jokes and have good pacing, there's The Tatami Galaxy and Great Teacher Onizuka, the latter of which does referential humour well by having a setting that would make it seem natural and doesn't overuse it.
pedromgdo
05/22/2018, 11:52 AM
My first review ever, and unfortunately a negative one, but i'll do my best to explain why i'm giving it such a score. * Story * [2/10] Since this is a comedy anime most episodes are loose and don't really have any important conection with each other, but sometimes there are some 'serious' arcs where story develops, so my rating is of those arcs. Story is generaly weak with no mindblowing twists, it wasn't as bad to watch as most episodes, but it was mostly the same formula as everything we have seen before, strong bad guy and good guy takes a good beating and then defeats thevilan, nothing special, even though the art is quite great, but i'll talk about that later. Then we had some single episodes with a story within them, and these were realy poorly done, they broke the whole feels train by making a dumb unfunny joke while in the peak of the drama, and while the story of the episode was really good it was just plain ruined by them breaking the rhythm. * Art * [9/10] Can't complain about anything, it was really good, the fights were very well animated and great artstyle. * Sound * [8/10] Here im only going to talk about soundtracks, openings and endings, and i have once again nothing to complain here, openings were great, endings it has one of the greatest endings i have ever seen "samurai heart", and ost was on point most of the times. * Character * [2/10] This was one of the greatest downfalls for the anime in my opinion, let me state the anoying trifecta : Shinpachi, Otae and Sarutobi. Shinpachi: you know when you are telling a joke and the other person doesn't get it and you have to explain it making it really anoying, yeah, now imagine someone screaming the joke in your ears everytime a joke is said... yes, not very fun is it? Otae: Typical strong femaly character beating up the MC, not much to be said. Sarutobi: It was an original character i'll give them that, but boy did it get repetitive, and when i say repetitive i mean repetitive, not to say the screaming wich seems to the only thing the anime thinks its funny for the viewers. Buuuuuut, there were some funny characters that were *not* anoying in the little screen time they did manage to get, the shogun, hijikata, and gintoki, those were the characters that truly were funny whenever they were on screen, shame was that gintoki was many times overshadowed by shinpachi's screaming, ruining most jokes. * Enjoyment * [1/10] Screaming, unfunny jokes, punching other people and such, unfortunately this was most of the episodes, out of the 300 episodes i've seen, i've only enjoyed and laughed at probably 20~30 wich is very bad, the reason why i kept going will be explained after. But it's not all bad news, some of the episodes i did enjoy i REALY enjoyed them, but they were so rare that watched gintama very very slowly, just when i had nothing else to watch. The humour was also very simple, no real complexity and as i stated before all the jokes are explained to you via screaming, wich as i said is not enjoyable. * Overall * [2/10] Why did i watch it you ask? Well, bunch of reasons, first it was very high rated here and everyone seemed to love it to death, second i very rarely drop a show, third, people always said it would get better as time went by and unfortunatly it did not. I stated watching from episode 3 with an open mind and it was just a pain from begining to the end. Unfunny jokes, screaming and punching is this show in a nutshell. In the end i think you either love or don't, as simple as that, if you plan on watching this, start on episode 3 and watch 3 or 4 episodes, if you simply did not enjoy at all, don't try watching this, if you liked go ahead, you won't be disapointed. For anyone wondering if i simply don't enjoy comedy shows, while not directly related i have watched simpsons, american dad, cleveland, southpark, and while yes these aren't anime, they are very well known comedy shows, and i thought for myself if i really liked all of these then i'd like gintama too, i didn't. Another thing i did was watch a youtube video of funny moments and most of those i laughed really hard, and those were basicaly the episodes i liked when i watched the whole thing, disapointing.
CG-Silver
05/25/2016, 07:12 PM
So I've been meaning to write a review for Gintama for quite a while now ever since I finished this wonderful series. I'm a huge fan of the series but I'll address the negatives as well, since nothing is perfect. This review will be for all of the Gintama entries up until the 2015 version. A common misconception that people make is that they think Gintama° (2015) is a reboot of original Gintama. The answer is NO, it is a direct sequel to Gintama: Enchousen and has totally new content. The watching order is: Gintama > Gintama' (2011) > Gintama: Enhousen > Gintama° (2015). So beforestarting the actual review, I'll answer some of the most asked questions related to Gintama. Some popular questions are: "Does Gintama ever get serious?" YES, it does focus on plot from time to time in the form of various small arcs ranging from 3-6 episodes in length. They'll appear randomly during the course of the series. However, watching Gintama for the purpose of fighting, seriousness, other shounen troupes etc. is in itself the wrong approach to the series. The serious portion in Gintama hardly even makes up 15% of the content of series. It is first and foremost a comedy series and should be watched for that purpose primarily with glimpses of short serious and dramatic arcs in between, as a bonus. Another popular question: "When does Gintama get good"? Gintama remains the same throughout the series. The only thing that changes is that the characters are developed as the episodes pass by and this helps to enjoy the series a lot more. The trick to enjoy Gintama is that don't be in the constant pressure of the huge episode count. Just sit back, relax and watch it from time to time until you get used to it, and trust me, it'll become one of the most memorable rides if you, for some reason don't have any negative bias-ness towards the series (Yes, I'm referring to the salty approach that some people take and hate it from the start because it takes half of the top 10 on MAL. This really affects the enjoyment and your state of mind won't allow you to get used to the characters). INTRODUCTION/BASIC PREMISE: So for the people starting the series, it'll be pretty hard to find the actual plot in the series since it's mentioned briefly from time to time so finding the right motivation for watching it from the start can be difficult. That's because the approach Gintama takes is quite different from any other series. The basic plot is that Gintoki is the main character of the series who has participated in the Joi war against the aliens (referred to as "Amanto" in Gintama), that happened 10 years prior to the start of the series. After the victory of Aliens, they overtook Japan/Edo leading to the decline in the status of Samurai's and thus leading Gintoki to give up and became an ordinary citizen under the aliens and open his small private business called the "Odd Jobs or Yorozuya in Japanese". During the start of the series he meets the other two mains leads, Shinpachi who is the 'straight guy' that every comedy series has, trying to restore his Family dojo and the other mean lead, Kagura who is part of the strongest and most violent Alien race known as "Yato". These three make up the odd jobs business and will accept any kind of Job requested no matter how reckless the request is. For the first 50 episodes, Gintama's mostly episodic with quite a few small story arcs ranging from 2 to 3 episodes in length. The first two episodes are fillers and skipping them won't do any harm. It takes it's sweet time to introduce us to the characters since it has a huge supporting casts. Throughout the journey, you'll experience all sorts of episodes and story arcs with some of the best fourth wall breaking. You'll notice countless references and parodies of anime series, dramas, Japanese celebrities or even Western shows. You'll experience arcs that you'd have never even imagined were possible. Another thing is that, after completing the series up until where it's released, I've noticed that the producers have had a blast producing this series by sharing their personal feelings and showing them in the anime occasionally. The comedy doesn't get old, Gintama will constantly hit you with new concepts from time to time. Going trough the first few episodes might be pretty difficult due to the odd atmosphere. But as you continue, a lot of things will change ranging from the basic world setting to introducing new characters. In the latest episodes of the series, Gintama has finally started taking a serious approach and focus on the main plot. If you'd ask me, I'll say that this might as well be the highest point in the series, it's the peak of the best it has to offer. Ofcourse the comedy lovers might disagree so this is just an opinion. CHARACTERS/ART/ANIMATION/SOUND: Needless to say this but characters are the backbone of Gintama and they truly make up the series. There are a variety of characters and factions. The basic focus is mostly on the Yorozuya trio. The story also focusses a lot on the Shinsengumi, a police force formed from the kids without families who grew up on streets/poor and ordinary people in search of jobs. The interactions between the Yorozuya and the Shinsengumi are some of the best moments in the series, truly shows how important the supporting characters are in the series. The Shinsengumi also consists of their trio so they somewhat resemble the lead trio. Other main charcaters include three of Gintoki's war buddies who fought along side him with one of them coming to become the main villain of the series, one of them becoming a Joi rebel (terrorist but in a funny way) and the last one becoming a space merchant. Now there are other characters but it'll be boring to discuss them all so one can just go ahead and watch the series to know more. The art and animation delivers when needed and at times can be pretty ordinary. Though considering that Gintama is a long running series, it's actually pretty amazing that it has some of the best animated fight scenes. The art can at times be sloppy with derp faces, however that's pretty rare. The colours for the first 150 episodes are comparatively dull to the later part of the series but still not half bad. The OSTs and Voice acting are legendary. Another one of Gintama's strongest points is the music, with some of the best opening and ending sequences to some legendary voice acting and best composed OSTs, there is nothing to worry about Gintama in this aspect. It won't disappoint. NEGATIVES: - Though Gintama has less to no fillers, it may suffer from inconsistency during the first 50-100 episodes. Some episodes are comparatively better than others. Some references might fly above your head because it does contain a lot of parodies of various anime/Japanese drama/Japanese celebs/Western TV shows and movies/other popular trends. You have to be atleast an amateur anime watcher to fully enjoy Gintama but that doesn't means you won't enjoy Gintama if you are not a well-versed anime fan. You'll still enjoy a chunk of other stuff it delivers. - Animation/Art can at times be sub-par however when it needs to deliver, it more than does. - Those who start Gintama for comedy sometimes rarely end up disliking the serious arcs because the serious arcs at times contain cliche dialouges. But even though, they do have cliche moments, it sort of has a magical feel in every serious arc which separates it from the rest of generic shounen. The execution and the timing is probably what makes these serious arcs so intense, brutal and glorying. Some people do turn a blind eye on the serious arcs but in my opinion, the serious/dramatic arcs are always full of enjoyment, great themes and lessons, something to remember and a great look at Gintama's plot. - Those who don't find Japanese humour funny might end up disliking the series for obvious reasons. It'll be a hit and miss series for them. Some of the toilet humour might end up being disgusting rather than funny, however, this has only happened once and that was also in the later stages of this series so no worries here really. FINAL VERDICT: Overall Gintama clicked with me and it's one of the best and most enjoyable series you'll ever come across provided that you give it enough time and focus. Being part of this loyal fan-base has been one of my best experiences in anime. I've met all kinds of fans of this series and a chunk of them are great people. The passion the fan-base has for this series is amazing and thus, I'm always glad that I'm part of a community that has equal passion, ambition and love for this series as me. I'll urge those who want to give it a try to go ahead and watch it fully, you'll be more than welcome to be part of our community. Gintama is truly a blast of a series, a rare gem them many people know nothing about. I just wanted to write this review to show my love for this series, hope that you enjoyed reading it :) If you have any questions or trouble getting into the series, feel free to chat me. I'll be happy to give advice :)
Bentokey
12/03/2015, 10:39 AM
Before I write this review which is very long overdue I would like to first establish that Gintama is my favourite series in both the manga and anime mediums and it is something that I will carry with me forever, it took me out of a very dark part in my life and set me on the right path. Gintama is something that becomes better as time moves on and you learn more about Japanese culture (of course, manga and anime) looking back at the series but it is also a very compelling story with slowly arching storyline with some really emotional moments and justsome moments that really hit home to any anime watcher. Secondly, I would like to note that Gintama is the funniest form of media (at least anime) that I have seen. I don't think that people quite appreciate the knowledge that the author (who refers to himself as a Gorilla in the manga) has, he is thoroughly up to date with todays manga and anime series, with American TV shows, to Japanese Pop artists and Idols, and to Japanese comedy all together. He is a true appreciator of comedy and this is very apparent in his series where he runs jokes sometimes volumes apart, he has running gags throughout the series and he ties in references to all works of media that his wide audience (most of the time) appreciates. -Just going to do a quick overview and reasoning for my 10/10 on all scores for the anime- Story: Gintama starts as a bunch of friends in the Edo period of Japan start up an "odd jobs" with the intent on doing any job for anyone around the town after the alien "amanto" take over the Earth for a low price to get by. They start making associates in all kinds of places from the "Joi" terrorists to the various policing organisations around the place to the Shogunate itself, with the more relationships that they build the more influence and responsibility the group gathers around the town, the several ties made really bring together the story; this story isn't really your general soul searching, power gaining Shonen, it is about protecting these ties with everything that the group has. Art: With such an amazing source I do feel that Sunrise did a very good job animating Gintama. Character designs stay very true to their original sources and they did a very nice job giving you a feel as to what it would be like living in this run down town where Aliens and Humans live (seemingly) in harmony. The action scenes are done very - very well and the various "playful" facial expressions and such are done to perfection. Sound: Gintama has quite a range of different scenarios and I think that the sound put together did very well at setting the tone for these scenarios. It has some very touching songs for those emotionally beautiful scenes, it has some really cool fighting music when necessary and some very comical jigs for the right moment. Another strong point in Gintama is its OPs and EDs, they really do get some amazing bands (SPYAIR does a few) in for these theme songs and they stay very true to the series. Character: Gintama has some very loveable characters, they each play their comical role very well with their interactions with certain characters, one thing that I've noticed is how well Sorachi pairs certain characters with one another in both the humorous sense and in a social one. You also need to appreciate that every supporting character is either introduced during the series with some sort of arc that very closely ties each character with the group or they are done so in the same way with a flashback. Enjoyment: Due to its episodic nature Gintama is something that you can show to friends at any point and they will love it all the same. As touched on earlier it is such an enjoyable series because of its diversity, there is something in it for everyone of all ages because the authors knowledge in anything funny is so diverse all the same. Watch it for the endless references, the fighting scenes, the comedy, you will not leave disappointed whatever your interests are. To conclude in my bias I just really want to stress that everyone no matter what their tastes are should watch Gintama, don't get strayed away by these premise that because it is on the MAL top anime ratings that it must be mainstream trash. It is there for a reason, everyone that watches it loves it.
Nervin
12/02/2015, 10:08 AM
Comedy is a genre which can be very difficult to appeal to the majority of people, as it is heavily dependent on ones preferences, as well as his own past experiences with the medium. Besides these limitations, there is an other factor that plays a role, which are the cultural differences that exist in current society, as a lot of comedy is dependent on the understanding of said cultural customs. This is done in the West through various types, such as satires, sitcoms, cringe comedies or slapstick comedies; in the East, particularly Japan, this done through the most known type of comedy, the Manzai, orlesser known ones such as Shimoneta, a comedy focused on dirty jokes, or the Konto, short sketches that are completely ridiculous, yet hilarious. With that being said, there is one anime that managed to become very popular among the anime audiences throughout the last decade despite those limitations, and that is Gintama. This anime is particularly famous because it implements comedic elements from both the West and the East splendidly, while at the same time having its share of a more "serious" storyline, expanding on its universe, as well as having fantastic battle scenes with wonderful background stories for the characters. Naturally, some viewers may dislike this anime, and while I personally think it's a great anime, it also has its flaws, which I will try to depict below. ~Story~ The setting in which the story takes place is feudal Japan, Tokyo, formerly known as Edo, yet with every modern type of tools available in modern society, such as cars, fridges, TV's, you name it; but that is not the only nonsensical thing, there is also the fact that Japan is invaded by aliens called the Ämanto". Following the life of the defeated lazy samurai Sakata Gintoki and his fellow companions Kagura and Shimura Shinpachi on their jobs as "Yorozuya", people who would do everything for money, being the poor penniless people they are. These tasks range from simple jobs such as catching cats to high-risk type of labour, which all have one thing in common: it will always end hilariously, usually through the hardships the protagonists have to endure. Moral stories are often narrated through these as well, while a big part is praiseworthy, some of these may at times go unnoticed or either feel repeated to the viewer. Gintama's main focus lies in the humor, and it conveys these splendidly to the viewers through a wide array of comedy types, be it the manzai or satires to the different customs of different cultures. These situations represent daily events, yet often taken to the extreme, and ridiculously absurd which I personally think is a charm too; it nevertheless share its shares of more "calm" episodes. What makes these so well done is the fact that it is unexpecting and hilariously represented: who will forget the epic toilet battle, or the mishaps that happen to the most powerful man in the country, the Shogun himself? Other great aspect is the use of referential comedy to other anime series, even movies: these are all hilariously well presented, if viewers know about it that is; which begins with one of the problems this anime has. Though the majority of gags and jokes are well relaid to the viewers, there are also quite a lot that either aren't that well understood, or just totally misses the point for some (if not most) of the audiences. This can be due to several reasons: one of it is the fact of not knowing which medium the anime is referencing to; there are quite an amount of referential gags to either current or past famous anime series which for the newer viewers to the medium would remain clueless on why it was displayed and thus not understanding its joke. Other reason is naturally the cultural knowledge of both the West and particularly Japan; if viewers have no awareness of these (such as famous politicians, real life comedians, customs), it will often come over as something absurd and nonsensical. Finally, the understanding of the Japanese language itself can be a culprit too, as it relies on wordplay and vocal expression, which for the average viewer may be difficult to follow. Gintama does not only consist of comedy episodes: to change the atmosphere of the anime, it introduces its own serious arcs in which characters are fleshed out through numerous things such as background stories, or events tied to these. Trough these world building is done, as well as clearing out different mysteries that surround that world. What comes as a surprise, is the fact that it can be dead serious, which is totally the opposite of its usual narrative; deep conflicts between aliens, samurai's and the government, or the different political factions within those. However, there is no consistent progression of the story, as the episodes are standalone ones, which also affect the more serious arcs; these are not tied with each other, which may be a drawback for some viewers, as it seems to "reset" some of the events that happen. The battles are nothing short of spectacular, well paced, leaving the viewer in tension on what will happen next. These are however often over the top, with characters having infinite toughness or sudden "powerups", which results sometimes in tensionless fights, which can be a drawback for some. However, it must be said that these are often take unexpecting turns, and are fantastically animated. There is also a certain issue with the pacing. Essentially the first 40-50 episodes approximately are pretty average at best, as it is dedicated to introducing the different characters; in addition, it is clear that most of the jokes and gags are rather badly conveyed to the viewer, feeling off, as the author is not yet fully aware as on how to represent them. It must be said that there some fantastic episodes that are either very amusing or breathtaking, yet overall are average. As mentioned earlier, referential and slapstick comedy that is available in the anime may displease some viewers preferring situational comedy. Naturally, throughout its whole duration of 201 episodes, it can't maintain fantastic comedy, thus having quite some episodes that can be either boring or disgusting at times. Nevertheless, the good episodes overshadowed the bad ones, besides the comedy being consistent throughout its duration. ~Characters~ The characters in Gintama are of great importance to the anime, as without them, the majority of jokes wouldn't get over quite as desired: no matter how good the scripts for the joke are, without good actors, it will be boring. These are all very memorable, which is quite an achievement, considering these are not outstanding in respect of character development or fleshing out of these. There is Sakata Gintoki, a defeated samurai revolutionary in the war against the aliens, now a lazy samurai, gambler and sugar addict, yet with its own strong morals which makes him as a whole likeable, with its own flaws. Shimura Shinpachi, the boy who most characters in Gintama define his personality with his glasses; Kagura, a glutenous straightforward fighting machine, a tomboy type of girl. There are naturally secondary characters of importance (and of interest) as well. Take for example Hasegawa