Gintama: Mr. Ginpachi’s Zany Class [Season 1 Episode 12]

Gintama: Mr. Ginpachi’s Zany Class Episode 12 Review

If you’re a Gintama fan, let’s cut to the chase: Episode 12 of Mr. Ginpachi’s Zany Class is a love letter wrapped in a punchline, sealed with a “Wakadaisho!” cheer. For those who’ve followed the Yorozuya through 350+ episodes of chaos, this final installment (wait, is it? The MAL status says “Currently Airing,” but fans are debating if this is the season finale) feels like hanging out with old friends—if your old friends taught math while cosplaying Michael Jackson and referenced Dragon Ball Z mid-exam.

First, let’s get the basics straight (as straight as Gintama ever gets). This spin-off, adapted from Tomohito Ōsaki’s light novel series, drops Gintoki Sakata into Gintama High School as “Ginpachi-sensei,” a teacher whose lesson plans involve more pranks than textbooks. Episode 12 crams three skits into its runtime, each leaning hard into the franchise’s signature style: randomness with heart, references that reward diehards, and fourth-wall breaks that feel like the writers are sitting right next to you, snickering.

The opening skit? A classic Gintama “randomness for randomness’ sake” bit. Imagine Gengai (the eccentric inventor from the original series) showing up as a substitute teacher, only to turn a science experiment into a parody of Dragon Ball Z’s Krillin exams. Fans are raving about it—one MyAnimeList user called it “1,000/10” because, let’s be real, Krillin jokes never get old. Then there’s the “confession booth” skit, a callback to the OG series where students spill their weirdest secrets (think: Shinpachi panicking about his sister’s latest scheme). It’s rehashed, sure, but as another fan put it: “Rehashed Gintama is still better than most anime’s best days.”

But the real star here? The return of the big guns. Takasugi Shinsuke, Kamui, and the Yato crew crash the episode, and the show doesn’t even pretend to hide the budget shift. The animation for their fight scene is… well, let’s say it’s “energetic.” Character models look a little off (Kamui’s hair seems to have a mind of its own), but who cares? As one viewer joked, “They used all the budget on this episode—worth it.” The banter between Shinsuke and Kamui is pure Gintama: half insult, half nostalgia, with a side of “why are we fighting in a high school hallway?”

What makes this episode click (and why it might confuse new viewers) is the references. You need to know Krillin’s “I’m not weak!” complex to laugh at the exam skit. You need to remember Zura’s obsession with being a “rebel” to lose it when he shows up in hammer pants (a delinquent fashion choice that gets roasted hard). And if you don’t get the “notes” jokes—those fan-subbed explanations of Japanese pop culture references—you might feel like you’re missing the punchline. But as one fan admitted, “Even if the jokes don’t land, it’s just good to have Gintama back.”

Let’s talk about the fourth-wall breaks, because this is where the episode gets clever. The characters joke about production issues (“We can’t afford all the VAs in one scene!”) and the awkwardness of being in a high school setting (“Why am I teaching math? I can’t even balance my own budget!”). It’s meta, it’s self-deprecating, and it works because Gintama has always been as much about the creators’ struggles as the characters’ adventures. As a viewer noted, “They didn’t just break the fourth wall—they used it as a plot device.”

Is this episode perfect? No. The slapstick is lighter than the original series, and some jokes feel recycled (looking at you, confession booth). But for fans, perfection isn’t the point. The point is seeing Tsukuyo tease Ginpachi, hearing Otsuu sing a song called “Not Even 5!” (a burn so good it hurts), and yelling “BE FOREVER YOROZUYA!” at your screen. As one fan summed it up: “1 random skit + 1 Krillin exam + 1 rehashed confession booth = 10/10. No notes.”

If you’re new to Gintama, skip this. Go watch the original series first—you’ll need the context to get why a Michael Jackson cosplay is funny. But if you’re a veteran? Grab your favorite snack, turn off your brain, and enjoy. Episode 12 isn’t just an episode—it’s a reminder why Gintama has the most loyal fanbase in anime: because it’s not just a show. It’s a vibe. And that vibe? It’s back.

Yorozuya forever. Wakadaisho!

(Psst: If you’re debating whether to watch this, just do it. As one fan said, “Even if you haven’t seen all 350 episodes, the randomness is great. Just don’t ask why there’s a giant Elizabeth in the classroom.”)