Gurren Lagann

Let me throw this out there.....I don't usually look at reviews before I watch something. With that said, I had NO idea what was in store before I started watching this show.

Simply put - this is flat out the most absurdly motivating, surprisingly deep, ridiculously awesome show I've ever seen.

Question: Does it matter that at a few points I said to myself "I'm not really sure I understand what exactly is happening right now"?

Answer: NO!

This show is so over the top it really doesn't matter if you 100% understand whats goin on at certain points (don't get me wrong the story is SUPER good and well thought out). That's not the point. The point is that whatever you believe to be within your grasp....go for it!

Just watch this and enjoy it for what it is....EPIC!

If you want a series that can bring entire classes of people together. If you want a show that can make parents, kids, teens, and even my 60 year old uncle watch, then watch this show. TTGL(Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann) is a perfect mix of the elements that make anime the great product that the have become. When most people say cartoons are for kids tie them to a chair and make them watch TTGL. It's comedy has the high and low brow elements that you miss from Hollywood movies. It's action-sequences beat every single anime and action movie I have seen other than Gundam Wing and The Matrix. And the dramatic themes of love, coming of age, depression, grief, forgiveness, friendship, revolution, combine with this underdog as dominator feeling that out does anything you have seen before. You will finish this series and start quoting it after the very first episode. I defy you to not quote Kamina when he says Don't believe in the you that believes in me, or the me that believes in you. Believe in you, the you that believes in yourself. Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is truly epic. And to quote the shows fans, completely chock full of GAR!

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is the pinnacle of anime insanity. No Dragon Ball or super robot show can come close to the ridiculousness of TTGL. It breaks the record, then reaches a million miles further. Its so over-the-top that any anime that would try to beat it would only chase its coat tails.

But what really makes TTGL one of the best is its controlled juuuuust enough for you to take it seriously. It isn't amped to 11 every episode. Its well-paced, and gradually progresses. The characters are very likable, the animation is solid, and the music is great! The best moments of the show are perfectly executed, working on so many levels. Its more than gigantic explosions and drills.

You'd have to be a sworn enemy of fun to hate TTGL. Its awesome, but emotional too. Its easily one of my favorites.

Final note - The movies are mostly rehashes of the TV series. But the final battle...well, let's just say it managed to top itself, somehow. See the second movie's ending for the stunning conclusion to the series, skip the rest.

After a long time of evaluating I think I've finally admitted to myself, this has become my favorite anime (sorry, Berserk).

On the surface it's a "more power" anime with giant robots, over-the-top action and ridiculous characters. However, the show knows this and plays into it while basically saying to itself, "I'm going to be the best more power anime with giant robots, over-the-top action and ridiculous characters that anyone has ever seen, and make it so epic that no other giant robot show can compete". And for me, it basically is.

If I could only use two words to describe Gurren Lagann, it would be "pure energy". As far as entertainment value is concerned, I don't believe I've felt more entertained by any other anime. Not a single episode was boring filler (well half an episode, which is common in most anime), and along with the theme of the show, each episode is progressively bigger and better than the last. They could have easily made this a 2 season show by breaking it after a certain point, but instead kept it compact and fast-paced.

I think what makes the show special is that it never takes itself too seriously (evident by artwork and animation), but ultimately is quite serious in its message, and very thought provoking by the end. Most philosophical anime tend to bog the viewer down in loads of symbolic jargon, and in the end, often end up confusing or boring the audience. Gurren Lagann has all that symbolism that loves to pop up in anime, but basically stays in the background and plays a secondary role. If you wanted to completely ignore the philosophical undertones in the show you could do it, and it would still be very entertaining.

The story is pretty straight forward, but if you're wanting to dig deeper, I think the spiral concept used throughout the show is the most unique theme that has been done in an anime. The music is memorable and used very well throughout, with the Libera Me From Hell track from the final three episodes still occasionally being chanted by me, years after hearing it the first time. The ending is feel-good and appropriate to the series.

I know this review will probably be seen by only a few of the already converted, but to those who are on the bubble, give the show a shot and there is a good chance it might just become your favorite.

I'd like to make a few things clear before I say what i'm about to say about this anime. And that's: "I didn't want to like it." I'm serious, when I saw all the hype surrounding it and claims of "THE best anime", I felt antagonistic of the whole idea. I never believed it, I mean THE best? There's no way... But then I watched it...Now again, another thing, I don't usually cry. Like, at all. Not a bit. Nor do I scream in excitement, which is why I didn't very much like watching Football with my uncles growing up. But man does Gurren Lagann rip me out of that state of mind. Never before have I seen such a perfect blend, just the right amount of episodes, just the right amount of characters, just the right amount of plot progression, and topped off with a PERFECT amount of action and romance to give me an experience I wouldn't believe. Bawling at some parts and jumping up and chanting "FIGHT THE POWER!!" at others, this is definitely the anime to watch, and absolutely the best anime ever. With an ending so satisfying and bittersweet giving you the proper closure you needed for letting go of such a perfect experience. If you haven't watched it do so now. It's Dub is just as good as the original, a rare case indeed, so get out there and become part of the Dai-Gurren Brigade!!