Review of Gintama

Where do I start? It took me 30 episodes to actually find it interesting. I stopped watching after episode 53, but I couldn't stand not finishing the anime, so I continued watching. It took me around 150 episode to actually be marveled with its story, but after that, it was amazing. It made me smile and cry within the span of twenty minutes. It was an adventure. Sure, it started slow, but after a while, it became an intense ride. Story: 8/10 The thing about Gintama is that it progresses without a certain and clear goal. Every episode and arc has a different plot line from theother. Some is pure humor, some will push the viewer to the edge of your seat, some will make them cry, and some will make them do three. There is no goal the main character is trying to achieve. Within the span of 201 episodes, we find out little about the main character, but even that was played out perfectly. However, there is one small mistake the manga writer made. When the villain is about to receive his/her final blow, they'd go into a ten minute flashback about their sad past. It got to a point that they will hold a conversation with a knife in their back for fifteen minutes. I'm not saying that their pasts were boring, but they didn't seem perfectly sewn into the plot. They were roughly patched into it to give the character to give them a better image. I will admit, the manga writer improved on this by the end of the series, as shown in the Onmyoji arc. Before that, I would be all "Shut up and die already" as some of the villains mulled over the losses they had.

Art: 10/10

I have to praise the art. Not only was the art style unique, it was also really flexible, which helped in parodying other anime. The animation was colorful and eye-catching, but whenever it wanted, it could become dark for a serious fight, comedic for a hilarious revelation, and dull for a sad moment. Unlike many other anime, most character had a different face and the viewer did not have to depend on the hair and eye color to tell them apart.

Sound: 10/10

The opening and ending songs were perfect. Gintama is one of the few anime of its time in which the animation matched perfectly with the song. The soundtracks brought out the emotions of the scene being played. And above all, the voice actors and actresses playing the characters were obviously skilled and experienced. Not only did their voices match their character perfectly, they portrayed what the characters were feeling.

Character: 8/10

The character development of every character was beautiful. Each one had their own flaws and funny gags. They had unique personalities, and overlapped in only rare cases. I only have one complaint, though. There were some characters I was interested in, who were simply forgotten. Their only purpose was to develop to entertain the viewer, and then they disappeared, everyone moved on, and no one mentioned them again. This was a major flaw in handling such a big cast. The main cast, however, were one of the most well-written characters I have ever come across. Each one was fleshed out in a different way, memorable, and appealing.

Enjoyment: 9/10

While there is a huge cultural difference, Gintama jokes about so many cultures, games, shows, and celebrities, it's hard not to laugh. Not only that, the gags of the characters themselves is enough to be amusing. This is for the humorous part. In many situations, Gintama will have you at the edge of your seat. The fight scenes are intense and unique, whether fighting with swords, fists, or toothpicks. So if you want to watch this anime to lay back and relax or cheer on your favorite character to beat up their rival (or the rival to beat up your favorite character. Trust me, Gintama can make you do this), it will offer both.

Overall: 9/10

To enjoy this anime, dedication is crucial. Sure, the first few episodes may feel dragged on, but slowly, you'll get used to the weird humor and the anime will unravel into an outstanding story.