Remembering Love: Gintama and The Art of Seriousness
Continuing where we left off, for the Remember Love project this week, I’ll once again, entail everyone about Gintama’s greatness. This time, we will talk about the other side of Gintama. The tears, drama and the intensity: the seriousness.
Indeed Gintama is great with their jokes, and it’s not too exaggerating to say that Gintama is one of the top with comedies. However, the way they present seriousness is second to none as well. It is quite easy to detect just when Gintama wants to get all serious. Usually, when a certain plot element is being heavily focused, and even dragged on for several episodes, then it’s time for some dramatic arcs.
The said arcs are actually very crucial to Gintama. It gives us background information and development for several characters. Some of their backstories are subtly revealed, providing us with details of the relations of certain group of characters. Gintoki certainly has a lot of connections, as he and some of the minor characters have more in-depth relationships then I ever thought.
I’ll talk about the Benizakura arc a bit first as an example. This arc, is one of the very early serious arc of Gintama, and to this day, remains as one of the best arcs of Gintama ever. One of the random antagonist of past episodes, Nizou make a return, and incidentally, the so-called “random” antagonist is actually part of a bigger picture.
The arc introduces us the past of Gintoki, Katsura and Takasugi. The three followed the same path, fighting together as the Joui faction in the past. It allows us to further understand these three individuals more as characters. At some point, the three begun to have different points of view and their paths strays apart after the war. Katsura decided to continue on as terrorist but he will retake his country in a more peaceful manner. As for Takasugi, what he desires is the absolute ruin and destruction of the country, which he deemed as “rotten.” For Gintoki, he is pretty much exhausted with wars and decided to just stay aloof, running a freelance company.
These serious arcs are also where Gintama showcases their way of fight sequences in all their glory. Despite being a comedy, Gintama’s fight scenes are unexpectedly bloody and violent. What makes Gintama’s action scenes so much better then your “everyday shounen action” is that Gintama’s fights are more emotionally powerful. The attacks during the fight scenes pack a punch, literally. The blows are exchanged with such impact that we can almost feel the “weight” of the blows. The characters, especially Gintoki, always fights to the brink of exhaustion, with his clothes tattered, and body covered with blood. His desperate fighting allow us to sympathize him. It makes us think that he really wishes for his friends to be safe, despite his usual rowdy banters with them. One of the best fight scenes is definitely Gintoki VS Nizou in the Benizakura arc, and is obviously my top favorite fight of Gintama. His battles with Housen and Jirochou come close to second and third respectively.
Ultimately though, at the end of the day, Gintama is still a comedy anime through and through. The serious arcs are just elements to enhance their characters, when the serious arcs are over, Gintama always reverts back to what they do best, randomness. This is a very clever choice of storytelling; the small and subtle character backstories and developments allow us to be more invested in Gintama’s characters, while maintaining the insane randomness of the anime.
List of Participants – Week 2
- Nopy
- Justin
- Kluxorious
- Chikorita157
- Marina
- Ty-chama
- Foomafoo
- Trzr23
- Ahelo
- Yumeka
- Nadav
- BeldenOtaku
- Glothelegend
Insightful post. I, too, enjoyed the serious arcs and always felt they were masterfully done. It takes great writers to make a comedy show bring me to tears and fully empathize with the characters. Gintama is a personal favorite and I could always count on it to make me feel better.
They were indeed quite well written. And yes, he’s awesome indeeed. http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090630153632/gintama/images/thumb/e/e4/Sorachi-hideaki_mug.png/207px-Sorachi-hideaki_mug.png
Gorillas must be more analytic of human emotions then us humans ourselves.. :D And yes, gorillas are indeed awesome, make us feel better all the time.
