|
Tengen Toppa Gurren-lagann
 |
|
|
Animation - 8.6 |
|
|
Sound - 8.5 |
|
|
Story - 8.2 |
|
|
Character - 8.7 |
|
|
Value - 8.7 |
|
|
Enjoyment - 9.0 |
|
|
Average - 8.6 |
|
|
|
| Average |
9.5 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Overall one of the most enjoyable storylines out there. The developement of the boy to man character and the triumphs and losses as he travels and grows are really comparable to past novels of growth modernized in an epic anime series. The animation leaves a bit to be desired at times but everything else more than makes up for it. The series has humor, love(albeit cheesy at times), action in almost every single episode, quality dialogue(not too much rambling that can get boring), and one of the my favorite story lines out there. Quality "starting" anime for new fans. Epic music perfectly mixed for each scene. Also, just fyi this series holds the record for largest mecha ever in anime...
|
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
|
|
|
|
| Average |
8.8 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
8 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
| Note: This review is based on, first EnG and later on BSS & anon encodes, which are both of good quality and translation.
Quote:
If you're gonna dig, dig to breach the heavens. Even if it's my own grave, I'll dig, I'll keep digging. And once I've dug my way through, I win. Who the hell do you think I am?!
Originally created by none other but Studio GAINAX and directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi accompanied by half of the staff which worked on Furi Kuri Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is an epitome of man's soul in anime form itself. Set in the post apocalyptic world, where humans are forced to live underground by vicious beastmen and following the adventures of Simon, a boy who is only good at digging holes, and his blood brother Kamina, an eccentric man who declares he will take the world back to humanity with a huge grin on his face, this anime delivers some of the most epic battles mecha genre has ever seen, some of the best jokes around and some of the best philosophy that ever graced fiction world. Indeed, humanity has no boundaries.
A drill that will pierce the heavens. Evolution of species, mysteries of cosmos, power of imagination, human nature and meaning of life, drill is a tool which encompasses all of these. This anime shows what that drill is, by literally drilling through the border of galaxy. What it means to live free, what it means to fight, what it means to be a man, discarding sophistication and stripping its characters to their primal instincts Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann indeed shows that man is a beast, a beast who can evolve beyond gods. Even if we are mistaken, even if our existence only brings misery to everything, even if we are the only unstable variable in the supposedly perfect universe, even if our actions will only result in the complete annihilation of universe and all that lives, we will still walk forward, we will still fight. To resign to gods and face death to save the universe, or to drag the god down from the heavens and dance naked on his maimed body, I know which path would team DAI-GURREN chose and I know I would chose the same.
Conclusion: Suited for anyone 13 years old or above, though, in my opinion, best for mature audience Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is one of the best mecha shows I have ever seen. If you are interested in mecha, if you are interested in over the top comedy stuff, if you are interested in philosophy, if you are interested in the post apocalyptic world by all means watch this marvelous show! There is literally nothing quite similar to it, so if asked what to suggest to someone who has liked Tengen Toppa, I'd say, try other Gainax shows, Furi Kuri and Neon Genesis Evangelion. One is just as crazy and rich in ideas, while the other has even a stronger outlook on philosophy and psychology. Though if you just like mecha you can as well go with Gundam Seed.
|
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
|
|
|
|
| Average |
6.5 |
| Animation |
7 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Story |
6 |
| Character |
6 |
| Value |
6 |
| Enjoyment |
7 |
| I'll establish something from the get-go about Gurren Lagann - it's actually a very nice mecha series with an exuded confidence, personality and vigor, with elements that make it fun and engaging to watch unfold. However, there are so many elements that make this series drag its feet that either you have roll with the punches and take it for what it is or try to see what it offers on the table beyond its over-the-top cliches.
I'll admit I'm a bit livid about the hype surrounding the series and gender attributions about who may enjoy this series because they couldn't be more misleading into what this series really brings to the table, in both the greater spectrum and caveats that take away from it. I came into this series with not knowing much about it, and ended up with an appreciation for what it offered, but I felt reading some the reactions in the aftermath threw me because most didn't really expand upon what the series did right and wrong, it was either one direction or another. Granted, this is a series you will either love or dislike depending on what stance you note with it.
