I’m not joking: Gintama is one of the best anime ever made!
Flipping the usual shounen norm with jokes between intense battles and making it work flawlessly.
In addition, there are serious and life-threatening events in Gintama that are presented with horrific violence and action. Although in the end, you will remember Gintama because of the ravings of his character and uniqueness.
Gintama may not be a series you can watch all at once, so take your time getting to know the characters and get ready for a fantastic journey. This anime series by studio Sunrise will make you better after the first 50 episodes!
So, this is the Gintama watch order:
Table of Contents
1. Gintama (2006-2010)
| Title | Gintama |
| Episodes | 201 |
| Aired | 2006-2010 |
The story is set in an alternate history at the end of the Edo period, when humanity was attacked by aliens called “Amanto.”
The Japanese Edo samurai fight to defend Earth, but the shogun cowardly surrenders when he realizes the power of aliens.
He agreed to an unequal contract with the aliens, placing a ban on carrying swords in public and allowing invaders to enter the country.
The samurai swords were confiscated, and the Tokugawa bakufu became a puppet government.
The series focuses on the eccentric samurai, Gintoki Sakata, who works as a part-time freelancer. Although the story is mostly episodic, some recurring storylines and antagonists develop.
2. Gintama Season 2 (2011-2012)
| Title | Gintama’ |
| Episodes | 51 |
| Aired | 2011-2012 |
After a gap of one year, Shinpachi Shimura returns to Edo, only to find a shocking surprise: Gintoki and Kagura, fellow members of Yorozuya, have become completely different characters!
Fleeing the Yorozuya headquarters in confusion, Shinpachi discovers that all of Edo’s residents have undergone impossible extreme changes, both in appearance and personality.
Most remarkably, his sister Otae has married the head of the Shinsengumi and shameless stalker Isao Kondou and is expecting their first child.
Confused, Shinpachi agrees to join the Shinsengumi at Otae and Kondou’s request and finds even more surprising transformations taking place both within and outside the organization’s ranks.
However, knowing that Deputy Chief Tshir Hijikata remains unchanged, Shinpachi and his unexpected ally Shinsengumi set out to restore the city of Edo as they remember it.
With more sordid jokes, slapstick parodies, and shameless references, Gintama’ follows the Yorozuya team through more of their misadventures in the vibrant and alien world of Edo.
3. Gintama Season 3 (2012-2013)
| Title | Gintama’: Enchousen |
| Episodes | 13 |
| Aired | 2012-2013 |
While Gintoki Sakata is away, Yorozuya find themselves a new leader: Kintoki, Gintoki’s golden-haired doppelganger.
In order to regain his former position, Gintoki will need the help of those around him, a troubling feat when no one can remember him!
Between Kintoki and Gintoki, who will claim the throne as the main character?
In addition, Yorozuya travels back to the Yoshiwara red light district to help an old prostitute in finding her long lost lover.
Although the district is no longer shackled beneath the earth’s surface, the trio soon learns the tragic story of the Yoshiwara people that still haunts them. With flashback after flashback, this quest has Yorozuya witness eternal love and protect it as best they can with their hearts and souls.
Gintama’: Enchousen includes action-packed moments with the light slapstick humor they used to do for Gintoki and his friends.
4. Gintama Season 4 (2015-2016)
| Title | Gintama° |
| Episodes | 51 |
| Aired | 20`5-2016 |
Gintoki, Shinpachi, and Kagura are back as members of the fun-loving but broke Yorozuya team!
Living in an alternate reality Edo, where swords are forbidden and foreign rulers have conquered Japan, they try to thrive by doing whatever jobs they can get their hands on. However, Shinpachi and Kagura still hadn’t been paid. Did Gin-chan really spend all that money playing pachinko?
Meanwhile, while a drunk Gintoki staggers home one night, an alien spaceship crashes nearby.
A seriously injured crew member emerges from the ship and gives Gintoki a strange clock-shaped device, warning him that it is extremely powerful and must be guarded against.
Mistaking it for his alarm clock, Gintoki proceeds to destroy the device the next morning and suddenly finds that the world outside his apartment has come to a standstill. With Kagura and Shinpachi by his side, he sets out to repair the device; though, as usual, nothing was that simple for the Yorozuya team.
Filled with slapstick humor and moments of genuine emotion, season three of Gintama finds Gintoki and his friends facing the funniest misfortunes and the most dangerous crises.
