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 Firsttankōbon volume cover, featuringGintoki Sakata | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Written by | Hideaki Sorachi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by | Shueisha | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Imprint | Jump Comics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Original run | December 8, 2003 –June 20, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Volumes | 77(List of volumes) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Gintama (銀魂;lit. 'Silver Soul') is a Japanesemanga series written and illustrated byHideaki Sorachi. It was serialized inShueisha'sshōnen manga magazineWeekly Shōnen Jump from December 2003 to September 2018, later inJump Giga from December 2018 to February 2019, and concluded on theGintama app, where it ran from May to June 2019. Its chapters were collected in 77tankōbon volumes. Set in Japan during theEdo period, which has been conquered by aliens named Amanto, the plot followssamuraiGintoki Sakata, who works as afreelancer in his self-established store, "Yorozuya", alongside his friendsShinpachi Shimura andKagura, offering a wide range of services to handle various tasks and odd jobs. After his editor suggested doing a historical series, Sorachi incorporated ascience fiction setting to develop characters to his liking.
The series was adapted into anoriginal video animation (OVA) bySunrise, which was featured at theJump Festa 2006 Anime Tour in 2005. This was followed by a full 367-episodeanime television series, which debuted in April 2006 onTV Tokyo, and concluded in October 2018. The storyline of the series was concluded in the filmGintama: The Very Final, which was released in January 2021.Twoother films were released in April 2010 and July 2013, respectively. Besides the anime series, there have been variouslight novels and video games based onGintama. Alive-action film adaptation was released in July 2017 in Japan byWarner Bros. Pictures.
The manga has been licensed byViz Media in North America. In addition to publishing the individual volumes of the series, Viz Media serialized its first chapters in itsShonen Jump manga anthology from the January to the May 2007 issues. Viz Media ceased the English-language localization in 2011, with 23 volumes released.Sentai Filmworks initially licensed the anime series beforeCrunchyroll acquired the streaming and home video rights.
In Japan, theGintama manga has been popular, with over 73 million copies in circulation by November 2024, making it one of thebest-selling manga series of all time. The anime and its DVDs have been featured, at various times, in various top ten rankings of their respective media, while TV Tokyo announced that the firstGintama anime was responsible for high sales overseas along with the anime adaptation ofNaruto.Gintama has been well-received by critics and audiences alike, with praise for its comedy and characters, as well as its overarching plot and action choreography.
The story is set in an alternate-history late-Edo period, where humanity is attacked by aliens called "Amanto" (天人; "Sky People"). Edo Japan'ssamurai fight to defend Earth, but theshogun cowardly surrenders when he realizes the aliens' power. He agrees to an unequal contract with the aliens, ceding power to them, and also places a ban on carrying swords in public and allows the invaders to enter the country. The samurai's swords are confiscated and the Tokugawabakufu (shogunate) becomes a puppet government.
The series focuses on an eccentricsamurai,Gintoki Sakata who works as an odd-jobs freelancer. He helps a teenager namedShinpachi Shimura save his sister Tae from an Amanto group that wants to send her to a brothel. Impressed by Gintoki, Shinpachi becomes his freelance apprentice to pay the bills and learn more about the enigmatic samurai. When the pair rescues a teenage alien girl with super-strength,Kagura, from aYakuza group, they accept her into their odd-jobs freelancing business, and the three become known as "Yorozuya" (万事屋; 'Store of 10,000 business' or 'We do everything').
While working, they regularly encounter theShinsengumi police force, who often ally with Gintoki when work involves dangerous criminals. The trio also meets Gintoki's former comrades from the Amanto invasion, including the revolutionary Kotaro Katsura who is friendly toward them despite his terrorist activities against the alien-controlled government.
The story is a balance between episodic and shorter arc based plotlines that resolve quickly, and a rich background plot that develops from its beginning to end.[5] For example, Gintoki's former comradeShinsuke Takasugi is a major antagonist who regards Gintoki and his other former comrades as enemies and seeks to destroy the shogunate. Over time, Takasugi gains allies, including Kagura's brother Kamui, and the elite fighting unit Mimawarigumi to prepare for his large-scalecoup d'état. After the true antagonist—the immortalUtsuro—is introduced, Gintoki works with both friends and enemies to stop Utsuro from destroying the Earth.
