The highly anticipated TV anime spinoff, GINTAMA – Mr. Ginpachi’s Zany Class (3-Nen Z-Gumi Ginpachi-Sensei), has officially announced its theme song artists and confirmed an October 6 premiere date on TV Tokyo in Japan. The new promotional video also offers a sneak peek at the series’ musical accompaniment.
Premiere Details and Global Debut
Fans can mark their calendars for October 6, when GINTAMA – Mr. Ginpachi’s Zany Class will begin airing at 12:00 a.m. JST (effectively October 7) on TV Tokyo and its affiliates. The series already had its world premiere at Anime Expo 2025 in Los Angeles on July 5, where attendees were among the first to see a full episode, alongside special messages from the original voice cast and behind-the-scenes insights.
Theme Song Reveal
The newly released trailer showcases the opening and ending theme songs for the upcoming anime. The opening theme, titled “Sakurakaze” (Cherry Blossom Wind), will be performed by virtual YouTuber Botchi Boromaru. Meanwhile, the ending theme, “Underclass HERO,” is provided by the band LONGMAN.
Returning Cast and Creative Team
The beloved characters of the Gintama universe will be reprised by their original voice actors for this spinoff. Tomokazu Sugita returns as the titular Ginpachi Sakata. He is joined by other familiar voices including Daisuke Sakaguchi as Shinpachi Shimura and Rie Kugimiya as Kagura. Other returning cast members include Akira Ishida as Kotarō Katsura, Kazuya Nakai as Toshirō Hijikata, Kenichi Suzumura as Sōgo Okita, Satoshi Hino as Kamui, Satsuki Yukino as Tae Shimura, Susumu Chiba as Isao Kondō, Takehito Koyasu as Shinsuke Takasugi, and Tetsuharu Ōta as Sagaru Yamazaki.
The animation production is handled by Bandai Namco Pictures. The series sees Makoto Moriwaki (Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun) serving as general director, with Natsumi Higashida directing the anime. Kazuyuki Fudeyasu (That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime) and Mitei Mark II are in charge of series composition. Shinji Takeuchi, a veteran of the Gintama franchise, is credited for character design and is also the chief animation director. The music for the series is composed by Audio Highs, known for their work on Gintama and Bakuman..
About Mr. Ginpachi’s Zany Class
GINTAMA – Mr. Ginpachi’s Zany Class is an anime adaptation of Tomohito Ōsaki’s spinoff novel series, which is based on Hideaki Sorachi’s hugely popular Gintama manga. The story reimagines the familiar Gintama cast in a high school setting, with Gintoki Sakata taking on the role of the perpetually disheveled, sarcastic, and often hilarious homeroom teacher, Ginpachi-sensei, of Class 3-Z at Gintama High School.
The concept of “Class 3-Z Ginpachi-sensei” has been a fan-favorite element for years, having previously appeared as short animated segments at the end of various Gintama anime episodes. The spinoff novel series, which debuted in 2006, delves into the comedic and absurd daily lives of Ginpachi-sensei and his unique students, including idol otaku, misfits, stalkers, and mayonnaise enthusiasts. The new TV anime promises to deliver the same unpredictable antics and irreverent humor that fans have come to expect from the Gintama franchise, but within the halls of a chaotic school environment.
