The Eiga.com website reports that Gintama director Yoichi Fujita addressed the issue of the television anime series' continuation at the "Gintama Haru Matsuri 2010 (Ka)" event in Tokyo on Thursday: "The creator [Hideaki] Sorachi didn't come today, and I think he's undoubtedly writing new story scripts. Once we have gathered the stock material, we staff members want to work on it again."

Shinji Takamatsu, the other main director of the Gintama anime, told the audience of 10,000 that "Gintama is absolutely not over. It hasn't even begun yet! It will definitely return."

The final listed episode of the television series aired this past week, and the Gintama: Shinyaku Benizakura-Hen film will open in Japan on April 24. The event's audience saw the first three minutes of the film after eight members of the cast, led by Tomokazu Sugita as Gintoki Sakata, appeared on stage. (The event's name translates tongue-in-cheek to "Gintama Spring Festival 2010 [Temporary Name].") Sorachi has been drawing the original Gintama manga in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine since 2003. Viz Media is publishing the manga in North America, while Section23 Films will ship the first DVD set of the anime next month.