The anime series 'Gintama – Mr. Ginpachi’s Zany Class,' based on a spin-off novel from the popular manga 'Gintama,' airs at midnight on Mondays on TV Tokyo. Familiar characters reimagined as high school students in a multiverse setting are thrilling fans. Voice actor Tomokazu Sugita, who voices the new teacher Ginpachi Sakata, shared insights on the character's appeal.
The original 'Gintama' manga by Hideaki Sorachi has sold more than 73 million copies and was adapted into an anime starting in 2006. Set in a fictitious version of Edo, the former name of Tokyo, it centers on odd-job workers Gintoki Sakata, Shinpachi Shimura, and Kagura, featuring strong personalities that run wild. The series includes moving stories of humanity, thrilling battles, parodies of current affairs, and even dirty jokes, earning immense popularity. The manga concluded in 2019, and the TV anime ended with a theatrical film in 2021.
The new anime unfolds in a multiverse version of 'Gintama' at Gintama High School, where the original world and the high school coexist. Fans expressed excitement on social media when the novel-to-anime adaptation was announced. Tomokazu Sugita, who voiced Gintoki in the original and now voices high school teacher Ginpachi Sakata, was interviewed by The Yomiuri Shimbun.
Ginpachi teaches Japanese and appears unmotivated, even recommending students cheat on exams, yet he earns their respect. He resembles Gintoki but hails from a different world. 'I think he [Ginpachi] never forsakes anyone, no matter how much of a misfit they are. He’s the kind of teacher who can act that way naturally,' Sugita said.
Familiar 'Gintama' characters appear as students, depicting their everyday school life. 'In the original manga, [Gintoki] can’t help but avert his eyes from a certain character because he knows their past. It’s interesting that [Ginpachi] has no choice but to look at them once they become his student,' Sugita noted. 'I think some of the relationships between the characters have become more compelling than in the original in some respects.'
On teacher-student dynamics, he said, 'The important thing is to avoid getting overly invested in each individual... It’s important to consider how to interact with each person and how much distance to keep.' Sugita applies the same approach to all roles, including Gintoki, without extra pressure.
If addressing students, he prefaced, 'I don’t want to impose my views on people with dreams.' He added, 'Among people who have dreams and goals, those who can imagine what happens when they cannot achieve them will make their dreams and goals stronger. I was like that... I haven’t accepted any offers to teach... because I see myself as someone who is learning for life.'
The anime amps up comedy in classes and school festivals. 'Please enjoy it lightheartedly,' Sugita said.