ANIME REVIEW: GINTAMA: Be Forever Yorozuya – “Saying goodbye to Odd Jobs feels so hard.”

Gintama: The Movie: The Final Chapter: Be Forever Yorozuya was touted as the ending chapter to Gintama’s anime life cycle. As Kagura predicted that the “anime could end very soon,” Gintama lived by the reputation by oftentimes saying that their final season could soon be in the works and for fans of the show, we all know that’s just the many punch lines pelted by either three.

Somehow, the ending credits of the movie showing screenshots strewn together in film negatives convinced us that the show has indeed entered retirement. The still shots taken from Seasons 1 to Gintama’ (episode 206 has an explanation on the dash) will truly take fans back to memory lane. I actually wanted Kagura and the Steel Troops to advance after the second movie, but that might never happen anymore.

“Since this is the ‘conclusion,’ we don’t plan to make any more Gintama, so we made this fifth film without holding anything back. It still doesn’t feel real, but I want to see the faces of the pleased fans,” Fujita said during a stage greeting at Shinjuku Wald 9. A continuation is still possible if the movie becomes a massive hit.

The film earned 281,859,900 yen in ticket sales – a 40% improvement over what Gintama: Shinyaku Benizakura-Hen has made.

Would this be enough for Sunrise to continue and pick up where they left off? Fujita didn’t mention the kind of success he’s expecting from the film. Fujita-san could be taking his time analyzing what the film had done in terms of sales and public reception.

Skipping Timelines

Misfortune befalls Gintoki after he took part in a fierce battle against the Enmi, a group of Amanto sorcerers who fought against the Joui patriots during the Anti-Foreigner War.

A deadly poison called the White Curse was planted inside the silver samurai, setting off an epidemic that had nearly wiped out the population Edo.

The story formally starts when Gintoki was accidentally transported five years into the future. There, he meets up with Shinpachi, Shimura, Kagura, and Sadaharu, all grown-up and emotionally-scarred after the “death” of their leader.

The trio seek out Gengai Hiraga, but Gintoki (Shinpachi and Kagura already knew) was surprised to see him about to be executed, along with Isao Kondo and Kotaro Katsura. The remaining members of the Shinsengumi and Katsura’s Joui faction have now joined forces to fight the Enmi and rid Edo of the White Cur

It was soon revealed that Tae Shimura has been infected by the White Curse and left her in a weakened state. The group search for the Enmi to try and save Tae’s life.

The next few scenes will leave you stuck in your seats, especially when that moment when Gin got some help from his old Joui comrades to help the Yorozuya founder seal the plague once and for all.

Gintama has mastered the art of drama, and the final five minutes of the movie shows us the maturation of Gintoki’s relationship with Shinpachi and Kagura.

Goodbye Kabuki District?!

No word has been released if Gintama will get another season. The manga, however, continues to impress with fresh arcs outside the main storyline. Rarely does Gintama presents itself as serious but when it does, readers can easily integrate themselves into the chaos and clashes that the Yorozuya and their comrades have voluntarily jumped int

Gintama’s anime run spanned to an impressive seven years. There are lots of moments when the show caught us off-guard with its self-depreciating humor, unforgettable sword fights against an army of Amanto pirates, and soul-piercing quotes that we can live by every day.

Be Forever Yorozuya closes the curtain to the Gintama anime with a memorable sketch that shows us the unbreakable bond between all four members of Odd Jobs. A satisfying film that deserves to be replayed more than twice.