I'll admit, it's a mecha series that stands out with its rich coloring, charismatic style and bold assertions, but when you take the layers away to examine the core, there isn't much that's new about this series when juxtaposed to its peers or even series that it was inspired by. If you've seen any number of older anime mecha series like Getter Robo, Maringer Z, or something in the mold of fun mecha battles and exuded power with some cheese themes, this is seriously NOT new - it just has better animation and an exuded, infectious swagger for the contemporary crowd. A good thing in my books, but I also wanted to see what the series did beyond that from a story and progressive stature.
I think the audience that would likely love Gurren Lagann would love action, mecha oriented anime series with blended over-the-top comedy, some darker dramatic leanings, and a deus-ex-machina turn, albeit through a conclusion that seems so grandiose that it seems to cheapen the experience, perhaps not for those who just go for the ride and love the bite it exudes, but for those who want natural, progressive development and invested turns, not so much.
The story revolves around a meek protagonist (Simon), a buxom, female-fatale (Yoko) and a zealous, charismatic character that holds strongly to his optimistic ideals (Kamina). Those are probably the only characters worth caring about through the whole series, because the remainder of them are either parodies (those I'll admit are funny to watch, but can't be taken too seriously when more serious turns in the story come to pass) or so shallow in construction you'd deign to remember them.
The series takes place in a rather remote area of Earth, where many different races are suppressed by the evil Spiral King and made to live beneath the ground, while powerful mecha called Ganmen are used to make sure they stay in line. The balance of things is distorted when Simon, Kamina, and Yoko come across the Gurren and Lagann (i.e. Gurren Lagann) which has the ability to combine together and exert an immense display of power. The three embark on a journey to fight for their freedom. What makes it both familiar and unique is that the Ganmen are powered by Spiral Power, which relies on the pilot's will to do any measure of things. This is another element that's common in mecha series (Ideon, Gundam Seed, Evangelion, and many others). The first part of the series feels like a "monster/battle of the day" scenario mixed in with other familiar cliched elements (with a ludicrous hot spring episode in tow). The transformation scenes of the Gurren Lagann are as much cheese as they are repetitive, but the exuded personalities of Simon, Kamina, and Yoko, and the adventures they take make it forgivable. They look like they're having fun, if a bit reckless.
To fully appreciate what this series is about, you have to know these are chraracters within the guise of similar archetypes noted across many series, and such characters, alongisde the respective storyline, are eccentric in nature, rolling with some extreme ups and downs. Simon seems like many a protagonist in mecha series: uncertain of his abilities, but as the series goes forward, he matures and becomes a hefty presence in the series. Yoko...I liked Yoko, even if her character seemed chiefly for show, she had emotions and genuine concerns when it came down to it (she really wasn't as bad as some of the other characters). I'll admit Kamina, as over-the-top as his character lent, was one of the finer characters in this series. I would have appreciated it more if he (and perhaps the series in general) didn't overbeat the point about one's limitless abilities because it seemed to be reinterated at every turn, and not so much naturally shown as it was told. Or, if it were shown, it's so overbearingly noted.
Oddly enough, that same belabored point is one of the main premises in which this series revolves around and makes it worth well in what it is. Particularly once the seires finds itself over the hump in progression and makes a beeline in its course, you never feel completely lost from what the series tries to tell you. For me, it was a watch that, at times, engaged and put me off. I'll admit that it has a fun atmospheric vibe to it that, if you're just going along for the ride, you'll likely enjoy it, but at the same time: the series doesn't allow the elements to naturally come into themselves, and it seems there are places where it cheapens the events that occur, including a few major plot twists that I found could have had better handling.
Animation standards are actually not bad, but they're not particularly consistent or rank over series in the current spectrum. The character designs seem like FLCL meets Dead Leaves, and I don't think of that as a good thing. There are times when the characters are horribly exaggerated in design, and while the coloring is very well done with gorgeous backdrops, I found the fluidity with character expressions was terrible. However, the battle scenes made up for some of the slack. The mecha designs are a little...cheese depending on what point you are in the series, but if you can roll with the parodies and vibe this series exudes, you shouldn't have a problem with it.
Music was pleasant, but not extraordinary. I loved the instrumentation of the OP theme (when I heard Meg Rock penned the song, I was glad to hear it), but despite watching it many times, I couldn't come like the female singer who performed it. The ED themes, in my opinion, were much more catchy and vibrant than the opening, especially the first ending. BGM works well with the settings overall, though I'm not sure if they would be as well noted on a stand-alone note.
