Starting point
Start with episode 3
Episodes 1 and 2 are a celebration-style special made for existing readers. New viewers can begin with the regular introduction in episode 3 and return to the special later.
Gintama Filler List: Is It Worth Watching?
Usually yes: only about 6% is commonly classified as pure filler, and much of it still fits the show
Gintama is not a normal filler-heavy shonen. This guide replaces the misleading “everything is optional” view with a first-watch decision route.
Reported Filler
23
Filler Rate
~6%
First Start
Episode 3
A practical Gintama skip strategy
Use viewer decisions instead of treating every comedy episode or mixed arc as disposable filler.
Comedy episodes
Keep the cast-building comedy
The everyday comedy is not disposable setup. It builds the relationships and running jokes that make the later serious arcs more effective.
Story arcs
Watch every major serious arc
Do not trim a serious arc to chase a shorter episode count. The main story, character history, and emotional payoffs depend on these arcs staying intact.
Personal skips
Skip individual episodes only when needed
If a standalone parody is not working for you, move past that episode. Avoid treating an entire mixed arc or every anime-original story as filler by default.
View the full Gintama watch order
Complete episode guide with ratings, timeline, and movie placements.
Gintama Movie Guide
Where to watch 2 movies in the episode timeline
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gintama filler worth watching?
Usually yes. Gintama has relatively little true filler, and its anime-original comedy often feels like the rest of the show. Those episodes also build familiarity with the cast, which makes the serious arcs land harder later.
How many filler episodes are in Gintama?
A commonly used manga-versus-anime classification reports 23 filler entries out of 369 TV entries, or about 6%. Some databases group specials and late episodes differently, which is why this site's interactive dataset contains 367 numbered episodes. The practical conclusion is the same: Gintama has very little pure filler.
Can I skip Gintama episodes 1 and 2?
Yes. Episodes 1 and 2 were made as a celebration-style TV special for existing manga readers. A first-time viewer can start at episode 3, where the regular introduction begins, and return to the opening special later.
Can I watch only the serious Gintama arcs?
You can follow a serious-arc list, but it weakens the experience. Gintama earns its emotional payoffs by spending ordinary comedy episodes with the same characters first, so a serious-only route removes much of the attachment those arcs rely on.
Which Gintama episodes should I skip?
There is no reliable blanket skip rule. Start at episode 3, keep the comedy and all major story arcs, and skip an individual standalone episode only when its style is not working for you. Do not treat all anime-original or mixed material as filler.