[Categories: Anime Reviews]
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann 5
After the controversy with ep #4 I wonder how many people still enjoy this show. In fact, after this one, I wonder how many are still following it. My view probably won’t be popular but I think this episode was great. Seriously! There’s no big battle to speak of but it boasts some impressive characterisation and the art style really struck a chord with me.
After our heroes fall through a hole they encounter a village not entirely unlike their own - that is to say, it’s an underground settlement of austerity and fear, presided over by a figure who Kamina takes an instant dislike to. Because they’re not on the surface any more, almost all of the episode, save a couple of shots inside the Lagann, are rendered in greyscale with only fires and torches lending any sort of light and colour; just so you know it’s not my knack of picking lousy creencaps. Anyway, it paints a very grim picture of the underground village in which the High Priest, who makes the laws the villagers follow, has decided that the population must not exceed fifty people. Every time a child is born, lots are drawn to decide who leaves. Needless to say Kamina is very frustrated with the way these people go about things and tries to get them around to his way of thinking.
It is at times like this where we see the limitations in Kamina’s philosophy: his simple, black-and-white, view of the world is ill-suited to a place such as this in which things are not as simple as he seems to think. It’s easy to see why Kamina left his own village: contrary to his own views the High Priest is not some ‘old fart’ who is trying to spoil everyone’s fun, but a man making difficult decisions as best he can. Simon’s attempts to diffuse the situation shows that, this time, he is the more mature of the two.
Like the colour palette used, there are other little details that caught my attention - the weird brown lizard in the foreground in the opening scene, for instance. For all its flashy action, bold visuals and fan service, Gurren Lagann has subtlety that probably isn’t apparent. Even when GAINAX aren’t firing on all cylinders they are still able to deliver a tale of surprising depth that leaves you thinking about what you’ve just seen - this episode is a timely reminder of where Simon and Kamina came from.
As a result of this episode three more join the team who are on their way to the Beastmen’s lair; whether or not they are necessary to the story or would be better of as characters revisited later, I’m not sure. Right now I think the contrasting personalities of Kamina and Simon, as well as the surprisingly likeable Yoko, provide all the dynamics necessary but time will tell. If nothing else we can rest assured that Gurren Lagann is back on track; I’m all too aware though that not everyone will be happy with the direction it’s taking.
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