Hideaki Sorachi's primary focus inGintama was the use of gags, though he began incorporating more dramatic storylines during the manga's second year while retaining its comedic foundation.[6] The series frequently employs meta-humor, includingfourth-wall breaks and commentary on other manga series. In the first chapter, after a brief fight scene, a character complains it lasted only "one page," to which the protagonist Gintoki replies, "Shut up! One page is a long time for a manga artist!"[2] Gintoki's exaggerated obsession with obtaining theWeekly Shōnen Jump magazine, which leads to conflicts parodying typicalshōnen tropes, further satirizes the genre.[2][7] Other comedic elements rely on knowledge of Japanese culture for full comprehension.[8]
Publications have described the humor as "bizarre" and "weird," often categorizing it into "sci-fi comedy" involving the alien Amanto species and "samurai comedy" derived from the historical setting.[3] The satire frequently targets modern social conventions, celebratory days, and mythical figures.[5] Several characters are also based on or reference historical individuals.[9]
Beyond comedy, the narrative explores social issues arising from the Amanto invasion, most notably the lack ofsocial equality between humans and aliens.[10] This establishes a central theme of characters striving to preserve their way of life, contrasting with the more commonshōnen trope of pursuing ambitious dreams.[11]
In 2003, manga artistHideaki Sorachi, having previously published twoone-shots inWeekly Shōnen Jump, was preparing his first serialized work.[12] An editor suggested he create a series based on theShinsengumi, inspired byan upcoming television drama about the historical group. Although Sorachi admired the Shinsengumi, his initial attempts to develop this concept were unsuccessful. He subsequently shifted to creating an original story set in a fictionalized version of the historicalBakumatsu period, incorporating science fiction elements.[13]
The series was initially titled "Yorozuya Gin-san" (万事屋銀さん;lit. 'Odd Jobs Gin-san'), but Sorachi found it unimpactful. After discussions with his family, he settled on the titleGintama.[14] The setting was influenced by Sorachi's earlier one-shot "Samuraider," which, despite his own negative assessment, introduced alien characters that were carried intoGintama.[15] Sorachi selected the Bakumatsu andSengoku periods for their thematic focus on societal change and human nature. By setting the series in an alternate-history Bakumatsu, he aimed to highlight the declining status of samurai and explore theirbushido code.[11] The mangaRurouni Kenshin was also a significant inspiration.[16]
The protagonist was originally intended to beToshiro Hijikata, a character inspired by the historical figureHijikata Toshizō, whom Sorachi admired. However, after being unable to refine Hijikata's design, Sorachi relegated him to a supporting role and introduced the Shinsengumi as a group within the story.[14] A pilot chapter featured a different plot, including more Shinsengumi members such as one based onHarada Sanosuke, but these older characters were removed for not being entertaining.[17] Sorachi stated that most characters are loosely based on realEdo citizens, with the protagonist Gintoki drawing partial inspiration from thefolk heroSakata no Kintoki.[9]
The manga initially struggled in popularity and faced potential cancellation. Although the firsttankōbon volume sold out, Sorachi later learned the print run had been intentionally small due to publisherShueisha's concerns.[18] To boost readership, he introduced the Shinsengumi characters, which his assistants found memorable.[11] Sorachi had low expectations for the series' longevity, and after the release of a third volume, he struggled to generate new material.[19] Early popularity was partly attributed to the contemporaneous Shinsengumi drama. Initially hesitant to reference the show, Sorachi later incorporated longer, more dramatic storylines while maintaining the series' humor and satire of modern Japan.[6]
Sorachi's workflow involved developing ideas through solitude or walks, though he occasionally missed revision deadlines before his editor collected the manuscript.[20] He described his ideas as seemingly random but thematically connected, and he frequently relied on his editor for assistance.[21] He approached each chapter as either comedy or drama, defining the overall series as a "science fiction human drama pseudo-historical comedy."[22]
For illustration, Sorachi typically used a felt-tip pen, fountain pen, brush-tip pen, and multiliner. For major characters, he used a felt-tip pen and fountain pen, outlining them with a multiliner-0.8.[23]
Written and illustrated byHideaki Sorachi,Gintama debuted inShueisha'sshōnen manga magazineWeekly Shōnen Jump on December 8, 2003.[24] The manga was originally scheduled to end on September 15, 2018;[25] however, on that day, it was announced that the series would be transferred toJump Giga,[26][27] where it ran in three consecutive issues from December 28, 2018,[28] to February 22, 2019,[29][30] and later continued in the freeGintama app, where it ran from May 13 to June 20 of that same year, concluding with its 704th chapter.[31][32][33][34] Shueisha collected its chapters in 77tankōbon volumes, released from April 2, 2004,[35] to August 2, 2019.[36][37]