Taizou, also known as "Madao", which is by far one of the most interesting characters of the cast: a man with moral standards, yet rendered homeless, gives an accurate representation of society and its values. The shinsengumi composed of the mayonnaise loving devil vice-chief Hijikata Toushiro or the stalker gorila Kondo Isao. Not forget the revolutionary Joui Katsura Kotarou, you don't often stumble across such a character with such high moral values, with its own flaws. The Shogun is also interesting as a character, as its represents the perfect notion of what a flawless governor should be, with its own moments of cluelessness in regard in his study of society. Leaving the interesting characters aside, there are naturally some that can get on audiences nerves, such the sister of Shinpacahi, Otae, which is the typical aggressive (somewhat) tsundere girl who can't cook, which at first is moderately of interest, but jokes and situations that play out with her become old and annoying throughout the 201 episodes. The ninja Sarutobi Ayame can sometimes also be quite annoying, as her character remains equal throughout the anime, being the excuse to implement dirty/perverted jokes in the anime. Character development is rather lackluster in Gintama, yet the fleshing out of its main cast is well done (though small) and sufficient to enhance the overall progression of the story, in addition to understanding the motives and personalities of the different characters. The supporting cast is varied, having alien princes, space pirates. superhuman race of warriors - the Yato, ninja's you name it. Some of the characters presented also are based on real life persons, such as Kondo Isao or Hijikata Toushiro, both who were of importance in the japanese revolution. Other positive aspect is that it uses all the characters presented in the anime, all of importance to the continuity of the jokes and narrative, by either expanding on their past, or events related to them. ~Animation and sound~ The animation quality of Gintama was surprisingly well done, considering it is a long running anime with over 200 episodes. There were no real fluctuations in the quality, and fulfilled its purpose well. Backgrounds are well drawn, but nothing spectacular, being character design very simplistic: which can be rather lackluster for some audiences, yet are easily distinguishable from the huge cast Gintama has. However, it must be said that it surprisingly well done, as it managed to convey the different gags and jokes splendidly through changes in character design: take Hokuto no Ken reference for example. Battle scenes are well animated, and have a good choreography and are often unexpecting. The soundtrack used in Gintama was varied, beautiful and fantastic, used to match with the atmosphere it is trying to portray, as well enhancing the overall narrative and comedy. These ranged from piano compositions, to orchestra type of songs to metal pieces. Who would forget the Stand battles and its soundtrack, or Madao's glorious theme? For the more "relaxed" episodes, we have more natural, groovy themes which can be repetitive at times. From the various openings and endings the anime had to offer, there are quite some of those with a catchy tune such as "Donten" by Does or "Tougenkyou Alien". What however really stood out, were the voice actors. Without these, the experience would certainly be of lesser quality: emotions, jokes, intonations, anger were splendidly transmitted to the audience. We have voice actors such as Sugita Tomokazu as Gintoki or Joseph Joestar in JoJo's Bizarre adventure; then we have Wakamoto Norio, who voices Matsudaira Katakuriko, Raou in Hokuto no Ken, or Oskar von Reuenthal in Legend of the Galactic Heroes. Not to forget Fumihiko Tachiki, who voices Hasegawa Taizo masterfully, conveying the character's personality elegantly. ~Enjoyment~ It would be an understatement to say I like Gintama: in fact, I love it. The different comedy gags, the characters and its voice actors in conjunction with the serious tones the anime has to offer, I found it to be the best comedy anime I have ever watched up to date. Having an inclination towards the comedy genre, I found Gintama to be exceptionally well executed, even with its duration and flaws; this was especially because it managed to keep a consistent level of humor throughout the whole anime, with some outstandingly well done gags that would have anyone adverse to the anime as a medium blurt out in laughter. Naturally there were numerous flaws with the anime such as battles being a bit over the top, jokes that could get out of hand in addition to being sometimes boring and old, and even being hit-and-miss. Yet the characters and background stories it had, was another element that could keep any viewer with less interest in the comedy genre entertained. It has a slow and average start at best, the viewer being rewarded afterwards with surprisingly good comedy parts, and consistent humor. So would I recommend Gintama? I personally would suggest anyone to try out, yet if you have no real interest in the comedy genre or are no real fan of absurd, random comedy, I would probably stay away from it. I found the numerous references and jokes in my first watch rather dull, as I had no knowledge of the anime it was referencing to. I must also mention that understanding of the different cultures, as well as the language itself is of importance to enjoy the full experience Gintama has to offer. Thank you for reading.
ktulu007
05/20/2015, 09:05 AM
Gintama is an ongoing manga by Sorachi Hideaki. From 2006 to 2010, Sunrise, the same studio behind the Gundam franchise, did an anime adaptation which lasted for just over 200 episodes. So, does the anime manage to stay entertaining for that long, or even be entertaining at all? Let’s take a peek and find out. Story: There isn’t a single cohesive narrative to Gintama. There are some loosely connected arcs, and a whole lot of episodes that have nothing to do with those arcs, but there is no single narrative. The basic setup is that the world has been conquered by aliens, referred to in Gintama as“Amanto” and the government is still subservient to them. Samurai are no longer allowed to carry swords except for a few who work for the government or who have wealth and connections. In this world a samurai named Gintoki works by, in theory, doing odd jobs. Although that largely consists of him doing nothing. His crew consists of a youngster named Shinpachi, an Amanto girl named Kagura who possesses super strength and is highly vulnerable to sunlight, and a giant dog named Sadaharu, our cute character who requires ear scritches and belly rubs. Hijinks ensue as this group and the people around them get into shenanigans. Let’s begin by looking at the problems with the series, shall we? By far the biggest issue is that the writing aesthetic is horribly inconsistent. Most of the episodes are highly random and intended for humour but when they get to the more story heavy arcs things take a huge shift into serious territory, sometimes including really heavy topics like sex trafficking, and it creates a huge tonal clash between episodes. You can’t segue from jokes about testicles and bloody rectums into a story about an underground city where children are sold to be raised as sex slaves. There is quite literally no way to make that transition so that it isn’t painfully awkward and completely disrespectful to the serious issue. It’s worse than that Captain Planet episode that dealt with AIDS. Sure, that was way over the series’ head too, but there wasn’t such a radical tonal problem. The tone isn’t the only thing that has problems with consistency, there’s also the continuity. There are three basic ways to do continuity. The first is having a strict, coherent continuity where everything matters. The second is to have a basic progression from one episode to the next but the details aren’t that important. The third is to toss continuity out the window completely, like Galaxy Angel. The problem with Gintama is that it does all three. Some episodes deal very much with continuity as being super important, others follow the more fast and loose route where there’s a progression but the details aren’t important and there are other episodes that don’t fit into any kind of continuity and will never be mentioned again after they’re over. Now that we’ve been over that, let’s talk a bit about the comedy in this series that is, mostly, comedic. A lot of it is pretty puerile humour where someone defecates in their pants, or someone’s anus bleeds or where the punchline is something involving testicles. There are also a lot of bits where the characters will make loud references to some other piece of media and there are some other random bits of humour. The trouble is, a lot of it really isn’t funny. For example, there’s a running gag about one of the characters eating too much mayonnaise which is funny because… if he ate that much mayo in reality he’d weigh two hundred kilos and have to get around with a motorised scooter? There are two characters who pretty much exist for stalker jokes and there’s another running joke about Katsura getting annoyed by people calling him the wrong thing. There are times when the randomness can work and there are some points where they parody something competently instead of just making reference to it but they’re few and far between. I will give the series full credit for having some surprisingly clever deconstructions here and there, particularly when it comes to its treatment of trans-gendered characters. Characters: Gintama has a large cast of reoccurring characters, but very little in terms of complex ones. Most of them are used for one or two jokes and that’s pretty much it. I will say that there’s nothing wrong with that for a comedic work. You can have a bunch of fairly one-note characters as long as they have dynamics that provide good comedic possibilities and you can take advantage of that. The problem is the more serious episodes. This cast would be perfectly passable if the series didn’t have those largely serious story arcs but when you take a bunch of relatively shallow comedic characters and try to do something fairly serious with them it just quickly loses any sense of tension and the characters come across as heavily under-developed, if not as completely out of place. Art: The artwork and animation are pretty decent. There are some cases where they recycle footage or show a background with nothing happening, which they will almost always lampshade, but it’s competently done. The action sequences can be pretty strong, both when they’re doing something largely serious and when they’re doing a jokey action scene. Sound: The actors are pretty capable and no one does badly. However, the level of over-exaggeration in the series is really high and you might very well find yourself growing weary of listening to people shouting. The music varies. Sometimes it’s pretty good, sometimes it’s kind of annoying. Mostly, it’s just kind of bland. Ho-yay: There’s some in the series. There’s an openly lesbian character who shows up on a semi-regular basis and there’s a guy who is heavily implied to have romantic feelings for Sougo who shows up for a couple of episodes late in the series. There’s no reciprocation for their feelings, but they also aren’t used for jokes based on their sexuality. Some of the other characters act like asses about it at points, but the series itself doesn’t treat it as an issue. So, I’ll give Gintama some credit for treating its gay characters no differently than it does its straight characters. It is pretty refreshing, especially when you have “comedies” like Baka to Test that have to be as mean-spirited as possible about things like that. Final Thoughts: Gintama has a real problem with consistency. Its tone is wildly inconsistent which can lead to some really awkward and stilted moments. It’s inconsistent with what it wants to do with its continuity. If you like humour that’s more than a little puerile and pretty random then you might still enjoy the series in spite of that and there are some things it does pretty decently but it’s honestly not my cup of tea in that regard. I just don’t find ninety percent of the attempts at humour to be amusing. As such, I have to give the series a 4/10. Next week we’ll have this year’s film festival. Starting with Kara no Kyoukai 6 on Sunday. Because I’ve looked at that franchise first during the last two years and I might as well do it this time as well.
HaXXspetten
02/05/2015, 01:17 PM
I've never really been a fan of long-running shounen anime. I had some bad run-ins with series like Naruto and Bleach when I was a kid and ever since then I've tried my best to stay away from them. For the same reason, I'm quite sure I would never have made myself watch Gintama either if it wasn't for its incredibly high ratings which made me feel somewhat obligated to. When I eventually started it though about 1,5 years ago, it was very quickly made evident that Gintama is... different. Not just different from other shounen anime, but different from almost every anime. In manyaspects it is more similar to western shows like The Simpsons or Family Guy, but still feels well and truly Japanese at the same time. Pros & Cons: + Incredibly high peaks as far as comedy goes + Parodies anything and everything in brilliant fashion + Tons of diverse and original characters + Superb voice acting - Quite mediocre when the comedy misses its mark, or when it tries to be serious - Not much of an overarching story - Surprisingly poor video resolution for its airing time Taking place in an alternate reality in feudal Japan where aliens have invaded and conquered everything, Gintama is a story about... yeah what is it about really? It primarily follows a freelance samurai named Sakata Gintoki as well as his two friends/coworkers, and shows how they manage to make a living in the crazy new world that their country has become. Primarily though the show does just about anything and everything you can possibly imagine as no matter how strange or far-fetched an idea may seem, it is never too far-fetched for Gintama. Entire episodes taking place inside toilet booths? Alien giants causing havoc in town due to their unfortunate extraterrestrial love lives? Having storylines based on the results of a character popularity poll the series once held in Japan? A hilarious degree of fourth-wall breaking? Gintama has it all. It's really something you need to experience for yourself in order to properly get an image of just how silly it can be. I'd like to say Gintama is *the* comedy anime that just about every anime fan can watch. With endless references to and parodies of hundreds and hundreds of other manga and anime, as well as an incredibly diverse sense of humour, it is highly unlikely that there won't be any point of the series that will be entertaining for any individual viewer, regardless of what their sense of humour may be like. The author seemingly knows perfectly how to appeal to almost any audience in this day and age as far as comedy goes, as the funny parts can go from being very complex and intelligent to being straight-up toilet humour. Because of this I'd also like to believe that the more anime/manga you've watched/read prior to watching Gintama, the more gags you will be able to understand and thus enjoy the series more. Thus this is not really an anime for newbies, but for anyone reasonably familiar with the anime industry then the sky is the limit. Of course as is always the case with comedy, it is somewhat hit or miss. What makes Gintama stand out however is how amazingly high its peaks actually are. Occasionally the show displays moments of absolute comedic genius, as when Gintama is at its best it is probably the funniest anime ever made. Because of this there are certain individual episodes that stand out as some of the overall best episodes I have ever seen. It's physically impossible for *everything* to be funny however, and with such an enormous amount of gags there will still sadly be an overwhelming amount of time that will not entertain you. And given how incredibly long the anime is, when you put it in that sort of context you'll unfortunately realize that the amount of mediocre hours that Gintama contains is actually extremely high. Case in point; Gintama is the most inconsistent anime I have ever seen to this day. It is a series that sometimes will make you cry with laughter, and sometimes bore you out of your mind. The comedic elements aside, it also has its fair share of more typical battle shounen-esque story arcs spanning a couple of episodes every so often. Ironic as it is, this is probably the biggest weakness of the entire show. When the series goes into a more serious mode it quite frankly feels more like a chore to watch through than anything else a lot of the time. While the story arcs generally aren't bad per se, they're nowhere even close to the same level as the better comedy episodes are. Like I mentioned before, the stereotypical long-running shounen series are not anything I enjoy very much at all, and thus when Gintama enters a similar sort of atmosphere it just comes across as a massive drop in quality for a couple of episodes. Of course once it's done with that part then it might immediately peak up to masterpiece-level again, it happens more than once throughout the series' progression. Like I said, extremely inconsistent. As you might expect from such a huge series, the character cast of Gintama is massive. In addition to our silver-haired Shounen Jump-addicted samurai protagonist Gintoki, there's also the super strong humanoid alien Kagura who can eat an infinite amount of food and always wears a China dress, as well as the ultra-tsukkomi character Shinpachi who on his spare time is the captain of a famous pop-singer's personal fan club. The supporting cast consists of a guy who never gets his name said correctly, a super sadist, a mayonnaise-addicted freak, an old hag of a landlady, a ginormous dog, a 180 centimeters tall white penguin-like... "thing" who communicates by writing on signs, as well as several hundreds of others. There's an endless amount of characters to familiarize yourself with but given how long the anime is there's plenty of time for that. The animation though... taking its time of airing into account it's honestly rather poor. For a series that finished as late as 2010 it still utilizes a 4:3 aspect ratio for the full duration of the show. Really? That aside the character designs are pretty clean and distinct, and the animations themselves are passable at least. I still feel that the show is a couple years behind as far as the technical levels go however, which may or may not be bothersome depending on whom you ask. The soundtrack is very good however. Since the series is sometimes dramatic and sometimes about as non-serious as you can possibly get, it's pretty important that the music manages to reflect that diverse atmosphere in order to not drag it down, and it succeeds in doing this quite excellently. I don't think there was a single moment during these full 201 episodes where the audio ever felt truly out of place. The opening and ending themes are naturally in the double digits given the series' length, some of them being pretty awesome, and some of them were pretty meh. What really stands out though is the voice acting. Now I haven't read the manga but as far as I've been told the main reason the anime is so much higher rated than the manga is because of this very reason. The effort put in by many of the voice actors/actresses is phenomenal, and it helps emphasize and exaggerate the gags immensely. I can only imagine how much less interesting many of the jokes in Gintama would have been if the people speaking them had been half-assing it, but as it is it's something that really deserves some special credit. I'd especially give a shoutout to Sugita Tomokazu's versatile performance as Gintoki as well as Sakaguchi Daisuki's incredible tsukkomi role as Shinpachi, which never fails to entertain and impress you. And if you thought Kugimiya Rie could only do loli tsundere characters, well think again. Overall though, in the end it comes down to a numbers game for me. All the good aspects aside, the bottom line is still that sometimes the show is a comedic masterpiece, and sometimes it's a quite stereotypical and boring shounen series. Therefore trying to judge the entire anime with a single number feels a bit wrong to me, as sometimes I want to give it a 10 and sometimes more like a 5. But if I have to give it some sort of average, then in the end I'll have to resort at keeping it at a 7. As it is, despite the incredibly high peaks the anime has, it is still sadly outnumbered by the number of quite average episodes that will mostly fail to make you laugh. Of course it probably depends a lot on how you weigh quality versus quantity so I'm sure different people will find this fact to be more or less of an issue than others. Gintama is perhaps the most famous comedy anime in existence and not without good reason. It is the one show that can and will make fun of anything and everything, and do so in style. It also probably has the highest peaks I have ever seen in comedy, and at times it can literally make you laugh until you cry. Unfortunately it doesn't do this quite as often as I would like, and a lot of the time it feels like you're drumming your fingers on the table in impatience while waiting for the show to get back into its element again. However seeing as humour is one of the most subjective aspects of the human mind, I would still recommend essentially everyone to at least try watching Gintama (though perhaps not quite yet if you're still very new to anime). It takes a while before the show really gets going and even when it does it is still very up and down. That being said I know that there are a lot of people who found themselves seemingly rolling on the floor laughing during just about every episode of this anime, so who knows; maybe you'll be one of them too? I can't make any promises but as long as the potential exists that Gintama may be the most humorous experience of your life then I would eagerly recommend you to at least give it a chance. I mean what could there possibly be to lose?
SakataMaerii
12/09/2014, 05:21 AM
I had seen this anime since the year 2009. I was a cub then and had no clue as to what Gintama really was. I was like, " Hey, something's showing on TV! Let's watch it! ". The First moments I laid eyes on Gintama was on episode 132. ( THE HAUNTED INN ). It was really funny back then and had my eyes all teary. But mostly, its quite the action. It's the typical type of shounen action you'd see but with more feelings. It actually really gets badass at the right moment and then the next thing you'd know you're in a GAG! I foundit enjoyable and bought a DVD of it. Gintama showed me the world of anime. It was just so different, so intense, so dramatic, so funny! I started to see the world around me differently. I started seeing it the way Gintama does on its own screen. Whenever I looked at my friends, I just knew what Gintama taught me and just had to smile. All the characters are enjoyable. I didn't like some at the beginning but as the story grew further, " SOME " made sense and ended up in me loving the whole cast. What's great about Gintama is that it doesn't give JUST A SHOW. It gives A SHOW TO TELL. All the characters background story and individual personalities grew in my heart and made me a different person. Maybe not a person whom majority would like, but maybe a person whom I myself can accept and be happy with. Gintama doesn't have a MAJOR PLOT. It's a one kind episode per watch, but when an ARC gets serious and dramatic, there's just no turning back. Many had complains on how Gintama is a boring anime. Yes, it may have been at the first episodes, but I'm sure that when letting it grow and flow into your eyes, you'll see how beautifully made Gintama is. I mean, seriously, who could have thought of typical historical and futuristic era mixed together? Of course, only SORACHI HIDEAKI could have thought. The art isn't that great and digitalized, but as seasons goes by, Gintama's art develops too. We'll see that in episode one Gintoki looks like a teenage boy, but believe me, he'll change eventually. More and more handsome and charming. As to the comedy and parody part, I haven't seen anything surpassing Gintama's way of thinking. Even I sometimes could not understand what they were trying to parody, but I found myself laughing all the way. Gintama is my favorite anime of all times and I think nothing could compare to it. It'll always have a special place in me. I always thought after this I'm gonna watch another series! But no, It wasn't that easy. The fear of having to finish such incredible series kept me in hanging in fear and sadness. I never thought the day would come that Gintama had to end. At the end of the series, I thought to myself " WHAT WOULD I DO WITH MY LIFE NOW? NOW THAT GINTAMA HAS ENDED? " It ain't that easy. But new rumors of seasons were emerging... and hope was starting to fill me up. Hope that I'd be able to see my beloved Gintama on screen again someday.... I never knew such an anime so different, so unique. I've rewatched it a lot of times, still the gags and actions were still killing me. So nostalgic, so old yet so fresh! I hope you guys give Gintama a try after this review ends for it has kept me with tears of mixed and strange emotions and I do hope that Gintama does with you too. :D THANKS FOR READING MY REVIEW!