Overall, I think Gurren Lagann is a series for those who want a fun ride and are willing to overlook common cliches and a not-so-invested/realistic storyline. Granted, it has moments where it distinguishes itself from its peers, in both mecha and other considerations, but as far as being the best anime series, I would rather recommend people to watch this series and judge for themselves. For me, it was a pleasant watch, but not one that I'm not readily eager to come back to repetitively, just a once in every blue moon watch.
|
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
|
|
|
Budding |
(2008-12-29 20:31:57) 2008-12-29 20:31:24 |
|
| Average |
7.7 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Story |
7 |
| Character |
7 |
| Value |
7 |
| Enjoyment |
8 |
| Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is a 27 episode mecha action anime released in 2007. Its highly eccentric and fast paced nature makes it stand out from all other anime, although at times this nature is overly bizarre and inconsistent.
The graphics and animation of Gurren Lagann appear very clean, and its design and overall style makes everything very pleasant to look at. However, the quality of the graphics and animation is inconsistent, something that is especially noticeable in episode 4. Granted, episode 4 was produced by a different company, the infamous Gonzo, but it is a prime example of inconsistent production quality.
The songs and music in Gurren Lagann complement the fast paced and exciting nature of Gurren Lagann very well. The voice acting is of very high quality, although some voices do not fit their respective characters. Another issue regarding the voice acting is that the change in tone as the characters mature are at times overly prominent, damaging the consistency of the anime.
Gurren Lagann has a storyline which can only be described as highly dramatic and exaggerated. As a result, Gurren Lagann is an anime which doesn't give any priority to the development of its storyline. To some, this rebellious nature is perceived as highly favourable, although more observant and stern viewers might feel less enthusiastic about the storyline.
The characters in Gurren Lagann are mostly well designed and animated, although this has been somewhat damaged courtesy of studio Gonzo. The voices of the characters also appear doubtful at some instances of the anime, and character development is hesitant at best. Still, given the nature of Gurren Lagann, character development is not an important factor in the anime.
Gurren Lagann is described by many as pure awesomeness, although a more detailed look would reveal a number of shortcomings throughout the anime. Still, its fast paced rebelliousness and random style will allow most viewers to overlook these flaws and give them an entertaining experience.
|
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
|
|
|
|
| Average |
8.7 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Story |
8 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
8 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Quite frankly, you've probably looked at some of the other reviews and figured out what this show is about. They're right.
This show is, plain and simple, the cliche of RESOLVE taken to its upper limits, breaking through to the heavens. You'd think this'd be a horrible show from hearing this -- hell, I was kind of expecting that. But I knew there was some hype surrounding it, and so I decided to watch it anyways.
I was quickly overwhelmed. This show is all about the execution, and there's no stopping it. It's one hell of a ride; just sit back and enjoy. You'll notice immediately how over-the-top everything is, in everything from the characters to the artstyle and designs -- it's a running theme, and it never stops. It's this spirit that carries through to make the show so great. It's infectious, and it keeps you saying "Wow! That was freaking amazing!" instead of "That could never happen. What the hell?" when something unbelievable happens. In its own words, the show's about kicking reason to the curb and doing the impossible. As long as you're fine with that, you'll have a great time watching TTGL.
The animation's nothing fancy; it's got a larger than life feel, and it's not really very detailed. The last couple of episodes kick up the quality in that department, though; they look really good. In addition, almost all the action scenes are superbly done (and the ones that are comparatively lacking come early).
Sound's pretty good, too. Everything is nice and appropriate, and the OP and EDs are very listenable. The insert songs are good, and always enhance the mood instead of detract from it. The voice acting isn't particularly exceptional, but it does almost always convey the larger than life feeling of the show, especially with characters like Kamina. (All VA talk is based off the Japanese dub.)
The story is, like I said earlier, RESOLVE elaborated upon into a story. It's extremely straightforward, but there's really nothing wrong with that in a show of this type. It's enough to keep you engaged with the action, so it's fine.
The characters are all great and fun to watch, but don't expect any Eva-like depth. Hotbloodedness is here in spades, and it sure as hell is enjoyable. Character progression is fine, too.
