Gintama
“You yourself have to change first, or nothing will change for you!” – Gintoki
You know however much I love (anime) series, when you’re older, you simply don’t have that much free time to watch epics of several hundred episodes.
So far I managed to pull this off with “Naruto + Naruto Shippuden,” “Bleach” (twice) and “Dragon Ball” series (twice).
And now I can add “Gintama” here.
However much I liked Netflix version of “One Piece,” I can’t make myself watch over 1,000 episodes of anime version… maybe if I win lottery, then retire and while traveling around world watch episodes on plane…
Ah, “Gintama”… that’s one strange beast, you know, that was watched for months and months and months… and months.
But it soon became one of my dearest series ever.
So…
Series’ plot is set in alternative Japan in alternative Edo period (1603-1868), when planet Earth was invaded by aliens called “Amanto” (“Sky People” or “Heavenly People”). Samurai of that era decisively and bravely opposed enemy, but shogun, aware of alien invasion’s strength, signed capitulation. Samurai swords (i.e., katanas) were confiscated and ban on their carrying and use was brought (except for police members), and Tokugawa shogunate now existed only on paper (puppet government), controlled by aliens. If you’re at all familiar with Japan’s history, you can recognize symbolism of this fictional invasion in their real history (opening borders to foreign lands and their settlement in Japan).
In this new Edo, there’s one slightly(!?) eccentric samurai, named Sakata Gintoki. Besides specific white hair, unusual detail is he carries wooden sword (bokuto), which, technically, isn’t criminal offense. He deals with various unusual jobs (odd jobs) as freelancer. From looking for kitties to courier jobs. And his “company” is called “Odd Jobs Gin-chan” (Yorozuya Gin-chan). He loves most to pick his nose and eat ice cream (though constantly complains he has high sugar).
Soon he’s joined by young Shimura Shinpachi, who, besides opportunity to earn money, wants to better know and understand mysterious white-haired samurai who (accidentally) helped him in one (mis)fortune, as well as Kagura, young Amanto girl, member of Yato clan, who came to Earth to earn some money for herself and her family.
And so this trio, whom people often call “Yorozuya” (“we do everything and anything” or “Agency for Everything”), takes various tasks for their clients, aiming to get some money.
Now, why is “Gintama” so hilarious series?
There are many factors.
Series’ plot – maybe you heard term filler episodes, which serve in series to insert some episodes that at first glance have nothing to do with series’ plot (i.e., manga or comic), but production house inserts them to artificially prolong series and popularity (series itself brilliantly explained this). Here you have feeling almost every episode is like some filler, however, here it’s not flaw but virtue. Each episode is story unto itself, and follows our trio trying to do some strange job for employer, but which always goes (hilariously) wrong. And there are serious “chapters” (arcs) of several episodes, when plot becomes very serious and dark, and gradually reveals details from Gintoki’s past from war period, as well as who are real villains in this series. Likewise should emphasize “Gintama” doesn’t revolve only around earlier-mentioned trio.
“If you run into a wall and pretend it doesn’t exist, you’ll never make any progress. The wall will never change, so you’re the one who has to change.”
Humor – this is series’ trademark too. “Gintama” could, in a way, be called “Japanese South Park/Family Guy.” Though not classically offensive like “South Park,” this series doesn’t spare popular Japanese (and partly world) culture. If you claim to be connoisseur of Japanese culture, this series is excellent test for how many references you’ll recognize. Series will mercilessly parody other anime series (“Bleach,” “Dragon Ball,” “Naruto,” “One Piece,” “Captain Tsubasa,” “Death Note,” “Doraemon,” “Full Metal Alchemist,” “Neon Genesis Evangelion,” “Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann,” “Golgo 13,” “Hokuto no Ken,” “Code Geass,” “Hunter X Hunter,” “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure,” “My Hero Academia,” “Pokemon,” “Rurouni Kenshin,” “Saint Seiya”…), historical figures (Hideyoshi, Nobunaga, Akechi Mitsuhide, Miyamoto Musashi), contemporary Japanese figures from world of film, music, sports, politics, television (and reality) shows, manga artists, and rest of Asia or Western world (Donald Trump, Will Smith, Barack Obama, Hulk Hogan, Jackie Chan, Michael Jackson, Colonel Sanders/KFC…), video games (“Final Fantasy,” “Duke Nukem,” “Dragon Quest,” “Monster Hunter,” “Resident Evil,” “Tetris”), foreign films (“Alien,” “Alien vs Predator,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Home Alone,” “Saw,” “Slumdog Millionaire,” “Star Wars,” “Karate Kid”)… as you see, series spares no one, i.e., most often it’s its hero Gintoki (who spares no one and nothing is sacred to him). As if that weren’t enough, series will mock its manga creator, production studio (and certain individuals in same), lack of money in series budget, (potential) lawsuits awaiting them, risk of cancellation, moving to worse TV time slots. In translation, there won’t be “breaking fourth wall” here, but “demolishing fourth wall to exhaustion.”