Hanimir
07/23/2014, 01:50 PM
Gintama? Gintama. Hmmm, Gintama... Gintama or not Gintama, that is the question. Now this is a show I've wrestled with for a long time. Many of my friends pledged almost fanatically this is the best anime in existence. I watched the first episode. So this is it? I was not impressed. As a person who found pleasure in the darkest and most gloomy kinds of settings, I would almost immediately say that this was not for me. Everything was just so weird and appeared to be arbitrarily glued together. I was so naïve. At some point I picked Gintama up again, I’m one of the people who arenot easily moved to laughter but still, there had to be something to this… Let me tell you this, Gintama is a journey, a pilgrimage. You will not appreciate it after two or three episodes, even twenty may not be enough. It took me sixty whole episodes when I was finally thoroughly entertained but it was then that I realized: Gintama is like a snowball rolling down a mountain. It’s barely recognizable at first but the next time you turn your gaze in its direction, it will have turned into an avalanche. Story: 9/10 Sooo… yeah, this is actually hard. Gintama is composed of a series of mini arcs that have no real connection to each other. You can’t call it a consistent storyline but it’s also not really episodic, there are also fillers organically weaved into the style and pace of the anime. A strange kind of hybrid, that still works somehow. We have different little events like the Benizakura, Yoshiwara or Popularity Poll arc, which all are amazingly done. Action, drama and most of all comedy, Gintama’s got them all and none of them are bad. Also, because I can’t find a better place to do this, let may tell you a few things about the often overlooked setting. The pseudo-medieval, post war Japanese capital Edo with modern technology, invaded by a multitude of alien races called Amanto. Sounds utterly random right? Wrong. It is my firm believe that this setting is actually the backbone of Gintama. Why you ask? Because it allows for the greatest number of possible scenarios, different people and places. You can have a samurai, a rebel leader, an alien and a penguin costume guy added to the cast and nobody bats an eye, because it still feels natural. Never forget the setting, it makes this anime what it is. Art: 10/10 It’s strange, when I started watching I thought to myself ‘This looks somehow generic’ but at the same time ‘This looks somehow unique’. It’s hard to explain but that’s the feeling I get from Gintama. Visual quality may not be top notch here but it gets progressively better, a fact that is especially apparent in latter battle sequences. I would leave it at nine points but there’s another thing… facial expressions. They are beyond hilarious, I won’t say too much about it but you will understand once you have seen a few exemplary episodes. Sound: 10/10 There are a few very iconic and memorable tracks on the Gintama OST, that’s probably due to the fact that they are used so frequently but that doesn’t mean that I ever got sick of them. Audio is mostly bright and uplifting, fitting to the animes focus on comedy. Opening and ending themes are also pleasing, notably Donten and Stairway Generation. This would also be a eight or nine if it wasn’t for the seiyuus. These guys are BRILLIANT! Every voice fits its character and Sugita Tomokazu is probably the most unique voice I have ever heard in anime. He’s now the voice of Gintoki for me, forever. Kugumiya Rie is a rather well-known name, revered for her roles as your run of the mill tsundere girls. Kagura was a kind of character that was probably new to her but she still did an excellent job. There are a dozen other examples but I’m not going into debt on all of them, only thing you have to know is that the voiceover job is amazing. Characters: 9/10 Alright, so this is the deciding factor that makes this anime awesome. Here we have some amazingly thought out characters and not just for comedy purposes, most of them have a backstory, even the vilest of antagonists are not just pure embodied malice. This is also what causes the anime to take time to get going, you have to get to know the characters. A naked random guy is very much different to a naked Isao Kondo. Almost all of them are likeable, memorable and most of all funny. We have no focus on development here but such progression would do more harm than anything else. It takes time to get to know them and that process is very important, changing a well-established character after that process is complete doesn’t strike me as a good idea. Enjoyment: 10/10 It takes time, 60 episodes to get it rolling, 140 episodes to have me almost dying of laughter but it was well worth it. Gintama maintains a consistent, no, increasing level of entertainment over the course of its 201 episodes. It’s already hilarious and would have been even better if I was capable of understanding the Japanese language without subtitles or if I’d seen more anime to understand all the parodies going on. Knowledge of basic Shounen Jump, Ghibli Movies, NGE, Doraemon or Gundam widely enhances the spectrum of jokes you can laugh about. Even without that and as part of a western audience, I found myself crying out in laughter over a majority of the jokes, there are just so many of them, no way you can miss everything. Result: 10/10 So are all these people right, is Gintama the best anime of all time? I dare not to pass judgment unto that, simply because Gintama is so unique and unconventional that I feel it falls into a category of its own. There is no competition for this anime in its specific category because it’s the only one that ever made it there. This is not the best of all anime, this is just Gintama, don’t lump it together with all the others! Even if they’re brilliant, if they’re entrancing, if they’re masterpieces, don’t make that mistake. I myself who is speaking so highly of this anime have other favorites; this is simply Gintama, no need for comparison. If you plan on taking a shot at Gintama and you’re not completely hooked after the first few episodes, bring a lot of patience, it will pay off.
Play2X
07/17/2014, 03:46 AM
Time for my first Review! It should be obvious, but I'll say it nonetheless: This is purely my opinion, agree or disagree as you like. Well, right the first thing I have to say is excluded from that rule though. Gintama is, without fanboyism, the absolutely best Anime there is. Why is that, you wonder? Well, read on then. Story: 9/10 Gintama has no consistent story, instead it has short arcs and standalones(which I usually don't prefer) BUT each standalone episode and each arc in itself are hillarious. Gintama can do whatever they like. Science Fiction Arcs, Comedy Arcs, Shonen Arcs, even more Comedy, Crossovers. But why are there just 9 instead of 10 points? Because of one of Gintamas Weaknesses (It has exactly 2, by the way). It takes rather long to get going. A friend of mine introduced me to some random episodes, rather then watching from the start, so I liked it after a few 2 or 3 episodes, but if you watch it in order it might take up to 50 episodes to get rolling. But afterwards it only gets better and better. It's like f(x)=x² Art: 10/10 Awesome Battleanimations! Best facial expressions in Anime History! Awesome Ideas! (Those who already watched it, I'm talking about the Popularity Poll Arc) Everything in this Anime just looks awesome to the point. Sound: 10/10 Let's start with the Seiyu-Part. There we have Sugita Tomokazu, the genious of all ages. He, on his own would suffice to give 10 points, but no, we also have the Tsundere-Queen Kugimiya Rie in her probably best form. Sakaguchi Daisuke as straightman Shinpachi completes the Set of awesomeness. And yes, these are only the Main Chars of the Yorozura. The rest of the bunch is just as awesome. Opening/Ending-Part. Every single one of the Openings made it to my favorite track list. SPYAIR, Does, Hearts Grow,... They all did a great job. Each and evey opening fits the anime perfectly. The endings are just as good, and are great closure for every episode. BGM. Even though I don't know their names, all of the BGMs have been burned in my brain. Just awesome. Characters: 10/10 I absolutely love each and every of Gintamas Characters! As standalones they probably wouldn't work, but they aren't standalones. Sorachi Hideaki did a phenomenal job. Taka-tin, Shogun-sama, Dragon-Taicho, Ill Smith... And these are just some hillarious sidecharacters. Enjoyment: 9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999/10 There is no measurement for my enjoyment of Gintama. Which episode I watch doesn't matter. I'll laugh. Hard. I'll probably die laughting one day. Not, like I'd regret it though. Overall: 10/10 Surprise, right? Well, I talked about TWO weaknesses, right? So here's the second one: Gintama gets funnier the more Anime One has seen. So basically, this should be the last anime you see before you die. Because then you have seen the Pinnacle of Anime.
Raptor1221
09/16/2013, 06:18 PM
Gintama to be symbolized is like a bottle of fine apple cider. Its not the hot cinnamon one you enjoy at winter time, but a bubbly and sweet drink enjoyed alongside some of the finest of your holiday wines. Gintama is sweet. With a cast of bubbling and energetic characters who lift spirits. They just make the show sizzle with satisfying pops. At first Gintama feels like a kiddy drink laughable and nothing more. As you slow down and enjoy Gintama it becomes something more. There is certain tartness mixed in, a hint of something more dramatic, this only materializes itself oncein a blue moon, yet you detected it. Its an edge darkness that only heightens the sweet bubble texture, it becomes a perfect balance of sweet and bubble with a hint of tart, resulting in something as great as the finest of wines . The over arching message of Gintama is to move on from the bad things and to work towards the good. Its to no matter what, through every trail and tribulation to live by your own “bushido code”. This is the morales of Gintama. Its 95% troll fun character shenanigans, 5% drama and dark morals. Yet, every bit of Gintma is a life lesson. Every episode and every title (some more troll than others). The fun episodes are meant to be enjoyed for fun. To tell you not to take life too seriously. The each drama arc is working through a hard time with respective values and morals. The fun episodes and dark episodes are both filled with pretty much the greatest comedy that the median of anime has produced. Using both mature and immature jokes, crude and clever, gags and satire, Gintama with comedy alone is a grand achievement. Yet on top it secedes in drama and truly great character interaction in a colorful world in which anything goes. This results in on of the greatest and most unique amines of all time (look at the damn scores). The story of Gintama is about Gintoki Sakata after aliens have taken over the earth and life has generally improved for the world. Yet, a nasty sword ban on the public has put the samurai class out of work. Gintoki must now leave the bloody past behind and forge his own new samurai code as he does odd jobs in the city of Edo(Tokyo) and barely get by. Gintama is mostly comedy following along the ways of the odd jobs crew, each episodes and odd job generally goes around their own little life lessons, gags and stories. The series is very episodic. This takes 95% of the series as fun day to day shenanigans in a world dominated by weird aliens (So not really average by our standards). Under all of the tomfoolery is a dark feel. Gintama portrays this very well and sometimes the feel of the show can switch on a whim. Its the 5% not in the “happy” this is very well thought out drama arcs usually every 20 episodes, with lengths usually 3 to 6 episodes long. These arcs usually start softly, but usually end up serious and involve Ghosts from Gintoki’s past. This sense of past is never lost in the show, you always have a feeling that Gin cannot get over it. It shows through continuously through his actions. Sometimes he stops when others laugh. He thinks back to his war days laughing with comrades and then frames back to his odd jobs crew and new friends; he smiles and joins back in. Gin has a very well hidden PTSD. It mentioned by others, that he “has the smell of a beast to him” as when what he wishes to protect by his bushido code is threatened he’ll revert the “white demon” (nick name in alien wars) and risk everything life and limb to save what he cares about. This is a feeling that is constant through the entirety of Gintama, and in a sense this getting over the bad times and the past is the central meaning of Gintama as a whole. Art of Gintama is very interesting, very inventive devices, vibrant color palates; the world also can turn dark very quickly. It creates a vibrant fun colorful world that shows its seedy underside. This makes for some great contrasts in animation and just the faces… so good. From troll faces to deadly serious, to plainly confused, Gintama mastered the art of drawing facial expressions. The style in itself isn’t very risky and thus feels above average and not amazing. Sound is done by a variance of people. the Op’s and Ed’s are for a majority excellent. My personal Favorites from the 1st 201 episodes is the Op Donten with stairway generation being a close 2nd. Osts are well-done; Madao is an excellent theme with slow guitar that makes you just feel. Nothing though was completely off the walls amazing, but everything was great. Character truly is the greatness of Gintama. It’s a plethora of colorful bubbles that light up the world. Each with their own past they also want to leave behind. The Main Main group is the odd jobs crew lead by Gintoki Sakata, and his two employees/ apprentices Kagura and Shimpachi + their beloved mascot Saduharu . The other best group is the elite police of this crazy world. The Shinsengumi, which is mainly Hijikata, Sougo, Kondo, and Yamazaki. The odd jobs team is like a family always together and always on each others nerves, but help when the time comes, this has created the best friendship speeches in existence. “He owns me five bucks… so I can’t let him die”. The odd jobs crew gallivants around the city of Edo. Gintoki a samurai for a new age, Kagura super strong and supper witty young girl, Shimpachi the only sane man here. It truly is a treat to watch. The Shensengumi also gallivant putting anti government rebellions down with ridiculous police work. They have the daemon vice- chief, the sadist Captain Sougo, the bland Yamazaki, the lovable idiot chief Kondo. They also have their own serious arcs and frequently end up with the odd job team by total accident in deadly situations. These groups with many colorful separate friends and characters make a colorful dish the compliments the totally colorful world of Gintama creating tons of funny moments, and some sad ones too. The characters of Gintama make this wacky world shine. Overall Gintama is a mastery of comedy and drama. Truly meant to be enjoyed slowly. Something to be savored for what it is. Its not one to be taken too seriously or too lightly. Yet, it is a one of the greatest things to come to the anime median to date. Funny and heart warming, and sometimes just sometimes dark and gritty with a touch of feels. If you take your time to savor it, Gintama is one anime that you shant want to miss. -Raptor 9/10
strawberryrukia
08/23/2013, 05:19 PM
This is my first review on MyAnimeList, so please bear with me! So, Gintama. The anime that my friend tried to get me into by showing an episode of a toilet scene. At first, I thought it was funny, but I still didn't get into it, since I thought it will still be boring. However, I was indeed very wrong. This is Gintama, a silver samurai who runs the Yorozuya. STORY; There isn't a storyline to this anime, since every anime has its own story to it. There are some really great arcs such as the Benizakura Arc and the Yoshiwara in Flames Arc. Gintama is acomedy shounen anime, but that doesn't mean it never gets serious. Gintama gets you dying on the floor laughing then later to tears. Then, it hooks you up with intense action, such as many of Gintoki's fights. I was amazingly stunned how Gintama can transition from comedy to serious action. ART; The animation in this anime is pretty great, the art and design on each character is really nice and detailed. The background designs are really pretty, too. If you want to see a modern city or feudal Japan, then Gintama pretty much nailed it all. SOUND; The original soundtracks (OSTs) sound really amazing in this anime. The songs in the openings and endings are amazing, especially the songs that Gintama used by DOES (such as Donten, Shura, Bakuchi Dancer and Bokutachi no Kisetsu)! Some OSTs sounds extremely hilarious, like when Otose shows up. Some OSTs are so awesome, such as the Kabukicho Four Devas theme. The voice acting in Gintama fits the characters just too well. CHARACTER; I can just say too much about each character, but let's not. In general, each character has their own distinctive personalities. Do you ever see a character who's obsessed with adding such huge amounts of mayonnaise on top of their food or a character who is a super sadist? Well, Gintama has it. ENJOYMENT & OVERALL; I loved this anime as you can tell that I overused 'amazing' in this review a lot. Nothing more, nothing less.
lovelyangel666
08/05/2012, 02:28 PM
At first I was very skeptical towards the idea of watching this anime. For you see, to watch Gintama one must have a profound knowledge on Japanese pop-culture and language (as the show doesn't lack puns and references), none of which I have. Nevertheless, if you are one to appreciate a good laugh and a chaotic story line, Gintama is the anime for you. My opinion on this show: Story: 9/10 I can't help it but admire the author's ingenious approach towards not only fiction, history and adventures the characters come by, as well as the daily life of Ooedo inhabitants and all their small problems (e.g. theups and downs of having to buy a new fan or when a young girl wants her undergarments washed separately from her father's). In the Gintama world, there are hardly any linearities. Even an everyday story will make a twist or turn somewhere until the end of the 20-minute episode. And it is most likely that the aforementioned twist will make you shed tears from laughter. The show is also overflowing with d*ck jokes, b*tt jokes and the likes... Not to mention famous shounen manga, famous actors, etc. Nevertheless, toilet humor is an inseparable part of Gintama. Of course Gintama also has its seriousness, as you will notice when you stumble across the small "arcs", sometimes revealing dark secrets from the characters' pasts and adding for a more thrilling experiences. At those times, Gintama may turn its back on humor for a while, to unsheathe its blade, but that doesn't mean it's utterly forgotten. The reason why I gave it 9 (although my overall score is 10) is that a really small part of the characters' pasts is revealed. Imo, that's a turf many things could be explored on. Art: 10/10 The anime is very well drawn, with nicely balanced colors and fitting for the pseudo-historical Japan landscapes. The characters are also well drawn, each with unique features, more than enough to distinguish them. The motions are especially well made, though not too frantic or annoying for the viewer's eye. The camera angle is also great, at times even stunning as it adds for more laughter or sharpens the breath-taking moment, depends on the case. There's more to add about the character design, but I'll do that later, when I share my impression on the characters. The reason why I gave it 10? I am particularly an appreciator of good art, especially the characters, and this is one of the few shounen titles from what I've seen that has such a good style; they are not deformed, annoying (most of them) or made with the same template. Soundtrack: 10/10 Gintama hooked me on the first opening, if it hadn't already with its synopsis (more like, the lack of it) ...and I was shocked when I realized it's made by Tommyheavenly6. Then, I thought to myself, this anime means serious business. Before I used to weigh anime on their openings and endings and more or less that hasn't changed much (although now there are many more things I judge in an anime). After all, OPs and EDs made 1/10 of the screen time of an episode and the OP creates your first impression of that anime. So far for 252 episodes Gintama hasn't got a weak opening. And as a matter of fact a weak ending. And those openings usually catch perfectly the overall idea of the show. If you are keen on watching this series and want to know what it's about, one glimpse at the opening would be worth a thousand reviews read. The opening can tell you straight away who are the main characters, what other characters you are to expect, what are their occupation or preferences (oft times the right word is obsession), their affections, friends, bonds, where they live... and what the story is about, but that could be described with one word: mayhem. Gintama has OPs and EDs in J-Rock style, usually with upbeat sound, funky at times, with lots of guitars. The rhythm is quite catchy, so listening to them at least twice is a must. The soundtrack of both seasons is composed by Audio Highs, also with lots of guitars for the pressure moments, piano for the sad moments and drums for the punch lines. Audio Highs' themes are styled in almost perfect synchronization with the emotion charges a scene in Gintama could carry. Characters 11/10 Gintama's character design is unique and I'm not talking solely for the silver-haired "tennen-paama" protagonist, although he is surely unmistakable with his bokutou and the manner he wears his kimono. All the characters are drawn as befits their roles in the anime, more or less, with lots of imagination poured into each of them and a feature (usually more than one) to distinguish them from the others. Also all the characters' seyuu fit more than perfect, as they have a diapason large enough to make any situation even more comical or sh*t serious. There are no banal characters, for each has it's own story to tell and contributes on their own way for the story; and last but not least - there's no character that's out of place in Gintama. Although most of them complain they aren't given enough screen time and the show is as random as it gets, with more people appearing every episode, the secondary characters pop up just when you though they were forgotten. The characters are probably the thing I enjoyed most at the anime. As ridiculous as it sounds, they are all unique, as each of them has it's own backstory, a manner of speaking, dressing, preferable meals and many more, but most importantly: bonds. All these small features make the character stand out, not like some shallow figures, that stand there to fill the plot; and make it truly a "person" to sympathize to. Overall score: 10/10 I truly enjoyed every bit of this anime and this review is pretty much valid for both seasons. I only want to add that, as an anime based on manga, it boldly adds its own brush strokes, such as complaining about sponsors and producers, or making top 50 most popular characters show. Where some people would consider this fillers, it merges with the story so swiftly that not even once it annoyed me; on the contrary, it makes it more vivid and diverse than you would expect from an anime based on manga. There are many other things I wanted to say, but I either forgot as I typed or just decided it was long enough the way it is. Thank you for reading my review and hope it was convincing enough to make you watch Gintama!~
moseslionheart
04/19/2012, 08:35 PM
