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The series takes place in a sci-fi setting, in which aliens have conquered the city of Edo. Along with its incredible story and diverse cast of characters, Gintama also has a unique quality of referencing other anime, TV shows, and even celebrities throughout its run. Gintama has referenced all sorts of anime, but these ten nods to other shows are among the best and the cleverest.
10 Hajime no Ippo
Hajime no Ippo is one of the most popular sports anime of all time. The award-winning series follows Ippo, a talented young boxer who wants to become a professional.
The reference to Hajime no Ippo in Gintama can be found as early as episode 28. In this episode, Otae uses the Dempsey Roll, a popular move from Hajime no Ippo. It was clear that Kondo stood no chance against such a devastating move, and it put him out of commission temporarily.
9 Assassination Classroom
Like Gintama, Assassination Classroom takes its viewers on an emotional rollercoaster. The series follows the students of Class 3-E as they try to kill Koro-sensei, a strange and uncanny creature.
In Gintama episode 269, Gintoki finds himself teaching the young Seita about history. In order to hide his obliviousness about the object, Gintoki tells Seita that everything before the Sengoku period was just gorillas with spears. While teaching Seita, Tsukuyo calls him Koro-sensei, which freaks him out.
8 JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
Hirohiko Araki’s JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is one of the longest-running manga series of all time. It has managed to withstand the test of time, a testament to its quality. Each part features a new protagonist and antagonists, which guarantees excitement.
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JoJo is known for its bizarre poses, and in the Ghost Ryokan arc, Gintoki used one of these famous poses. To be more specific, he used Caesar Zepelli’s pose. It was a befitting nod, as Gintoki and Joseph Joestar share the same voice actor. Additionally, Gintama has also used a reference to Jotaro Kujo’s stand, Star Platinum.
7 Naruto
Naruto’s popularity in the West is incredible. The series finished many years ago, but still has an active fanbase. There have been several instances where Gintama has parodied Naruto. The first can be found as early as episode 13, where Katsura adds dattebayo to his sentences.
Later, in episode 292, Kyuubei used a technique that was a spoof of Mangekyou Sharingan. Yet another Naruto parody can be found in episode 209 when Shinpachi’s eye is infected and it takes the same pattern as the Sharingan, an eye technique from Naruto.
6 One Piece
One Piece has been a part of the Shonen Jump since the 90s, and is easily one of the best shonen series going today. With over 1000 chapters, it is one of the more lengthy series out there. Its creator, Eiichiro Oda, is considered a living legend, and it is only fair that Gintama paid homage to his series.
There are a few One Piece references in Gintama. In one, Shinpachi makes a reference to the Great Pirate Era and Luffy’s devil fruit ability. In another, during a question-answer session, Gintoki dresses up like Luffy.
5 Dragon Ball
Not many series can boast the same level of popularity as the Dragon Ball franchise. Dragon Ball acted as the bedrock for the future shonen jump classics. It has inspired many authors, and it’s easy to see the inspiration reflected in their work.
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In Gintama, there is no shortage of Dragon Ball references and parodies. In episode 119, Hijikata ends up visiting planet Hamek (a parody of planet Namek) to smoke cigarettes. On his arrival, Hijikata receives unfortunate news about the planet’s factories being ruined by Brieza (a Freiza parody). In the same episode, there is also a reference to the Dragon Balls themselves, which are called Slippery Balls in Gintama.
4 Saint Seiya
Saint Seiya was released in 1984. The run had over a hundred episodes, featuring a unique mix of mythology and martial arts. The series follows Seiya, an orphan, and his journey to obtain a priceless artifact.
Gintama episode 282 paid tribute to Saint Seiya. The episode’s ending song was a parody of Saint Seiya’s theme song. The characters from Saint Seiya were replaced by Gintoki and co.
3 Mobile Suit Gundam
Mobile Suit Gundam is arguably the most well-known mecha anime. It has been around for several decades and a lot of viewers associate their childhood with it.
Gintama paid a tribute to Gundam on its 30th anniversary with a special parody episode full of references to members of Ramba Ral’s unit. Besides the obvious references to Gundam characters, there’s also the Renho arc, which is filled with many parodies of the sci-fi anime.
2 Doraemon
Doraemon has been a part of the childhood of many viewers, and remains popular to this day. The Doraemon references in Gintama are truly priceless.
Throughout the series, Gintoki makes a lot of references to Doraemon’s pocket. Perhaps the best reference to Doraemon is when a scared Gintoki starts singing the anime’s theme song in order to cope with his hysteria.
1 Fist of the North Star
Kenshiro from the Fist of the North Star is one of the most recognizable faces in the anime community. The main protagonist of the series, he shot to popularity after the “Omae wa Shinderu” memes.
Gintama referenced this anime and its protagonist in episode 273, where Shinpachi is seen mirroring Kenshiro. The episode also parodies the mohawk gangs from Fist of the North Star.
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