Seriousness – series will often sail into quite serious and dark waters, especially when important chapters (arcs) happen in series, and then humor goes into background. Then our main heroes, and especially Gintoki, change their tone and manner of address, because quite a few episodes will pull Gintoki’s past demons into open, as well as villains (antagonists) with quite dark ideas they want to realize at expense (often) of entire nation. Then you’ll hear serious (and cruel) life lessons too.
Series’ heroes – For me series has five main heroes:
Sakata Gintoki – At first glance potentially diabetic lazybones who only picks nose, has no money even for rent (nor for two employees), constantly with silly look of dead fish, man approaching thirties, behaves like real loser who loves to jabber and wants no one to disturb his peace. On other hand (what many learn only later), Gintoki is former war hero and legend in war with aliens (bore nickname “White Yaksha,” which is, by the way, term in Buddhism and Hinduism for demons/spirits, because he was frightening and merciless as samurai on battlefield), but also one tortured soul with sad childhood permeated by traumatic events that made him grow up too young. When serious, you’ll often know him to say some very wise and deep (and heavy) life thoughts. When it comes to everyday, idle life, Gintoki behaves like idiot, however, when lives of those closest to him are threatened (or when details of his past start “returning from dead”), he completely changes his look and behavior and becomes merciless and frightening, worthy of nickname from battlefield… approximately something similar to hero Himura Kenshin from series “Rurouni Kenshin.” What’s interesting, is that he, despite unusual behavior, still lives by some unique samurai code.
“The country? The Skies? You can have them. I’m busy just protecting what’s right in front of me. I don’t know what’ll happen to me in the future, but if something has fallen at my feet, then the least I can do is pick it up.”
Shimura Shinpachi – teenager who very young lost parents and lives with older sister in dilapidated dojo his father ran, hoping to one day revitalize his martial style. He’s presented in series as quite straightforward type and series’ voice of reason (who’ll always react to other people’s comments when they start parodying some events and people, and especially related to series production). He considers himself number one fan of young idol/pop singer Tsu, and is president of her fan association (which he considers serious profession… something like me and my reviews 🤣). Often he’s subject of mockery (or better said, comic relief) because of his glasses, by which they recognize him and often you’ll be subject of numerous gags (both him and his glasses). However, likewise we’ll see his development as person, because he is, in principle, quite weak as swordsman and has no powers or skills, but his desire (and admiration toward Gintoki) pushes him to go forward and become more capable, so he’s one of rare characters in series where hero’s evolution is visible.
“When your friend is crying, cry with him. When your friend is worried, you should worry with him. And when your friend has an awkward bowel movement, then you must have an awkward bowel movement too. Shin-chan, if you are a friend, you should be able to share the other’s pain, no matter what. And Shin-chan, if your friend goes down the wrong path… then you must stop your friend, even if it ruins your friendship. That is true samurai friendship.”
Kagura – young Amanto girl who’s member of Yato clan (known for incredible physical strength and endurance, but also aggression if they allow “their blood” to master them). She came to Earth searching for money (and to distance herself from her origins). Recognizable (like her clan members) by pale skin (Sun doesn’t suit them too much) and specific umbrella that’s incredibly durable, and can serve as machine gun(!?). Loves to sleep, adores eating, and favorite dessert is to f**k with Gintoki and Shinpachi. However, other side of her personality (which is revealed only much later) is she has very painful and complicated family situation. And she, in fact, searches for some place where she can belong and have feeling of family, which she finds precisely in earlier-mentioned two idiots. However, past will come to haunt her too at one point.
Sadaharu – one big dog (bigger than biggest bear), who’s, in fact, abandoned inugami (dog spirit), and became Kagura’s (and thereby “Odd Jobs'”) pet. At beginning behaves very aggressively (and seems only Kagura listens to him, because she can control him due to her abnormal strength), but over time becomes tamer and tamer. Loves to eat and sleep, special treat for him is biting people’s heads (mostly Gintoki’s). Though he can, like his owners, behave headstrong and silly, Sadaharu is very intelligent dog, who, it seems, understands people while they address him.
Edo inhabitants (and its “Kabuki” district) – though series is called “Gintama” (Silver Soul) and is most connected to original trio, numerous unusual Edo inhabitants are equally participating series members (and large number of them get independent episodes where Gintoki and company are often secondary actors, but who still influence other participants’ events with their actions). Whether it’s Shinpachi’s sister Tae and her work as hostess, Gintoki’s landlord and bar owner Otose (who still can’t charge him rent) and her thief/worker Catherine, weather forecast host Ketsuno, Saigo who runs okama bar, MADAO Taizo Hasegawa (don’t ask what MADAO abbreviation stands for 🤣), android Tama, Sakata Kintoki (android version of Gintoki with golden hair), twisted resistance movement leader Kotaro Katsura (whom Gintoki constantly calls Zura) and his faithful pet Elizabeth (some overgrown white duck or penguin who communicates via bulletin boards… don’t ask…) and bunch of many others. Special mention deserve abnormal secret police Shinsengumi members (especially leaders Kondo, Toshiro and Okita) to whom many hilarious episodes are devoted, as well as their specific relationship with “Odd Jobs” crew.
“Life is just an important choice after another, keep going forward and watch how far those foolish choices can take you.”
Visual aspect – Though series (with all films) lasted more than 15 years, visual aspect remained quite quality. Of course, like all long-lived series, quality varied a bit, but for me “Gintama” deserves praise in this element. Very often you’ll encounter moments where animators really knew to “go wild” and make truly impressive scenes with lots of details… and often series heroes knew to mock series budget and then deliberately make some episode look shabby. 🤣
Music – opening/ending numbers (as well as music during series) are diverse and in principle well done and somehow fit into (again diverse) series’ character.
Special praise deserves (Japanese) actors who with their voices breathed life into (all) series’ heroes. When scenes are unserious, they’ll often make you laugh well with their “voice reactions,” and when scenes are serious, you’ll be able to feel tension. You’ll especially notice this with Gintoki.
“If you have time to fantasize about a beautiful end, then just live beautifully ’til the end.”
What to say in end for this series and (its accompanying) films? I’d dare say “Gintama” is one small masterpiece. Series that brilliantly does transition between unserious and (very) serious themes, full of witty, provocative and rude comments, but also very serious thoughts/quotes (which I, as you probably noticed, inserted during review), full of silly (non-)heroes (inhabitants) and their life dilemmas, mixed alternative medieval history (with alien invasion). You’ll love all its Edo inhabitants (interesting fact: large number of characters in series are based on historical figures of that period) and live through their idiotic adventures, but also very dark moments that’ll often pull past demons to surface (keep in mind, at series’ root is, after all, Japan’s occupation by aliens and war’s consequences).
“I don’t care if this country of Samurai fell. Then and now, what I protect has never changed!”
Series (as well as manga) because of its great popularity, managed to spawn two live-action films too (which I haven’t yet had chance to watch but as much as I saw online, people are mostly satisfied how both parts were decently done).
So, if you’re lover of Japanese culture, standup comedy, sarcasm, heroes to whom nothing is sacred, but also serious life stories, “Gintama” is epic you shouldn’t miss in your life.
Of course, complement series with three animated films (Gintama: The Movie, Gintama: The Movie: The Final Chapter: Be Forever Yorozuya, and Gintama: The Very Final) for complete enjoyment.
Dear reader, does any other lazybones hero like Gintoki come to mind? 😊
Trailer | Imdb | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic
Premiere: 2005 | Format: Series | Number of seasons: 10 (367 episodes) | Average episode duration: 25 minutes