It was lucky I had the opportunity to watch this anime and I thank you very much to the Sorachi Hideaki for making the work of "Gintama". I can say Gintama is a "Masterpiece" because the anime was successful from all genres ranging from Action, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Parody, History, Sci-fi, Samurai, Shounen. Learn the history and remember it was quite difficult, but the Sorachi Hideaki find its own way so that people can learn is to create Gintama where almost all the characters here are historical in the Edo era. He added his imagination in the form of the Alien and modern times so thatthe audience is saturated and can not compare with life today. The reason I love this anime Gintama because super silly and all the characters have a joke in itself. The story is simple enough to tell about Gintoki Sakata (protaginist) as a retired rebels set up a jack-of-all-trades is doing everything for money. In the care of a jack-of-all-trades assisted with Kagura and Gintoki Shinpachi, in running the business they always make the silliness. Gintama does not have a definite plot, almost in every episode there are always new stories and new jokes so the audience would not get bored and always laughing. Apparently not only that, the action game is also interesting from an empty hand combat, guns and samurai. When looking at the early episodes of sudden I'm a bit pessimistic because there are so many characters without any introduction and the story is confusing. But when entering the third episode realized that at the beginning of the episode is the introduction of Gintama characters. Episode 3 which tells Shinpachi introductory course has a lot of jokes and I'm sure the anime is going to be a Top Rating and indeed proved to be a cover in Shounen Jump and when I was a user at the end of 2011 it was ranked above Gintama and scored 9 (very great). The hallmark of Gintama is a farce in terms of parody, in which every scene will be reminiscent of the anime or another popular game not only from that scenario as well as many take the scenario of the anime or other games, but certainly with a play so if the anime or the serious home game but in Gintama everything becomes funny. For example, when Gintoki, Kagura, Toshi, Kondo and Shinpachi virtual play their game to the character of "Dragon Quest" and to beat their opponents using their parents as a weapon and beat the boss. Talk about Art, basically Gintama has a plain design no excess and as generally modern Anime. But I give a plus for Hideaki Sorachi imagination in making different Alien where the alien is described in general but creepy creatures depicted in the figure Gintama silly like Princes Hata. Not only that Gintama Elizabeth also has the Icon is a merger between the penguin and a duck and talks using the board. Gintama remembered when looking at the soundtrack and sound effects where almost all the Naruto opening and ending is very nice and pleasant. Not only was the sound effect of Gintama also fitting of each scene ranging from live action, character entry, silly scenes, drama and instruments. If the anime is famous character like tsundere, kuudere, yandere, but all the characters Gintama are and have a similar nature that is "ridiculous". At the beginning of the character Gintoki saw his first impression was weak because at the time of the siege the enemy and he was running and outwit his opponents, but at the constriction It appeared that the original nature of the male, strong, protective and caring. Shinpachi always chatty and always shouted, but in fact he was someone who cared and were willing to help anyone. Childish Kagura is seen from his attitude and way of talking, but actually he is a loyal and powerful. Isei Kondo who is chairman of Shinsenugami described manly and authoritative but actually he is very gentle and has a love of death. Katsura who is the leader of Joi (rebels) seems so cool, brave and strong but he is stupid. All characters in Gintama entirely unexpected in view of the physical then we will be deceived because of their real nature is as the story progresses. In this anime there are no useless characters all have a role in developing the story and make the story live. Every Monday, I always wait Gintama out of curiosity what's the story again and jokes what is given. Because the manga and anime differ on where the anime chose a random chapter of the manga so do not know where that next week will come out. Gintama is perfect to watch with family or relatives. But keep in mind most of the Gintama carry as many dirty jokes and sayings Nudity sensor so you do not watch it is good with small children. If you see repeated Gintama then you will still laugh at the farce it is and not pretend impressed. Overall the anime category Gintama "Masterpiece" because it managed to present an extraordinary live action, parody that fits with the story, Comedy stomach churning. Gintama is suitable for various groups ranging from Comedy lovers, lovers Shounen, Sci-Fi lovers, lovers parody, drama lovers, and lovers of the Samurai. I guarantee you will not regret watching this anime ^ __ ^. Welcome laughed out loud.
1000windsGin
08/03/2010, 03:45 AM
What if you put some of aliens, mutated monsters, some robots preferably some Gundam and other Sunrise related mechas, Miyazaki Hayao's references, Shonen Jump gags like Bleach and One Piece and A MILLION TONS of randomness put them together in the land of Samurai during Edo period... You got the anime that is funny as hell. And Gintama is truly an example of this anime. Gintama is known for some comedy anime combining the science fiction, some samurai flick, modernizing structures and of course some riotous and more outrageous randomness that fits to be the most epic yet the divinely funniest comedy anime in the world. Story:10 Gintama has a little or no plot but it talks about the Misadventures of Gintoki Sakata and his roommates, and the goal in this anime is to pay a rent, but instilling a trouble instead. This is what Gintama became known for defining some of the Japanese references in culture, anime and more of Japan. If you want a better yet serious plots, try the story arcs like the Benizakura and Yoshiwara arcs yet most of the other plots were very humorous. Art: 10 In art, Gintama is very depicting in Gintoki Sakata's World. Thanks for Sunrise Company who made the vivid colors of Code Geass, Yakitate Japan and other anime (especially Gundam), Gintama is better. very vivid and good depicting. Sound: OVERRATED!!! (I'm joking... it's 10) In Background Music, Gintama really connects with it. Thanks to Audio Highs for making music in Gintama in a best way. I would say that the music played when something funny came or serious when it becomes. Also there is a remix that became an OST like the Do you want to be a sugar doll too!!! is actually the remixed version of Rouningyou no Yakata which performed by Seikima II was played during Senboukyou arc. (episode 131-134) If you want some really badass BGM, I would suggest the 'Rules are meant to be broken' and 'Business Transaction should always come before the fight.' In OP and ED's Gintama is truly depicting the lighter side of the characters like Kiseki by Snowkel by looking a meteor shower at the night sky. A serious side is depicting on their faces and their past like Donten by DOES. Technically, you would like to hear some songs that Takahashi Hitomi-san sang in Candy Line and Wo Ai Ni. Thanks to them, Gintama has some of the best songs ever heard. If you want really funny... TRY THE KO-SAKU'S DONDAKE SONGS AND YELL DONDAKE IN FRONT OF YOUR FAN!!! The Best clincher in Gintama music was the Tsuu Terakado songs (preferably the chome-chome) which The composition of Akatsuki Yamatoya and the genius Hideaki Sorachi as well Mikako Takahashi who did the permanent voice of Tsuu Terakado (and of course the ultimate head biting dog, Sadaharu) performs it. You would really heard the beep beep content which is very deafening to the viewer but best in laughing. All thanks to her for contribution in Gintama. Other songs which are not on the list like Akira Ishida's Katsurap (later with the collaboration of Susumu Chiba's guitar riff), Rie Kugimiya's Kagurap (with Shinpachi's ranting) and Tomokazu Sugita's epic but severely botched due to the persistent sobbing version of Sen no Kaze ni natte are the best. Although the fans wonder why Gintama has no character songs, they are unruly but good laughing. Character: OVERRATED!!! (got tired of this word... 10) Gintama is focused on the primary main characters like Gintoki Sakata, Kagura and Shinpachi. Also it targets on secondary main characters like Toushirou Hijikata, Kotarou Katsura and other characters themselves. As for the other characters like the hard-boiled detective who vomited, a nature lover who drink the Gintoki's urine tainted water, a turtle sniper who fell from the building and a soccer star who is at the brink of retirement are the most random type of characters. Hideaki Sorachi's naming of the characters uses the opposites that made the characters very defining. More likely in naming the character, it would rather be obscene if his name becomes Kin and the title itself also which it is offending to young viewers. The seiyuus in this anime are very good at giving life to the character. Rie Kugimiya's Kagura made her the best character despite that she took the tsundere roles like Taiga, Louise and Shana to the down-to-earth characters like Alphonse Elric and Miharu. Tomokazu Sugita also did the best voicing as Gintoki Sakata as very mature and funny but eccentric like Kyon. Both of them are the true stars of the Gintama especially Daisuke Sakaguchi who did the voice (and the looks) of Shinpachi Shimura you will love them. Enjoyment: 10+ Gintama has the exaloads of parodies, jokes and randomness which defines this anime. Their naming of the characters are funny that they would mean to define it. Also there is a reference of some shonen jump and it will cause of laughing your ass out. Hideaki Sorachi pointed out that seriousness can become more random and anarchically the humor is devastating best. Overall: 10 Gintama is truly the Divine Comedy of Shonen Jump because the humor and the Parodies are the funniest to the utmost. Most addicting yet most entertaining and the funniest anime on earth. For those who are involved in Laughing Yoga, try watch Gintama.
Archaeon
10/18/2009, 02:02 PM
Over the years there have been a multitude of comedy shows that have graced our TV screens, from the surreal stylings of Monty Python and sarcastic wit of Blackadder, to the sci-fi tomfoolery of Red Dwarf and the strange antics of The Fast Show. There are numerous notable series that have taken their rightful places in our DVD collections, and in an age where comedians are treated like rock stars, maybe it's fate that comedy anime would also come of age. It's strange to say this, but humour has never been a strong department for the medium, partly because of the cultural differences between East andWest, but mainly because the majority of anime comedies rely more on parody than anything else. The problem with this is that quite often the viewer is left without a frame of reference, so the humour simply goes over their heads. Some shows manage to get away with it purely by throwing out an almost constant stream of gags in the hope that people will understand enough of them to be entertained, while others like Seto no Hanayome and Jungle wa Itsumo Hale Nochi Guu have a slightly more careful approach. The area where anime is weakest is where situational comedy is concerned. There are plenty of shows around that could invariably class themselves as sit-coms, but the penchant for studios to base their stories in some sort of school setting severely limits the quality of the humour. In essence, the industry's blind adherence to what they think is a winning formula has resulted in the dilution of just about every single joke that could be told in a school setting, so much so in fact that these days studios have fallen to relying on fanservice based comedies in order to make ends meet (pardon the pun). Comedy anime isn't dead though, as there are some rays of light shining down on the wreckage of red noses, bladders on sticks and giant shoes. Nodame Cantabile insane otaku heroine and her long suffering boyfriend introduced many people to the world of classical music and the usage of otaku power when learning French. Genshiken took a slightly rose tinted look at the multi-layered world of the Japanese otaku, while Moyashimon payed homage to the classic American frat comedy National Lampoon's Animal House. One series has, however, defied all the conventions, and has become one of the greatest comedy anime of all time. Incorporating elements from some of the best comedy of both East and West, the series has an anarchic streak that, at times, is more reminiscent of Monty Python, The Simpsons and Family Guy. I am, of course, talking about Gintama. The concept of a samurai sit-com isn't new to anime and manga, however it wasn't until the serialisation of Sorachi Hideaki's manga in 2003 that anyone actually realised the potential in this type of story. Set in a quasi-historical Edo, Japan (and possibly the rest of the world), has been conquered by an alien race known as the Amanto. The nation's strongest warriors were no match for the alien technology, and in an effort to prevent another samurai uprising, the powers that be have banned humans from carrying swords in public. In this world there lives a former samurai with silver hair who runs the firm known as Yorozuya from his rented second floor apartment. From time to time he takes on odd jobs (yorozuya), for people in order to pay his rent and buy milkshakes and his beloved Weekly Shounen Jump. He is Sakata Gintoki, and his destiny is to make you cry with laughter. To say that the story is a bit on the haphazard side is probably a gross understatement, however Gintama is nothing if not consistent in its approach. The underlying story is of Gintoki and his "friends", Shimura Shinpachi (an average human teenager with no real special qualities), and Kagura (an alien who looks human and possesses monstrous strength), as they go through their days doing odd jobs for people, getting into arguments/figths with the Shinsengumi (police, kind of), drinking strawberry milkshakes (or some other flavour depending on Gintoki's mood), and trying in some small way to make the world a better place. And that's really about as serious as many of the episodes get. The haphazard approach to the story is a purposeful measure that, strangely enough, works very well, mainly because Gintama is a comedy series. There are story arcs that occur over the course of the show, and even though they may include some serious or dramatic content, Gintama never once loses its sense of fun. Indeed, the comedy is the true strength of this series, not simply in its style and delivery, but also in its content. Many of the visual gags have to be seen to be believed (seriously, how the hell did they get away with the Neo Armstrong Cyclone Jet Armstrong Cannon), and whilst the series is top-filled with parodies, the humour is always involving so the viewer rarely feels like a joke has gone over their head. That said, Ginatama has one aspect that is greater than all others in terms of its plot and comedy content, and that is its ability to turn the seemingly ordinary into something completely different. This is the main reason why Gintama can be considered a sit-com rather than a parody, as this aspect has more in common with shows like Blackadder and Monty Python than anything else. There are numerous occasions where the series will catch the viewer off guard with its sly, anarchic take on seemingly normal events (like being in a public toilet and running out of paper). Of course, there are downsides too. Although the series is extremely strong in terms of comedy, it sometimes lacks when events take a serious turn. This may be due to the audience's reactions, as viewers may automatically think that something funny is going to happen next, however a part of it also stems from the fact that the comedy is sometimes too "strong". It's ironic to say this, but Gintama's greatest strength may also be its biggest weakness. As with any long running shounen series animation and design are pretty good on the whole. The characters convey a sense of visual individuality that at times goes beyond that of other shounen anime, although this is tempered with a small degree of genericism that allows the humour to flourish . The colours are extremely bold and solid, while the backgrounds and set designs highlight the synergy between alien technology and Edo. The animation itself is of an extremely high standard, so much so in fact that some of the visual gags only really work because of it. The high points of the visuals are the show's numerous and well crafted parodies. There are many occasions where the style, animation, end even the character design, changes to make the humour more immediate, sometimes occuring in the blink of an eye, and sometimes lasting for a good portion of a given episode. The series also plays around with a variety of concepts that most people only really read about, one example being an occasion where Gintoki and the gang are rendered invisible because the episode is incomplete. It's nigh on impossible to find another anime that not only mentions something like this, but also shows the viewer what it would look like. Much of the humour comes from the characters themselves, but no matter how good the scripting is, delivery is everything when it comes to comedy, and in this respect Gintama is extremely well served by its seiyuu. The cast are able to perform with a panache that is sometimes astonishing, and their portrayals of their respective characters are so good that one would be forgiven for believing they were full time comedians. Possibly the best example of this is Kugimiya Rie (Kagura), who for many years has been typecast into various tsundere roles. Her portrayal of Kagura is truly excellent, especially in terms of comedy, and much like the rest of the cast she manages to not only maintain a consistent character for a an extended period of time, but has actually become more adept with her timing and delivery. Gintama is generally consistent with its choice of music, and certain tracks are repeated throughout the series usually to add to the comic atmosphere of a given scene. That said, some of the more serious moments can feel a little off-kilter as the score changes can sometimes be a little sudden. As with any long running series the OP and ED have changed since the show began airing in 2006. These tracks are usually pretty good at capturing the essence of Gintama (which just sounds wrong), as a whole, and the opening sequences are designed and choregraphed to highlight the important aspects of the anime - humour, fun, some seriousness, and a large slice of anarchy. In all honesty, there is no real reason to find the characters outstanding, and the fact that they are iconic, original and memorable is possibly Gintama's greatest triumph. Gintoki, Shinpachi, Kagura, the members of the Shinsengumi, and all the sundry characters, alien and otherwise, who appear in the show will find some funny bone to tickle. When taken as individuals each is a flawed creation that really wouldn't work were this any other anime, but the plot and scripting for the series, together with the talent of the seiyuu and the design of each character, turns this idea completely on its head. Much of the comedy is dependent on the characters, and it's because the series is so good at entertaining the audience that any noticeable flaws are generally forgiven or ignored. Gintama is not simply a funny anime though. Over the seasons the show has gradually become a phenomenon in the medium, mainly because of its ability to maintain consistent humour for over most of its 201 episodes. The irreverent and oh-so anarchic humour can, at times, come off as weird, but this has only served to endear the series to more viewers. Numerous fans refer to Gintama as their "anime crack", a sentiment which is understandable in a sense as it has the ability to lift one's mood in a way that few other anime can manage. That doesn't mean that everyone will be entertained though, but if the viewer approaches the show with the right sort of mindset (e.g. open), then the series has a lot to offer. That said, shounen fans will definitely find Gintama appealing, not simply because it bears all the stereotypical hallmarks of that genre of anime, but also for its ability to creatively parody other shounen tales (like Bleach, Naruto, One Piece, etc - who can forget the infamous DragonBleaPiece movie trailer). Fans of comedy anime like Seto no Hanayome, Jungle wa Itsumo Hale Nochi Guu and others of that ilk, will also find Gintama's ability to mess with everyday concepts worthwhile. There are plenty of aspects to the series that possess a broad appeal in terms of humour, and it's to the credit of everyone involved with the production (from mangaka Sorachi Hideaki on down to the guy/girl who makes the tea), that the show never gets old, stale, or too bogged down in how good it actually is. There's a new king of comedy in town. Make way for Gintama.
Touka
02/05/2009, 01:19 AM
Gintama is a masterclass in comedy writing and variety; a series that grows in originality with each passing episode, so inventive and fresh, dynamic and interesting, it's no wonder it has become one of Sunrises' flagship series, not to mention a mainstay of Shounen Jump. The plot - from the get-go - perfectly encapsulates what Gintama is about: it's absurd. The Gintama universe is limitless; anything can and will happen. This insane nature is perfectly explored through the episode structure. Chiefly, it's an episodic series, with multiple story arcs woven in-between. Each episode will see a new plot, exploring one (or multiple) aspects of this wideand wacky universe, along with the colorful and unpredictable cast. The stories range in genre, from thriller to flat-out comedy, but most have a humorous tone. Each episode is uniquely different from the next; they're brilliantly written, flawlessly executed narratives that fail to tire. The series displays a wonderful range of comedy, from parody to episode-long, painstakingly constructed, carefully executed gags; it's an ever-fresh and vigorous aspect and one of the series' many stand-out elements. The story arcs further explore the world and the characters of Gintama, some in humorous ways, but most in a more dramatic fashion, which adds further variety and heightened drama to the series. The diversity and imagination on display is hugely admirable, especially given the series' length. Gintama doesn't know fatigue; it stays at a consistent, extremely high quality throughout, with fresh new plot devices, scenarios and twists being continually introduced even years after its first broadcast - the writing is incredibly commendable. The animation and art style is ever-impressive; the anime staff seamlessly bring to life such a crazed, hectic and involved world from the pages of Sorachi's manga. The anime has a colorful, visually pleasing style, with flawlessly animated explosive action set pieces, heart-wrenching dramatic beats and eye-watering comedic reveals. The character designs are incredibly diverse and evoke well Sorachi's artwork, with Gintoki becoming an instantly recognisable anime icon. The sound and music is particularly well produced, with a huge amount of vocal talent on display. The score is incredibly elaborate and comprised of a vast variety of tracks, befitting of a series of this length. The backing tracks evoke well a number of different emotions, tones and moods, and blend seamlessly with the visuals, further bringing to life the world of Gintama. There are multiple stand-out compositions which are - above all else - memorable. One of the most appealing aspects of the series is without a doubt the characters. They're imaginative, memorable and varied creations, each unique and appealing in their own different way. The main characters present incredible amounts of enthusiasm and are the real driving force behind Gintama, but certain members of the unbelievably vast supporting cast are almost as integral in their own right. Sorachi's marvellous creativity shines through in the characters, just as it does the story, and it becomes obvious the anime staff have a complete understanding of the source material and an unwavering dedication to bring it to life. Given the gag-based nature of the series, the characters start off rather one dimensional, with little room to explore their background or the depths of their psyche in the episodic ventures, but the story arcs greatly expand on both the main characters and the prime supporting cast, developing their hearts and souls to a substantial, admirable degree. Gintama is a marvel, chock-full with everlasting potential. It's a series as side-splittingly funny as it is deeply heartbreaking. It presents a miscellany of different genres, tones, characters, scenarios, music, emotions and comedy, all blended into one exquisitely written, flawlessly executed, brilliantly produced, intelligent stunner of a series. It's among the utmost best anime has to offer.