Viz Media licensedGintama for publication in North America.[38] A 55-page preview from the series was first featured in the January 2006 issue of itsShonen Jump magazine.[39] The chapters were serialized inShonen Jump from the January to the May 2007 issues, at a rate of one chapter per month.[40][41][42] Viz Media published the first 23 volumes under its "Shonen Jump Advanced" imprint from July 3, 2007, to August 2, 2011;[43][44][45] the publisher ceased the series' publication without providing further details.[46]
Two animated specials ofGintama were developed bySunrise for theJump Festa Anime Tour 2005 and 2008. The first one, having the same title, is composed of various auto conclusive stories meant to introduce the characters from the series.[47] The second special titledShiroyasha Kotan (白夜叉降誕;lit. 'White Demon's Birth') is initially set in the war between aliens and samurai and is later revealed to be a hoax.[48] On September 30, 2009, a DVD collection,Gintama Jump Anime Tour 2008 & 2005, was published byAniplex. It contains the 2005 and 2008 specials and an audio commentary.[48] In July 2014, it was announced that theGintama anime would return for a one-episode special for the year's Jump Festa.[49] The anime special DVD was bundled with the limited edition of the 58th manga volume released on April 3, 2015.[50] The fourth special was also released in 2015.
Ananime adaptation, also by Sunrise, debuted onTV Tokyo on April 4, 2006. The first 99 episodes were initially directed by Shinji Takamatsu. Episodes 100 to 105 were directed by Takamatsu and Yoichi Fujita, while the following episodes were directed solely by Fujita.[51] The subtitle for theGintama anime can be loosely translated as "The starting point is the utmost importance for anything, so trying to outdo oneself is just about right."[52] In January 2009, Fujita mentioned he was not going to work on the fourth season of the series starting the same year. However, in February 2009, it was confirmed that the anime would continue for a fourth year, once again directed by Fujita.[53] The series ended on March 25, 2010, with a total of 201 episodes.[54]
In Japan,Aniplex distributed the anime in DVD format, distributing thirteen volumes for each season. Season 1 was released between July 26, 2006, and June 26, 2007.[55] The second season was released between July 25, 2007, and July 23, 2008.[56] Season 3 was released from August 27, 2008, to August 26, 2009.[57] The fourth season was released from October 28, 2009, to October 27, 2010.[58]
In November 2008, an agreement was reached between TV Tokyo and the streaming video serviceCrunchyroll for the latter to stream English-subtitled episodes for free one week after they had aired in Japan; paid subscribers could watch new episodes an hour after they aired in Japan.[59] On January 8, 2009, Crunchyroll uploaded their first episode (episode 129) to the service. Alongside new episodes each week, Crunchyroll also uploaded episodes from the beginning of the series.[60] The anime is licensed in North America bySentai Filmworks, with distribution fromSection23 Films. Section23 Films' Chris Oarr commented that only the first two seasons were licensed, with an option for the rest.[61] The first collection containing thirteen English-subtitled episodes was released on DVD, April 27, 2010.[61][62] Only 49 episodes were released before the releases stalled. However, shortly after licensing theGintama film, Sentai Filmworks announced that based on the film's performance, they would consider releasing more of the series in North America, possibly with an English dub.[63] An English subtitled version of the series began airing in the United States onShorts HD on July 12, 2015.[64] On July 1, 2016, Crunchyroll announced that they would re-release the series on Blu-ray and DVD with an English dub.[65]Hulu began streaming an English dub for the first season on December 1, 2019;[66] an English dub for the second and third season were released in October 2025.[67]
On April 5, 2010, TV Tokyo stations began airing high-definition reruns of older episodes ofGintama under the titleYorinuki Gintama-san (よりぬき銀魂さん;lit. 'The Very Best of Gintama'), the title being a parody of the "best of" reruns of the animeSazae-san.[68] In addition to being broadcast in HD, new opening and ending themes were made. The opening and ending themes for episodes 1–9 are "Bakuchi Dancer" (バクチ・ダンサー,Bakuchi Dansā;lit. 'Fullspeed Dancer') and "Bokutachi no Kisetsu" (僕たちの季節;lit. 'Our Season'), respectively, both performedDoes. From episodes 10–26, the opening theme is "Kaze no Gotoku" (風のごとく;lit. 'Like the Wind') byJoe Inoue and the ending theme is "Wave" by Vijandeux.[69] From episode 27–39, the opening theme is "Kanōsei Girl" (可能性ガール,Kanōsei Gāru; "Probable Girl") byChiaki Kuriyama and the ending is "In My Life" byAzu. From episodes 40–51, the opening is "Karto Niago" (カートニアゴ,Kāto Niago) by Flip and the ending is "Sakurane" (桜音; "Sakura Sound") by Piko.
