'Gintama' Anime on Sale

In late-Edo Japan, something weird happens. This isn't to say that anime fans aren't accustomed the strange and anachronistic goings-on of the wandering, the masterless, and the idiotic; rather, it is an affirmation of the peculiar draw this particular cultural era maintains, regardless of how many aliens invade or governments are toppled. Section23 Films recently sent their latest Japanese animation release to retailers in the form of Gintama, an adventurous mishmash of historical fantasy, comedy, and science-fiction.

A couple of decades ago, aliens invade and successfully subjugate humankind. Of course, there was plenty of bloodshed during these conflicts, but the power of the aliens was a bit too much for humanity to handle.

Now, the later Edo Period is infused with assorted, mixed cultural and commercial sentiments -- as if some portion of contemporary Japan, in the real world, were conveniently sliced off and dropped back in time on top of Edo Japan.

This is where/when Gintoki Sakata lives. He helps operate a temporary work agency of all hired hands, and is willing to take on any job for almost any price.

Gintoki is more than a mere "lively" spirit, and takes pride in managing to get by on his comic books and work ethic alone. As Gintama continues, Gintoki quickly introduces the audience to a world where unless you force yourself to take notice of the strangeness around you, life is as it should be. Aliens are running the government, swords have been banned, and an assortment of strange monsters keep roaming the countryside -- but in Gintama, it's just another day.

Sectin23 Films recently made available the first home video release of Gintama, containing the anime series' first thirteen episodes ($39.98) -- subtitled only. Gintama is a 2008-production; the anime is a long-running program, spanning more than two hundred episodes. The property is known for its ongoing parody of modern day conveniences and occasional breaking of the fourth wall. Gintoki gleefully mimics the heroes of the comics he reads and his fellow workers often follow suit. He performs honest work -- a search and rescue, household chores, or putting his underused talent as a fighter to good exercise -- but Gintoki never takes anything for granted.

Gintama may be known for its excessive and humorous parody of anime fandom, but the program also takes intermittent strides at a more dramatic narrative. Gintoki's shielded past, for example, queries to include a more mature and engaging tale. Regardless, Gintama is an anime comedy now on sale, with the second DVD Set release from Section23 Films scheduled for late June 2010.

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