Gintama, the beloved 2006 anime series created by Hideaki Sorachi and produced by Sunrise, masterfully blends absurd comedy, heartfelt drama, and action in an alternate Edo-period Japan overrun by aliens. At its core, it explores themes of underdog protagonists fighting against overwhelming odds, satirical takes on power systems through parody, and constant subversion of shonen expectations by shifting from slapstick humor to intense battles.
These 15 underrated anime deserve more attention for their ability to capture similar vibes—eclectic casts, genre-bending narratives, and clever twists—offering fresh alternatives that often fly under the radar despite their quality.
1. Sket Dance (2011)
- Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll, Funimation.
- Plot Summary: The Sket-dan, a high school club dedicated to solving students’ problems, tackles everything from minor dilemmas to absurd adventures with their unique skills and unbreakable camaraderie.
- Similarities to Gintama: Like Gintama, it features episodic comedy mixed with dramatic arcs, a ragtag group of misfits subverting school life tropes, and parody elements that poke fun at shonen conventions.
- MAL Rating: 8.02/10.
- Episode Count: 77.
- Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Keiichiro Kawaguchi at Tatsunoko Production; the manga’s creator, Kenta Shinohara, was an assistant to Gintama’s Hideaki Sorachi.
- Awards/Recognition: Won the 55th Shogakukan Manga Award in the shonen category.
2. The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. (2016)
- Streaming Availability: Netflix.
- Plot Summary: Kusuo Saiki, a high schooler with god-like psychic powers, desperately tries to live a normal life while surrounded by chaotic classmates who drag him into ridiculous situations.
- Similarities to Gintama: Shares Gintama’s character-driven humor, short skit format, and subversion of power systems by turning overpowered abilities into comedic burdens rather than heroic tools.
- MAL Rating: 8.41/10.
- Episode Count: 120 (across seasons).
- Notable Staff/Studio: Produced by J.C.Staff; based on Shuichi Aso’s manga.
- Awards/Recognition: Nominated for Crunchyroll Anime Awards in comedy categories.
3. Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu (2003)
- Streaming Availability: Funimation, Crunchyroll.
- Plot Summary: Sousuke Sagara, a military-raised bodyguard, protects high schooler Kaname Chidori, leading to hilarious mishaps as his over-the-top tactics clash with everyday school life.
- Similarities to Gintama: Mirrors Gintama’s blend of slapstick comedy and action, with an underdog protagonist subverting mecha genre expectations through deadpan humor in mundane settings.
- MAL Rating: 8.05/10.
- Episode Count: 12.
- Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Yasuhiro Takemoto at Kyoto Animation.
- Awards/Recognition: Part of the Full Metal Panic! franchise, which won the Seiun Award for Best Media.
4. Space Dandy (2014)
- Streaming Availability: Funimation, Hulu.
- Plot Summary: Dandy, a flamboyant alien hunter, travels the universe with his quirky crew, encountering bizarre scenarios and existential weirdness in episodic adventures.
- Similarities to Gintama: Echoes Gintama’s extreme comedy modes, subverting sci-fi tropes with inconsequential, absurd stories that push boundaries while maintaining core character natures.
- MAL Rating: 7.88/10.
- Episode Count: 26.
- Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Shinichiro Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop) at Bones.
- Awards/Recognition: Praised for innovative animation at Anime Expo panels.
5. Golden Kamuy (2018)
- Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll, Funimation.
- Plot Summary: In early 20th-century Hokkaido, immortal soldier Saichi Sugimoto teams up with Ainu girl Asirpa to hunt for hidden gold, facing rival groups in a brutal treasure race.
- Similarities to Gintama: Combines gory action with unapologetic silliness, subverting historical adventure tropes like Gintama’s mix of serious arcs and humorous character-driven moments.
- MAL Rating: 7.91/10.
- Episode Count: 48 (across seasons).
- Notable Staff/Studio: Produced by Geno Studio; based on Satoru Noda’s manga.
- Awards/Recognition: Won the Manga Taisho Award in 2016.
6. Hinamatsuri (2018)
- Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll, HIDIVE.
- Plot Summary: Yakuza member Nitta Yoshifumi reluctantly adopts Hina, a psychic girl from the future, leading to chaotic family dynamics and underworld antics.
- Similarities to Gintama: Features absurd comedy with emotional depth, underdog family bonds, and subversion of slice-of-life tropes through psychic powers and yakuza parody.
- MAL Rating: 8.13/10.
- Episode Count: 12.
- Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Kei Oikawa at feel.; based on Masao Ohtake’s manga.
- Awards/Recognition: Frequently cited as an underrated gem in comedy polls on Reddit and Anime News Network.
7. Daily Lives of High School Boys (2012)
- Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll, HIDIVE.
- Plot Summary: Three high school friends navigate absurd everyday scenarios, from imaginative fantasies to awkward social mishaps, in an all-boys school setting.
- Similarities to Gintama: Captures Gintama’s peculiar humor and sketch-style episodes, subverting slice-of-life norms with over-the-top imagination and male camaraderie.
- MAL Rating: 8.23/10.
- Episode Count: 12.
- Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Shinji Takamatsu at Sunrise.
- Awards/Recognition: Nominated for Best Comedy at the Newtype Anime Awards.