In March 2010, Yoichi Fujita hinted that the anime would continue once the staff had enough material to adapt. Shinji Takamatsu said that the TV series "is absolutely not over. It hasn't even begun yet! It will definitely return."[70] In December 2010, Shueisha stated that theGintama anime would resume in April 2011.[71]Gintama' (銀魂’), the sequel to the originalGintama anime, premiered in Japan on April 4, 2011.[72] The main staff from the first TV series returned forGintama', with Fujita again serving as director.[73] Crunchyroll simulcasted the premiere ofGintama' to subscribers from its site.[72] The first DVD from the series was released on July 27, 2011.[74] The episode released on September 26, 2011, containsSket Dance as a crossover special.[75] It finished on March 26, 2012, with a total of 51 episodes,[76] which were collected in thirteen DVDs by Aniplex.[77]
A third anime series,Gintama': Enchōsen, aired for 13 episodes onTV Tokyo from October 4, 2012, to March 28, 2013. The main staff once again returned, with Fujita as director.[76] The episodes were collected in a total of four DVDs from December 19, 2012, to May 22, 2013.[78]
On December 21, 2014, during Jump Festa's super stage event, it was announced that a newGintama TV series was being produced.[79] The 51-episode season aired on TV Tokyo and its affiliates from April 8, 2015, to March 30, 2016.
Crunchyroll began streaming an English dub of the first 12 episodes of the series on February 1, 2017. 12 additional episodes were released weekly.[80]
A fifth season ofGintama was announced in September 2016.[81] TitledGintama., it aired for 12 episodes from January 9 to March 27, 2017, on TV Tokyo and its affiliates.[82][a] The staff from theGintama° anime series returned to reprise their roles.[84]
A sixth season, adapting the skipped comedic arcs taking place before the events of the Shogun Assassination Arc, titledGintama. Porori-hen, aired for 13 episodes from October 2 to December 25, 2017.[85][b]
The final story arc of the manga was adapted into a 26-episode season, titledGintama. Shirogane no Tamashii-hen, with its first 12 episodes aired from January 8 to March 26, 2018.[87][88][89][c] The second 14-episode part aired from July 9 to October 8, 2018.[91][92][93][d]
An anime adaptation of the3-Nen Z-Gumi Ginpachi-sensei spin-off light novel premiered on TV Tokyo on October 7, 2025.[95][96]
Three films based on the franchise have been released. The first one,Gintama: Shinyaku Benizakura-Hen (銀魂 新訳紅桜篇;lit. 'Gintama: A New Retelling Benizakura Arc'), is a retelling of the Benizakura arc of the manga in whichKotaro Katsura is attacked by a member of the armyKiheitai, and Odd Jobs Gin start searching for him.[97][98] One of the TV commercials of the film teased that the "true last scene" of the anime would appear in the film.[99] It premiered on April 24, 2010, in Japan in 90 theaters and grossed US$2,118,342 in its first week,[100] concluding with a total of US$12.86 million.[101] Sentai Filmworks released the film in both DVD and Blu-ray format in North America on May 29, 2012, asGintama: The Motion Picture.[102]Manga Entertainment distributed the film in the United Kingdom whileMadman Entertainment published it in Australia.[103][104]
