If you want to watch Gintama without getting lost in filler episodes, movies, OVAs, specials, and confusing season names, this guide breaks down the best viewing order from start to finish. We’ll cover the recommended watch order, release order, chronological notes, which episodes you can skip, which filler is worth watching, and where to stream Gintama legally.
Gintama is part samurai comedy, part sci-fi parody, and part emotional shonen epic. It starts loose and absurd, then quietly builds into one of anime’s strongest long-running casts. The trick is knowing when the “joke episode” is just a joke, and when it is secretly setup. Annoying, but very Gintama.
Gintama Watch Order: Quick Answer
- Gintama — Episodes 1–201
- Gintama: The Movie: Benizakura Chapter — Optional recap/remake after episode 61
- Gintama’ — Episodes 202–252
- Gintama’: Enchousen — Episodes 253–265
- Gintama: The Movie: The Final Chapter: Be Forever Yorozuya — Optional anime-original movie after Enchousen
- Gintama° — Episodes 266–299
- Gintama. Porori-hen — Episodes 329–341, best watched here for chronology
- Gintama°: Love Incense Arc — Optional OVA before the final serious arcs
- Gintama° — Episodes 300–316
- Gintama. — Episodes 317–328
- Gintama. Shirogane no Tamashii-hen — Episodes 342–367
- Gintama: The Semi-Final — 2-episode special
- Gintama: The Very Final — Required ending movie
If you only want the main story, skip filler episodes 1–2, 50, 57, 75, 106, 114, 124–125, 135, 137, 150, 155, 164, 166, 171, 173–174, 176, 185, 189, 209, and 252. Mixed canon/filler episodes 82, 111, 120, and 367 should usually be watched.
Gintama Basics
Gintama is based on Hideaki Sorachi’s manga, which ran in Weekly Shonen Jump and later Jump Giga / the Gintama app. The anime began at Sunrise in 2006, later continued under Bandai Namco Pictures, and finished its core animated story with Gintama: The Very Final in 2021.
The story follows Gintoki Sakata, Shinpachi Shimura, and Kagura, a broke odd-jobs trio living in an alternate Edo where aliens have conquered Japan and samurai are mostly obsolete. That premise lets the series jump from historical parody to sci-fi nonsense to brutal character drama whenever it feels like it. The main TV anime has 367 episodes, plus movies, OVAs, Jump Festa specials, and the two-part Semi-Final special.
The Best Gintama Watch Order
| Order | Title | Episodes / Format | Watch Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gintama | Episodes 1–201 | Start here. Episodes 1–2 are skippable anime-original celebration episodes, but episode 3 is the true beginning. |
| 2 | Benizakura Chapter movie | Movie | Optional. It remakes episodes 58–61 with better production, so watch it after episode 61 if you want the movie version. |
| 3 | Gintama’ | Episodes 202–252 | Continue after the original run. Episode 252 is filler/ending gag material. |
| 4 | Gintama’: Enchousen | Episodes 253–265 | Short but important sequel cour. |
| 5 | Be Forever Yorozuya | Movie | Optional anime-original finale-style movie. Watch after Enchousen, not at the very end. |
| 6 | Gintama° | Episodes 266–299 | Watch through episode 299, then pause before the major endgame arcs. |
| 7 | Gintama. Porori-hen | Episodes 329–341 | Released later, but adapts earlier comedy manga chapters. Best placed before the final serious stretch. |
| 8 | Love Incense Arc | 2-episode OVA | Optional but manga-based. Watch before returning to episode 300. |
| 9 | Gintama° | Episodes 300–316 | The Shogun Assassination and Farewell Shinsengumi arcs. Do not skip. |
| 10 | Gintama. | Episodes 317–328 | Rakuyo Decisive Battle arc. |
| 11 | Shirogane no Tamashii-hen | Episodes 342–367 | Silver Soul arc. Episode 367 is mixed canon/filler, but watch it. |
| 12 | Gintama: The Semi-Final | 2 specials | Bridge material before the final film. |
| 13 | Gintama: The Very Final | Movie | Required. This is the anime’s real ending. |
A Note on Gintama Episode Numbering
Gintama is annoying to organize because streaming services, databases, and fans do not always label the seasons the same way. Some platforms list the original 2006 run as one huge season with 201 episodes. Others split it into smaller “seasons,” then restart names with Gintama’, Gintama°, Gintama., Porori-hen, and Silver Soul. The easiest solution is to follow the overall episode numbers: 1–201, 202–252, 253–265, 266–316, 317–328, 329–341, and 342–367.
That numbering also helps with filler. If a platform labels Gintama’ as “Season 2, Episode 1,” that same episode is still overall episode 202. When this guide says episode 252 is filler, it means the overall franchise number, not necessarily the local season number on your streaming app. If your app only shows season-based numbering, match the arc title or use the release order section below as a sanity check.
For new viewers, do not stress over every special immediately. The TV spine plus The Semi-Final and The Very Final matters most. The OVAs and older Jump Festa specials are bonus material, not required homework.
Gintama Release Order
- Gintama Jump Festa Special — 2005
- Gintama — 2006–2010, episodes 1–201
- Gintama: The Movie: Benizakura Chapter — 2010
- Gintama’ — 2011–2012, episodes 202–252
- Gintama’: Enchousen — 2012–2013, episodes 253–265
- Gintama: The Movie: The Final Chapter: Be Forever Yorozuya — 2013
- Gintama° — 2015–2016, episodes 266–316
- Gintama°: Love Incense Arc — 2016 OVA
- Gintama. — 2017, episodes 317–328
- Gintama. Porori-hen — 2017, episodes 329–341
- Gintama. Shirogane no Tamashii-hen — 2018, episodes 342–367
- Gintama: The Semi-Final — 2021
- Gintama: The Very Final — 2021
Release order is mostly fine for first-time viewers. The only adjustment I recommend is moving Porori-hen and the Love Incense OVA before episode 300, because they fit better before the story commits to the final arcs.
