Bandai Namco Pictures made a noteworthy announcement on Monday regarding the Gintama anime’s “Baragaki” (Thorny) arc. This exciting development entails the release of a compilation titled “Gintama on Theater 2D: Baragaki-hen,” scheduled for a three-week exclusive run in Japanese cinemas starting November 10.
The anime’s X (formerly Twitter) account tantalizingly revealed that these screenings would feature “new bonus video content.” While the nature of this video content remains shrouded in mystery – with no confirmation on whether it comprises additional story material or animated segments – fans are buzzing with anticipation.
Related | Top 30+ Unforgettable Trap Characters in Anime
This compilation release is a pivotal part of the Gintama franchise’s grand 20th-anniversary celebration. The manga, crafted by Hideaki Sorachi, made its debut in 2003, marking 2023 as the manga’s 20th anniversary milestone. Furthermore, the television anime adaptation’s 20th anniversary is on the horizon in 2026. Notably, the Yorinuki Gintama-san rerun of the TV anime gave rise to two “on Theater 2D” compilations in 2012 and 2013, emphasizing the enduring popularity of this iconic series.
In addition to this exciting news, fans can look forward to the anime adaptation of Tomohito Ōsaki’s spinoff novel series, “3-Nen Z-Gumi Ginpachi-Sensei,” derived from Hideaki Sorachi’s original Gintama manga.
Sorachi’s masterwork, a blend of science-fiction, period drama, and comedy, embarked on its remarkable journey in 2003 and concluded in June 2019, amassing a staggering circulation of over 55 million copies. This manga’s legacy extends to numerous television anime series, comprising a total of 367 episodes, as well as three previous anime films.
The most recent anime iteration premiered in July 2018. Beyond the small screen, the Gintama universe has expanded to include original video anime (OVA), event-based anime, two live-action films, and two live-action net spinoffs. Viz Media has played a vital role in introducing the manga to English-speaking audiences by publishing its first 23 volumes.
Notably, “Gintama THE VERY FINAL,” the third and concluding anime film that artfully blends the manga’s finale with fresh narrative elements, made its debut in Japan in January 2021. In a bid to bring this cinematic gem to North American audiences, Eleven Arts screened the film with both English subtitles and an English dub in November 2021.
Subsequently, in January 2022, Eleven Arts and Shout! Factory released the film digitally, followed by a Blu-ray Disc and DVD release in February 2022.
Related | Top 27 Best Sad Anime That Will Shatter Your Heart
Further enriching the Gintama saga, a net anime special titled “Gintama The Semi-Final” was introduced. This special served as a two-episode prequel to the film and made its exclusive Japanese debut on the online dTV service in January 2021. To complement the film, a novel adaptation by Mirei Miyamoto also made its debut in January.
Sources | Gintama Baragaki arc compilation film’s website, Comic Natalie
What is your reaction?