A second film was announced in August 2012, with a script written by Sorachi.[105] TitledGintama: The Movie: The Final Chapter: Be Forever Yorozuya, it follows Gintoki as he travels to a future where he has to deal with a mysterious group of sorcerers. It was released in Japan on July 6, 2013. Although the film was marketed as "Final", director Yoichi Fujita commented that they would make a continuation if it became a hit.[106] The film managed to surpass the success of its predecessor.[107]
A third film was announced in August 2019 in the manga's 77th and final volume.[108] The film, titledGintama: The Final in Japan andGintama: The Very Final in the West, premiered on January 8, 2021.[109][110] It adapts the finale of the original manga, combined with new story elements.[111]Spyair performed the film's theme song "Wadachi" (轍～Wadachi～;lit. 'Tracks'), whileDoes performed an insert song.[112] ADemon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba card illustrated by Sorachi, depictingTanjiro Kamado and the Hashira, was given to theatergoers in the film's first week of screenings.[113][114] An anime specialGintama: The Semi-Final, tied into the film, premiered on January 15, 2021, on the dTV online service, with the second episode released on January 20.[115]
A fourth film,New Gintama Movie: Yoshiwara in Flames (新劇場版 銀魂 -吉原大炎上-,Shin Gekijō-ban Gintama Yoshiwara dai Enjō), reanimating the Yoshiwara in Flames story arc (episodes 139–146), has been announced and is set to be released on February 13, 2026.[116][117][118]
Three compilation films, featuring scenes not included during the television broadcast, were released in 2023 and 2024 as part of the "Gintama 20th Anniversary Project", with a limited three-week screening in Japan. The first film, titledGintama on Theater 2D: Baragaki-hen (銀魂オンシアター2D バラガキ篇,Gintama on Shiatā 2D Baragaki-hen;lit. 'Gintama on Theater 2D: Thorny Arc'), premiered on November 10, 2023. It encompasses episodes 244–247 of the anime series (Gintama').[119][120] The second film,Gintama on Theater 2D: Ikkoku Keisei-hen (銀魂オンシアター2D 一国傾城篇,Gintama on Shiatā 2D Ikkoku Keisei-hen;lit. 'Gintama on Theater 2D: Courtesan of the Nation Arc'), premiered on June 21, 2024. It encompasses episodes 257–261 of the anime series (Gintama': Enchōsen).[121][122] The third film,Gintama on Theater 2D: Kintama-hen (銀魂オンシアター2D 金魂篇,Gintama on Shiatā 2D Kintama-hen;lit. 'Gintama on Theater 2D: Kintama Arc'), premiered on November 22, 2024. It encompasses episodes 253–256 of the anime series (Gintama': Enchōsen).[123]
The 65th and 66th volumes of the manga were bundled with anoriginal animation DVD (OAD) each; the volumes were released on August 4 and November 4, 2016, respectively. Both OADs adapt theLove Potion arc of the manga.[124]
In June 2016, Shueisha announced the series would receive a live-action adaptation.Gintama premiered on July 14, 2017, in Japan.[125] The film was written by Yūichi Fukuda and starsShun Oguri as Gintoki Sakata,[126] along withKanna Hashimoto as Kagura andMasaki Suda as Shinpachi Shimura.[127] It is a retelling of the franchise's successful Benizakura arc in which Kotaro Katsura is attacked by a member of the army Kiheitai, and Odd Jobs Gin starts searching for him.