Gintama Chronological Order
For most of Gintama, chronological order and release order are the same. The exceptions are Porori-hen and Love Incense, which adapt earlier manga material but aired after later serious arcs. The clean chronological route is: episodes 3–299, Porori-hen, Love Incense, episodes 300–328, episodes 342–367, The Semi-Final, then The Very Final. Episodes 1–2 are anime-original introductions, so you can skip them or treat them as bonus material.
Is Gintama Filler Heavy?
Gintama is not filler heavy compared with long-running shonen anime. Across 367 TV episodes, the commonly cited pure filler count is about 23 episodes, or roughly six percent. That is very low for a series this long.
The catch is that Gintama is a comedy-first series, so some canon episodes feel like filler even when they adapt manga chapters. Do not skip episodes just because they look silly. Some of the dumbest-looking episodes are character setup in disguise. Skip only the pure filler list below if you want a tighter run.
Gintama Filler List: Episodes You Can Skip
| Episodes | Type | Skip or Watch? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Filler | Skip | Anime-original celebration opener. Episode 3 is the real start. |
| 50, 57, 75 | Filler | Skip / optional comedy | Standalone early-series anime-original episodes. |
| 82 | Mixed canon/filler | Watch | Contains manga material, so do not skip on a first watch. |
| 106, 114, 124–125, 135, 137, 150, 155, 164, 166, 171, 173–174, 176, 185, 189 | Filler | Skip / optional comedy | Mostly standalone jokes, fake endings, parodies, and anime-original detours. |
| 111, 120 | Mixed canon/filler | Watch | Mixed episodes are safer to keep. |
| 209, 252 | Filler | Skip / optional | Later anime-original gag episodes. |
| 367 | Mixed canon/filler | Watch | Final TV episode bridge. Keep it before The Semi-Final. |
Which Gintama Filler Episodes Are Worth Watching?
- Episodes 1–2: Optional if you want a chaotic “welcome back / celebration” intro, but terrible if you want the clean story start.
- Episode 50: Worth it for meta comedy about the show itself.
- Episodes 124–125, 150, 252: Fun if you enjoy Gintama breaking the fourth wall and joking about cancellation/final chapters.
- Episodes 173–174: Optional comedy detour. Not important, but more enjoyable once you already like the cast.
Basically: skip filler if you are in a hurry, but come back later. Gintama filler is rarely essential, but it often understands the show’s sense of humor better than filler in more plot-heavy battle anime.
Where Do the Gintama Movies, OVAs, and Specials Fit?
- Jump Festa 2005 Special — Optional pre-TV special. Watch as bonus content after you know the cast.
- White Demon’s Birth / Jump Festa 2008 Special — Optional fake-trailer-style special. Watch any time after the early series.
- Benizakura Chapter movie — Optional remake of episodes 58–61. Watch after episode 61.
- Be Forever Yorozuya — Optional anime-original movie. Watch after episode 265.
- Love Incense Arc OVA — Optional but manga-based. Best before episode 300.
- The Semi-Final — Watch after episode 367 and before The Very Final.
- The Very Final — Required ending movie. Watch last.
Best Gintama Watch Order by Viewer Type
First-time viewers
Start at episode 3 if episodes 1–2 feel too random, then follow the recommended order above. Skip pure filler only when you need momentum.
Manga readers
Use chronological placement for Porori-hen and Love Incense. They adapt earlier manga material that aired later in the anime.
Completionists
Watch everything in release order, then rewatch Benizakura as the movie upgrade. The specials are not required, but they fit the franchise’s meta-comedy style.
Returning fans
For a fast refresh, watch the major serious arcs, The Semi-Final, and The Very Final. Just know that skipping all comedy removes a lot of the emotional weight. That is the trap.
Gintama Watch Order and Filler FAQ
Can I skip Gintama filler?
Yes. Skip pure filler episodes 1–2, 50, 57, 75, 106, 114, 124–125, 135, 137, 150, 155, 164, 166, 171, 173–174, 176, 185, 189, 209, and 252. Watch mixed canon/filler episodes.
Should I watch Gintama in release order or chronological order?
Release order works, but the best watch order moves Porori-hen and Love Incense before episode 300. That keeps the comedy side material before the endgame arcs.
Are the Gintama movies canon?
Benizakura Chapter is a remake of a canon TV arc. Be Forever Yorozuya is anime-original and optional. The Very Final is required because it adapts the ending with additional anime material.
Is Gintama finished?
The main manga and anime story are finished. The core anime ending is Gintama: The Very Final, released in 2021.
Can I start with Gintama: The Very Final?
No. The Very Final is built as the ending to years of character arcs, rivalries, callbacks, and running jokes. Watching it first technically shows you the conclusion, but it removes almost all of the emotional payoff. If 367 episodes sounds impossible, at least watch the major arcs first instead of jumping straight to the movie.
Where can I watch Gintama legally?
For current streaming options, use our updated Gintama streaming guide. It is the dedicated page for legal platforms, regional notes, and updated links.
Recap
For most viewers, the best way to watch Gintama is the recommended order above while skipping only the pure filler episodes. Keep the mixed canon/filler episodes, place Porori-hen before the final serious arcs, and end with The Semi-Final plus The Very Final. If you want the simplest legal streaming option, start with Crunchyroll and Hulu, then check regional availability before subscribing.
