If you’ve ever tried getting into Gintama but got totally confused by multiple shows that seemingly appear the same, you’re not alone. Between apostrophes in the titles, random symbols like “°”, and movies that show up in the middle of the timeline, it looks way more complicated than it actually is.
However, the good news is that once you get the hang of it, Gintama is one of the easier anime to watch when compared to other long-running shows – and the reason for that is that it’s released in perfect chronological order. Let’s break down the whole watch order for this anime.
| TITLE | Gintama |
| RELEASE DATE | Apr 4, 2006 |
| STUDIO | Sunrise, Bandai Namco Pictures |
| STREAMING | Crunchyroll |
| IMDb RATING (as of July 24, 2026) | 8.7 / 10 |
What Is the Best Watch Order for Gintama?
The short answer is: watch it in release order. Unlike other bigger franchises where the movies or specials jump around the timeline (Naruto being an infamous example), Gintama is almost entirely linear. Each season picks up where the last one left off.
There’s really only one thing that trips people up: Gintama.: Porori-hen. Even though it aired later, it actually adapts manga chapters set earlier in the story. So while release order works fine for a first watch and won’t ruin anything, if you want the cleanest chronological experience, it’s worth slotting Porori-hen a little earlier in the watch order.
| Order | Title | Year | Episodes |
| 1 | Gintama | 2006–2010 | 201 |
| 2 | Gintama’ | 2011–2012 | 51 |
| 3 | Gintama’: Enchousen | 2012–2013 | 13 |
| 4 | Gintama° | 2015–2016 | 51 |
| 5 | Gintama. | 2017 | 12 |
| 6 | Gintama.: Porori-hen | 2017–2018 | 13 |
| 7 | Gintama.: Shirogane no Tamashii-hen | 2018 | 26 |
| 8 | Gintama: The Semi-Final | 2021 | 2 (special) |
| 9 | Gintama: The Final | 2021 | 1 (movie) |
A Complete Season-by-Season Breakdown of the Gintama Anime
Here’s what each entry is actually about, so you know what you’re getting into before you hit play.
1. Gintama (2006 – 2010)
Gintoki is a broke samurai living in an Edo taken over by amanto (who are technically aliens), running an odd-jobs shop with Shinpachi and Kagura. The first episodes are silly one-off gigs and parody humor, but arcs like Benizakura and the Shinsengumi Crisis begin to hint at a much bigger story beneath all the jokes.
2. Gintama’ (2011 – 2012)
After a one-year time skip, Shinpachi comes home to find that everything has changed, a little too much. Gintoki’s changed careers, Kagura’s missing, and Otae is somehow married to the Shinsengumi’s chief. It’s a weird setup for a season that mixes goofy parody arcs with the emotional Four Devas arc, which a lot of fans call one of the show’s best.
3. Gintama’: Enchousen (2012 – 2013)
This season sets up another fun scenario where Gintoki gets replaced by Kintoki, who is practically the more golden version of him in a literal sense. Now, Gintoki must do his best to get back his position in the trio.
4. Gintama° (2015 – 2016)
While it starts with the usual absurd comedy, this 51-episode season permanently shifts the tone of the entire franchise. It houses the legendary Shogun Assassination and Farewell, Shinsengumi arcs, abandoning the episodic status quo to kickstart the overarching endgame of the series.
5. Gintama. (2017)
A shorter, 12-episode season that adapts the Rakuyou Decisive Battle Arc. Dealing with the immediate fallout of the previous season, it takes the core cast to Kagura’s home planet for a series of massive battles, while the ultimate threat of Utsuro steps fully into the light.
6. Gintama.: Porori-hen (2017 – 2018)
This one’s a curveball. Instead of pushing the story forward, it fills in earlier gaps in the timeline with lighter arcs, like Kagura getting a boyfriend. It’s meant to slot in earlier chronologically, so don’t be surprised if it feels like a step back after the previous season’s intensity.
7. Gintama.: Shirogane no Tamashii-hen (2018)
The Silver Soul arc, split into two cours, is where everything starts coming together. Utsuro’s plan reaches near conclusion, old allies reunite for one final stand, and years of buildup finally pay off. This is often considered the high point of the entire anime.
8. Gintama: The Semi-Final (2021)
This is a short special that checks in on the cast years after the story seemingly wrapped up. It’s not fast-paced like others, and it catches you up on where everyone landed in life, working as a gentle warm-up before the last movie drops.
9. Gintama: The Final (2021)
The actual ending of the anime. This movie closes out Gintoki’s story and the fate of Edo for good, wrapping up over a decade of storytelling with one last emotional gut-punch.
Should You Watch the Gintama Movies?
This is a big part of the confusion for many. Gintama actually has multiple movies other than the main TV anime, and they’re all a mixed bag. Gintama Movie 1: Shinyaku Benizakura-hen is a remake of the Benizakura arc from the first season with better animation, so it’s totally skippable.