Gintama 銀魂

2006 spring | Episodes: 201 | Score: 8.9 (407211)

Updated every Thursdays at 18:00 | Status: Finished Airing

Type: TV

Streaming: Crunchyroll | Netflix

Synopsis

Voice Actors

Kugimiya, Rie

Sugita, Tomokazu

Yaguchi, Asami

Yonezawa, Madoka

Sakaguchi, Daisuke

News

Reviews

Faiyaz007
01/24/2021, 02:56 AM
Comedy that never once fails to make us laugh Tear jerking story that actually bring tears after laughing Good action that rival some good shounen out there Very little romance that is not forced that actually spice things up some time Decent story despite being a comedy Great villain that is not bad guy because story needed one At first I was reluctant to watch this, I am glad I changed my mind. This anime has everything, literally! It even have other anime inside it lol. A definite 10/10 and I won't be exaggerating when I call this BEST anime. Bye Gintama and thanks for all the good memories.
Optigisa
09/22/2019, 10:09 AM
Gintama is a very inconsistent and overrated series. Many Anime fans tend to praise Gintama as the best battle shonen Anime of all time, and they inflate it’s status even further by giving it perfect ratings, and while Gintama is a show that does good in some aspects or during some arcs, it fails at being a consistent show throughout it’s long two hundred and two episode run, which hinders it from becoming good or even great by extension. Gintama is definitely not a bad show, far from it actually. It is just that Gintama suffers from problems that cannot be overlooked, and today weare here to see why this Anime is fine as it is, though not good and certainly not the greatest. The first problem or issue that Gintama suffers from are the filler episodes that almost every battle shonen suffers from. While there aren’t many filler episodes in this series, there are still some filler episodes that cannot be overlooked, and they hinder from the overall show. Fillers hinder a show due to them not being necessary to the overall plot, and while the filler episodes here are considerably less than those of other famous battle shonen series, they still exist and cannot be overlooked. A second issue that this series suffers from is the lack of any imagination or thought when it comes to the comedy in it. The comedy throughout the whole series boils down to: -Poop jokes -Toilet paper humor -Someone calling Kagura his boss -Someone saying “Zura Ja Nai, Katsura Da” -References to other Anime such as Dragon Ball, Nausicaa of the Valley of the wind, and such -Funny faces -Jabs at otakus -A homeless man -An angry brother and an angry sister beating people up because they are angry Due to this, the characters become plot devices to convey one or two jokes every episode rather than develop and move on from them. Heaven forbid a character evolves from the same joke he was given since the first few episodes, into a character who actually becomes developed and well written. Heaven also forbid this series learns how to create most of it’s jokes without the need to rely on references from other Anime, take a jab at some, or just use the same joke over and over again until it becomes stale. Toilet humor is hysterical the first time it is used, and the second time is not a big deal, but when it exceeds that line, that is when we have a problem. Besides that, the humor in Gintama is not so bad, the references could work at times and when they do, they turn hilarious and are genuinely some of the funniest episodes an Anime fan could see. Take a look at episode 119, which is probably the best Dragon Ball Z parody an Anime or anything for that matter ever pulled off. The same goes for episode 110, which is easily the funniest episode in the whole series, if not the entirety of Anime as a whole. Gintama has genuinely funny humor when it works, but alas, these episodes are a rare gem to find in a series that uses and repeats the same gags over and over again until they turn trite. The third and most important issue that Gintama suffers from is the lack of a plot or a narrative that connects all the episodes together one by one. It feels meandering, as the viewer wonders why they are watching this series in the first place. Due to there not being a plot, it becomes predictable as to what it’s formulaic episodic structure will be: Either an episode about something absurd that comes out of nowhere due to this world being inhabited by all kinds of zany creatures, some unfunny jokes which are repeated over and over again, or some random enemy coming from afar to wreak havoc on the city. Rinse, and then repeat. It all feels pointless, because why watch Gintama when there isn’t even a plot or end goal in sight? This is my biggest problem with the series. After indulging myself in the long and predictable episodes, I felt dissatisfied with an ending that did not give me a solid conclusion to the series. Now granted, this is a series that is ongoing and there are different seasons, but that is not a valid excuse to end it on a lackluster finale. Take a look at Hunter x Hunter, which is the greatest battle shonen ever created, while the manga was ongoing, the Madhouse staff ended that Anime on a very good note, to the point where it could be considered the actual ending to the series without hurting it’s narrative. Other issues that this series suffers from are the other issues that other battle shonen suffer from: The hero is too strong for his own good, and while he does struggle to get a win, it is still out of the realm of logic how he wins his battles. The fillers which I have mentioned above. The same predictable battle shonen formula that other series suffer from, where a villain shows up and then gets defeated, and the same juvenile jokes repeated over and over again. Gintama only has one thing going for it, and that is the fact that there is no power escalation in the series. Now that we are done with all the narrative elements of Gintama, let us take a look at it’s characters. The characters in Gintama are divisive. Some of them are rather well written and well developed, others are not so much. The characters that are one dimensional in Gintama are: 1.Katsura and Elizabeth, who are only in the series for the simple gist of making referential humor and acting silly to amass some laughs. There is nothing more to Katsura other than calling Kagura boss and saying “Zura ja nai, Katsura da.” He does not develop throughout the whole run of this Anime. 2.Shinpachi, as his whole character arc revolves around bullying his otaku friends and being an obsessed idol fan and having an annoying voice. Granted, he does get some episodes where he falls in love with some girl, but that episode is unnecessary since the Anime glosses over said girl, and is never used to develop his character further. 3.Most of the female cast, with the exception of Kagura. The women in the series either amount to fanservice or to annoy the males, that is it. Kagura is amazing though, as the series centers some or many of it’s episodes on her. The characters who are well developed are Tomoya, Sugo, Gorilla, Kagura and some others from the Shinsengumi, as well as some villains like Itou and lord Housen. Speaking of Housen and Itou, their arcs are the best in the whole series, followed closely by the Benizikura arc. As for the rest of the arcs, they aren’t nearly as emotional nor do they contain the same level of character depth. Overall, Gintama is far from being the best battle shonen out there, as it suffers from many issues to even be called a good series. When an Anime makes you question the first fifty episodes of it’s run and think “When does this get better?” you know that Anime won’t turn out to be a good product. Though Gintama is not a good Anime, it is not a bad one either, as it has some very strong episodes going for it.
Joe_Striker
10/08/2018, 05:10 PM
Gintama is overrated trash. It has a slow start, corny parodies, lame repetitive gags, no concise plot and has "serious arcs" when it's supposed to be a comedy first and foremost. What a complete mess of a series. Plot: (1/10) The comedic episodes that take up 80% of the series is just there to flesh out the characters, the world and repeat the same jokes over again. It’s unnecessary padding that has no affect on the actual plot, hence why it’s filler. You can skip them, look up the serious arc episodes and watch those and you’d still be caught up with the story. The serious arcsare short, overdramatic, have fake deaths, bland sword fights and are filled with the same overused shounen troupes like: nakama power bullshit or villains giving long cliche monologues. None of the arcs are even better than your average shounen arc, especially the overrated Shogun Assassination arc. The whole structure is a mess. Some episodes are dedicated to the odd jobs, then the shinsengumi, one moment is serious then half way through it’s comedy. 3 episodes would be comedy, then the next 4 would be “mini serious arcs”, the plot’s all over the place! Characters: (1/10) The characters are over the top, unrealistic and have barely any development. Seriously, if you compare the Odd Jobs Trio from the first episodes to the latest episodes in the final season, you’ll see that they’re pretty much exactly the same characters. The worst part is the comedy is terrible. It’s as if it was written for 12 yr old weebs. The constant abusive punches/kicks, repetitive gags, overused references to other shows, cheesy dialogue, childish parodies and poop jokes are shit. Also, there’s so many references to Japanese culture that even the average viewer wouldn’t get the humour. Overall (1/10): Seriously, if you want to watch a episodic comedy series then you might as well watch Spongebob instead because it at least doesn’t take 60+ episodes to “get good” like Gintama.
ChouEritto
09/16/2018, 04:31 PM
Gintama has become somewhat of a favourite amongst many in the anime community, as evident to anyone who views the Top Anime on MAL. However, does popularity directly correlate to quality? With a 5/10 rating, it's obvious my answer is no, but why exactly is that? The series has a good start with it's interesting setting being a mix of Japanese history and sci-fi with a cast of colourful characters. After the first few episodes of character introductions, however, the story can be hit or miss at times...when it shows up. The plot continuity tends to be quite thin, with what is the main story onlyshowing up every dozen or several dozen episodes before being succeeded by episodic comedy arcs. This leaves the series feeling disjointed when it takes so long for what appears to be the core narrative is given a background seat constantly and the comedy dominates the series. It also doesn't help that when the serious arcs crop forward, the story seems to borrow too heavily from Rurouni Kenshin in many narrative elements, particularly concerning Gintoki. This would be fine when the series brands itself as a comedy primarily, if not for three major factors. First would be the scope/length of the series. Pushing the main plot back somewhat in order to make the characters more entertaining would be fine if it was a short and concise series that got to the point. When your series is going on for several hundred episodes whilst building up several plot events and constantly shifting to a more serious tone when doing so yet taking too long to deliver, however, it's quite an inexcusable problem when most of the comedic arcs weren't essential for fleshing out the plot or characters. The second major flaw would be what the comedy consists of; referential humour. Whilst I got most of the references, even some of the more niche ones, and got a laugh out of them, I can't say it really makes for quality when by nature referential humour is directed at a select few and serves more to just advertise another series, which tends to make a series inferior to the one it's referencing by default due to the joke purely relying on the latter. The humour was fine for the first 40 or so episodes, where there was far more of a reliance on slapstick and the references were very subtle. When you get to characters exclaiming things such as "Isn't this Dragon Ball?" or calling out the reference in such an explicit manner lacks creativity and overall ruins the joke. Moreover, the constant need to make fun of other Shonen Jump titles comes off as quite a double-standard when the series is fine with overusing many Shonen tropes in the serious arcs such as power of friendship. It even comes off as bad world building when the vast differences in this world with aliens and Edo Period customs merged obviously wouldn't produce the same origin for ideas for many manga and therefore makes the references something that shouldn't be anything similar to what they were. This would be a poor nitpick in a typical comedy series that doesn't take itself seriously, but therein lies the third major flaw in the comedy, being tonal whiplash and inconsistency. When you go from a series that constantly changes reality through breaking the fourth wall that will all of a sudden become entirely serious and oblivious to such a fact about their comedic universe leaves the series inconsistent. This isn't the only comedic element of the series as the character interactions are quite funny at first...until the running gags get repeated far too much. It's fine having the joke of Kondo being a stalker repeated one or two times. Doing so about fifty or so times is annoying. The characters could make up for this with their personality and the writing behind them if not for the fact that, aside from Gintoki and perhaps Kagura, the main cast tend to only have one or two main character traits to remember them by whenever the arc isn't serious. Even for the more serious arcs, what character development occurs is never a permanent thing. An arc where Sougo learns to treat Hijikata with more respect? He's back to aiming a bazooka at him the next arc. An arc where Shinpachi is given the opportunity to grow as a person? He's going to be treat as just a pair of glasses in the next episode. The sexual tension between Gintoki and Tsukuyo in particular is quite the perpetual pile of nothing with neither taking the initiative, especially when the two are adults in their late twenties at least and not middle schoolers with a crush. As far as the superficial aspects of art and sound go, these are very good. The art and the usage of it's animation helps offer a lot of comedy from the purely physical gags as does the excellent voice acting with the seiyuu having such distinctive voices that their characters have truly become a part of them. The soundtrack is also great in it's variation that always manages to set the tone of the scene. Despite all that, these are just superficial aspects that don't act as much of a saving grace for the series. So, overall, Gintama is a series that had many elements that could have been good had the execution of it's pacing and comedy been executed far better. Unfortunately, this didn't improve as the series went on and whilst the series is fine as pure entertainment, it certainly isn't the 10/10 many would hail it as. At least this first series is still better than the sequels to succeed it. As for alternative recommendations, if you want a parody series that doesn't take itself seriously at all and remains dumb fun throughout, there's the series that likely inspired it Dr. Slump. If wanting a comedy series that offers more food for thought than a few jokes and have good pacing, there's The Tatami Galaxy and Great Teacher Onizuka, the latter of which does referential humour well by having a setting that would make it seem natural and doesn't overuse it.
pedromgdo
05/22/2018, 11:52 AM
My first review ever, and unfortunately a negative one, but i'll do my best to explain why i'm giving it such a score. * Story * [2/10] Since this is a comedy anime most episodes are loose and don't really have any important conection with each other, but sometimes there are some 'serious' arcs where story develops, so my rating is of those arcs. Story is generaly weak with no mindblowing twists, it wasn't as bad to watch as most episodes, but it was mostly the same formula as everything we have seen before, strong bad guy and good guy takes a good beating and then defeats thevilan, nothing special, even though the art is quite great, but i'll talk about that later. Then we had some single episodes with a story within them, and these were realy poorly done, they broke the whole feels train by making a dumb unfunny joke while in the peak of the drama, and while the story of the episode was really good it was just plain ruined by them breaking the rhythm. * Art * [9/10] Can't complain about anything, it was really good, the fights were very well animated and great artstyle. * Sound * [8/10] Here im only going to talk about soundtracks, openings and endings, and i have once again nothing to complain here, openings were great, endings it has one of the greatest endings i have ever seen "samurai heart", and ost was on point most of the times. * Character * [2/10] This was one of the greatest downfalls for the anime in my opinion, let me state the anoying trifecta : Shinpachi, Otae and Sarutobi. Shinpachi: you know when you are telling a joke and the other person doesn't get it and you have to explain it making it really anoying, yeah, now imagine someone screaming the joke in your ears everytime a joke is said... yes, not very fun is it? Otae: Typical strong femaly character beating up the MC, not much to be said. Sarutobi: It was an original character i'll give them that, but boy did it get repetitive, and when i say repetitive i mean repetitive, not to say the screaming wich seems to the only thing the anime thinks its funny for the viewers. Buuuuuut, there were some funny characters that were *not* anoying in the little screen time they did manage to get, the shogun, hijikata, and gintoki, those were the characters that truly were funny whenever they were on screen, shame was that gintoki was many times overshadowed by shinpachi's screaming, ruining most jokes. * Enjoyment * [1/10] Screaming, unfunny jokes, punching other people and such, unfortunately this was most of the episodes, out of the 300 episodes i've seen, i've only enjoyed and laughed at probably 20~30 wich is very bad, the reason why i kept going will be explained after. But it's not all bad news, some of the episodes i did enjoy i REALY enjoyed them, but they were so rare that watched gintama very very slowly, just when i had nothing else to watch. The humour was also very simple, no real complexity and as i stated before all the jokes are explained to you via screaming, wich as i said is not enjoyable. * Overall * [2/10] Why did i watch it you ask? Well, bunch of reasons, first it was very high rated here and everyone seemed to love it to death, second i very rarely drop a show, third, people always said it would get better as time went by and unfortunatly it did not. I stated watching from episode 3 with an open mind and it was just a pain from begining to the end. Unfunny jokes, screaming and punching is this show in a nutshell. In the end i think you either love or don't, as simple as that, if you plan on watching this, start on episode 3 and watch 3 or 4 episodes, if you simply did not enjoy at all, don't try watching this, if you liked go ahead, you won't be disapointed. For anyone wondering if i simply don't enjoy comedy shows, while not directly related i have watched simpsons, american dad, cleveland, southpark, and while yes these aren't anime, they are very well known comedy shows, and i thought for myself if i really liked all of these then i'd like gintama too, i didn't. Another thing i did was watch a youtube video of funny moments and most of those i laughed really hard, and those were basicaly the episodes i liked when i watched the whole thing, disapointing.
CG-Silver
05/25/2016, 07:12 PM
So I've been meaning to write a review for Gintama for quite a while now ever since I finished this wonderful series. I'm a huge fan of the series but I'll address the negatives as well, since nothing is perfect. This review will be for all of the Gintama entries up until the 2015 version. A common misconception that people make is that they think Gintama° (2015) is a reboot of original Gintama. The answer is NO, it is a direct sequel to Gintama: Enchousen and has totally new content. The watching order is: Gintama > Gintama' (2011) > Gintama: Enhousen > Gintama° (2015). So beforestarting the actual review, I'll answer some of the most asked questions related to Gintama. Some popular questions are: "Does Gintama ever get serious?" YES, it does focus on plot from time to time in the form of various small arcs ranging from 3-6 episodes in length. They'll appear randomly during the course of the series. However, watching Gintama for the purpose of fighting, seriousness, other shounen troupes etc. is in itself the wrong approach to the series. The serious portion in Gintama hardly even makes up 15% of the content of series. It is first and foremost a comedy series and should be watched for that purpose primarily with glimpses of short serious and dramatic arcs in between, as a bonus. Another popular question: "When does Gintama get good"? Gintama remains the same throughout the series. The only thing that changes is that the characters are developed as the episodes pass by and this helps to enjoy the series a lot more. The trick to enjoy Gintama is that don't be in the constant pressure of the huge episode count. Just sit back, relax and watch it from time to time until you get used to it, and trust me, it'll become one of the most memorable rides if you, for some reason don't have any negative bias-ness towards the series (Yes, I'm referring to the salty approach that some people take and hate it from the start because it takes half of the top 10 on MAL. This really affects the enjoyment and your state of mind won't allow you to get used to the characters). INTRODUCTION/BASIC PREMISE: So for the people starting the series, it'll be pretty hard to find the actual plot in the series since it's mentioned briefly from time to time so finding the right motivation for watching it from the start can be difficult. That's because the approach Gintama takes is quite different from any other series. The basic plot is that Gintoki is the main character of the series who has participated in the Joi war against the aliens (referred to as "Amanto" in Gintama), that happened 10 years prior to the start of the series. After the victory of Aliens, they overtook Japan/Edo leading to the decline in the status of Samurai's and thus leading Gintoki to give up and became an ordinary citizen under the aliens and open his small private business called the "Odd Jobs or Yorozuya in Japanese". During the start of the series he meets the other two mains leads, Shinpachi who is the 'straight guy' that every comedy series has, trying to restore his Family dojo and the other mean lead, Kagura who is part of the strongest and most violent Alien race known as "Yato". These three make up the odd jobs business and will accept any kind of Job requested no matter how reckless the request is. For the first 50 episodes, Gintama's mostly episodic with quite a few small story arcs ranging from 2 to 3 episodes in length. The first two episodes are fillers and skipping them won't do any harm. It takes it's sweet time to introduce us to the characters since it has a huge supporting casts. Throughout the journey, you'll experience all sorts of episodes and story arcs with some of the best fourth wall breaking. You'll notice countless references and parodies of anime series, dramas, Japanese celebrities or even Western shows. You'll experience arcs that you'd have never even imagined were possible. Another thing is that, after completing the series up until where it's released, I've noticed that the producers have had a blast producing this series by sharing their personal feelings and showing them in the anime occasionally. The comedy doesn't get old, Gintama will constantly hit you with new concepts from time to time. Going trough the first few episodes might be pretty difficult due to the odd atmosphere. But as you continue, a lot of things will change ranging from the basic world setting to introducing new characters. In the latest episodes of the series, Gintama has finally started taking a serious approach and focus on the main plot. If you'd ask me, I'll say that this might as well be the highest point in the series, it's the peak of the best it has to offer. Ofcourse the comedy lovers might disagree so this is just an opinion. CHARACTERS/ART/ANIMATION/SOUND: Needless to say this but characters are the backbone of Gintama and they truly make up the series. There are a variety of characters and factions. The basic focus is mostly on the Yorozuya trio. The story also focusses a lot on the Shinsengumi, a police force formed from the kids without families who grew up on streets/poor and ordinary people in search of jobs. The interactions between the Yorozuya and the Shinsengumi are some of the best moments in the series, truly shows how important the supporting characters are in the series. The Shinsengumi also consists of their trio so they somewhat resemble the lead trio. Other main charcaters include three of Gintoki's war buddies who fought along side him with one of them coming to become the main villain of the series, one of them becoming a Joi rebel (terrorist but in a funny way) and the last one becoming a space merchant. Now there are other characters but it'll be boring to discuss them all so one can just go ahead and watch the series to know more. The art and animation delivers when needed and at times can be pretty ordinary. Though considering that Gintama is a long running series, it's actually pretty amazing that it has some of the best animated fight scenes. The art can at times be sloppy with derp faces, however that's pretty rare. The colours for the first 150 episodes are comparatively dull to the later part of the series but still not half bad. The OSTs and Voice acting are legendary. Another one of Gintama's strongest points is the music, with some of the best opening and ending sequences to some legendary voice acting and best composed OSTs, there is nothing to worry about Gintama in this aspect. It won't disappoint. NEGATIVES: - Though Gintama has less to no fillers, it may suffer from inconsistency during the first 50-100 episodes. Some episodes are comparatively better than others. Some references might fly above your head because it does contain a lot of parodies of various anime/Japanese drama/Japanese celebs/Western TV shows and movies/other popular trends. You have to be atleast an amateur anime watcher to fully enjoy Gintama but that doesn't means you won't enjoy Gintama if you are not a well-versed anime fan. You'll still enjoy a chunk of other stuff it delivers. - Animation/Art can at times be sub-par however when it needs to deliver, it more than does. - Those who start Gintama for comedy sometimes rarely end up disliking the serious arcs because the serious arcs at times contain cliche dialouges. But even though, they do have cliche moments, it sort of has a magical feel in every serious arc which separates it from the rest of generic shounen. The execution and the timing is probably what makes these serious arcs so intense, brutal and glorying. Some people do turn a blind eye on the serious arcs but in my opinion, the serious/dramatic arcs are always full of enjoyment, great themes and lessons, something to remember and a great look at Gintama's plot. - Those who don't find Japanese humour funny might end up disliking the series for obvious reasons. It'll be a hit and miss series for them. Some of the toilet humour might end up being disgusting rather than funny, however, this has only happened once and that was also in the later stages of this series so no worries here really. FINAL VERDICT: Overall Gintama clicked with me and it's one of the best and most enjoyable series you'll ever come across provided that you give it enough time and focus. Being part of this loyal fan-base has been one of my best experiences in anime. I've met all kinds of fans of this series and a chunk of them are great people. The passion the fan-base has for this series is amazing and thus, I'm always glad that I'm part of a community that has equal passion, ambition and love for this series as me. I'll urge those who want to give it a try to go ahead and watch it fully, you'll be more than welcome to be part of our community. Gintama is truly a blast of a series, a rare gem them many people know nothing about. I just wanted to write this review to show my love for this series, hope that you enjoyed reading it :) If you have any questions or trouble getting into the series, feel free to chat me. I'll be happy to give advice :)
Bentokey
12/03/2015, 10:39 AM
