- Kagura, Episode 252 (Gintama' 51)
Continuing on from the foundation of Gintama (2006), Gintama' only improves. The long-awaited shift to 16:9 only enhances the series and there is a noticeable improvement in animation quality. However, the heart of the series remains unaffected as the character’s ruthless, self-referential comedy keeps the series from becoming something it isn’t.
Gintama''s greatest strength is its characters. Whether considered a main character or part of the supporting cast, they all have their own eccentricities and unique viewpoints that make them stand out. New additions to the cast are fleshed out in the short amount of time they have on screen, making them feel integral to the anime’s world. While some had been foreshadowed in the earlier series, others were introduced for the first time and yet it feels like they have always been there. This balancing act is difficult, yet Gintama’ pulls it off.
The story is also quintessentially Gintama’, blending comedy with action and drama in an addictive way that makes it difficult to stop watching. There are more episodes dedicated to the longer arcs, allowing the story to develop in a familiar way while devoting more time to the action scenes. Yet they don’t hang around for longer than they need to; it never devolves to waiting for an arc to end. There is also more appreciation for the emotional moments… there were a lot in Gintama, but Gintama’ manages to improve on the format. The background plot also moves forward in a way that keeps it intriguing without sacrificing the looser structure, or themes, of Gintama’.
This is a perfect continuation of the series, and if you love Gintama (2006) then Gintama’ will be one of the best shows you could watch. Everything that was done well at the start is improved upon and made even better.