As long as come into the show with the right mindset, you'll have a blast watching. The epitome of hotbloodedness, manliness, and RESOLVE, TTGL is not a show to be missed.
|
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
|
|
|
|
| Average |
7.8 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Story |
7 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
8 |
| Enjoyment |
7 |
| Deus ex mechanica justified, this is what best sums up Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. You probably won't watch another anime that uses the "main character in tough situations, overcomes it with will power" device as often as TTGL does. This is an often hated device but what makes it unique here is that will power, or what the show calls spiral power, is what the story revolves around. The Ganmen, the animes unique talking mechas, is powered by spiral power and can serve to repair damaged parts or create new ones. It is very unique in the sense that it takes a cliche and builds a story around it but it falls short compared to another highly regarded mecha this season in Code Geass due to a plot that didn't welcome its stay for too long.
The main character Simon is a pilot of a unique mecha called Lagann that can take over other Ganmen and ships. The world is being suppressed by the Helix King who has trapped humanity in underground territory while a race called beastmen roam around in their Ganmen making sure that humans remain underground. Simon, along with Kamina and a bunch of other unique individuals, march towards Teppelin where the capital of the Beastmen resides in. While that sums up the story, there is a completely different story in the second half, though revealing an ounce of it would ruin everything. While it seems kind of like a bad anime that it has two different plotlines, the first half actually does a wonderful job of building up towards the second half, where the problem lies is that for a show with two plots, it is kind of lacking in episodes.
And this is an odd situation for any anime to be in, most of the time animes are way too long. The characters are great and hilarious, the fights are juicy and awesome that deliver in every single episode, and the story is pretty unique and original, but the problem is time. Pacing in the first story felt like there was a lot more potential for character development but rushed it a little bit. Second story hit the twelve gear and just zoomed past the finish line. Other than the relationship between Kamina and Simon, while there is a lot of great and developed characters, you wish they spent more time on the characters. TTGL often primarily feels action and story driven.
The other major problem is that it got way too big for its own good, you will know what I mean by the last episode. It went from battling averaged size mechas to battleships to larger battleships the size of the moon to battling mechas the size of galaxies! It was epic, got more epic, then the epic barometer scale just blew off the roof to the point is felt anti-climatic. There is nothing wrong with getting too big, but it didn't give us very much time to appreciate everything and instead gave us a tease of just about everything.
If there was more time for the story to scatter things out, no doubt TTGL would have been one of the most epic and blood gushing animes ever. Its main goal was to be epic beyond just being epic, and it accomplished that, though something like that can't really be enjoyed on an entertainment value. It does a lot of essential things good, awesome and badass characters who are just hilarious and great to watch, though fitting in what feels like a fifty episode anime into twenty seven (one which is a flashback) just proved too much for itself to handle.
|
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
|
|
|
nauXolo |
(2008-08-29 05:02:15) 2008-08-29 04:45:41 |
|
| Average |
8.2 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Story |
7 |
| Character |
7 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
| I am purposely writing this review one week after I finished watching TTGL, so that the adrenaline rush that came from watching the end could wear off. (Yes, it required one week for that to happen).
TTGL is an in-your-face straight-up mecha anime with no frills and little nonsense. From mind boggling action fight scenes to outlandish ideas that somehow fit into this fictional universe, TTGL really satisfies the palette. Although the pace starts out slowly for the first 10 episodes, it soon gains steam and goes for an amazingly enjoyable build-up until the end. Objectively, there may be a few flaws and irks in the characters and storyline, but this is really overshadowed by the energy of the anime.
I highly recommend this anime, because the fights are on such an epic scale. Furthermore, aside from the slow start and the useless hot springs episode, TTGL really doesn't waste much screen time. If you are a male who doesn't have expectations for a profound story, have a healthy amount of testosterone and just plain want an entertaining anime to watch, Tengen Toppa Gurren Laggen should definitely be on your "To-Watch" list.
|
6 of 8 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
|
|
|
Kasaguri |
(2008-07-16 05:10:43) 2008-07-16 05:09:22 |
|
| Average |
9.5 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Wow. This has got to be one of, if not, the best animes I have ever seen. Which is ironic since I seriously hate anything having to do with mecha.
