The TV anime "Ao no Miburo" is gearing up for its "Serizawa Assassination Arc," and the official team recently dropped some behind-the-scenes notes from the recording of Episode 5, revealing that voice actor Tomokazu Sugita will be lending his pipes to the role of Isami Kondo.
Sugita, ever the comedian, poked fun at himself, admitting he momentarily fumbled the general's name, possibly due to his extensive history with parody and gag roles. He even apologized, showcasing his signature witty style. As soon as the news hit, social media blew up. 
But the conversation quickly went off the rails. Since Sugita's most iconic role is the free-spirited, quick-witted Gintoki Sakata from "Gintama," fans immediately started drawing hilarious parallels between his new role and his "Gintama" past.
One fan quipped, "Gintoki voicing Kondo-san? I can only laugh!" Another exclaimed, "Gintoki playing the Gorilla (Director Kondo) is totally unexpected!" Some even jokingly dubbed him "Gintoki the Gorilla Director," turning the comment section into a riot of classic "Gintama" humor.
This reaction perfectly highlights how deeply ingrained Tomokazu Sugita's voice and character image are in the minds of viewers. For countless anime fans, his voice is synonymous with "Gintoki." So even when he's tackling a serious historical role like Shinsengumi Director Isami Kondo in "Ao no Miburo," it's hard not to chuckle at the hilarious contrast with "Gintama." Some fans even joked it was "Gintama's after-effect," while simultaneously looking forward to Sugita bringing new layers to the character, balancing gravitas with his signature wit.
The "Serizawa Assassination Arc" of "Ao no Miburo" is set to officially air on Saturday, December 20, at 5:30 PM JST.