Before I write this review which is very long overdue I would like to first establish that Gintama is my favourite series in both the manga and anime mediums and it is something that I will carry with me forever, it took me out of a very dark part in my life and set me on the right path. Gintama is something that becomes better as time moves on and you learn more about Japanese culture (of course, manga and anime) looking back at the series but it is also a very compelling story with slowly arching storyline with some really emotional moments and justsome moments that really hit home to any anime watcher. Secondly, I would like to note that Gintama is the funniest form of media (at least anime) that I have seen. I don't think that people quite appreciate the knowledge that the author (who refers to himself as a Gorilla in the manga) has, he is thoroughly up to date with todays manga and anime series, with American TV shows, to Japanese Pop artists and Idols, and to Japanese comedy all together. He is a true appreciator of comedy and this is very apparent in his series where he runs jokes sometimes volumes apart, he has running gags throughout the series and he ties in references to all works of media that his wide audience (most of the time) appreciates. -Just going to do a quick overview and reasoning for my 10/10 on all scores for the anime- Story: Gintama starts as a bunch of friends in the Edo period of Japan start up an "odd jobs" with the intent on doing any job for anyone around the town after the alien "amanto" take over the Earth for a low price to get by. They start making associates in all kinds of places from the "Joi" terrorists to the various policing organisations around the place to the Shogunate itself, with the more relationships that they build the more influence and responsibility the group gathers around the town, the several ties made really bring together the story; this story isn't really your general soul searching, power gaining Shonen, it is about protecting these ties with everything that the group has. Art: With such an amazing source I do feel that Sunrise did a very good job animating Gintama. Character designs stay very true to their original sources and they did a very nice job giving you a feel as to what it would be like living in this run down town where Aliens and Humans live (seemingly) in harmony. The action scenes are done very - very well and the various "playful" facial expressions and such are done to perfection. Sound: Gintama has quite a range of different scenarios and I think that the sound put together did very well at setting the tone for these scenarios. It has some very touching songs for those emotionally beautiful scenes, it has some really cool fighting music when necessary and some very comical jigs for the right moment. Another strong point in Gintama is its OPs and EDs, they really do get some amazing bands (SPYAIR does a few) in for these theme songs and they stay very true to the series. Character: Gintama has some very loveable characters, they each play their comical role very well with their interactions with certain characters, one thing that I've noticed is how well Sorachi pairs certain characters with one another in both the humorous sense and in a social one. You also need to appreciate that every supporting character is either introduced during the series with some sort of arc that very closely ties each character with the group or they are done so in the same way with a flashback. Enjoyment: Due to its episodic nature Gintama is something that you can show to friends at any point and they will love it all the same. As touched on earlier it is such an enjoyable series because of its diversity, there is something in it for everyone of all ages because the authors knowledge in anything funny is so diverse all the same. Watch it for the endless references, the fighting scenes, the comedy, you will not leave disappointed whatever your interests are. To conclude in my bias I just really want to stress that everyone no matter what their tastes are should watch Gintama, don't get strayed away by these premise that because it is on the MAL top anime ratings that it must be mainstream trash. It is there for a reason, everyone that watches it loves it.
Nervin
12/02/2015, 10:08 AM
Comedy is a genre which can be very difficult to appeal to the majority of people, as it is heavily dependent on ones preferences, as well as his own past experiences with the medium. Besides these limitations, there is an other factor that plays a role, which are the cultural differences that exist in current society, as a lot of comedy is dependent on the understanding of said cultural customs. This is done in the West through various types, such as satires, sitcoms, cringe comedies or slapstick comedies; in the East, particularly Japan, this done through the most known type of comedy, the Manzai, orlesser known ones such as Shimoneta, a comedy focused on dirty jokes, or the Konto, short sketches that are completely ridiculous, yet hilarious. With that being said, there is one anime that managed to become very popular among the anime audiences throughout the last decade despite those limitations, and that is Gintama. This anime is particularly famous because it implements comedic elements from both the West and the East splendidly, while at the same time having its share of a more "serious" storyline, expanding on its universe, as well as having fantastic battle scenes with wonderful background stories for the characters. Naturally, some viewers may dislike this anime, and while I personally think it's a great anime, it also has its flaws, which I will try to depict below. ~Story~ The setting in which the story takes place is feudal Japan, Tokyo, formerly known as Edo, yet with every modern type of tools available in modern society, such as cars, fridges, TV's, you name it; but that is not the only nonsensical thing, there is also the fact that Japan is invaded by aliens called the Ämanto". Following the life of the defeated lazy samurai Sakata Gintoki and his fellow companions Kagura and Shimura Shinpachi on their jobs as "Yorozuya", people who would do everything for money, being the poor penniless people they are. These tasks range from simple jobs such as catching cats to high-risk type of labour, which all have one thing in common: it will always end hilariously, usually through the hardships the protagonists have to endure. Moral stories are often narrated through these as well, while a big part is praiseworthy, some of these may at times go unnoticed or either feel repeated to the viewer. Gintama's main focus lies in the humor, and it conveys these splendidly to the viewers through a wide array of comedy types, be it the manzai or satires to the different customs of different cultures. These situations represent daily events, yet often taken to the extreme, and ridiculously absurd which I personally think is a charm too; it nevertheless share its shares of more "calm" episodes. What makes these so well done is the fact that it is unexpecting and hilariously represented: who will forget the epic toilet battle, or the mishaps that happen to the most powerful man in the country, the Shogun himself? Other great aspect is the use of referential comedy to other anime series, even movies: these are all hilariously well presented, if viewers know about it that is; which begins with one of the problems this anime has. Though the majority of gags and jokes are well relaid to the viewers, there are also quite a lot that either aren't that well understood, or just totally misses the point for some (if not most) of the audiences. This can be due to several reasons: one of it is the fact of not knowing which medium the anime is referencing to; there are quite an amount of referential gags to either current or past famous anime series which for the newer viewers to the medium would remain clueless on why it was displayed and thus not understanding its joke. Other reason is naturally the cultural knowledge of both the West and particularly Japan; if viewers have no awareness of these (such as famous politicians, real life comedians, customs), it will often come over as something absurd and nonsensical. Finally, the understanding of the Japanese language itself can be a culprit too, as it relies on wordplay and vocal expression, which for the average viewer may be difficult to follow. Gintama does not only consist of comedy episodes: to change the atmosphere of the anime, it introduces its own serious arcs in which characters are fleshed out through numerous things such as background stories, or events tied to these. Trough these world building is done, as well as clearing out different mysteries that surround that world. What comes as a surprise, is the fact that it can be dead serious, which is totally the opposite of its usual narrative; deep conflicts between aliens, samurai's and the government, or the different political factions within those. However, there is no consistent progression of the story, as the episodes are standalone ones, which also affect the more serious arcs; these are not tied with each other, which may be a drawback for some viewers, as it seems to "reset" some of the events that happen. The battles are nothing short of spectacular, well paced, leaving the viewer in tension on what will happen next. These are however often over the top, with characters having infinite toughness or sudden "powerups", which results sometimes in tensionless fights, which can be a drawback for some. However, it must be said that these are often take unexpecting turns, and are fantastically animated. There is also a certain issue with the pacing. Essentially the first 40-50 episodes approximately are pretty average at best, as it is dedicated to introducing the different characters; in addition, it is clear that most of the jokes and gags are rather badly conveyed to the viewer, feeling off, as the author is not yet fully aware as on how to represent them. It must be said that there some fantastic episodes that are either very amusing or breathtaking, yet overall are average. As mentioned earlier, referential and slapstick comedy that is available in the anime may displease some viewers preferring situational comedy. Naturally, throughout its whole duration of 201 episodes, it can't maintain fantastic comedy, thus having quite some episodes that can be either boring or disgusting at times. Nevertheless, the good episodes overshadowed the bad ones, besides the comedy being consistent throughout its duration. ~Characters~ The characters in Gintama are of great importance to the anime, as without them, the majority of jokes wouldn't get over quite as desired: no matter how good the scripts for the joke are, without good actors, it will be boring. These are all very memorable, which is quite an achievement, considering these are not outstanding in respect of character development or fleshing out of these. There is Sakata Gintoki, a defeated samurai revolutionary in the war against the aliens, now a lazy samurai, gambler and sugar addict, yet with its own strong morals which makes him as a whole likeable, with its own flaws. Shimura Shinpachi, the boy who most characters in Gintama define his personality with his glasses; Kagura, a glutenous straightforward fighting machine, a tomboy type of girl. There are naturally secondary characters of importance (and of interest) as well. Take for example Hasegawa Taizou, also known as "Madao", which is by far one of the most interesting characters of the cast: a man with moral standards, yet rendered homeless, gives an accurate representation of society and its values. The shinsengumi composed of the mayonnaise loving devil vice-chief Hijikata Toushiro or the stalker gorila Kondo Isao. Not forget the revolutionary Joui Katsura Kotarou, you don't often stumble across such a character with such high moral values, with its own flaws. The Shogun is also interesting as a character, as its represents the perfect notion of what a flawless governor should be, with its own moments of cluelessness in regard in his study of society. Leaving the interesting characters aside, there are naturally some that can get on audiences nerves, such the sister of Shinpacahi, Otae, which is the typical aggressive (somewhat) tsundere girl who can't cook, which at first is moderately of interest, but jokes and situations that play out with her become old and annoying throughout the 201 episodes. The ninja Sarutobi Ayame can sometimes also be quite annoying, as her character remains equal throughout the anime, being the excuse to implement dirty/perverted jokes in the anime. Character development is rather lackluster in Gintama, yet the fleshing out of its main cast is well done (though small) and sufficient to enhance the overall progression of the story, in addition to understanding the motives and personalities of the different characters. The supporting cast is varied, having alien princes, space pirates. superhuman race of warriors - the Yato, ninja's you name it. Some of the characters presented also are based on real life persons, such as Kondo Isao or Hijikata Toushiro, both who were of importance in the japanese revolution. Other positive aspect is that it uses all the characters presented in the anime, all of importance to the continuity of the jokes and narrative, by either expanding on their past, or events related to them. ~Animation and sound~ The animation quality of Gintama was surprisingly well done, considering it is a long running anime with over 200 episodes. There were no real fluctuations in the quality, and fulfilled its purpose well. Backgrounds are well drawn, but nothing spectacular, being character design very simplistic: which can be rather lackluster for some audiences, yet are easily distinguishable from the huge cast Gintama has. However, it must be said that it surprisingly well done, as it managed to convey the different gags and jokes splendidly through changes in character design: take Hokuto no Ken reference for example. Battle scenes are well animated, and have a good choreography and are often unexpecting. The soundtrack used in Gintama was varied, beautiful and fantastic, used to match with the atmosphere it is trying to portray, as well enhancing the overall narrative and comedy. These ranged from piano compositions, to orchestra type of songs to metal pieces. Who would forget the Stand battles and its soundtrack, or Madao's glorious theme? For the more "relaxed" episodes, we have more natural, groovy themes which can be repetitive at times. From the various openings and endings the anime had to offer, there are quite some of those with a catchy tune such as "Donten" by Does or "Tougenkyou Alien". What however really stood out, were the voice actors. Without these, the experience would certainly be of lesser quality: emotions, jokes, intonations, anger were splendidly transmitted to the audience. We have voice actors such as Sugita Tomokazu as Gintoki or Joseph Joestar in JoJo's Bizarre adventure; then we have Wakamoto Norio, who voices Matsudaira Katakuriko, Raou in Hokuto no Ken, or Oskar von Reuenthal in Legend of the Galactic Heroes. Not to forget Fumihiko Tachiki, who voices Hasegawa Taizo masterfully, conveying the character's personality elegantly. ~Enjoyment~ It would be an understatement to say I like Gintama: in fact, I love it. The different comedy gags, the characters and its voice actors in conjunction with the serious tones the anime has to offer, I found it to be the best comedy anime I have ever watched up to date. Having an inclination towards the comedy genre, I found Gintama to be exceptionally well executed, even with its duration and flaws; this was especially because it managed to keep a consistent level of humor throughout the whole anime, with some outstandingly well done gags that would have anyone adverse to the anime as a medium blurt out in laughter. Naturally there were numerous flaws with the anime such as battles being a bit over the top, jokes that could get out of hand in addition to being sometimes boring and old, and even being hit-and-miss. Yet the characters and background stories it had, was another element that could keep any viewer with less interest in the comedy genre entertained. It has a slow and average start at best, the viewer being rewarded afterwards with surprisingly good comedy parts, and consistent humor. So would I recommend Gintama? I personally would suggest anyone to try out, yet if you have no real interest in the comedy genre or are no real fan of absurd, random comedy, I would probably stay away from it. I found the numerous references and jokes in my first watch rather dull, as I had no knowledge of the anime it was referencing to. I must also mention that understanding of the different cultures, as well as the language itself is of importance to enjoy the full experience Gintama has to offer. Thank you for reading.
ktulu007
05/20/2015, 09:05 AM
Gintama is an ongoing manga by Sorachi Hideaki. From 2006 to 2010, Sunrise, the same studio behind the Gundam franchise, did an anime adaptation which lasted for just over 200 episodes. So, does the anime manage to stay entertaining for that long, or even be entertaining at all? Let’s take a peek and find out. Story: There isn’t a single cohesive narrative to Gintama. There are some loosely connected arcs, and a whole lot of episodes that have nothing to do with those arcs, but there is no single narrative. The basic setup is that the world has been conquered by aliens, referred to in Gintama as“Amanto” and the government is still subservient to them. Samurai are no longer allowed to carry swords except for a few who work for the government or who have wealth and connections. In this world a samurai named Gintoki works by, in theory, doing odd jobs. Although that largely consists of him doing nothing. His crew consists of a youngster named Shinpachi, an Amanto girl named Kagura who possesses super strength and is highly vulnerable to sunlight, and a giant dog named Sadaharu, our cute character who requires ear scritches and belly rubs. Hijinks ensue as this group and the people around them get into shenanigans. Let’s begin by looking at the problems with the series, shall we? By far the biggest issue is that the writing aesthetic is horribly inconsistent. Most of the episodes are highly random and intended for humour but when they get to the more story heavy arcs things take a huge shift into serious territory, sometimes including really heavy topics like sex trafficking, and it creates a huge tonal clash between episodes. You can’t segue from jokes about testicles and bloody rectums into a story about an underground city where children are sold to be raised as sex slaves. There is quite literally no way to make that transition so that it isn’t painfully awkward and completely disrespectful to the serious issue. It’s worse than that Captain Planet episode that dealt with AIDS. Sure, that was way over the series’ head too, but there wasn’t such a radical tonal problem. The tone isn’t the only thing that has problems with consistency, there’s also the continuity. There are three basic ways to do continuity. The first is having a strict, coherent continuity where everything matters. The second is to have a basic progression from one episode to the next but the details aren’t that important. The third is to toss continuity out the window completely, like Galaxy Angel. The problem with Gintama is that it does all three. Some episodes deal very much with continuity as being super important, others follow the more fast and loose route where there’s a progression but the details aren’t important and there are other episodes that don’t fit into any kind of continuity and will never be mentioned again after they’re over. Now that we’ve been over that, let’s talk a bit about the comedy in this series that is, mostly, comedic. A lot of it is pretty puerile humour where someone defecates in their pants, or someone’s anus bleeds or where the punchline is something involving testicles. There are also a lot of bits where the characters will make loud references to some other piece of media and there are some other random bits of humour. The trouble is, a lot of it really isn’t funny. For example, there’s a running gag about one of the characters eating too much mayonnaise which is funny because… if he ate that much mayo in reality he’d weigh two hundred kilos and have to get around with a motorised scooter? There are two characters who pretty much exist for stalker jokes and there’s another running joke about Katsura getting annoyed by people calling him the wrong thing. There are times when the randomness can work and there are some points where they parody something competently instead of just making reference to it but they’re few and far between. I will give the series full credit for having some surprisingly clever deconstructions here and there, particularly when it comes to its treatment of trans-gendered characters. Characters: Gintama has a large cast of reoccurring characters, but very little in terms of complex ones. Most of them are used for one or two jokes and that’s pretty much it. I will say that there’s nothing wrong with that for a comedic work. You can have a bunch of fairly one-note characters as long as they have dynamics that provide good comedic possibilities and you can take advantage of that. The problem is the more serious episodes. This cast would be perfectly passable if the series didn’t have those largely serious story arcs but when you take a bunch of relatively shallow comedic characters and try to do something fairly serious with them it just quickly loses any sense of tension and the characters come across as heavily under-developed, if not as completely out of place. Art: The artwork and animation are pretty decent. There are some cases where they recycle footage or show a background with nothing happening, which they will almost always lampshade, but it’s competently done. The action sequences can be pretty strong, both when they’re doing something largely serious and when they’re doing a jokey action scene. Sound: The actors are pretty capable and no one does badly. However, the level of over-exaggeration in the series is really high and you might very well find yourself growing weary of listening to people shouting. The music varies. Sometimes it’s pretty good, sometimes it’s kind of annoying. Mostly, it’s just kind of bland. Ho-yay: There’s some in the series. There’s an openly lesbian character who shows up on a semi-regular basis and there’s a guy who is heavily implied to have romantic feelings for Sougo who shows up for a couple of episodes late in the series. There’s no reciprocation for their feelings, but they also aren’t used for jokes based on their sexuality. Some of the other characters act like asses about it at points, but the series itself doesn’t treat it as an issue. So, I’ll give Gintama some credit for treating its gay characters no differently than it does its straight characters. It is pretty refreshing, especially when you have “comedies” like Baka to Test that have to be as mean-spirited as possible about things like that. Final Thoughts: Gintama has a real problem with consistency. Its tone is wildly inconsistent which can lead to some really awkward and stilted moments. It’s inconsistent with what it wants to do with its continuity. If you like humour that’s more than a little puerile and pretty random then you might still enjoy the series in spite of that and there are some things it does pretty decently but it’s honestly not my cup of tea in that regard. I just don’t find ninety percent of the attempts at humour to be amusing. As such, I have to give the series a 4/10. Next week we’ll have this year’s film festival. Starting with Kara no Kyoukai 6 on Sunday. Because I’ve looked at that franchise first during the last two years and I might as well do it this time as well.
HaXXspetten
02/05/2015, 01:17 PM
I've never really been a fan of long-running shounen anime. I had some bad run-ins with series like Naruto and Bleach when I was a kid and ever since then I've tried my best to stay away from them. For the same reason, I'm quite sure I would never have made myself watch Gintama either if it wasn't for its incredibly high ratings which made me feel somewhat obligated to. When I eventually started it though about 1,5 years ago, it was very quickly made evident that Gintama is... different. Not just different from other shounen anime, but different from almost every anime. In manyaspects it is more similar to western shows like The Simpsons or Family Guy, but still feels well and truly Japanese at the same time. Pros & Cons: + Incredibly high peaks as far as comedy goes + Parodies anything and everything in brilliant fashion + Tons of diverse and original characters + Superb voice acting - Quite mediocre when the comedy misses its mark, or when it tries to be serious - Not much of an overarching story - Surprisingly poor video resolution for its airing time Taking place in an alternate reality in feudal Japan where aliens have invaded and conquered everything, Gintama is a story about... yeah what is it about really? It primarily follows a freelance samurai named Sakata Gintoki as well as his two friends/coworkers, and shows how they manage to make a living in the crazy new world that their country has become. Primarily though the show does just about anything and everything you can possibly imagine as no matter how strange or far-fetched an idea may seem, it is never too far-fetched for Gintama. Entire episodes taking place inside toilet booths? Alien giants causing havoc in town due to their unfortunate extraterrestrial love lives? Having storylines based on the results of a character popularity poll the series once held in Japan? A hilarious degree of fourth-wall breaking? Gintama has it all. It's really something you need to experience for yourself in order to properly get an image of just how silly it can be. I'd like to say Gintama is *the* comedy anime that just about every anime fan can watch. With endless references to and parodies of hundreds and hundreds of other manga and anime, as well as an incredibly diverse sense of humour, it is highly unlikely that there won't be any point of the series that will be entertaining for any individual viewer, regardless of what their sense of humour may be like. The author seemingly knows perfectly how to appeal to almost any audience in this day and age as far as comedy goes, as the funny parts can go from being very complex and intelligent to being straight-up toilet humour. Because of this I'd also like to believe that the more anime/manga you've watched/read prior to watching Gintama, the more gags you will be able to understand and thus enjoy the series more. Thus this is not really an anime for newbies, but for anyone reasonably familiar with the anime industry then the sky is the limit. Of course as is always the case with comedy, it is somewhat hit or miss. What makes Gintama stand out however is how amazingly high its peaks actually are. Occasionally the show displays moments of absolute comedic genius, as when Gintama is at its best it is probably the funniest anime ever made. Because of this there are certain individual episodes that stand out as some of the overall best episodes I have ever seen. It's physically impossible for *everything* to be funny however, and with such an enormous amount of gags there will still sadly be an overwhelming amount of time that will not entertain you. And given how incredibly long the anime is, when you put it in that sort of context you'll unfortunately realize that the amount of mediocre hours that Gintama contains is actually extremely high. Case in point; Gintama is the most inconsistent anime I have ever seen to this day. It is a series that sometimes will make you cry with laughter, and sometimes bore you out of your mind. The comedic elements aside, it also has its fair share of more typical battle shounen-esque story arcs spanning a couple of episodes every so often. Ironic as it is, this is probably the biggest weakness of the entire show. When the series goes into a more serious mode it quite frankly feels more like a chore to watch through than anything else a lot of the time. While the story arcs generally aren't bad per se, they're nowhere even close to the same level as the better comedy episodes are. Like I mentioned before, the stereotypical long-running shounen series are not anything I enjoy very much at all, and thus when Gintama enters a similar sort of atmosphere it just comes across as a massive drop in quality for a couple of episodes. Of course once it's done with that part then it might immediately peak up to masterpiece-level again, it happens more than once throughout the series' progression. Like I said, extremely inconsistent. As you might expect from such a huge series, the character cast of Gintama is