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To start: I would like to apologize. I wasn't planning on writing this. I deleted the anime off my harddrive a couple days ago to make space, so I couldn't go through episodes to get screenshots. I had to just find them. Next time when I plan ahead I'll have better screenshots =/ sorry again.
Disclaimer:Contains a small amount of spoilers, not enough to ruin anything, though.
Row row, fight the power
Offical Stats:
Name:Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
Episodes:27
Genre:Action, Adventure, Aliens, Humanoid, Mecha, Post-apocalyptic, SciFi, Romance, Epic (cough)
Air Time:01.04.2007 till 30.09.2007
Director:Hiroyuki Imaishi (debut)
American License - ADV Films (UK as well)
Awards
Excellence Prize at the 2007 Japan Media Arts Festival
Animation Kobe Festival - Directer Individual Award
Best Television Production - Tokyo International Anime Fair
Best Character Development - Tokyo International Anime Fair
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, brought to you by studio GAINAX (Gunbusters 2, Evangelion), tells the saga of young Simon who spends his day drilling tunnels in his underground home, Giha Village. As he is about to finish his shift, he finds a drill that glows at his touch. Enter Kamina, a young man who aspires to break free of the mundane life which they currently live in. Kamina is akin to a brother to Simon ("Aniki") who looks up to him as a role model.
Simon's very shy, and has near to none self confidence
Kamina is a passionate person who wishes to see the world above, which he once saw as a child. Possessing endless self-confidence and badass sunglasses, he faces off against any challenge, even if its fighting a giant robot with only a sword. Kamina possess the ability to attract those around him with his energetic and endless determination and drive towards his goals. Leader of Giha's "Gurren-dan" (Gurren Brigade), he gets the reluctant Simon to agree to join as he hatches his plan for escape.
Kamina sporting his badass "GAR" sunglasses.
The story begins with an attempt to reach the surface. The plan, devised by Kamina, was in hopes of reaching the roof of their unground village and have Simon drill through it. The plan fails however and Kamina is put into jail. Simon was released because the village elder decided Kamina dragged him into it and was told to go back and dig more. During his digging he discovers a giant face and quickly rushes to free Kamina from jail. As they rush over to the giant face a gigantic robot, named Gunmen, break through their roof. Along with the robot comes Yoko, a gunslinging sharpshooter wearing a rather revealing outfit.
Wow, look at those huge brea..err..look at that huge gun!
Yoko bumps into the duo who helps her escape from the Gunmen and leads them to the face they found earlier. Kamina dubs the face, which turns out to be a smaller Gunmen, "Lagann". The glowing drill is the key to this new "Lagann" and they take it and fight the bigger Gunmen outside causing havoc on the village. With the defeat of the Gunmen, the trio take to the skys in Lagann, looking at the beauty of the world above ground. It is here that the core members of the Gurren-dan come together in there epic struggle.
The story of Gurren Lagann starts off at a slow pace. Showing them floundering through their training in mastering the Lagann and meeting various new people along the way. There are two main story arcs, before and after the time skip. As each episode of Gurren Lagann played, I found myself hooked. At the end of each episode I'd jump into the next episode wondering how the anime could get better.
The strongest point of the anime definitely comes from character development. Every character has their each own unique personality and I found myself thinking many times "Hey they remind me of so-and-so". As the characters grow and shape, you find yourself able to find the flaws in their characters as well as their greatest strengths. Another strong point thats overlooked quite often is, while the main theme would be drills and spirals, is that strong friendship is a huge theme of this anime. As they struggle through their lives and wrestle the Gunmen and their feelings, they remain true friends who support each other.
They're ready for you. Their friendship can withstand any obstacle.
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann breaks from the traditional mecha anime genre. The mecha themselves seem alive as their mouths move to the dialouge. They get crazy and zany as new ones are constantly introduced. One of the best animes to come from '07, it will keep your fanny glued to your seat throughout the whole series.
Whos that girl with the flower power eyes?
Is this a friend? Or foe? The GAR glasses says all.
I want that cape. Really bad.
Viral, Kamina's rival.
Who's this? Perhaps its a glimpse into the future.
The entire cast of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
On an ending note:
I found it got really exciting after episode 8, as thats when the major character development starts to happen. Because of that, I encourage everyone who wants to give this anime a chance to wait until the end of episode 8 before discarding this anime if it doesn't suit your fancy.
On another ending note:
GIGA......DRILL......BRREAKKKKERRRRRR
On December 2007 The Daily Telegrapher ran a contest to update the British Union Flag incorporating the Welsh Dragon. A Gurren Lagann themed flag was submitted from Norway.
Anime Spotlight Review - Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann -
03-07-2008, 10:32 PM
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