A sequel to the live-action film was announced in November 2017 by Fukuda and Shun Oguri and was slated to release in Q3 2018.[128] In April 2018, it was announced that Oguri, Hashimoto and Suda would reprise their roles as Gintoki, Kagura, and Shinpachi respectively.[129] TitledGintama 2: Rules Are Made to Be Broken (銀魂2 掟は破るためにこそある,Gintama 2: Okite wa Yaburu tame ni koso Aru), the film premiered on August 17, 2018, grossing ¥280 million on its first day and selling one million tickets in seven days.[130]
Along with the release of the film, a 3-episode miniseries titledGintama 2 – Yonimo Kimyou na Gintama-chan (銀魂2 –世にも奇妙な銀魂ちゃん-; "Gintama 2: The Strange and Unusual Gintama") also premiered on dTV.[131] The 3 episodes would premiere one per week, starting on August 18. They are titled "I Can't Sleep", "Hijikata Smoking Ban", and "No Matter How Old You Are You Hate Going to the Dentist".[132] In seven days after its premiere, the first episode surpassed 4 million views.[133]
The music for theGintama anime is composed by Audio Highs. On September 27, 2006, Audio Highs published the first CD soundtrack for the series known asGintama Original Soundtrack. It featured 36 tracks including the TV version from the first opening theme and the first two ending themes.[134] The second CD soundtrack,Gintama Original Soundtrack 2, was released on November 11, 2007. It included 40 tracks but it did not have TV versions of the opening and ending themes from the series.[134] The next CD isGintama Original Soundtrack 3 published on June 24, 2009. It features a total of 28 tracks including the theme "Dondake! Gintaman" (どんだけー! ギンタマン) which was used as a gag in episode 100 from the series. The fourth and latest CD soundtrack is composed of thirty-four tracks and was released on March 21, 2013.[134]
Apart from soundtracks from the TV series, there have been three CDs known asGintama Best (銀魂 BEST) which include the full versions from the opening and ending themes. Each of the CDs also has an extra DVD with the original videos.[135] The two movies have also had their original CD soundtracks.[136]
A series oflight novels, titled3-Nen Z-Gumi Ginpachi-sensei (3年Z組銀八先生;lit. 'Class 3-Z's Teacher Ginpachi'), written byTomohito Ōsaki [ja] and illustrated by Hideaki Sorachi, has been published by Shueisha. They feature the series characters transposed to a school setting with Gintoki acting as their teacher. The first novel was published on February 3, 2006.[137] The tenth novel was released on October 3, 2025.[138]
A novelization of the second film has also been authored by Ōsaki and was released on July 8, 2013.[139]
In Japan, aPlayStation 2 game,Gintama: Together with Gin! My Kabuki District Journal (銀魂 銀さんと一緒!ボクのかぶき町日記,Gintama Gin-san to Issho! Boku no Kabuki-chō Nikki), was released on August 30, 2007, and aWii game,Gintama: General Store Tube:Tsukkomi-able Cartoon (銀魂 万事屋ちゅ〜ぶ ツッコマブル動画,Gintama Yorozuya Chūbu Tsukkomaburu Dōga), was released on October 25, 2007.[140][141] Three video games for theNintendo DS were released:Gintama Dee-Ess: Odd Jobs Grand Riot! (銀魂でぃ〜えす・万事屋大騒動!,Gintama Dīesu Yorozuya Daisōdō!) (September 21, 2006);[142]Gintama: Gintoki vs. Hijikata!? The Huge Fight Over Silver Souls in the Kabuki District!! (銀魂 銀時vs土方!? かぶき町銀玉大争奪戦!!,Gintama Gintoki vs Hijikata!? Kabuki-cho Gitama Daisōdatsusen!!) (December 14, 2006);[143] andGintama: Silver Ball Quest: Gin's Job-Change to Save the World (銀魂 銀玉くえすと 銀さんが転職したり世界を救ったり,Gintama Gintama Kuesuto Gin-san ga Tenshoku-shitari Sekai o Sukuttari) (December 6, 2007).[144]
Gintama Board Game (銀魂のすごろく,Gintama no Sugoroku) was released on January 24, 2013, for thePlayStation Portable byNamco Bandai Games.[145]Bandai Namco Entertainment releasedGintama Rumble (銀魂乱舞,Gintama Ranbu), a hack and slash action game, for thePlayStation 4 and thePlayStation Vita on January 18, 2018.[146]
A smartphone game by Bandai Namco Entertainment,Gintama Kabuki District Great Action Movie (銀魂 かぶき町大活劇,Gintama Kabukichō Daikatsugeki), was released foriOS andAndroid devices on September 15, 2016;[147] the game ended service on January 10, 2019.[148] A second smartphone game bySega and NextNinja was announced in November 2025.[149]
Gintama characters also appear in theWeekly Shōnen Jump crossoverJump Super Stars and its sequel,Jump Ultimate Stars, both for Nintendo DS.[150][151] Gintoki also appears as a playable fighter in theJump crossover fighting gameJ-Stars Victory VS onPlayStation 3 andPlayStation Vita, with Kagura and Sadaharu acting as support.[152] A collaboration withThe King of Fighters All Star, a mobile beat 'em up spin-off toThe King of Fighters, ran in October 2018.[153] A second collaboration ran from July to August 2020.[154]