massive. In addition to our silver-haired Shounen Jump-addicted samurai protagonist Gintoki, there's also the super strong humanoid alien Kagura who can eat an infinite amount of food and always wears a China dress, as well as the ultra-tsukkomi character Shinpachi who on his spare time is the captain of a famous pop-singer's personal fan club. The supporting cast consists of a guy who never gets his name said correctly, a super sadist, a mayonnaise-addicted freak, an old hag of a landlady, a ginormous dog, a 180 centimeters tall white penguin-like... "thing" who communicates by writing on signs, as well as several hundreds of others. There's an endless amount of characters to familiarize yourself with but given how long the anime is there's plenty of time for that. The animation though... taking its time of airing into account it's honestly rather poor. For a series that finished as late as 2010 it still utilizes a 4:3 aspect ratio for the full duration of the show. Really? That aside the character designs are pretty clean and distinct, and the animations themselves are passable at least. I still feel that the show is a couple years behind as far as the technical levels go however, which may or may not be bothersome depending on whom you ask. The soundtrack is very good however. Since the series is sometimes dramatic and sometimes about as non-serious as you can possibly get, it's pretty important that the music manages to reflect that diverse atmosphere in order to not drag it down, and it succeeds in doing this quite excellently. I don't think there was a single moment during these full 201 episodes where the audio ever felt truly out of place. The opening and ending themes are naturally in the double digits given the series' length, some of them being pretty awesome, and some of them were pretty meh. What really stands out though is the voice acting. Now I haven't read the manga but as far as I've been told the main reason the anime is so much higher rated than the manga is because of this very reason. The effort put in by many of the voice actors/actresses is phenomenal, and it helps emphasize and exaggerate the gags immensely. I can only imagine how much less interesting many of the jokes in Gintama would have been if the people speaking them had been half-assing it, but as it is it's something that really deserves some special credit. I'd especially give a shoutout to Sugita Tomokazu's versatile performance as Gintoki as well as Sakaguchi Daisuki's incredible tsukkomi role as Shinpachi, which never fails to entertain and impress you. And if you thought Kugimiya Rie could only do loli tsundere characters, well think again. Overall though, in the end it comes down to a numbers game for me. All the good aspects aside, the bottom line is still that sometimes the show is a comedic masterpiece, and sometimes it's a quite stereotypical and boring shounen series. Therefore trying to judge the entire anime with a single number feels a bit wrong to me, as sometimes I want to give it a 10 and sometimes more like a 5. But if I have to give it some sort of average, then in the end I'll have to resort at keeping it at a 7. As it is, despite the incredibly high peaks the anime has, it is still sadly outnumbered by the number of quite average episodes that will mostly fail to make you laugh. Of course it probably depends a lot on how you weigh quality versus quantity so I'm sure different people will find this fact to be more or less of an issue than others. Gintama is perhaps the most famous comedy anime in existence and not without good reason. It is the one show that can and will make fun of anything and everything, and do so in style. It also probably has the highest peaks I have ever seen in comedy, and at times it can literally make you laugh until you cry. Unfortunately it doesn't do this quite as often as I would like, and a lot of the time it feels like you're drumming your fingers on the table in impatience while waiting for the show to get back into its element again. However seeing as humour is one of the most subjective aspects of the human mind, I would still recommend essentially everyone to at least try watching Gintama (though perhaps not quite yet if you're still very new to anime). It takes a while before the show really gets going and even when it does it is still very up and down. That being said I know that there are a lot of people who found themselves seemingly rolling on the floor laughing during just about every episode of this anime, so who knows; maybe you'll be one of them too? I can't make any promises but as long as the potential exists that Gintama may be the most humorous experience of your life then I would eagerly recommend you to at least give it a chance. I mean what could there possibly be to lose?
SakataMaerii
12/09/2014, 05:21 AM
I had seen this anime since the year 2009. I was a cub then and had no clue as to what Gintama really was. I was like, " Hey, something's showing on TV! Let's watch it! ". The First moments I laid eyes on Gintama was on episode 132. ( THE HAUNTED INN ). It was really funny back then and had my eyes all teary. But mostly, its quite the action. It's the typical type of shounen action you'd see but with more feelings. It actually really gets badass at the right moment and then the next thing you'd know you're in a GAG! I foundit enjoyable and bought a DVD of it. Gintama showed me the world of anime. It was just so different, so intense, so dramatic, so funny! I started to see the world around me differently. I started seeing it the way Gintama does on its own screen. Whenever I looked at my friends, I just knew what Gintama taught me and just had to smile. All the characters are enjoyable. I didn't like some at the beginning but as the story grew further, " SOME " made sense and ended up in me loving the whole cast. What's great about Gintama is that it doesn't give JUST A SHOW. It gives A SHOW TO TELL. All the characters background story and individual personalities grew in my heart and made me a different person. Maybe not a person whom majority would like, but maybe a person whom I myself can accept and be happy with. Gintama doesn't have a MAJOR PLOT. It's a one kind episode per watch, but when an ARC gets serious and dramatic, there's just no turning back. Many had complains on how Gintama is a boring anime. Yes, it may have been at the first episodes, but I'm sure that when letting it grow and flow into your eyes, you'll see how beautifully made Gintama is. I mean, seriously, who could have thought of typical historical and futuristic era mixed together? Of course, only SORACHI HIDEAKI could have thought. The art isn't that great and digitalized, but as seasons goes by, Gintama's art develops too. We'll see that in episode one Gintoki looks like a teenage boy, but believe me, he'll change eventually. More and more handsome and charming. As to the comedy and parody part, I haven't seen anything surpassing Gintama's way of thinking. Even I sometimes could not understand what they were trying to parody, but I found myself laughing all the way. Gintama is my favorite anime of all times and I think nothing could compare to it. It'll always have a special place in me. I always thought after this I'm gonna watch another series! But no, It wasn't that easy. The fear of having to finish such incredible series kept me in hanging in fear and sadness. I never thought the day would come that Gintama had to end. At the end of the series, I thought to myself " WHAT WOULD I DO WITH MY LIFE NOW? NOW THAT GINTAMA HAS ENDED? " It ain't that easy. But new rumors of seasons were emerging... and hope was starting to fill me up. Hope that I'd be able to see my beloved Gintama on screen again someday.... I never knew such an anime so different, so unique. I've rewatched it a lot of times, still the gags and actions were still killing me. So nostalgic, so old yet so fresh! I hope you guys give Gintama a try after this review ends for it has kept me with tears of mixed and strange emotions and I do hope that Gintama does with you too. :D THANKS FOR READING MY REVIEW!
Hanimir
07/23/2014, 01:50 PM
Gintama? Gintama. Hmmm, Gintama... Gintama or not Gintama, that is the question. Now this is a show I've wrestled with for a long time. Many of my friends pledged almost fanatically this is the best anime in existence. I watched the first episode. So this is it? I was not impressed. As a person who found pleasure in the darkest and most gloomy kinds of settings, I would almost immediately say that this was not for me. Everything was just so weird and appeared to be arbitrarily glued together. I was so naïve. At some point I picked Gintama up again, I’m one of the people who arenot easily moved to laughter but still, there had to be something to this… Let me tell you this, Gintama is a journey, a pilgrimage. You will not appreciate it after two or three episodes, even twenty may not be enough. It took me sixty whole episodes when I was finally thoroughly entertained but it was then that I realized: Gintama is like a snowball rolling down a mountain. It’s barely recognizable at first but the next time you turn your gaze in its direction, it will have turned into an avalanche. Story: 9/10 Sooo… yeah, this is actually hard. Gintama is composed of a series of mini arcs that have no real connection to each other. You can’t call it a consistent storyline but it’s also not really episodic, there are also fillers organically weaved into the style and pace of the anime. A strange kind of hybrid, that still works somehow. We have different little events like the Benizakura, Yoshiwara or Popularity Poll arc, which all are amazingly done. Action, drama and most of all comedy, Gintama’s got them all and none of them are bad. Also, because I can’t find a better place to do this, let may tell you a few things about the often overlooked setting. The pseudo-medieval, post war Japanese capital Edo with modern technology, invaded by a multitude of alien races called Amanto. Sounds utterly random right? Wrong. It is my firm believe that this setting is actually the backbone of Gintama. Why you ask? Because it allows for the greatest number of possible scenarios, different people and places. You can have a samurai, a rebel leader, an alien and a penguin costume guy added to the cast and nobody bats an eye, because it still feels natural. Never forget the setting, it makes this anime what it is. Art: 10/10 It’s strange, when I started watching I thought to myself ‘This looks somehow generic’ but at the same time ‘This looks somehow unique’. It’s hard to explain but that’s the feeling I get from Gintama. Visual quality may not be top notch here but it gets progressively better, a fact that is especially apparent in latter battle sequences. I would leave it at nine points but there’s another thing… facial expressions. They are beyond hilarious, I won’t say too much about it but you will understand once you have seen a few exemplary episodes. Sound: 10/10 There are a few very iconic and memorable tracks on the Gintama OST, that’s probably due to the fact that they are used so frequently but that doesn’t mean that I ever got sick of them. Audio is mostly bright and uplifting, fitting to the animes focus on comedy. Opening and ending themes are also pleasing, notably Donten and Stairway Generation. This would also be a eight or nine if it wasn’t for the seiyuus. These guys are BRILLIANT! Every voice fits its character and Sugita Tomokazu is probably the most unique voice I have ever heard in anime. He’s now the voice of Gintoki for me, forever. Kugumiya Rie is a rather well-known name, revered for her roles as your run of the mill tsundere girls. Kagura was a kind of character that was probably new to her but she still did an excellent job. There are a dozen other examples but I’m not going into debt on all of them, only thing you have to know is that the voiceover job is amazing. Characters: 9/10 Alright, so this is the deciding factor that makes this anime awesome. Here we have some amazingly thought out characters and not just for comedy purposes, most of them have a backstory, even the vilest of antagonists are not just pure embodied malice. This is also what causes the anime to take time to get going, you have to get to know the characters. A naked random guy is very much different to a naked Isao Kondo. Almost all of them are likeable, memorable and most of all funny. We have no focus on development here but such progression would do more harm than anything else. It takes time to get to know them and that process is very important, changing a well-established character after that process is complete doesn’t strike me as a good idea. Enjoyment: 10/10 It takes time, 60 episodes to get it rolling, 140 episodes to have me almost dying of laughter but it was well worth it. Gintama maintains a consistent, no, increasing level of entertainment over the course of its 201 episodes. It’s already hilarious and would have been even better if I was capable of understanding the Japanese language without subtitles or if I’d seen more anime to understand all the parodies going on. Knowledge of basic Shounen Jump, Ghibli Movies, NGE, Doraemon or Gundam widely enhances the spectrum of jokes you can laugh about. Even without that and as part of a western audience, I found myself crying out in laughter over a majority of the jokes, there are just so many of them, no way you can miss everything. Result: 10/10 So are all these people right, is Gintama the best anime of all time? I dare not to pass judgment unto that, simply because Gintama is so unique and unconventional that I feel it falls into a category of its own. There is no competition for this anime in its specific category because it’s the only one that ever made it there. This is not the best of all anime, this is just Gintama, don’t lump it together with all the others! Even if they’re brilliant, if they’re entrancing, if they’re masterpieces, don’t make that mistake. I myself who is speaking so highly of this anime have other favorites; this is simply Gintama, no need for comparison. If you plan on taking a shot at Gintama and you’re not completely hooked after the first few episodes, bring a lot of patience, it will pay off.
Play2X
07/17/2014, 03:46 AM
Time for my first Review! It should be obvious, but I'll say it nonetheless: This is purely my opinion, agree or disagree as you like. Well, right the first thing I have to say is excluded from that rule though. Gintama is, without fanboyism, the absolutely best Anime there is. Why is that, you wonder? Well, read on then. Story: 9/10 Gintama has no consistent story, instead it has short arcs and standalones(which I usually don't prefer) BUT each standalone episode and each arc in itself are hillarious. Gintama can do whatever they like. Science Fiction Arcs, Comedy Arcs, Shonen Arcs, even more Comedy, Crossovers. But why are there just 9 instead of 10 points? Because of one of Gintamas Weaknesses (It has exactly 2, by the way). It takes rather long to get going. A friend of mine introduced me to some random episodes, rather then watching from the start, so I liked it after a few 2 or 3 episodes, but if you watch it in order it might take up to 50 episodes to get rolling. But afterwards it only gets better and better. It's like f(x)=x² Art: 10/10 Awesome Battleanimations! Best facial expressions in Anime History! Awesome Ideas! (Those who already watched it, I'm talking about the Popularity Poll Arc) Everything in this Anime just looks awesome to the point. Sound: 10/10 Let's start with the Seiyu-Part. There we have Sugita Tomokazu, the genious of all ages. He, on his own would suffice to give 10 points, but no, we also have the Tsundere-Queen Kugimiya Rie in her probably best form. Sakaguchi Daisuke as straightman Shinpachi completes the Set of awesomeness. And yes, these are only the Main Chars of the Yorozura. The rest of the bunch is just as awesome. Opening/Ending-Part. Every single one of the Openings made it to my favorite track list. SPYAIR, Does, Hearts Grow,... They all did a great job. Each and evey opening fits the anime perfectly. The endings are just as good, and are great closure for every episode. BGM. Even though I don't know their names, all of the BGMs have been burned in my brain. Just awesome. Characters: 10/10 I absolutely love each and every of Gintamas Characters! As standalones they probably wouldn't work, but they aren't standalones. Sorachi Hideaki did a phenomenal job. Taka-tin, Shogun-sama, Dragon-Taicho, Ill Smith... And these are just some hillarious sidecharacters. Enjoyment: 9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999/10 There is no measurement for my enjoyment of Gintama. Which episode I watch doesn't matter. I'll laugh. Hard. I'll probably die laughting one day. Not, like I'd regret it though. Overall: 10/10 Surprise, right? Well, I talked about TWO weaknesses, right? So here's the second one: Gintama gets funnier the more Anime One has seen. So basically, this should be the last anime you see before you die. Because then you have seen the Pinnacle of Anime.
Raptor1221
09/16/2013, 06:18 PM
Gintama to be symbolized is like a bottle of fine apple cider. Its not the hot cinnamon one you enjoy at winter time, but a bubbly and sweet drink enjoyed alongside some of the finest of your holiday wines. Gintama is sweet. With a cast of bubbling and energetic characters who lift spirits. They just make the show sizzle with satisfying pops. At first Gintama feels like a kiddy drink laughable and nothing more. As you slow down and enjoy Gintama it becomes something more. There is certain tartness mixed in, a hint of something more dramatic, this only materializes itself oncein a blue moon, yet you detected it. Its an edge darkness that only heightens the sweet bubble texture, it becomes a perfect balance of sweet and bubble with a hint of tart, resulting in something as great as the finest of wines . The over arching message of Gintama is to move on from the bad things and to work towards the good. Its to no matter what, through every trail and tribulation to live by your own “bushido code”. This is the morales of Gintama. Its 95% troll fun character shenanigans, 5% drama and dark morals. Yet, every bit of Gintma is a life lesson. Every episode and every title (some more troll than others). The fun episodes are meant to be enjoyed for fun. To tell you not to take life too seriously. The each drama arc is working through a hard time with respective values and morals. The fun episodes and dark episodes are both filled with pretty much the greatest comedy that the median of anime has produced. Using both mature and immature jokes, crude and clever, gags and satire, Gintama with comedy alone is a grand achievement. Yet on top it secedes in drama and truly great character interaction in a colorful world in which anything goes. This results in on of the greatest and most unique amines of all time (look at the damn scores). The story of Gintama is about Gintoki Sakata after aliens have taken over the earth and life has generally improved for the world. Yet, a nasty sword ban on the public has put the samurai class out of work. Gintoki must now leave the bloody past behind and forge his own new samurai code as he does odd jobs in the city of Edo(Tokyo) and barely get by. Gintama is mostly comedy following along the ways of the odd jobs crew, each episodes and odd job generally goes around their own little life lessons, gags and stories. The series is very episodic. This takes 95% of the series as fun day to day shenanigans in a world dominated by weird aliens (So not really average by our standards). Under all of the tomfoolery is a dark feel. Gintama portrays this very well and sometimes the feel of the show can switch on a whim. Its the 5% not in the “happy” this is very well thought out drama arcs usually every 20 episodes, with lengths usually 3 to 6 episodes long. These arcs usually start softly, but usually end up serious and involve Ghosts from Gintoki’s past. This sense of past is never lost in the show, you always have a feeling that Gin cannot get over it. It shows through continuously through his actions. Sometimes he stops when others laugh. He thinks back to his war days laughing with comrades and then frames back to his odd jobs crew and new friends; he smiles and joins back in. Gin has a very well hidden PTSD. It mentioned by others, that he “has the smell of a beast to him” as when what he wishes to protect by his bushido code is threatened he’ll revert the “white demon” (nick name in alien wars) and risk everything life and limb to save what he cares about. This is a feeling that is constant through the entirety of Gintama, and in a sense this getting over the bad times and the past is the central meaning of Gintama as a whole. Art of Gintama is very interesting, very inventive devices, vibrant color palates; the world also can turn dark very quickly. It creates a vibrant fun colorful world that shows its seedy underside. This makes for some great contrasts in animation and just the faces… so good. From troll faces to deadly serious, to plainly confused, Gintama mastered the art of drawing facial expressions. The style in itself isn’t very risky and thus feels above average and not amazing. Sound is done by a variance of people. the Op’s and Ed’s are for a majority excellent. My personal Favorites from the 1st 201 episodes is the Op Donten with stairway generation being a close 2nd. Osts are well-done; Madao is an excellent theme with slow guitar that makes you just feel. Nothing though was completely off the walls amazing, but everything was great. Character truly is the greatness of Gintama. It’s a plethora of colorful bubbles that light up the world. Each with their own past they also want to leave behind. The Main Main group is the odd jobs crew lead by Gintoki Sakata, and his two employees/ apprentices Kagura and Shimpachi + their beloved mascot Saduharu . The other best group is the elite police of this crazy world. The Shinsengumi, which is mainly Hijikata, Sougo, Kondo, and Yamazaki. The odd jobs team is like a family always together and always on each others nerves, but help when the time comes, this has created the best friendship speeches in existence. “He owns me five bucks… so I can’t let him die”. The odd jobs crew gallivants around the city of Edo. Gintoki a samurai for a new age, Kagura super strong and supper witty young girl, Shimpachi the only sane man here. It truly is a treat to watch. The Shensengumi also gallivant putting anti government rebellions down with ridiculous police work. They have the daemon vice- chief, the sadist Captain Sougo, the bland Yamazaki, the lovable idiot chief Kondo. They also have their own serious arcs and frequently end up with the odd job team by total accident in deadly situations. These groups with many colorful separate friends and characters make a colorful dish the compliments the totally colorful world of Gintama creating tons of funny moments, and some sad ones too. The characters of Gintama make this wacky world shine. Overall Gintama is a mastery of comedy and drama. Truly meant to be enjoyed slowly. Something to be savored for what it is. Its not one to be taken too seriously or too lightly. Yet, it is a one of the greatest things to come to the anime median to date. Funny and heart warming, and sometimes just sometimes dark and gritty with a touch of feels. If you take your time to savor it, Gintama is one anime that you shant want to miss. -Raptor 9/10
strawberryrukia
08/23/2013, 05:19 PM
This is my first review on MyAnimeList, so please bear with me! So, Gintama. The anime that my friend tried to get me into by showing an episode of a toilet scene. At first, I thought it was funny, but I still didn't get into it, since I thought it will still be boring. However, I was indeed very wrong. This is Gintama, a silver samurai who runs the Yorozuya. STORY; There isn't a storyline to this anime, since every anime has its own story to it. There are some really great arcs such as the Benizakura Arc and the Yoshiwara in Flames Arc. Gintama is acomedy shounen anime, but that doesn't mean it never gets serious. Gintama gets you dying on the floor laughing then later to tears. Then, it hooks you up with intense action, such as many of Gintoki's fights. I was amazingly stunned how Gintama can transition from comedy to serious action. ART; The animation in this anime is pretty great, the art and design on each character is really nice and detailed. The background designs are really pretty, too. If you want to see a modern city or feudal Japan, then Gintama pretty much nailed it all. SOUND; The original soundtracks (OSTs) sound really amazing in this anime. The songs in the openings and endings are amazing, especially the songs that Gintama used by DOES (such as Donten, Shura, Bakuchi Dancer and Bokutachi no Kisetsu)! Some OSTs sounds extremely hilarious, like when Otose shows up. Some OSTs are so awesome, such as the Kabukicho Four Devas theme. The voice acting in Gintama fits the characters just too well. CHARACTER; I can just say too much about each character, but let's not. In general, each character has their own distinctive personalities. Do you ever see a character who's obsessed with adding such huge amounts of mayonnaise on top of their food or a character who is a super sadist? Well, Gintama has it. ENJOYMENT & OVERALL; I loved this anime as you can tell that I overused 'amazing' in this review a lot. Nothing more, nothing less.
lovelyangel666
08/05/2012, 02:28 PM
At first I was very skeptical towards the idea of watching this anime. For you see, to watch Gintama one must have a profound knowledge on Japanese pop-culture and language (as the show doesn't lack puns and references), none of which I have. Nevertheless, if you are one to appreciate a good laugh and a chaotic story line, Gintama is the anime for you. My opinion on this show: Story: 9/10 I can't help it but admire the author's ingenious approach towards not only fiction, history and adventures the characters come by, as well as the daily life of Ooedo inhabitants and all their small problems (e.g. theups and downs of having to buy a new fan or when a young girl wants her undergarments washed separately from her father's). In the Gintama world, there are hardly any linearities. Even an everyday story will make a twist or turn somewhere until the end of the 20-minute episode. And it is most likely that the aforementioned twist will make you shed tears from laughter. The show is also overflowing with d*ck jokes, b*tt jokes and the likes... Not to mention famous shounen manga, famous actors, etc. Nevertheless, toilet humor is an inseparable part of Gintama. Of course Gintama also has its seriousness, as you will notice when you stumble across the small "arcs", sometimes revealing dark secrets from the characters' pasts and adding for a more thrilling experiences. At those times, Gintama may turn its back on humor for a while, to unsheathe its blade, but that doesn't mean it's utterly forgotten. The reason why I gave it 9 (although my overall score is 10) is that a really small part of the characters' pasts is revealed. Imo, that's a turf many things could be explored on. Art: 10/10 The anime is very well drawn, with nicely balanced colors and fitting for the pseudo-historical Japan landscapes. The characters are also well drawn, each with unique features, more than enough to distinguish them. The motions are especially well made, though not too frantic or annoying for the viewer's eye. The camera angle is also great, at times even stunning as it adds for more laughter or sharpens the breath-taking moment, depends on the case. There's more to add about the character design, but I'll do that later, when I share my impression on the characters. The reason why I gave it 10? I am particularly an appreciator of good art, especially the characters, and this is one of the few shounen titles from what I've seen that has such a good style; they are not deformed, annoying (most of them) or made with the same template. Soundtrack: 10/10 Gintama hooked me on the first opening, if it hadn't already with its synopsis (more like, the lack of it) ...and I was shocked when I realized it's made by Tommyheavenly6. Then, I thought to myself, this anime means serious business. Before I used to weigh anime on their openings and endings and more or less that hasn't changed much (although now there are many more things I judge in an anime). After all, OPs and EDs made 1/10 of the screen time of an episode and the OP creates your first impression of that anime. So far for 252 episodes Gintama hasn't got a weak opening. And as a matter of fact a weak ending. And those openings usually catch perfectly the overall idea of the show. If you are keen on watching this series and want to know what it's about, one glimpse at the opening would be worth a thousand reviews read. The opening can tell you straight away who are the main characters, what other characters you are to expect, what are their occupation or preferences (oft times the right word is obsession), their affections, friends, bonds, where they live... and what the story is about, but that could be described with one word: mayhem. Gintama has OPs and EDs in J-Rock style, usually with upbeat sound, funky at times, with lots of guitars. The rhythm is quite catchy, so listening to them at least twice is a must. The soundtrack of both seasons is composed by Audio Highs, also with lots of guitars for the pressure moments, piano for the sad moments and drums for the punch lines. Audio Highs' themes are styled in almost perfect synchronization with the emotion charges a scene in Gintama could carry. Characters 11/10 Gintama's character design is unique and I'm not talking solely for the silver-haired "tennen-paama" protagonist, although he is surely unmistakable with his bokutou and the manner he wears his kimono. All the characters are drawn as befits their roles in the anime, more or less, with lots of imagination poured into each of them and a feature (usually more than one) to distinguish them from the others. Also all the characters' seyuu fit more than perfect, as they have a diapason large enough to make any situation even more comical or sh*t serious. There are no banal characters, for each has it's own story to tell and contributes on their own way for the story; and last but not least - there's no character that's out of place in Gintama. Although most of them complain they aren't given enough screen time and the show is as random as it gets, with more people appearing every episode, the secondary characters pop up just when you though they were forgotten. The characters are probably the thing I enjoyed most at the anime. As ridiculous as it sounds, they are all unique, as each of them has it's own backstory, a manner of speaking, dressing, preferable meals and many more, but most importantly: bonds. All these small features make the character stand out, not like some shallow figures, that stand there to fill the plot; and make it truly a "person" to sympathize to. Overall score: 10/10 I truly enjoyed every bit of this anime and this review is pretty much valid for both seasons. I only want to add that, as an anime based on manga, it boldly adds its own brush strokes, such as complaining about sponsors and producers, or making top 50 most popular characters show. Where some people would consider this fillers, it merges with the story so swiftly that not even once it annoyed me; on the contrary, it makes it more vivid and diverse than you would expect from an anime based on manga. There are many other things I wanted to say, but I either forgot as I typed or just decided it was long enough the way it is. Thank you for reading my review and hope it was convincing enough to make you watch Gintama!~
