Gintama Images

Author & Illustration (Manga, Original character design): Sorachi Hideaki
Illustration (Anime): Takeuchi Shinji

Animation Production: Sunrise (Studio)
Animation Production (starting with "Gintama°"): Bandai Namco Pictures



http://wwws.warnerbros.co.jp/gintama/


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General Information

Gintama (translated as Silver Soul) is a Japanese manga both written and illustrated by Hideaki Sorachi.
Gintama falls under the categories of comedy, samurai action, and science fiction. Shueisha published Gintama in its Weekly Shonen Jump since December of 2003.
The manga still continues as of today with 55 tankobon volumes released thus far. Viz Media licensed it for the North American Shonen Jump magazine.
An anime adaptation was definitely in the works under the collaborative efforts of Shinji Takamatsu (Episodes 1-105) and Yoichi Fujia (106-201) in terms of direction for the show. Gintama made the big screens on April 2006 on TV Tokyo.
After 201 gritty and jaw-drapping episodes, Gintama ended on March 2010.

Plot:
"Twenty years ago, a massive alien race, the Amanto, invaded Earth. With the use of their highly advanced technological devices, they quickly overpowered the Japanese Government even go so far as to ban the carrying of swords so that the samurais can no longer resist and prevent further rebellions.
Gintoki Sakata, an eccentric samurai who despite the trying times for a samurai makes a living using his special skill sets.
On one particular occasion, Gintoki happens to help Shinpachi Shimiura save his sister from the aliens who wanted to make her part of the brothel.
Overcome with sincere appreciation and admiration, Shinpachi offers to become his appreciation and work for him as a freelancer to help Gintoki pay Gintoki’s monthly rent.
On one of their jobs, Gintoki rescues a teenage alien girl Kagura, who turns out to be part of the Yakuza group in the area.
Together, Gintoki, Shinpachi and Kagura form the infamous Yorozuya, an odd jobs business wherein they will do just about any job so long as they are getting paid for it.
They will do just about anything whether it’s about finding lost kittens or even save the world.
They also encounter the local police force, Shinsengumi, in a number of their cases since most of their work involves dealing with dangerous criminals.
Through the course of the show, Gintoki also crosses paths with his former comrades back in the day when he was still part of the Anti-Amanto Invasion Force.
Unfortunately for him, in this brave and strange new world filled with stray bug-eyed monsters, the deadly Yakuza gangs, and the overly ambitious ET entrepreneurs, those jobs usually don’t pay as well as they should be for all the pain, suffering and indignities the gang has to suffer."

UPDATE:

As of June 2013, Gintama has sold 44 million copies in Japan alone. Gintama has been welcomed with highly acclaimed positive responses from around the world.
It has won a number of awards including “Best Long Series”, “Best Manga Academy” and “Top 1 Funniest Manga” to name a few.
Gintama gave birth to a number of light novel series and spin offs which are in more ways than one interconnected to Gintama.
Yoichi Fujita and Sunrise Studios worked on the sequel of the series entitled “Gintama’” and two runs.
The first run was from April 2011 to March 2012 and the second run from October 2012 to March 2013 giving a grand total of 64 jaw-dropping action-packed episodes.


Other similar anime to Gintoki as far as science fiction, samurais and aliens goes, Samurai 7 perfectly fits the description to the core. Other recommended titles as far as samurais go: Afro Samurai, Blade of the Immortal, Examurai Sengoku, Gifuu Doudou, Gun-dou Musashi, Hakuoki, Jubei-Chan, Shura No Toki, Peacemaker Kurogane, Sengoku Basara and Rorouni Kenshin.


source: Zerochan; written by carllustre87

*(2016-12-21)/sub