There have been various guidebooks for theGintama manga and its anime. The first guidebook for the manga isGintama Official Character Book – Gin Channel! (銀魂公式キャラクターブック｢銀ちゃんねる!｣,Gintama Official Character Book – Gin Chaneru!) released by Shueisha on April 4, 2006. It features characters files, an interview with Hideaki Sorachi, and original character stickers.[155] The second book isGintama Official Character Book 2 – Fifth Grade (銀魂公式キャラクターブック2 ｢銀魂五年生｣,Gintama Official Character Book 2 – Gonen-Sei) which was published on May 5, 2009. Like the previous book, this one also has an interview with Sorachi and files for the new characters that have appeared in the series since the first guidebook's release.[156] The first guidebook for the anime is namedGintama Official Animation Guide "Gayagaya Box" (オフィシャルアニメーションガイド 銀魂あにめガヤガヤ箱). It was published on April 4, 2008, to celebrate the airing of the anime's 100th episode. This guidebook features commentaries by the Japanese voice actors and the cast from the series.[157] It was followed byOfficial Animation Guide Gintama Anime Paraparakan (オフィシャルアニメーションガイド 銀魂あにめパラパラ館) on April 5, 2011.[158] A series of three anime character guidebooks titledGintama Character Book (銀魂キャラクターズブック,Gintama Kyarakutazu Bukku) have also been published in Japan within 2010.[159][160]
TheGintama manga had 50 million copies in circulation by May 2016;[161] over 55 million by February 2018;[162] over 58 million by December 2023;[163] and over 73 million by November 2024, making itone of the best-selling manga series of all time.[164] In March 2007, Shueisha announced that sales of the first volume had surpassed one million copies.[165] Following volumes from the manga have also had strong sales, appearing various times in Japanese manga rankings.[166][167] The 17th volume of the manga ranked as the tenth best-selling volume of Japan during 2007.[168] In 2008, the manga ranked as the tenth best-selling series, with over 2.3 million copies sold.[169] It was also the fifth best-selling manga in the first half of 2009 list, selling over 2.7 million volumes from November 17, 2008, to May 17, 2009.[170]
In 2008Gintama was featured in twoOricon surveys; it ranked at the top as the "funniest manga" and fifth in "most interesting manga".[171][172] In another survey from 2009, it was listed as the sixth choice for what manga should be adapted into a live-action film.[173] In a poll from Zassosha'sPuff Japanese manga magazine,Gintama ranked second in the category "Best Long Stories".[174]Fuji News Network has citedGintama as one of the anime responsible for the wooden swords' popularity during 2008, as Hokkaido's retailers were experiencing brisk sales in wooden swords to foreigners.[175] OnTV Asahi's Manga Sōsenkyo 2021 poll, in which 150,000 people voted for their top 100 manga series,Gintama ranked twelfth.[176][177]
In North America,Gintama was ranked as the best newshōnen manga from 2007 inAbout.com's 2007 Readers Poll: Best New Shonen Manga.[178] In theSociety for the Promotion of Japanese Animation Award of 2008,Gintama was nominated in the "Best Manga – Comedy" category, losing toNegima! Magister Negi Magi.[179][180] English sales of the manga volumes have been strong, with some of them having appeared inDiamond Comic Distributors's Top 300 Graphic Novels.[181][182]
The firstGintamalight novel became the top-selling novel in Japan in 2006.[183] The same achievement was reached by the third novel during 2008.[184] The anime adaptation has also been featured several times in the Japanese TV ranking,[185][186] with the first two episodes having a rating of 5.6.[187] DVD sales of the series have also been featured in the Japanese anime DVD ranking various times,[188][189] while the third DVD of season 3 ranked ninth in the JapaneseAmazon.com Top Ten list of best sellers DVDs of 2008.[190] In August 2008, TV Tokyo announced thatGintama andNaruto "contributed to robust sales of overseas rights in the last fiscal year which ended in March."[191] In a poll fromPuff,Gintama won in the "Best Animation" category.[174] The DVD of theGintama OVAs became the top-selling OVA in Japan in 2009, having sold 61,226 units two weeks after release.[192] In the Oricon survey "2009's Top-Selling DVDs in Japan", the same DVD topped the "Animation/Special Effects DVDs" category with a total of 76,000 units sold.[193] The CD soundtrackGintama The Best received the "Animation Album of the Year" award from theKinema Junpo'sDVD Navigator Japanese magazine.[194]