moseslionheart
04/19/2012, 08:35 PM
It was lucky I had the opportunity to watch this anime and I thank you very much to the Sorachi Hideaki for making the work of "Gintama". I can say Gintama is a "Masterpiece" because the anime was successful from all genres ranging from Action, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Parody, History, Sci-fi, Samurai, Shounen. Learn the history and remember it was quite difficult, but the Sorachi Hideaki find its own way so that people can learn is to create Gintama where almost all the characters here are historical in the Edo era. He added his imagination in the form of the Alien and modern times so thatthe audience is saturated and can not compare with life today. The reason I love this anime Gintama because super silly and all the characters have a joke in itself. The story is simple enough to tell about Gintoki Sakata (protaginist) as a retired rebels set up a jack-of-all-trades is doing everything for money. In the care of a jack-of-all-trades assisted with Kagura and Gintoki Shinpachi, in running the business they always make the silliness. Gintama does not have a definite plot, almost in every episode there are always new stories and new jokes so the audience would not get bored and always laughing. Apparently not only that, the action game is also interesting from an empty hand combat, guns and samurai. When looking at the early episodes of sudden I'm a bit pessimistic because there are so many characters without any introduction and the story is confusing. But when entering the third episode realized that at the beginning of the episode is the introduction of Gintama characters. Episode 3 which tells Shinpachi introductory course has a lot of jokes and I'm sure the anime is going to be a Top Rating and indeed proved to be a cover in Shounen Jump and when I was a user at the end of 2011 it was ranked above Gintama and scored 9 (very great). The hallmark of Gintama is a farce in terms of parody, in which every scene will be reminiscent of the anime or another popular game not only from that scenario as well as many take the scenario of the anime or other games, but certainly with a play so if the anime or the serious home game but in Gintama everything becomes funny. For example, when Gintoki, Kagura, Toshi, Kondo and Shinpachi virtual play their game to the character of "Dragon Quest" and to beat their opponents using their parents as a weapon and beat the boss. Talk about Art, basically Gintama has a plain design no excess and as generally modern Anime. But I give a plus for Hideaki Sorachi imagination in making different Alien where the alien is described in general but creepy creatures depicted in the figure Gintama silly like Princes Hata. Not only that Gintama Elizabeth also has the Icon is a merger between the penguin and a duck and talks using the board. Gintama remembered when looking at the soundtrack and sound effects where almost all the Naruto opening and ending is very nice and pleasant. Not only was the sound effect of Gintama also fitting of each scene ranging from live action, character entry, silly scenes, drama and instruments. If the anime is famous character like tsundere, kuudere, yandere, but all the characters Gintama are and have a similar nature that is "ridiculous". At the beginning of the character Gintoki saw his first impression was weak because at the time of the siege the enemy and he was running and outwit his opponents, but at the constriction It appeared that the original nature of the male, strong, protective and caring. Shinpachi always chatty and always shouted, but in fact he was someone who cared and were willing to help anyone. Childish Kagura is seen from his attitude and way of talking, but actually he is a loyal and powerful. Isei Kondo who is chairman of Shinsenugami described manly and authoritative but actually he is very gentle and has a love of death. Katsura who is the leader of Joi (rebels) seems so cool, brave and strong but he is stupid. All characters in Gintama entirely unexpected in view of the physical then we will be deceived because of their real nature is as the story progresses. In this anime there are no useless characters all have a role in developing the story and make the story live. Every Monday, I always wait Gintama out of curiosity what's the story again and jokes what is given. Because the manga and anime differ on where the anime chose a random chapter of the manga so do not know where that next week will come out. Gintama is perfect to watch with family or relatives. But keep in mind most of the Gintama carry as many dirty jokes and sayings Nudity sensor so you do not watch it is good with small children. If you see repeated Gintama then you will still laugh at the farce it is and not pretend impressed. Overall the anime category Gintama "Masterpiece" because it managed to present an extraordinary live action, parody that fits with the story, Comedy stomach churning. Gintama is suitable for various groups ranging from Comedy lovers, lovers Shounen, Sci-Fi lovers, lovers parody, drama lovers, and lovers of the Samurai. I guarantee you will not regret watching this anime ^ __ ^. Welcome laughed out loud.
1000windsGin
08/03/2010, 03:45 AM
What if you put some of aliens, mutated monsters, some robots preferably some Gundam and other Sunrise related mechas, Miyazaki Hayao's references, Shonen Jump gags like Bleach and One Piece and A MILLION TONS of randomness put them together in the land of Samurai during Edo period... You got the anime that is funny as hell. And Gintama is truly an example of this anime. Gintama is known for some comedy anime combining the science fiction, some samurai flick, modernizing structures and of course some riotous and more outrageous randomness that fits to be the most epic yet the divinely funniest comedy anime in the world. Story:10 Gintama has a little or no plot but it talks about the Misadventures of Gintoki Sakata and his roommates, and the goal in this anime is to pay a rent, but instilling a trouble instead. This is what Gintama became known for defining some of the Japanese references in culture, anime and more of Japan. If you want a better yet serious plots, try the story arcs like the Benizakura and Yoshiwara arcs yet most of the other plots were very humorous. Art: 10 In art, Gintama is very depicting in Gintoki Sakata's World. Thanks for Sunrise Company who made the vivid colors of Code Geass, Yakitate Japan and other anime (especially Gundam), Gintama is better. very vivid and good depicting. Sound: OVERRATED!!! (I'm joking... it's 10) In Background Music, Gintama really connects with it. Thanks to Audio Highs for making music in Gintama in a best way. I would say that the music played when something funny came or serious when it becomes. Also there is a remix that became an OST like the Do you want to be a sugar doll too!!! is actually the remixed version of Rouningyou no Yakata which performed by Seikima II was played during Senboukyou arc. (episode 131-134) If you want some really badass BGM, I would suggest the 'Rules are meant to be broken' and 'Business Transaction should always come before the fight.' In OP and ED's Gintama is truly depicting the lighter side of the characters like Kiseki by Snowkel by looking a meteor shower at the night sky. A serious side is depicting on their faces and their past like Donten by DOES. Technically, you would like to hear some songs that Takahashi Hitomi-san sang in Candy Line and Wo Ai Ni. Thanks to them, Gintama has some of the best songs ever heard. If you want really funny... TRY THE KO-SAKU'S DONDAKE SONGS AND YELL DONDAKE IN FRONT OF YOUR FAN!!! The Best clincher in Gintama music was the Tsuu Terakado songs (preferably the chome-chome) which The composition of Akatsuki Yamatoya and the genius Hideaki Sorachi as well Mikako Takahashi who did the permanent voice of Tsuu Terakado (and of course the ultimate head biting dog, Sadaharu) performs it. You would really heard the beep beep content which is very deafening to the viewer but best in laughing. All thanks to her for contribution in Gintama. Other songs which are not on the list like Akira Ishida's Katsurap (later with the collaboration of Susumu Chiba's guitar riff), Rie Kugimiya's Kagurap (with Shinpachi's ranting) and Tomokazu Sugita's epic but severely botched due to the persistent sobbing version of Sen no Kaze ni natte are the best. Although the fans wonder why Gintama has no character songs, they are unruly but good laughing. Character: OVERRATED!!! (got tired of this word... 10) Gintama is focused on the primary main characters like Gintoki Sakata, Kagura and Shinpachi. Also it targets on secondary main characters like Toushirou Hijikata, Kotarou Katsura and other characters themselves. As for the other characters like the hard-boiled detective who vomited, a nature lover who drink the Gintoki's urine tainted water, a turtle sniper who fell from the building and a soccer star who is at the brink of retirement are the most random type of characters. Hideaki Sorachi's naming of the characters uses the opposites that made the characters very defining. More likely in naming the character, it would rather be obscene if his name becomes Kin and the title itself also which it is offending to young viewers. The seiyuus in this anime are very good at giving life to the character. Rie Kugimiya's Kagura made her the best character despite that she took the tsundere roles like Taiga, Louise and Shana to the down-to-earth characters like Alphonse Elric and Miharu. Tomokazu Sugita also did the best voicing as Gintoki Sakata as very mature and funny but eccentric like Kyon. Both of them are the true stars of the Gintama especially Daisuke Sakaguchi who did the voice (and the looks) of Shinpachi Shimura you will love them. Enjoyment: 10+ Gintama has the exaloads of parodies, jokes and randomness which defines this anime. Their naming of the characters are funny that they would mean to define it. Also there is a reference of some shonen jump and it will cause of laughing your ass out. Hideaki Sorachi pointed out that seriousness can become more random and anarchically the humor is devastating best. Overall: 10 Gintama is truly the Divine Comedy of Shonen Jump because the humor and the Parodies are the funniest to the utmost. Most addicting yet most entertaining and the funniest anime on earth. For those who are involved in Laughing Yoga, try watch Gintama.
Archaeon
10/18/2009, 02:02 PM
Over the years there have been a multitude of comedy shows that have graced our TV screens, from the surreal stylings of Monty Python and sarcastic wit of Blackadder, to the sci-fi tomfoolery of Red Dwarf and the strange antics of The Fast Show. There are numerous notable series that have taken their rightful places in our DVD collections, and in an age where comedians are treated like rock stars, maybe it's fate that comedy anime would also come of age. It's strange to say this, but humour has never been a strong department for the medium, partly because of the cultural differences between East andWest, but mainly because the majority of anime comedies rely more on parody than anything else. The problem with this is that quite often the viewer is left without a frame of reference, so the humour simply goes over their heads. Some shows manage to get away with it purely by throwing out an almost constant stream of gags in the hope that people will understand enough of them to be entertained, while others like Seto no Hanayome and Jungle wa Itsumo Hale Nochi Guu have a slightly more careful approach. The area where anime is weakest is where situational comedy is concerned. There are plenty of shows around that could invariably class themselves as sit-coms, but the penchant for studios to base their stories in some sort of school setting severely limits the quality of the humour. In essence, the industry's blind adherence to what they think is a winning formula has resulted in the dilution of just about every single joke that could be told in a school setting, so much so in fact that these days studios have fallen to relying on fanservice based comedies in order to make ends meet (pardon the pun). Comedy anime isn't dead though, as there are some rays of light shining down on the wreckage of red noses, bladders on sticks and giant shoes. Nodame Cantabile insane otaku heroine and her long suffering boyfriend introduced many people to the world of classical music and the usage of otaku power when learning French. Genshiken took a slightly rose tinted look at the multi-layered world of the Japanese otaku, while Moyashimon payed homage to the classic American frat comedy National Lampoon's Animal House. One series has, however, defied all the conventions, and has become one of the greatest comedy anime of all time. Incorporating elements from some of the best comedy of both East and West, the series has an anarchic streak that, at times, is more reminiscent of Monty Python, The Simpsons and Family Guy. I am, of course, talking about Gintama. The concept of a samurai sit-com isn't new to anime and manga, however it wasn't until the serialisation of Sorachi Hideaki's manga in 2003 that anyone actually realised the potential in this type of story. Set in a quasi-historical Edo, Japan (and possibly the rest of the world), has been conquered by an alien race known as the Amanto. The nation's strongest warriors were no match for the alien technology, and in an effort to prevent another samurai uprising, the powers that be have banned humans from carrying swords in public. In this world there lives a former samurai with silver hair who runs the firm known as Yorozuya from his rented second floor apartment. From time to time he takes on odd jobs (yorozuya), for people in order to pay his rent and buy milkshakes and his beloved Weekly Shounen Jump. He is Sakata Gintoki, and his destiny is to make you cry with laughter. To say that the story is a bit on the haphazard side is probably a gross understatement, however Gintama is nothing if not consistent in its approach. The underlying story is of Gintoki and his "friends", Shimura Shinpachi (an average human teenager with no real special qualities), and Kagura (an alien who looks human and possesses monstrous strength), as they go through their days doing odd jobs for people, getting into arguments/figths with the Shinsengumi (police, kind of), drinking strawberry milkshakes (or some other flavour depending on Gintoki's mood), and trying in some small way to make the world a better place. And that's really about as serious as many of the episodes get. The haphazard approach to the story is a purposeful measure that, strangely enough, works very well, mainly because Gintama is a comedy series. There are story arcs that occur over the course of the show, and even though they may include some serious or dramatic content, Gintama never once loses its sense of fun. Indeed, the comedy is the true strength of this series, not simply in its style and delivery, but also in its content. Many of the visual gags have to be seen to be believed (seriously, how the hell did they get away with the Neo Armstrong Cyclone Jet Armstrong Cannon), and whilst the series is top-filled with parodies, the humour is always involving so the viewer rarely feels like a joke has gone over their head. That said, Ginatama has one aspect that is greater than all others in terms of its plot and comedy content, and that is its ability to turn the seemingly ordinary into something completely different. This is the main reason why Gintama can be considered a sit-com rather than a parody, as this aspect has more in common with shows like Blackadder and Monty Python than anything else. There are numerous occasions where the series will catch the viewer off guard with its sly, anarchic take on seemingly normal events (like being in a public toilet and running out of paper). Of course, there are downsides too. Although the series is extremely strong in terms of comedy, it sometimes lacks when events take a serious turn. This may be due to the audience's reactions, as viewers may automatically think that something funny is going to happen next, however a part of it also stems from the fact that the comedy is sometimes too "strong". It's ironic to say this, but Gintama's greatest strength may also be its biggest weakness. As with any long running shounen series animation and design are pretty good on the whole. The characters convey a sense of visual individuality that at times goes beyond that of other shounen anime, although this is tempered with a small degree of genericism that allows the humour to flourish . The colours are extremely bold and solid, while the backgrounds and set designs highlight the synergy between alien technology and Edo. The animation itself is of an extremely high standard, so much so in fact that some of the visual gags only really work because of it. The high points of the visuals are the show's numerous and well crafted parodies. There are many occasions where the style, animation, end even the character design, changes to make the humour more immediate, sometimes occuring in the blink of an eye, and sometimes lasting for a good portion of a given episode. The series also plays around with a variety of concepts that most people only really read about, one example being an occasion where Gintoki and the gang are rendered invisible because the episode is incomplete. It's nigh on impossible to find another anime that not only mentions something like this, but also shows the viewer what it would look like. Much of the humour comes from the characters themselves, but no matter how good the scripting is, delivery is everything when it comes to comedy, and in this respect Gintama is extremely well served by its seiyuu. The cast are able to perform with a panache that is sometimes astonishing, and their portrayals of their respective characters are so good that one would be forgiven for believing they were full time comedians. Possibly the best example of this is Kugimiya Rie (Kagura), who for many years has been typecast into various tsundere roles. Her portrayal of Kagura is truly excellent, especially in terms of comedy, and much like the rest of the cast she manages to not only maintain a consistent character for a an extended period of time, but has actually become more adept with her timing and delivery. Gintama is generally consistent with its choice of music, and certain tracks are repeated throughout the series usually to add to the comic atmosphere of a given scene. That said, some of the more serious moments can feel a little off-kilter as the score changes can sometimes be a little sudden. As with any long running series the OP and ED have changed since the show began airing in 2006. These tracks are usually pretty good at capturing the essence of Gintama (which just sounds wrong), as a whole, and the opening sequences are designed and choregraphed to highlight the important aspects of the anime - humour, fun, some seriousness, and a large slice of anarchy. In all honesty, there is no real reason to find the characters outstanding, and the fact that they are iconic, original and memorable is possibly Gintama's greatest triumph. Gintoki, Shinpachi, Kagura, the members of the Shinsengumi, and all the sundry characters, alien and otherwise, who appear in the show will find some funny bone to tickle. When taken as individuals each is a flawed creation that really wouldn't work were this any other anime, but the plot and scripting for the series, together with the talent of the seiyuu and the design of each character, turns this idea completely on its head. Much of the comedy is dependent on the characters, and it's because the series is so good at entertaining the audience that any noticeable flaws are generally forgiven or ignored. Gintama is not simply a funny anime though. Over the seasons the show has gradually become a phenomenon in the medium, mainly because of its ability to maintain consistent humour for over most of its 201 episodes. The irreverent and oh-so anarchic humour can, at times, come off as weird, but this has only served to endear the series to more viewers. Numerous fans refer to Gintama as their "anime crack", a sentiment which is understandable in a sense as it has the ability to lift one's mood in a way that few other anime can manage. That doesn't mean that everyone will be entertained though, but if the viewer approaches the show with the right sort of mindset (e.g. open), then the series has a lot to offer. That said, shounen fans will definitely find Gintama appealing, not simply because it bears all the stereotypical hallmarks of that genre of anime, but also for its ability to creatively parody other shounen tales (like Bleach, Naruto, One Piece, etc - who can forget the infamous DragonBleaPiece movie trailer). Fans of comedy anime like Seto no Hanayome, Jungle wa Itsumo Hale Nochi Guu and others of that ilk, will also find Gintama's ability to mess with everyday concepts worthwhile. There are plenty of aspects to the series that possess a broad appeal in terms of humour, and it's to the credit of everyone involved with the production (from mangaka Sorachi Hideaki on down to the guy/girl who makes the tea), that the show never gets old, stale, or too bogged down in how good it actually is. There's a new king of comedy in town. Make way for Gintama.
Touka
02/05/2009, 01:19 AM
Gintama is a masterclass in comedy writing and variety; a series that grows in originality with each passing episode, so inventive and fresh, dynamic and interesting, it's no wonder it has become one of Sunrises' flagship series, not to mention a mainstay of Shounen Jump. The plot - from the get-go - perfectly encapsulates what Gintama is about: it's absurd. The Gintama universe is limitless; anything can and will happen. This insane nature is perfectly explored through the episode structure. Chiefly, it's an episodic series, with multiple story arcs woven in-between. Each episode will see a new plot, exploring one (or multiple) aspects of this wideand wacky universe, along with the colorful and unpredictable cast. The stories range in genre, from thriller to flat-out comedy, but most have a humorous tone. Each episode is uniquely different from the next; they're brilliantly written, flawlessly executed narratives that fail to tire. The series displays a wonderful range of comedy, from parody to episode-long, painstakingly constructed, carefully executed gags; it's an ever-fresh and vigorous aspect and one of the series' many stand-out elements. The story arcs further explore the world and the characters of Gintama, some in humorous ways, but most in a more dramatic fashion, which adds further variety and heightened drama to the series. The diversity and imagination on display is hugely admirable, especially given the series' length. Gintama doesn't know fatigue; it stays at a consistent, extremely high quality throughout, with fresh new plot devices, scenarios and twists being continually introduced even years after its first broadcast - the writing is incredibly commendable. The animation and art style is ever-impressive; the anime staff seamlessly bring to life such a crazed, hectic and involved world from the pages of Sorachi's manga. The anime has a colorful, visually pleasing style, with flawlessly animated explosive action set pieces, heart-wrenching dramatic beats and eye-watering comedic reveals. The character designs are incredibly diverse and evoke well Sorachi's artwork, with Gintoki becoming an instantly recognisable anime icon. The sound and music is particularly well produced, with a huge amount of vocal talent on display. The score is incredibly elaborate and comprised of a vast variety of tracks, befitting of a series of this length. The backing tracks evoke well a number of different emotions, tones and moods, and blend seamlessly with the visuals, further bringing to life the world of Gintama. There are multiple stand-out compositions which are - above all else - memorable. One of the most appealing aspects of the series is without a doubt the characters. They're imaginative, memorable and varied creations, each unique and appealing in their own different way. The main characters present incredible amounts of enthusiasm and are the real driving force behind Gintama, but certain members of the unbelievably vast supporting cast are almost as integral in their own right. Sorachi's marvellous creativity shines through in the characters, just as it does the story, and it becomes obvious the anime staff have a complete understanding of the source material and an unwavering dedication to bring it to life. Given the gag-based nature of the series, the characters start off rather one dimensional, with little room to explore their background or the depths of their psyche in the episodic ventures, but the story arcs greatly expand on both the main characters and the prime supporting cast, developing their hearts and souls to a substantial, admirable degree. Gintama is a marvel, chock-full with everlasting potential. It's a series as side-splittingly funny as it is deeply heartbreaking. It presents a miscellany of different genres, tones, characters, scenarios, music, emotions and comedy, all blended into one exquisitely written, flawlessly executed, brilliantly produced, intelligent stunner of a series. It's among the utmost best anime has to offer.

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Gintama 銀魂

'Gintama' Spin-off Light Novel '3-nen Z-gumi Ginpachi-sensei' Gets Anime

North American Anime & Manga Releases for March

NHK Announces Best 100 Anime

Q3 2016 Anime & Manga Licenses [Update 9/27]

Winners of the 2016 Tokyo Anime Awards Announced

New 'Gintama' TV Anime to Premiere April 2015

Manga 'Gintama' Gets OVA

News Briefs for Mar 10 - 16

Director of Gintama Says 'We Shall Be Back'

Mayonnaise Rice To Be Served At Gintama Event

End of Gintama TV Series Announced [Confirmed]

Sentai Filmworks' New Licenses for American Distribution

DVD of Gintama Short Anime Shown at Jump Anime Tour 2008