Gintama is a series filled with ten tons of parody gags, but with an actual interesting story behind it. Unfortunately, it can be one of those series that is really difficult to get into because the many different seasons have an odd naming scheme.
What’s more, Gintama often cuts its serious arcs with lighter, more random affairs, and this can lead to a somewhat more unpredictable plot structure than one is used to in anime.
However, in the same vein as Jojo’ Bizarre Adventure, once you have gotten into it, you REALLY get into it. So if you are trying to break in Gintama – we got you with this full Gintama watch order.
Gintama Watch Order
The Complete Gintama Watch Order
This watch order for Gintama is designed to be as simple to follow as possible. Included are the dates of some series where the titles may be more ambiguous to look for.
Remember: Punctuation in the titles is important when watching the Gintama anime.
- Gintama (2006) (TV) (First two episodes are optional)
- Gintama: Jump Festa 2005 (OVA) (Optional)
- Gintama: Jump Festa 2008 (OVA) (Optional)
- Gintama: Benizakura Arc (Sometimes called Gintama: The Movie) (Movie)
- Gintama’ (2011) (TV)
- Gintama’ Enchousen (TV)
- Gintama: Be Forever Yorozuya (Movie)
- Gintama: Jump Festa 2014 (OVA) (Optional)
- Gintama: Jump Festa 2015 (OVA) (Optional)
- Gintama° (2015) (TV)
- Gintama° – Love Incense Arc (OVA)
- Gintama. (2017) (TV)
- Gintama. Porori Arc (Also called Slip Arc) (TV)
- Gintama. Silver Soul Arc (Both Part and Part 2) (TV)
- Gintama the Semifinal (OVA)
- Gintama The Final (Movie)
Why Skip the First Two Episodes of Gintama?
One should not judge Gintama by the first two episodes. They are considered not good.
As such, it has become long-recommended advice to skip the first two episodes as a first-time viewer. They contribute nothing to the plot, do little to introduce any characters, and are pretty much just the anime team celebrating that the Gintama manga got an anime adaptation.
Personally, I think they are actually pretty funny. However, I acknowledge that they do very little to sell Gintama to a consumer whose job is to enjoy things they enjoy not to watch anime because they have to for their job like myself.
Do You Need to Watch The Movies/OVAs?
Everything that is an optional watch in the above Gintama watch order is marked as such.
The movies and the OVAs are often, if not completely, then mostly canon content to the manga story. If you can’t find most of the OVAs, you will still be able to move on without watching them.
However, the movies are important, if not just really good movies to watch. Be Forever Yorozuya is, as the kids say, peak.
Is Gintama “Just” Silly Comedy?
You may get into Gintama because it has a legendary status as a comedy anime, and yes, it is quite funny. A good chunk of newer Gintama fans were brought in after watching clips of ridiculous situations, the frequent parodies of other anime, or that bit where Obama was in there.
However, while Gintama takes so much time to set up the world, including spending like the first ten episodes introducing you to the core characters, it does have a plot. It even takes its plot seriously sometimes. That is part of the charm of this series – the way it melds plot with legitimately side-tickling comedy is something you will never forget.
what about the movies and ova
Exactly