Critical response to theGintama manga has generally been positive. Carlo Santos fromAnime News Network found the manga to be a "one-of-a-kind comedy", praising the characters' personalities and gags. On the other hand, he criticized the artwork for being "hard to follow" during fast scenes.[8] Jokes regardingclichés from othershōnen series were also positively received by About.com writer Deb Aoki, who, like Santos, found the artwork to be "the only thing that distracts from the otherwise considerable pleasures of this loveable, goofymanga".[2] However, the characters' designs were commended for their diversity, particularly those created by Katherine Dacey from Pop Culture Shock, who noted that "[t]hese characters add visual interest and life to every panel, keeping the reader invested when the stories stall."[195] Negative comments were made about the small number of aliens appearing in the series, as well as how some chapters were focused entirely on fights, such as Hijikata's fight against Gintoki. Michael Aronson from Manga Life concluded his review of the manga by saying that "The potential is there, but the execution is struggling" as still, he liked the comedy from the story.[196] Comics Village's Alex Hoffman stated thatGintama "can't truly be compared to those comics because of one thing: the jokes." He found the context from the series hilarious and liked how there were new jokes in every chapter. Like other reviewers, Hoffman also disliked Sorachi's artwork, but still found the manga to be "a great comedy, or a great read."[197] Comic Book Bin writer Leroy Douresseaux found that the large number of characters with different appearances in the series allowed the reader to remain entertained with the series, as "at least every few pages or so present some unusual and interesting visual."[198] Anime News Network criticized its large amount of penis jokes, as well as the narrative's style, which might bother readers.[199] The series was also criticized for employing the veryShōnen Jump tropes it was intended to satirize.[5]
The anime adaptation ofGintama has received both positive and mixed responses. Although the humor was noted to have improved after the series' introduction, some jokes were difficult for reviewers to understand due to their roots in Japanese culture and references to other series.[200] The notes on the DVD releases were criticized for lacking explanations of cultural jokes.[201] Additionally, critics stated that the quality of the humor is inconsistent across the first episodes, with some scenes being so deep that some viewers may abandon the series.[202][201] The quality of the series was found to improve as the series continued, as viewers would not be intimidated by its large number of episodes.[202] The characters were praised due to their knowledge that their tendencies "break the fourth wall",[200] while the female characters were found appealing based on their unusual qualities.[202] The series has been noted for its ability to shift between comedy and drama without a loss of quality.[203]
Episode 232 of the anime series featured a negative portrayal of a character parodying a particular politician: the then Minister for Government Revitalisation,Renhō Murata. This resulted in the rerun of the episode being cancelled on AT-X.[204] Series supervisor Shinji Takamatsu explained that TV Tokyo canceled the rerun on its own. Renhō's representative denied having objected to the episode, although a report from the newspaperMainichi Shimbun stated the affected party contacted TV Tokyo.[205] When the story arc the episode belonged to was completed, Takamatsu expressed doubts concerning the arc's release in DVD format.[206]
The reason why historical stories are being dealt with in all sorts of manga and game media today, and why they are being supported by the younger generation, is undoubtedly because of the work "Ruroken". As usual, I was one of the radish thieves, or rather, a senior member of the thieves, who trespassed into the fields cultivated by Mr. Watsuki without permission and sold radishes. (...) We are all children of the "Ruroken" bloodline, so please don't sue us or anything like that.
