Among the vast majority of Anime and Manga present as of today, very few such pieces of work have left a deep impression on the world as Hideaki Sorachi's Gintama. Its quality transcends Anime and Manga as medium and it could possibly be one of entertainment's greatest stories.
Gintama is a unique mix of Comedy, Action and Wholehearted storytelling. It stands as a testament to the human experience, diving into emotions with unparalleled depth. Starting from the hysterical laughter to the mournful sorrow, each episodes is made to seem like a rollercoaster of different feelings. One of the greatest strengths of Gintama is its unique sense of humor. It uses its witty dialogues, slapstick comedy, often breaking of the fourth wall and intelligent parodies to bring forth a the viewers a fake sense of security, only to present distressing moments of self-reflection and vulnerability. As effortlessly as it does, Gintama balances the lightness with the gravitas, leaving a very lasting impression on the audience.
Central to emotional reverberance dipped in its immensely developed cast of characters, Gintama's characters portray a deep sense of hopes, dreams and inner demons. Starting from the enigmatic main character, Sakata Gintoki, moving onto the earnest Shimura Shinpachi and the fiery Kagura, every character in the show has undergone a journey of growth and self-contemplation. With most of the characters possessing a tragic backstory, they truly understand the value of friendship and form unbreakable bonds that transcends Time and Fates. With their immense support towards each other, they face adversaries head-on, greatly inspiring the viewer about the vigor of the human connection and tenacity of the human spirit.
To sum up the story, Gintama follows an alternate-world Edo where aliens known as Amanto (Sky People) have invaded the Earth. The Shogunate has surrendered its power, and the way of the sword has been banned. However, hope lies in an unemployed Samurai known as Sakata Gintoki who runs Yorozuya Gin-chan (Odd Jobs Gin) with his friends Shimura Shinpachi and Kagura as they form a squad to combat them. Through various story arcs, Gintama has proved time and time again to be much deeper than what people thought initially.
Gintama stands on the ideas of righteousness of a human being and the bushido of a samurai, there is no one too big, no one too small. Sometimes its hard to find anything wrong with such a great show. That being said, the series as of present, has ended. But that doesn't mean it stops attracting audiences now and then. As we bid our farewell to the amazing cast of Gintama, let us not forget the immense amount of memories they gave us, as it continues to shine in the legacy of Hideaki Sorachi.
Farewell, Gintama!
Lesson 516: A Good-for-Nothing Duo