I was just browsing around the site and clicked the title. As soon as I saw the word "Mecha" under genre I was about to hit the back button. Then I saw the picture and thought, "The girl on the right looks kinda hot," and yes I decided to watch the show based on my lower brain.
Little did I know, I was about to watch the masterpiece that is Tengen Toppa Gurren-lagann. I've tried to hate this anime, I really did. I dont like mecha but this was very quickly changing my mind. From the first episode to the last, my eyes were glued to the screen. This is the second anime that I was getting mad at for not loading on my computer fast enough. Let's get on with the review.
|
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
|
|
|
|
| Average |
10.0 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Before I watched the series, I took a look here at the low rated reviews. I took all of those into consideration. Surprisingly, I was blown away at how i believed those reviews.
I expected a great deal from this anime, and i was NOT disappointed. It lived up to its expectations.
It's possibly the best anime of its kind.
It's not enough to explain in words, and it's definitely a "must-see".
|
3 of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
|
|
|
|
| Average |
9.3 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| This anime really goes beyond just being another mech anime.
It takes you through the beginnings of small, lonely, and seemingly hopeless reality and thrusts you into a wide open world full of potential and hope.
A rather boring and seemingly unimportant character joins a brash and outgoing hero-type to break through their mundane existence. An extravagant female warrior joins the two locals as they start a journey that will eventually lead them to the ends of the universe, and beyond.
As the bonds of friendship grow and mature with the first series of episodes, the characters really start to come out and blossom. But, just when their relationships are starting to bear fruit, an unfortunate event occurs that puts an enormous strain on all of the characters.
Some return to their initial hopelessness, while others grasp onto the strength they've used to endure their humble beginnings. Then, as the anime peaks in a dreary, tired, and drawn out sequence of events a new character appears who starts to shine some light on the emotionally torn group.
Having been revived, and after overcoming an enormous blow to their bonds and the reality of their movement, the group becomes even stronger still as they press on to break the chains they've become aware of.
As news of their triumphs echoes across the land, more and more people develop the will to fight, and they find themselves fighting along side the gurren-brigade to remove the shackles upon their world.
This anime is filled with extravagant characters, all of whom you will grow to love before the series ends. The battles are simply amazing. This anime takes each and every battle to an entirely new level, and you will often find yourself laughing about how ridiculous their battles become. And yet, witnessing the absurdaties of these battles, you always end up mutter the same words, "that's awesome."
If you're looking for a highly enjoyable action/adventure anime, with a little drama mixed in, I would definitely recommend this one.
|
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
|
|
|
Hikikomori |
(2008-04-15 06:21:39) 2008-04-15 06:16:39 |
|
| Average |
5.2 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
6 |
| Story |
5 |
| Character |
6 |
| Value |
3 |
| Enjoyment |
3 |
| Simply put: this anime is way over-hyped and overrated. For me this is single-handedly the most annoying anime ever watched......well, barring DBZ. Gurren Lagann, had a good thing going in the beginning with the kid, the big brother and and the sexy girl living underground and then roaming some sort of post apocalyptic Earth. By bringing modern civilization back AND THEN putting the whole world in jeopardy—yet again, yawn!—has made this anime nothing but a trite piece of work with an unoriginal storyline.
|
4 of 17 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
|
|
|
quamp |
2008-03-01 18:12:38 |
|
| Average |
10.0 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is the story of a young man named Simon and his brother Kamina. Miners by trade, they are drilling around under the repressive rule of the Spiral King. One day, a monster comes in, along with a hot babe rebel named Yoko. She gets Simon and Kamina to join her cause to overthrow the Spiral King.
The story doesn't end there, however. Seven years later, we find out there were reasons behind the Spiral King's malevolence. Even more powerful and sinister is the anti-spiral faction, who kidnap Simon's girlfriend Nia and then force him to return to fighting. With the Dai-Gurren team, Simon journies to another dimension to fight the Anti-Spirals.
I think once it hits America, it's going into the top 10.
|
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
|
|
|
|
| Average |
8.7 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Story |
7 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
| If theres one word to describe this anime it would be "spirit". The anime conveys a strong and clear theme with excellent plot development, all in 27 episodes(without dragging!). It contains top quality action scenes, great music that will make you hyped up and a wonderful cast of characters. It might be a little hard to start, but this anime will deliver. Very enjoyable indeed.
|
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
|
|
|
Veleon |
(2008-07-20 20:45:35) 2008-02-16 22:12:14 |
|
| Average |
9.7 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| When I finished this anime I said one thing.
