Nobody does outrageous comedy like Hideaki Sorachi, with his Gin Tama manga lasting for over a decade. While the anime incorporates many different genres, including action and sci-fi, the primary focus is nearly always on parody and finding absurd ways to turn situations on their heads. At times, it can be genuinely difficult to follow, as punchlines land at a frantic rate, with quite a few referencing external sources which might not be all that known outside Japan. Although Gintama has its fair share of subtle humor, the majority of the content is slapstick-driven, with characters that are not afraid to act rather terrible for the sake of a good laugh.
Our two featured anime are Hoozuki no Reitetsu and Osomatsu-san, which are both in their second season. Since neither deal with samurai or sci-fi, it might seem like they do not share all that much in common with Sorachi’s hilarious series. The former might be true, but we are here to prove that Hoozuki no Reitetsu and Osomatsu-san are not only worth watching, but share quite a few similarities with Gintama. Strap in for an unpredictable trip through space, Hell, and the Matsuno household.
About Gintama
- Episodes: 340
- Aired: Apr 4, 2006 – Dec 18, 2017
Based on Soarachi’s long-running manga, Gintama follows the adventures of a ragtag group of misfits known as Odd Jobs. The series is set in the fictional city of Edo, after aliens invaded Earth and took over Feudal Japan, resulting in a prohibition on swords and the banishment of all samurai. Formerly known as the “White Demon,” due to his blood-soaked time as a resistance fighter, Gintoki Sakata established Odd Jobs to try and make some money to fuel his pachinko and alcohol addiction. He is accompanied by the violent Kagura and Shinpachi Shimura, who exists mostly to point out the absurdness of a situation. Edo is stacked with colorful and hilarious characters, from the authoritative Shinsengumi to the resistance fighters led by Katsura and his human-sized duck pet.
Gintama, Hoozuki no Reitetsu, and Osomatsu-san might be handled by different studios, but they are cut from the same cloth. While the settings barely hold any similarities, the style of humor and the pacing is tailor-made for the same crowd. Expect outrageous moments to arise from completely mundane problems, while the cast finds new and exciting ways to worsen the situation. The characters are not necessarily good people, with some being outright terrible, but they are still a lot of fun to watch. Each show features fantastic animation, although Hoozuki no Reitetsu and Osomatsu-san are slightly more stylized than Gintama. We hope you enjoyed reading this article and please let us know if you’ve seen either one of these series. In the future, do not forget to re-check Honey’s Anime for more articles offering great recommendations.
Born and raised on a small island in the Mediterranean, my life goal is to experience as many different ways of life as possible. Since time and money are in short supply, anime and film provide the best opportunity to experience far away cultures and worlds. When I"m not watching the latest episode of Gintama, or wondering what series to watch next, you can find me in the corner of the closest coffee shop; writing away on my aging laptop.
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