20 Years Later, Shonen Jump’s Classic Series Is Officially Coming to Netflix

by

With 2026 underway, Netflix is adding a fresh collection of anime series. While Crunchyroll releases many new shows each season, Netflix tends to create original anime or bring back popular older titles. Netflix has become increasingly involved in anime production as the industry rapidly expands, and it already offers a wide range of fantastic series, with more being added every month. This January promises exciting news for fans, including the arrival of a truly iconic anime series.

Originally a popular manga series in Weekly Shonen Jump starting in 2003, Gintama was later adapted into an anime by Sunrise, premiering in 2026. The anime has multiple seasons, the first being the longest with 201 episodes. Gintama is known for its unique mix of exciting storylines, silly humor, and endearing characters. As a parody, it playfully references and celebrates classic Shonen manga, making it particularly enjoyable for longtime fans. According to What’s on Netflix, the first season of Gintama will be available on Netflix starting January 15th, 2026. While already streaming on Crunchyroll and Hulu, this addition is great news and will likely attract even more Shonen fans to the series.

What Is The Plot of Gintama?

I find myself in a really strange version of Japan, a place that used to be all samurai and tradition, but has now been taken over by aliens called the Amanto. It’s a tough time for everyone, and I’ve been watching the life of Gintoki Sakata, a former samurai who now just takes on odd jobs to get by – always with a wooden sword at his side. He’s usually joined by Shinpachi, a young man from a samurai family, and Kagura, who’s not from around here at all – she’s part of the Yato tribe, a legendary group from outer space, and she even has a funny little pet named Sadaharu. No matter what work Gintoki takes, they always seem to stumble into some kind of crazy situation.

Many Shonen anime fans adore Gintama for its hilarious, often absurd comedy and its endearing characters. While it appears to be a lighthearted, episodic series, Gintama subtly incorporates complex and surprisingly dark themes into its story. The series builds a more significant, overarching plot, particularly in the later half, but it’s also a parody that playfully references and celebrates classic Shonen tropes, making it especially enjoyable for longtime fans.

Watching Gintama is a really special experience, but I think you get so much more out of it if you’re already familiar with classic shonen anime. It’s a show that really loves those older series, and that’s a big part of what makes it fun. It’s amazing to see how, even twenty years after it first came out, Gintama keeps releasing new stuff – spin-offs, remakes – and it all does so well because the fans are incredibly dedicated.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/anime/news/crunchyroll-confirms-packed-dub-lineup-for-january-2026/embed/#

Read More

2026-01-07 02:12