Pingback: Remembering Love: Reliving Daikichi and Rin Once More Part II « Organization Anti-Social Geniuses
Gintama sounds a bit like Inuyasha, but funnier. Sadly, I don’t think I have time for it nowadays :(
There is always time…to laugh like crazy Nopy :)
Marathon like a mad scientist in the weekend? I plan to marathon another old show this week, which is around 50+ episodes long ;p
It is actually pretty cool how much emotion goes into the action scenes…they are definitely high quality.
But no, I have to take you to task here (Controversy!). I liked the Benizakura (TV) Arc. I LOVED the Devas Arc. If it wasn’t for me hearing about the spoiler in the manga sometime ago, I think I would have lost it if Otose bit the bullet. It is currently my favorite action arc of the series.
I guess one reason for that is because they are no super powers or special techniques. They never scream “XXX” attack or “Blah Blah Blah” attack when they fight, and most of their finishing blows rely on their internal emotions and willpower.
Ahhh I forgot to mention about that. So you preferred the TV Benizakura arc over the movie version? There are indeed not much difference, though the inclusion of Shinsegumi members in it is nice, despite just a short bit of screen time. Ahh good thing I didn’t read the manga :D The Devas arc is one of the top for me as well, though for that and the Yoshiwara arc, I just can’t decide which gets 2nd spot and which gets 3rd spot ;p But Benizakura arc still no doubt remains the best arc ever for me.
I have yet to watch the movie version (which is why put TV). I guess I should have made it more clear :)
Ooh I see. You should watch the movie as well :D It’s nice, there’s some slight alterations along the way.
I agree with GoodbyeNavi. The seriousness of gintama is just glorious. Especially the Kabukicho Four Devas Arc. I’m a guy and it had me crying after seeing what happened to obasan. as for the violence… they did it right. haha.
It’s cool that gintama has its’ hilarious moments… but they didnt stop there. they gave us a meaningful storyline too. glad that’s one thing that keeps bringing back people to it :)
*Spoilers ahead.. I guess*
For a second there, I thought she’s really going to just… you know.. gone ;x But being Gintama, I thought that’s unlikely to happen, and it turns out my assumption is correct :D Yea it really is a reminiscence of samurai combat. The swords and the blood and all…
Yes indeed. Even me would get fed up with 200 episodes of K-ON or Lucky Star, lol.
Pingback: Kare Kano – Role of Family Background to Character Relationships | Temporal Vortex
Pingback: [Remembering Love] Aria the Natural and Neo Venezia’s Cat Kingdom | Anime B&B
How sad, I simply can’t relate because I haven’t seen Gintama. I clearly have to ready myself so I can get past the second episode already.
The beginning is more about character introductions. Later on, Gintama’s awesomeness will easily sink in :D
Pingback: Remembering Love: Clannad After Story Part II | Chikorita157's Anime Blog
Yeah i too love gintama, the best shounen for me. Great story telling, the way Adachi-sensei deliver, the turnover between comedy arc and serious arc is nice.
The first yoshiwara arc, gintoki facing housen is awesome. Kamui first appearance, and kagura went nuts, man…
The comedy itself is topnotch, lots of troll, toilet joke, sarcasm etc.
Gintama knows exceptionally well when to be serious, and when to be funny indeed.
I like the actions best in that part, story-wise, I still like Benizakura arc the most :p
Don’t forget the awesome parodies :D
this makes me want to watch Gintama all over again. Which I will!
Good luck with it ;p 200+ episopdes of epiness lol~
Pingback: Remembering Love: Stretching Artistic Boundaries In ef – A Tale Of Memories | Anime Reviews
Pingback: Remembering Love: Gintama and The Art of Retorts « deluscar
Pingback: Remembering Love: Epilogue « deluscar
Pingback: Kai’s Answers To Yumeka’s Questions « deluscar
Pingback: The Anime Blogger Interrogation Game « deluscar
Pingback: Memorable AniBlogging Project « deluscar
Pingback: Kai’s Anime Backlog | deluscar
Pingback: Anime Crossovers and Fairy Tail X Rave | deluscar