Gintama is famously known for being a parody anime, but there is much more to it. If you’re an avid anime watcher, this historical comedy is a must watch for you.
Even if you are unfamiliar with big names in the anime world, the show is entertaining as it is full of gags. The show is a treat for seasoned fans of various Japanese animated series and pop culture, and missing out would be a bummer.
What exactly is Gintama?
The show’s name comes from the Japanese words “Gin” and “Tama” which means Silver Ball. Yes, the name resembles Dragon Ball and takes a direct jab at that world-known classic. In the show, the word implies “Silver Soul,” though it has a double meaning as well.
The show has three main protagonists: Gintoki Sataka, Kagura, and Shinpachi Shimura. Unlike three-person legends like Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, this trio is the exact opposite and always attracts trouble.
The trio runs a freelancer hub named Odd Jobs, where they take on unusual tasks that no one dares to undertake. With a simple plotline like this, the show fulfills much more, making it more than a comedic satire.
Why is it best to watch Gintama after popular anime like Naruto, One Piece, and others?
Gintama is full of jokes that mock the biggest names in anime and their logic. For instance one of the openings from the first season completely replicates One Piece and its plot. Though it’s followed by a self-realization of the characters that they may get sued.
This type of humor is unique as the characters mock real-world events too. Furthermore, the show also takes a jab at other popular entertainment forms like games and movies as well. Thus netizens often find memes related to the show on the internet because it is always relatable.
Though many would expect the show to get copyright strikes for poking fun at other’s work, it faced none. Rather Hideaki Sorachi’s work is celebrated in the anime community for his sense of humor.
How many episodes are there in Gintama?
The popular show is almost 367 episodes long and has three different movies. If binge-watched regularly, it is possible to finish it in one or two months. The full episode order of the anime series is as follows:
- Gintama (2006)
- Gintama: The Movie (Benizamura Arc) (2010)
- Gintama (2011)
- Gintama: Enchousen (2012)
- Gintama Be Forever Yorozuya (2013) (MOVIE)
- Gintama° (2015)
- Gintama (2017)
- Gintama: Porori-hen (Time-slip Arc) (2017)
- Gintama: Shirogane no tamashii hen (Silver Soul Arc) (2018)
- Gintama: The Semi-Final (2021)
- Gintama: The Final (2021) (MOVIE)
Which Story Arc is the best in Gintama?
Believe it or not, despite being a parody anime, the show has a serious plot that is intriguing. Some of the episodes can be considered dark compared to the happy-go-lucky nature of the show, which makes it special to many.
Most fans consider Shogun Assassination Arc and Silver Soul Arc to be the best for their deep lore and action sequences. Viewers might find the Binizakura Arc great when starting with the anime.
However, it is advised not to focus on the main arcs only as a huge chunk of the story gets told in between regular episodes. Furthermore, the character building of each character is more enjoyable if watched in regular order.
Either way, we think if you’re looking for a new, funny, and exciting anime to watch, you should check this one out. There’s humor, and references a real anime fan will get, and it’s easy enough to get into you don’t have to be an expert.
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