"Why is this anime so highly rated? How does it deserve HALF of MAL's top 10 list? It doesn't even look that good."
At first glance, Gintama will likely appear to be nothing more than a run-of-the-mill shounen anime. Frankly, my first impression was a bit underwhelming, as it took me two or three attempts just to get past the first few episodes. During that time, I could not even comprehend how a show like this could be so universally loved.
While it took a bit of initial effort to "get the ball rolling" so to speak, I fell in love with this series very quickly, and by the end it left me absolutely blown away. I'll be explaining my reasoning for this in the sections below:
~~Story~~
"The land of the samurai. There was a time, long ago when our country was called by that name."
The world of Gintama is an incredibly limitless one. I honestly feel that if over 1,000 episodes were produced the content would still feel genuine and fresh. This series has a large amount of arcs, ranging from just one to several episodes in length. These arcs basically cover the entire spectrum of human emotion; while one moment there could be an intense fight sequence, the next could contain an argument about hemorrhoid cream or an oddly penile-shaped cannon. Each episode almost feels like reaching into a goodie bag; although what you get can greatly differ, everything in the bag is sweet, savory, and ultimately satisfying. It's a mix of humor and drama which I've never quite seen any other show replicate to date, and it'll keep you entertained every step of the way.
~~Art~~
The art for the first Gintama series is, well, average. It's nothing special especially during the show's early days, however the animation makes noticeable improvements during Gintama' and the new Gintama (2015) series.
~~Sound~~
The songs used in Gintama are quite memorable to me. They make good use of BGMs to fit particular moods, not to mention their amazing opening songs such as "DONTEN" by Does and "Stairway Generation" by Base Ball Bear. Overall, Gintama's OST is a very enjoyable one.
~~Character~~
Probably the strongest point of the series. The show consists of a wide amount of characters, each contributing their own personal flair. Every character has their own story and personality traits which make the show more interesting to watch. Whether it be the mayo-addicted Vice Commanders, masochistic ninjas, or eccentric terror-group leaders, Gintama has it all. Overall, a great cast with tons of enjoyable & memorable characters.
~~Overall~~
TL;DR don't give up early. Watch and you will not regret it.
I absolutely love this series to death and hold no regrets for wasting 100+ hours on it.
