3-nen Z-gumi Ginpachi-sensei [Season 1]

“Gintama’s Zany Class: Why 3-nen Z-gumi Ginpachi-sensei Feels Like Reuniting With Old Friends”

If you’ve ever stayed up way too late binging Gintama’s chaotic blend of meta jokes, historical parodies, and unexpected heart, then 3-nen Z-gumi Ginpachi-sensei—the 2025 spin-off that drops Gintoki Sakata into a high school classroom—will hit you like a warm hug from a friend you thought you’d lost. Based on Tomohito Ōsaki’s light novel series (and featuring the iconic voice cast: Tomokazu Sugita as Gintoki, Rie Kugimiya as Kagura, Daisuke Sakaguchi as Shinpachi), this 12-episode series isn’t just a nostalgia trip—it’s proof that Gintama’s magic works even when the samurai swords are swapped for chalkboards.

Let’s cut to the chase: the first episode is pure, unfiltered Gintama chaos. Within the first three minutes, Gintoki’s already breaking the fourth wall to roast the anime’s production team (“We’re milking this franchise harder than a cow at a dairy farm!”), Shinpachi’s screaming tsukkomi at Kagura for turning their desk into a snack bar, and there’s a full-on Dragon Ball parody where the class reenacts the Saiyan Saga… with Gin as Goku, Kagura as Vegeta, and Shinpachi as a very annoyed Krillin. As one fan put it on MyAnimeList: “You know it’s Gintama when it ain’t even a minute in and they’re already referencing Dragon Ball and dissing the studio.”

But here’s the thing: it works. The spin-off takes the original’s core—found family, absurdity, and that “we’re all in this weirdness together” vibe—and plops it into a school setting where Gintoki is the world’s worst (but best) teacher. Class 3-Z isn’t your average homeroom: Hijikata’s still obsessed with mayo (he brings a jar to lunch and tries to put it on everything), Okita’s using the blackboard to plan pranks, and Sacchan… well, Sacchan shows up just to stab Kondo in the butt with a syringe (classic Sacchan). Even side characters like Elizabeth (the silent, duck-costumed weirdo) and Hedoro (the slime-like alien) make appearances, and their gags hit just as hard as they did in the original.

What makes this spin-off feel special, though, is how it balances nostalgia with fresh energy. Longtime fans will lose it over the “baton pass” scene—where Gintoki literally hands off a baton to his younger self, winking at the series’ legacy—while new viewers can jump right in (though let’s be real, if you don’t get the Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo reference, you’re missing out). The animation has that retro 2000s feel, which adds to the throwback charm, and the opening theme? It’s a bouncy, guitar-driven bop that sounds like it could’ve been in the original series. As one fan gushed: “The opening gave me so much nostalgia—I felt like I was 15 again, staying up to watch Gintama on Adult Swim.”

Of course, not everyone’s sold. Some fans have noted that the first episode relies a little too much on old tropes (“Hijikata’s mayo obsession is funny, but do we need to see it every five minutes?”), and with only 12 episodes, there’s a fear it’ll end too soon. But honestly? Who cares? This is Gintama—we’re here for the laughs, not the plot. And the laughs are plentiful. Whether it’s Gintoki teaching the class how to “creatively help” each other cheat (he calls it “group study”), Kagura eating a whole watermelon in one bite, or Shinpachi screaming at everyone to “act like normal students,” every scene feels like a classic Gintama skit.

The best part? The community is already losing its mind. Fans are flooding forums with memes, theories, and pleas for more episodes. One user wrote: “I missed this stupid ass vibe so much—I haven’t laughed this hard at an anime in years.” Another added: “This feels like the show never ended. It’s like hanging out with old friends again.” And let’s not forget the emotional bits: when Gintoki pauses mid-rant to say, “Hard work’s worthless if you don’t believe in yourself,” it’s that classic Gintama mix of humor and heart that made us fall in love with the series in the first place.

Is 3-nen Z-gumi Ginpachi-sensei a masterpiece? No. Is it the best Gintama content ever? Probably not. But is it exactly what we need right now? Abso-freaking-lutely. In a world where anime can feel too serious or too focused on fan service, this spin-off is a reminder that sometimes all you need is a group of weirdos making jokes about mayo, Dragon Ball, and the pain of being a student. As Gintoki would say: “Life’s too short to take everything seriously. Just eat some snacks, laugh at the dumb stuff, and enjoy the ride.”

So grab your favorite snack (mayo optional), sit back, and let Class 3-Z remind you why Gintama is one of the greatest anime of all time. We’re so back, and it’s glorious.

Final Verdict: 9/10—because even the worst Gintama is better than most anime, and this? This is good Gintama.

P.S. Keep an eye out for the GTO reference in episode 2. You won’t regret it.