"I may have just finished the single greatest anime of all time."
I recommend this to anyone who has ever been born.
*EDIT*
In light of some recent events on the forums, I have decided to post my thoughts as they are now on the anime. I posted something in a thread which depicted how much I truly love this anime. I put it here for you guys to read.
***
I will defend TTGL also, but it will make me seem like a fanboy (which I am to the very bottom of my heart). I love that series. Everything about it hit my right in my soul. It was an anime that brought back many good childhood memories of watching super heroes or when I liked shonen anime. In reality that is TTGL is to me. It was a shonen series that I could enjoy as an adult. It perfectly portrayed the ideals and concepts of a shonen series. This like always persevere, do your best, believe in yourself, beat the odds, etc. were all in there. It was something my inner child longed to see again and it got it with TTGL. To satisfy my adult it also had good characterization (besides Yoko, hers was terrible). I loved the music. It was short for a shonen anime. It also had an adult that I could aspire to be in a few years. And it had a few surprises along the way. Everything about the anime filled a little niche that was sitting inside me. I feel like this anime was personally made to fill my needs in anime. So, I could never really give it a fair synopsis. If you look at my rating for it I gave it a single 8 in animation. Everything else were 10s. So, as you can see I can never really defend this anime. Do I think it is overrated? No, of course not. I don't think it should given the title of best anime of all time yet. However, I think that everyone who has ever been born needs to see that anime.
If you are looking for a creative plot you will not really find it here. However, it didn't matter to me. Original or not, it gave me exactly what I wanted. In the series they are like "There is a zero probability chance that this will work." and you know what. They do it anyway. And I knew they would succeed. And when they did, I was like "This is awesome." Had they not succeeded I would've been angry. It is a series where you want it to do exactly what you think it will and TTGL does just that. And when it is all said and done, you still sit in your chair crying because you can't believe something that simple could be so sweet to see.
As time grew on I learned to love it even more. Only after some weeks of thinking did I decide to dub it my "All Time Favorite Anime." I thought maybe the hype of finishing it would die down. And it did for awhile until I did a rewatch with some friends. I literally cried for a couple of episodes. I can't begin to explain how happy it makes me feel to watch TTGL. At that point I knew what TTGL meant to me. I know that I am happier in life because I saw TTGL. I know that whenever I feel depressed, sad, alone, or scared, that if I watch TTGL it will be alright. It doesn't make much sense. So just kick logic to curb, because that's the Gurren Brigade way. Break through the sky, and reach for the impossible. I wouldn't have it any other way, only Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann.
EDIT* I nearly cried writing this post, so everyone better read it.
***
|
2 of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
|
|
|
|
| Average |
8.8 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Animation is big, comic, loud, simple and straightforward. It doesn't just lack detail, it hasn't got any, whatsoever. It took me a few episodes to get used to it, but I found the animation style to be very much in sink with the spirit of this series. Sound is nothing spectacular either, but the voice actors deliver the over the top enthusiasm and bravado nicely, which is really all that matters here . Characters remain about as deep as a puddle in a dry season for quite some time, and I didn't care one bit. As a matter of fact I really enjoyed all of the main characters until seeing more of them became addictive. About the story ..... well it is not episodic for one thing. This is one long, straightforward tale that gets better and better with every episode. But if I had to answer why this anime kept me up hours past my usual bedtime. I guess it was the ....ahem......."coolness factor" if that is a word. Coolness rating for Toppa Gurren Lagann is sorta off the scale. As with Hellsing, when it's cool enough, nothing else matters to me anymore. Don't get me wrong, animation in Hellsing beats the hell out of this one. And it's cool in a different way and all. Still in my humble opinion when it comes to enjoyment and value Toppa Gurren Lagann is [in it's own way] cool enough to be up there with 'way cool' anime's like Black Lagoon or Hellsing.
|
1 of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
|
|
|
DazeD |
2008-01-13 13:18:37 |
|
| Average |
8.8 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Story |
8 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
| Upon watching the first episode I didn't know what to think of this anime. The weird robot animations and dorky-looking protagonist really dampened whatever expectations I had for the anime, BUT I was wrong. This anime is packed full of goodies.
Animation - The animation might not suit everyone's liking, but if you view everything with a narrow-mind you'll never see what something truly means. After watching it for a few episodes, you'll get use to the mech designs and probably grow to like them.
Sound - I can't say much to say for the sounds except for I like the opening and the vocals of the characters.
Story - The story is a bit obscure, but it's rather original and interesting in my personal opinion. Starts off as a strive of mankind to regain the surface of their planet to regaining the universe. But beyond that, it's the story focusing on the characters that truly made it worth watching.
Character - This is one of the few anime that truly has a dynamic cast of characters. For example the protagonist, Simon. He started it off as a dorky kid who doesn't have much of any goal or purpose in life besides drilling for his village. Then as the story progresses, he becomes a courageous hero-type due to the influence of the people around him. Furthermore, it is one of the few animes where some of the important/likable are killed. It really adds to the emotional factors.
Overall, this anime is amazing. It takes a bit of getting use to, but it will grow on you. Definitely worth a watch for any action or mech fans. Highly Recommended.
|
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
|
|
|
|
| Average |
4.8 |
| Animation |
7 |
| Sound |
6 |
| Story |
3 |
| Character |
3 |
| Value |
3 |
| Enjoyment |
7 |
| I agree that regarding animation (especially in the first episodes) this series is unique. Regarding story, characters, etc they arent something the viewers havent seen before, starting 30 years ago with Getter Robo,so I will not focus on that aspect that much. Certainly humans vs animals in mecha is interesting and entertaining, but for this there are Samurai Pizza Cats.
Contrary to the belief that the later episodes are much better, I found the first half more interesting and much more addicting to the point that I watched in a sitting 12 of them, even if I initially wasnt in the mood to watch anything.
Despite the hype about the series, I think it deserves the attention it gets for the most part and certainly the younger generation will find more qualities than I did. Some found it generally better than Evangelion. While in the animation they cant be compared, considering the 12 year gap, in the story at least Evangelion was better directed. Considering that both are not true mecha and can be watched even by non-mecha fans Evangelion has the edge in the story and the depth, while TGL in the elements that make a title popular and entertaining. This title is also a parody with references to other Gainax and mecha titles. Much in the parodizing spirit initiated by FLCL but in a less zany way. The mecha fights especially in the first episodes were very well animated, meeting the standards for 2006 and opening new ways for televised animation. I agree too that this series is innovative.
To enjoy TGL it is necessary not to expect any serious moments or a complex story as in Evangelion. The characters are forgettable (fanservice aside) and episodes 17-25 show a drop in animation quality (all enemy mecha look the same) and a sudden change of pace, only to be corrected in the last two episodes with an OK ending. I enjoyed mainly for the animation and some funny moments and nothing more, nothing less. Many moments were very manipulative, so younger viewers will be more influenced and addicted. I also understood why new anime titles do not appeal to me that much. This is for the teens of the next generation.
Now the series is on its appex but hopefully with an abroad DVD release and when the hype is settled down, it can be assessed more objectively.
For me one of the good titles of 2006 but since I prefer rather the neglected and not so commercial gems it will just remain as good entertainment. Just let your senses wide open and free for manipulation and it is worth watching once. The OP is one of the most addictive too. Of course this review isnt aimed towards viewers who absolutely love the new Gainax series.
|
5 of 11 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
|
|
|
|
| Average |
9.7 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Every few years, an anime comes out and marks a generation. We have seen Neon Genesis Evangelion do it. We have seen Cowboy Bebop do it. And GTO, and Samurai X, and a few others. These defining series have set the golden standard for which all other animes hope to reach.
Tengen Teppo Gurren Lagann is different: it has surpassed the unreachable. Not only has it set a new bar for its successors, but it has taken anime onto the next level. It has succeeded where others have failed: TTGL has broken down the barriers of genres; it has exemplified the way a story should be told; it has embodied the meaning of positive progression - that every episode can and should be better than the last. It has also proved a common theory wrong: that the build-up to a climax must be slow and careful, that stale moments are needed to contrast with the defining moments of the show. No, TTGL will throw you onto an epic roller-coaster ride of uninterrupted intensity that never gets old.
It is simply, hands down, one of the greatest animes ever made.
I would tell you that it is the best, and let me explain why.