5. Gintama Season 5 (2017)
| Title | Gintama. |
| Episodes | 12 |
| Aired | Winter 2017 |
After joining the resistance against the bakufu, Gintoki and the gang went into hiding, along with Katsura and his Joui rebels.
Yorozuya is immediately approached by Nobume Imai and the two members of Kiheitai, who explains that the Harusame pirates have turned against 7th Division Captain Kamui and their former ally Takasugi.
Kiheitai gives Gintoki a job: find Takasugi, who has been missing since his ship was ambushed in the Harusame raid.
Nobume also made a statementan amazing story about Tendoushuu, a secret organization that attracts various factions, and their leader Utsuro, a shadowy figure with an uncanny resemblance to Gintoki’s former teacher.
Boarding Sakamoto’s starship, Yorozuya and Katsura set off for Rakuyou, Kagura’s home planet, where various factions gather and tensions rise.
Old grudges, political strife, and the evil Tendoushuu’s overarching plan eventually culminate into a massive and decisive battle at Rakuyou.
6. Gintama.: Slip Arc (2017)
| Title | Gintama.: Porori-hen |
| Episodes | 13 |
| Aired | Fall 2017 |
Consists of animated episodes of unused manga chapters, before returning to the Silver Soul Arc on January 8, 2018. Porori is Onomatopoeia for something that falls (especially water).
7. Gintama.: Silver Soul Arc (2018)
| Title | Gintama.: Shirogane no Tamashii-hen |
| Episodes | 12 |
| Aired | Winter 2018 |
Utsuro’s ultimate plan is revealed: triggering a universal war that will eventually lead to Earth’s destruction, allowing him to eventually die but bringing the universe down with him.
Gintoki and the others must team up with old allies and former foes to defeat not only him but also the victims of the plan of immortality, Amanto’s vengeful gathering force who may no longer listen to reason.
8. Gintama.: Silver Soul Arc – Second Half War (2018)
| Title | Gintama.: Shirogane no Tamashii-hen – Kouhan-sen |
| Episodes | 14 |
| Aired | Summer 2018 |
The second season of the Silver Soul arc.
9. Gintama: THE SEMI-FINAL (2021)
| Title | Gintama: THE SEMI-FINAL |
| Episodes | 2 |
| Aired | Winter 2021 |
As the war temporarily subsides and Edo rebuilds, Gintoki finds Shinpachi—who still hasn’t realized his return—on a bridge.
However, as a quick fight breaks out between Yorozuya and Tenshouin Naraku, suspicion grows, forcing Gintoki to use what is closest to him to cover up his identity. Congratulations for the time being, Gintoki enters Yorozuya’s office, but unbeknownst to him, someone else is already waiting there…
Meanwhile, Kondou leaves Earth to marry Princess Bubbles in an attempt to improve diplomatic relations.
After boarding the aircraft carrier Gorilla Amanto, he realized that he did not speak their language. Confused, Kondou tried to talk to them, only to accidentally gain their support.
However, someone related to the princess ruined the ongoing ceremony. Will the marriage continue, or will Kondou just be saved from being the next Prince Gorilla?
10. Gintama: THE VERY FINAL (2021)
| Title | Gintama: THE FINAL |
| Episodes | 1 Movie |
| Aired | Winter 2021 |
Gintama: THE FINAL is the 3rd and final film adaptation of the remaining Silver Soul arc and is the final installment in the series.
Movie
- Gintama Movie 1: Shinyaku Benizakura-hen (2010)
- Gintama: Yorinuki Gintama-san on Theater 2D (2012)
- Gintama Movie 2: Kanketsu-hen – Yorozuya yo Eien Nare (2013)
- Gintama: The Finals (2021)
OVA
- Gintama°: Aizome Kaori-hen (2016)
Special Episodes
- Gintama: Nanigoto mo Saiyo ga Kanjin nano de Tasho Senobisuru Kurai ga Choudoyoi (2005)
- Gintama: Shiroyasha Koutan (2008)
- Gintama: Dai Hanseikai (2010)
- Gintama: Shinyaku Benizakura-hen (2010)
- Gintama’: Futon ni Haitte kara Buki Nokoshi ni Kizuite Neru ni Nerenai Toki mo Aru (2015)
- Gintama°: Umai-mono wa Atomawashi ni Suru to Yokodorisareru kara Yappari Saki ni Cake (2015)
For now, the full anime can be watched legally via the Crunchyroll streaming service.
That was a guide to watching Gintama, if you have questions or want a discussion, feel free to ask in the comments section.
