The eccentric samurai, Gintoki Sakata, is returning to the small screen. Latest reports claimed that Hideaki Sorachi's "Gin Tama" manga is inspiring a new television anime series.
The good news came to light after this year's 43rd issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine revealed on Sept. 19, Monday, that the hit chanbara manga will get a new television anime series on Japan's TV Tokyo, Anime News Network reported. It is said that the new anime series will feature the Final Story arc.
Aside from that, there are no further details about the new TV anime series. It is widely expected that the series' broadcasting schedule and other important information will be announced in the upcoming issues of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine.
The good news came, after it was reported that a live-action "Gin Tama" film is a go with filmmaker Yuichi Fukuda helming the project, Crunchy Roll reported. The live-action film, which is intended to be released in 2017, stars Japanese actor Shun Oguri, 33, as the protagonist, Gintoki Sakata, who runs the Yorozuya shop.
Set in Edo, "Gin Tama" follows the life of Gintoki Sakata, Kagura (Kanna Hashimoto) and Shinpachi Shimura (Masaki Suda). In order to pay the monthly house rent, the three of them decided to work as a freelancer samurai.
Other stars include Masami Nagasawa as Tae Shimura, Masaki Okada as Kotaro Katsura, Tsuyoshi Muro as Gengai Hiraga, Yuuya Yagira as Toshiro Hijikata, and Ryo Yoshizawa as Sougo Okita. Rounding out the cast, Kankuro Nakamura VI has been cast to play Isao Kondo, a Shinsengumi commander.
"Gin Tama" was one of the best-selling manga in Japan, having sold more than 50 million copies. It was then adapted into a full anime TV series in 2006 and 2015, respectively, and has been noted for its capacity to shift between comedy and drama without losing its quality.
Check out 2015's "Gin Tama" below: