Ranked #234

Gintama Jump Festa 2005 Special

In 2004 it became known that Sunrise were going to make a short anime based on Gintama - the popular manga series created by Hideaki Sorachi - for Jump Festa '05. The author of the manga was over the moon and so were all of the fans. When released the anime did not defy expectations - the fans loved it. As a result Gintama was later picked up by Sunrise once again, but this time as a full series. So essentially it all began with this OVA. Which, unlike Shiroyasha Koutan, you don't have to watch the main series to be able to enjoy.

Thankfully, Sunrise picked one of the best possible chapters to adapt to the screen, which involves the main characters fighting the Edo police squad known as the Shinsengumi for a picnic spot under a sakura tree, where they both want to sit and view the flowers and cherry blossoms. The characters decide to settle things in a game of jan-ken-pon, the Japanese equivalent of rock-paper-scissors, but everything ends in a calamity. The OVA is fantastic for both non-fans, new fans and old fans alike, since it contains a few references to previous episodes, but only very subtly so viewers unfamiliar with the series will not get confused. The OVA is very much in Gintama's usual crazy-hilarious style, just like in the main series, and serves as a great introduction for things to come.

Sunrise did a great job with the animation, it is colourful, appealing and enjoyable - just as it should be. It fits Gintama's overall style and design, and has since become very recognizable over the anime fanbase. If you are already familiar with the main series, apart from slight differences in character design, you won't notice many changes, so you know what to expect.

The sound is the only aspect that is maybe lacking a little. The OVA lacks any kind of insert song when one wouldn't have gone amiss, but the background music does work well and has that usual Gintama sound to it. The ending song is good, but not great. All in all the sound does its job, but could probably do a little better.

The characters are some of the most eccentric and interesting bunches of people you will ever see. The OVA is a little over thirty minutes long, and in that time it introduces a lot of exciting characters. The main gang are introduced, as well as most of the Shinsengumi and some of the supporting cast. The characters are the main reason why Gintama is so enjoyable and this OVA simply confirms that.

Perhaps not as enjoyable as some of the later episodes in the series, but considering this is a one-off thirty two minute OVA, it is incredibly fun and exciting to watch. At the time, the adapted manga chapter was one of the most enjoyable of the series, and that enjoyment has been enhanced on screen. Everything that makes the main series what it is is present in the OVA. Whether you're watching this as a taster of what Gintama is all about, or as a long time fan, or even as someone new to anime, you're in for a treat. read more