The strange and wonderful universe of Gintama
“It’s before dawn, its darkest before dawn, but don’t close your eyes. Because those that turn their eyes away from the darkness, won’t be able to see the light shining on their tomorrow, no matter how deep night waits in front of us” Sakata Gintoki, episode 307
I want to talk abount my favorite anime. When I finished the Tokyo ghoul’s second season, I didn’t like the final because was very sad for me, and then I started looking for a comedy anime. I found Gintama because a friend had told me that anime is good in comedy (but he doesn’t see yet), and the only thing I knew of that anime is that everything is possible (I saw an image of Gintama where a women was marrying with a sound effect…).
Gintama is a manga written and illustrated by Hideaki Sorachi, and it adaptation to the anime was directed by Shinji Takamatsu until the one hundred and five chapter, and Yoichi Fujita since the one hundred episode. It belongs to the genre action, adventure, drama, parody, comedy, historical, bizarre, science fiction and chanbara. Is based in the history of japan, specify in the Neiji Restoration (1866-1869). Because for this, many of his characters are based in real people of that era. The story happens in Edo (actual Tokyo) where was conquered by an aliens called Amanto. The samurais of that time fought them twenty years ago in a war called Joui War, but they lost and the Amanto forbade people of Edo to carry swords. The people live with futurist technology, but some people refuse to left their mores. One of these people is the protagonist, Sakata Gintoki, one of the few samurais in Edo, known for his curly white hair (the people thinks it is no natural), he loves the sweet foods and is very lazy. He fought in the war against the amanto and was known as Shiroyasha (white demon). Actually only uses a wooden sword. He can be like a drunk Kenshin (from the manga/anime ‘Rurouni Kenshin’). He with his friends Shimura Shimpachi, a teen who wants to learn samurai mores from Gintoki, and Kagura, a girl who belongs a rare alien race called Yato with a great strength, and with an endless appetite; and the three works independently call themselves ‘Yorozuya’ (we do everything). But rarely they earn some money, and always have problems to pay the rent. In their adventures they always have problems with the police of Edo, the Shinsengumi, who also are particular group: The chief Kondo Isao, who usually undresses, is a stalker of the Shimpachi’s sister Shimura Otae who always hit him, and he is called Gorilla; the vice-chief Hijikata Toshirou, known as ‘demonic vice-chief’ because he is very strict, strong personality and feared by some joui rebels, despites of this he fears to the ghost and dentists (like Gintoki, who with always fight for any reason) and is addicted to mayonnaise; and the captain of the first division Okita Sougo, the most skilled swordsman of the Shinsengumi, is a sadist and always tries to kill o just make suffer Hijikata. Other characters are the childhood friend of Gintoki, Katsura Kotaru (usually called by the nickname Zura given from Gintoki, witch always responds ‘it’s not Zura, it’s Katsura!’), he participated with Gintoki and Takasugi in the war against amanto and was known as The Rampaging Noble, he actually is a leader of Joui patriot group and wants to defeat the government with pacific actions, he started like a serious character, but actually is probably the most stupid character in the show, because he lacks common sense. There a more characters in this show, like a stalker ninja, badminton addict, a loser vagabond, but also there are antagonist like Shinsuke Takasugi, leader of the Kihetai, before he was a comrade of Gintoki, the most extremist group of the joui rebels, he wants to destroy all. Is very interesting how every character is important an have something to show us without forget the main character.
Seriously, I love this guy. He is Zura
I convinced me to see Gintama a month later. I began slow, I saw a chapter for day, I didn’t drop the anime because I laughed in every chapter, I enjoyed the strange humor of the show, like the different jokes in the series like strange faces, all of humor types: from the repetitive phrase ‘Is not Zura its Katsura!’ to the dirty jokes, continuing breaking of the fourth wall, but soon I realized that Gintama has a deeper plot. In a short time, I saw all the chapters that I could in a day until I reached Gintama 2015 and waited for every Wednesday the new episode until finish the season this year in April. Usually the people who didn’t see thinks Gintama is only comedy and parodies. Many of his chapters are auto-conclusive, sometimes with a moral of a fable. Although the show is 75% comedy and parodies, these funny moments are the daily life of the characters, which is occasionally broken in the serious arcs. In this arcs we can found awesome battles, interesting plot, strong enemies and even very sad moments. Is very important to notice in this arcs the foreshadowing, like the Gintoki past is related in parts, only in the episode 304 and 305 we have a big part of his past; and how corrupt is he government and who is the true enemy. Although the mangaka didn’t now the plot of Gintama he said he tries to show us how the bushido (samurai code) exist in a world where these thing doesn’t matter, and for me, Gintama achieve this very well. Gintoki can act like an idiot and takes advantage of a situation for money in the only comedy episodes, but many times we can see him like a wise person with memorable phrases, and act follow the path of the samurai. The sentimental moments are more heartbreaking with the powerful soundtrack and the voice actors make a wonderful scene. The fights are awesome, well animated, unforgettable and many times very bloody.
Shiroyasha and the Demonic Vice-Chief
From chapter 300 (502 in manga) the story reaches a point of no return. Sorachi said is the beginning of the final. In this point, Gintama is now 75% action, but never loses the habitual comedy without lose the seriousness in the arc, nothing in Edo will be the same. Is very important to mention that from here begin the revelation of past of various characters and impacting truths. I need to say that from here I started to admire more Gintoki: How he is a strong person and how he really cares for his friends and he has always done, even his rival in all Hijikata or people who usually he offends or hit like his stalker masochist ninja Sarutobi Ayame. And even we can understand why he uses a wooden sword.
Definitely I enjoy all of this anime: The habitual comedy, the references of all things, the dirty jokes, the soundtrack, the hilarious faces, always break the fourth wall, the seiyuus (voice actors), the foreshadowing history, the heartbreaking moments, the awesome battles, the memorable phrases, the openings and endings and obviously the characters, we can love all of them because every character is particular. In my personal case, I can’t decide a favorite character, all have something to show us. For me, Gintoki is my favorite protagonist from an anime until now, is completely different to the usual shonen anime protagonist, he is uncouth, drunk, impolite, gourmand, takes advantage of the situations, but still is a big hero with a big heart, in spite of he have a painful past probably the strong human in the show. The women of the show are strong as the men, and don’t depend of anyone.
For me this anime/manga have a great meaning for me, if I feel sad or had bad day I watched a chapter from Gintama, is very hilarious for example, how begin an episode where someone wins 300 millions of Yens and in the final of the episode they finish owing the back all of the money; for this I recommend this anime for people who want laugh and enjoy all the moments. I don’t only laugh a lot, many times I learnt something, or I enjoyed a wonderful history. People who only search fights may can boring fast, but they need to understand that Gintama is a comedy anime. Some people only see the serious arcs, but they never understand how are the relationships between the characters and even loses the essence of the arc, especially in the two final arcs of Gintama 2015 which are the most important until now (and my favorite). And I also recommend for people who has saw various animes, they can understand and laugh in every reference. If I want to resume Gintama in an instant this opening is the ideal for this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B3rpKfva1w. Thanks you if you reading until here ! :)
Three, two, one…ONE PIECE!
I never get tired of see him