8. Gugure! Kokkuri-san (2014)
- Streaming Availability: HIDIVE, Crunchyroll.
- Plot Summary: Self-proclaimed doll girl Kohina summons fox spirit Kokkuri-san, who becomes her guardian, attracting more supernatural beings into her unhealthy lifestyle.
- Similarities to Gintama: Blends supernatural comedy with heartfelt moments, subverting folklore tropes like Gintama’s alien invasions through quirky guardian dynamics.
- MAL Rating: 7.52/10.
- Episode Count: 12.
- Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Yoshimasa Hiraike at TMS Entertainment.
- Awards/Recognition: Noted for unique character designs in niche anime forums.
9. FLCL (2000)
- Streaming Availability: Adult Swim, Hulu.
- Plot Summary: Boy Naota’s mundane life spirals into chaos when alien Haruko arrives, unleashing bizarre events involving robots and interstellar forces.
- Similarities to Gintama: Subverts coming-of-age stories with surreal humor and action, much like Gintama’s genre-bending absurdity and underdog growth.
- MAL Rating: 8.03/10.
- Episode Count: 6.
- Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki at Gainax and Production I.G.
- Awards/Recognition: Won multiple awards at the Tokyo Anime Fair.
10. Paranoia Agent (2004)
- Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll, Funimation.
- Plot Summary: A mysterious boy on rollerblades assaults Tokyo residents, unraveling psychological mysteries and societal fears through interconnected stories.
- Similarities to Gintama: Subverts thriller expectations with bizarre, character-driven narratives, echoing Gintama’s shift from comedy to dark commentary.
- MAL Rating: 7.67/10.
- Episode Count: 13.
- Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Satoshi Kon at Madhouse.
- Awards/Recognition: Critically acclaimed for psychological depth at international film festivals.
11. Otaku Elf (2023)
- Streaming Availability: HIDIVE.
- Plot Summary: Shrine maiden Koito cares for Elda, a centuries-old elf obsessed with video games, navigating her lazy habits and cultural clashes.
- Similarities to Gintama: Features reverse-isekai humor and lazy protagonists, subverting fantasy tropes with modern otaku parody like Gintama’s cultural satire.
- MAL Rating: 7.25/10.
- Episode Count: 12.
- Notable Staff/Studio: Produced by C2C; based on Akihiko Higuchi’s manga.
- Awards/Recognition: Praised for relaxing slice-of-life in 2023 reviews.
12. Talentless Nana (2020)
- Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll, Funimation.
- Plot Summary: On an island school for superpowered teens, “talentless” Nanao uncovers dark secrets while posing as a student to eliminate threats.
- Similarities to Gintama: Subverts underdog power system tropes by twisting heroic narratives into psychological thrillers, akin to Gintama’s parody of shonen battles.
- MAL Rating: 7.16/10.
- Episode Count: 13.
- Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Shinji Ishihira at Bridge.
- Awards/Recognition: Noted for plot twists in underrated anime lists.
13. Boogiepop and Others (2019)
- Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll, HIDIVE.
- Plot Summary: Supernatural entity Boogiepop emerges to confront existential threats, weaving nonlinear tales of high school disappearances and inner demons.
- Similarities to Gintama: Subverts mystery genres with eclectic characters and tonal shifts, mirroring Gintama’s balance of absurdity and serious undertones.
- MAL Rating: 6.97/10.
- Episode Count: 18.
- Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Shingo Natsume at Madhouse.
- Awards/Recognition: Faithful adaptation praised by light novel fans.
14. Akame ga Kill! (2014)
- Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll, HIDIVE.
- Plot Summary: Young Tatsumi joins assassin group Night Raid to overthrow a corrupt empire, facing moral dilemmas and brutal losses in a dark fantasy world.
- Similarities to Gintama: Subverts shonen expectations with grim twists on underdog revolutions, blending action and humor like Gintama’s serious arcs.
- MAL Rating: 7.47/10.
- Episode Count: 24.
- Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Tomoki Kobayashi at White Fox.
- Awards/Recognition: Nominated for Anime Trending Awards in multiple categories.
15. Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! (2020)
- Streaming Availability: Crunchyroll, HBO Max.
- Plot Summary: Three high school girls form an animation club, channeling their wild imaginations into creating anime despite bureaucratic hurdles.
- Similarities to Gintama: Subverts creative processes with hilarious, meta commentary on anime production, echoing Gintama’s self-parody and underdog passion.
- MAL Rating: 8.13/10.
- Episode Count: 12.
- Notable Staff/Studio: Directed by Masaaki Yuasa at Science SARU.
- Awards/Recognition: Won the Crunchyroll Anime Award for Best Animation.
Why These Anime Work for Gintama Fans
These series resonate with Gintama enthusiasts by embracing its spirit of subversion—turning power fantasies into punchlines, underdog tales into chaotic journeys, and expected narratives into surprising delights. Often overlooked due to niche appeal or competition from blockbusters, they offer the same addictive mix of laughs, heart, and innovation, proving that underrated gems can deliver just as much (if not more) entertainment value. If Gintama’s blend of whimsy and depth hooked you, diving into these will feel like discovering hidden treasures in the anime world.
