“Something that exists for one sole purpose is eternally elegant and beautiful.”

• Takasugi Shinsuke

Gintama: The Movie (or Gintama: Shinyaku Benizakura-hen) is a solid adaptation of a classic arc which is often touted as being what got people hooked on Gintama. While this isn’t true for most, it does make the most sense that this arc was chosen to get adapted into a movie (twice if we are including the live-action films). Most of the important characters, outside of the main trio, are new and the plot doesn’t rely too heavily on the context given by prior episodes. This means that it can be watched without needing to have recently watched the previous episodes.

For those who have already watched Gintama this movie will obviously re-tread familiar ground, however, it is a different enough experience to be worth a watch. The usual snarky self-referential humour and fourth-wall-breaking antics are adapted to suit the movie medium; something that the animation team working on Gintama have always excelled at. The series utilises the medium it is being presented in and makes it an advantage. There are also enough changes to make it worth a watch; most notably including the Shinsengumi, retroactively setting up Episode 62, and revising a couple of the scenes to create a more atmospheric experience. There is a nice balance between the old and new which ensures this is a fun watch, even when you know what will happen.

For those who haven’t watched Gintama and are a little bit apprehensive about starting the series, then Gintama: The Movie might be a good testing ground for whether it will be something you might enjoy. While you won’t have a deep connection to the characters, they are set up with the series’ usual flare and so you get a strong grasp of their dynamics. Plot-wise, there will be a little bit that you might not understand, but there isn't much, The film moves seamlessly between comedy, action, and drama; showing the potential that Gintama has and that, especially the later seasons, easily eclipse. There is enough exposition to get a basic understanding of what is happening without it feeling like a lecture. This limited use of exposition works in this film’s favour as it allows the established relationships between characters to speak for themselves.

Gintama: The Movie enhances the Benizakura Arc as an experience, polishing up the plot and exploring the smaller elements that couldn’t be fully realised in the main series. It uses its time in a constructive way that leaves it feeling neither bloated nor empty. The improvement in animation is noticeable and it's nice to see the staff putting their budget to good use; especially when animating Kagura’s reactions. The only issue I had was that some scenes could be a little bit too dark to clearly see what was happening, but these moments were few and far between.

The fight scenes have also been improved; most notably in the final fight which is even more entertaining with the shots feeling more dynamic. This plays into the strengths of Gintama as the variety of fighting styles make it feel exciting. The pacing and soundtrack work well together and, as usual, DOES provides some fantastic new songs which capture the excitement of first watching this arc. It goes to show how much of a good job the team did; picking out the elements that made this arc special and re-creating them. The end is also typical Gintama; loud, fun and a nice way of including all the characters that make Gintama what it is. It makes this film feel more like an experience for the fans, not just the shameless cash-grab that they play it off as.

Overall, Gintama: The Movie provides a unique balance that informs any newer audience members of what Gintama is without boring those who have already watched the series. While it follows the same plot beats as the main series, the subtle changes are really enjoyable to see and it shows how much attention the staff pay. It really captures the thrill that made the Benizakura Arc special to the fans of Gintama and created something new with it.