[Categories: Anime Reviews]
2007 in 12 day 12, the end: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
And so, with the final day of our Twelve Days of Christmas countdown, I’ve worked my way through a metric tonne of turkey, numerous glasses of assorted alcoholic beverages and a countless number of mince pies to give you guys the last Highlight of 2007. Some will cite Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann as a classic in the making for the mecha action; some will have appreciated Yoko’s fanservice x girl with gun combo but for me the series is purest win for re-affirming my faith in Gainax. After some pretty mediocre efforts I can’t stress enough the importance of seeing them getting back to what they do best, and doing it well. *Glaringly obvious spoiler within*
I’d salute that
There’s something about Gurren Lagann that can turn even the most articulate and insightful bloggers into raving fanboys who eschew thoughtful commentary for fanboy raves peppered with superlatives and CAPS LOCK. Before placing my reviews on temporary hiatus after ADV’s licence announcement I tried to get a grasp on the reasoning behind this bizarre phenomenon and came up blank. I guess the truth is, Gurren Lagann has a pure and simple raison d’être: it is supposed to be MINDLESS FUN. See? I’m hitting the caps lock button and I’m only onto the second paragraph!
At the time of writing I have merely the slightest inkling of Nia’s place in the story, with no knowledge of the spirals vs. antispirals and whatever happens in the second half. I did however catch a few minutes of the last episode which, while not being enough to be spoilerific, seemed to show entire galaxies being thrown like ninja shuriken on an outrageous scale that matches the two Gunbuster OAVs. This is possibly where Gurren Lagann acquires its cult following: it is so gleefully over-the-top, gar and self-aware (or rather, fan-aware) that it endears itself to the audience.
Memorable Moment
Because the show followed a no-holds-barred attitude, I found it difficult to pick out, say, one particular mecha battle that was particularly outstanding because so many of them had me glued to the screen and grinning like a dumb kid on a sugur rush. The sudden gear shifts into characterisation mode were ironically the times when the series scored so highly in my view because it managed to show guts and a sense of fun but a great deal of heart too. The story is after all about Simon’s emergence from an underground village as a shy young boy to becoming a Badass Hero™; if the characters were not as colourful and engaging, this could never work. So, as my parting shot I declare a (predictably) high point of Gurren Lagann, albeit an early one, as being the clash of eyeball-melting action with the manly tears of tragedy to be, the eternally awesome Kamina and his heroic last stand. Huerrgh!
Other ABC bloggers’ posts for the Twelve Days of Christmas
Drop your url into the comments section below if I’ve inadvertantly left you out. ^_^
Posted on December 26th, 2007 @ 4:57 pm
HUERRRGH!
For once, that is all that need be said.
Posted on December 26th, 2007 @ 5:26 pm
HUERRRGH!!
“Badass Hero™”
Is that anything like Guitar Hero? And if so how do I win?
Posted on December 27th, 2007 @ 8:58 am
Throughout the entire series, I kept waiting and waiting for GAINAX to pull a GAINAX and bring Kamina back to life. Either way, his GAR-ness will live in our hearts forever.
Posted on July 28th, 2008 @ 5:38 am
On that day. . . We lost something that could never be replaced. . .
Kamina is truly a man among men.