Gintama Movie 2: Kanketsu-hen gives an alternate, movie-only ending different from the anime, so it is more of a “what if” story and can still be skipped.
The one movie you shouldn’t skip is Gintama: The Final, since that’s actually the true ending of the anime and part of the main watch order listed above. Basically: treat The Final as required viewing, and treat the other two as fun extras for when you’re already a fan.
Are the Gintama OVAs and Side Stories Worth Watching?
Gintama has a bunch of short OVAs and specials over the years, like Shiroyasha Koutan, Dai Hanseikai, and a couple of shorts with painfully long titles. Most of the entries are quick comedy bits featuring the main trio, and they don’t touch the main plot at all.
Here’s the full rundown so you know what you’re dealing with before deciding what to add to your watchlist:
| Title | Year | Type |
| Gintama: Nanigoto mo Saisho ga Kanjin nanode… | 2005 | Special |
| Gintama: Shiroyasha Koutan | 2008 | Special |
| Gintama: Dai Hanseikai | 2010 | Special |
| Gintama’: Futon ni Haitte kara Buki Nokoshi ni… | 2015 | Special |
| Gintama°: Umai-mono wa Atomawashi ni Suru to… | 2015 | Special |
| Gintama°: Aizome Kaori-hen | 2016 | OVA |
| 3-nen Z-gumi Ginpachi-sensei | 2023 | TV Spin-off |
Fillers and Non-Canon Content: What Can You Skip?
Unlike some long-running shonen anime, Gintama doesn’t really have big anime-original filler arcs that eat up dozens of episodes. The entire anime is mostly adapted straight from the manga. That said, there are scattered stand-alone episodes throughout the run, especially in the earlier seasons, that are just one-off comedy bits with no impact on the story.
| Episode | Title |
| 1 | You Guys!! Do You Even Have a Gintama? (Part 1) |
| 2 | You Guys!! Do You Even Have a Gintama? (Part 2) |
| 50 | Pending Means Pending, It’s Not Final |
| 57 | When Looking For Things You’ve Lost, Remember What You Were Doing On The Day You Lost It |
| 75 | Don’t Complain About Your Job At Home, Do It Somewhere Else |
| 106 | Love Is Often Played Out In Sudden Death |
| 114 | They Say Soy Sauce On Pudding Tastes Like Sea Urchin, But Soy Sauce On Pudding Only Tastes Like Pudding And Soy Sauce |
| 124 | When Nagging Goes Too Far It Becomes Intimidating |
| 125 | Entering The Final Chapter! |
| 135 | Before Worrying About The Earth, Think About The Even More Endangered Future Of ‘Gintaman’ |
| 137 | 99% Of Men Aren’t Confident In Confessing Their Love |
| 150 | If You Can’t Beat Them, Join Them |
| 155 | The Other Side Of The Other Side Of The Other Side Would Be The Other Side |
| 164 | That Matsutake Soup Stuff Tastes Better Than The Real Deal / People Who Die Stay Dead |
| 166 | Two Is Better Than One |
| 171 | If You Keep Copying, They Will Retaliate / A Loss Opens Your Eyes to the Love You Have |
| 173 | It’s What’s on the Inside that Counts, but Only to a Certain Extent / It’s What’s on the Inside that Counts |
| 174 | Are There Still People Who Go to the Ocean and Yell out “Bakayaro”? / When A Person Is Trapped, Their Inner Door Opens |
| 176 | Countdown Begins |
| 185 | Hometowns and Boobs are Best Thought from Afar / The Whole Peeing on a Bee Sting Is a Myth. You’ll Get Germs, So Don’t Do It!! |
| 189 | It’s Better To Take Care Of This Year’s Business Within The Year… / Radio Exercises Are Socials For Boys And Girls |
| 209 | Nothing Lasts Forever, including Parents, Money, Youth, Your Room, Shirts, Me, You, and the Gintama Anime |
| 252 | We’re Sorry |
But honestly, a decent chunk of Gintama’s charm comes from those random comedy detours, so unless you’re in a rush, it’s worth just watching the show as released.
Where to Watch the Complete Gintama Franchise
Crunchyroll carries most of the Gintama seasons, and Netflix provides some seasons as well, depending on your region. Streaming availability shifts around sometimes, so it’s worth double-checking both platforms before you start your rewatch.
| Title | Streaming (USA) |
| Gintama | Crunchyroll, Netflix |
| Gintama’ | Crunchyroll |
| Gintama’: Enchousen | Crunchyroll |
| Gintama° | Crunchyroll |
| Gintama. | Crunchyroll |
| Gintama.: Porori-hen | Crunchyroll |
| Gintama.: Shirogane no Tamashii-hen | Crunchyroll |
| Gintama: The Semi-Final | Crunchyroll |
| Gintama: The Final | Crunchyroll |
How far are you in your Gintama journey? Let us know in the comments.
Gintama is streaming on Crunchyroll.