Characters
Greatest - cast - of - characters - ever. In Gurren Lagann you will find the perfect balance between the believable and the unbelievable: the main characters are crazy/insane/exciting/exaggerated and yet, you will still identify yourself to them, you will believe them, you will believe in them and you will come to love them. When they win a battle, you will feel relief; when they are betrayed, you will hate the culprit; when they overcome the greatest of trials, you will feel the adrenaline rush through you; but when they cry of despair, you will feel the sadness course through your veins.
When I say that you will believe them and in them, I am serious. You will really come to believe that the characters will change the world, that their words will sway a nation, that their spirits will never break. You will cheer for them and hope that they will succeed in their pursuit. All the important character – including the villains – are multifaceted, multidimensional in their own distinct personalities. There is no black and white: everyone has his or her own qualities and faults.
The best part of all, however, is the evolution of the main character: there has never, in my opinion, been an anime that has captured the boy-becomes-man concept so well. From the timid, cowardly boy who could not stand up for himself, to the complete and utter badass with unwavering spirit and courage (don`t worry, you see this at the very beginning in the prologue), you will see it all. What more can I say? You just have to check it out for yourself.
Story-telling
Although it is not the most complicated or mind twisting of tales, Tengen Teppo Gurren Lagann`s story-telling is second to none. You will be submerged in a world of hope and despair, of humans and gods, of love and hatred. In front of your eyes, heroes are born, legends are written, and heavens are destroyed. You will witness and learn that the greatest of gods can be overthrown even if all you have is belief. TTGL is the ultimate story of evolution: from the small, insignificant underground village of Jeeha to the gigantic, space-bending clash of the titans, you will have experienced it all. And in the end, you will be left with a feeling of emptiness and disbelief: but how could 27 episodes be so short?
Ups and downs
Animes usually spend too much time on a victory or a loss. For example, if someone dies, the mourning usually drags on for a while. In TTGL however, both victories and losses are short lived: the essential is captured while the rest is left out. In other words, you will feel the joy of a victory or the sadness of a loss, and you will see their respective consequences, but the show never loses its focus on the mission that is at hand. None of those extremely time consuming (and often, boring) flashbacks; none of those sidetracking moments where everyone is in a standstill. Gurren Lagann will make sure the story continues progressing even if the world seems to be ending.
By short lived victories and losses, I also mean that the fluctuations are large and frequent. One moment, you can have the main characters at the height of their excitement (you are gripping to your chair just by watching them go), and the next, they have fallen into the pits of despair (and you cannot believe what just happened). These frequent twists in the story make every single episode exciting, because you never seem to know what will happen next.
Straight to the point
In every action/adventure show that is considered `good`, there are always some defining moments that really stand out: they usually involve a heavily emotional moment, a turning point in the story, or a sign of character evolution. Gurren Lagann is revolutionary in this aspect: it practically consists only of these moments one after the other.
Some would argue that it is only by having stale moments that the defining moments can stand out. I would have agreed until I saw TTGL. Every 5 minutes of the show seems to have some sort of character evolution tied to it, or a twist in the story, or a sentimental moment. It is as if they had written a 200 episode script only to take the best moments out of it to make a 27 episode masterpiece.
Emotionally heavy
When I say emotionally heavy, that does not mean that TTGL is an extremely emo show or whatnot. No, in fact, TTGL is almost hyperactive as an anime: it is fast paced, the characters are always exciting, and the general ambiance of the show is quite charged up. However, it is a very touching show. When someone dies, no matter how heroic the death seems to be, you feel the sadness it invokes. Drama in the story is not frequent, but I can guarantee that once it occurs, you will remember it for the rest of the show, because they really touch your heart. There are also many heartwarming moments that will mark you, especially when you see your favorite characters overcome the impossible.
Flow and Balance
Finally, one of the things that struck me while I was watching TTGL was how I could not remember a single time where I was thinking something along the lines of "oh, that was weird" or "huh? what the? that doesn`t make sense". Everything flowed with each other so well, despite being such a fast-paced anime. Even the frequent twists in the story seemed to make sense once they had taken place. The entire show felt like a smooth, continuous story-telling of a boy becoming a man.
There isn`t too much focus on comedy, nor on ecchi, nor on drama. Gurren Lagann is as it should be: an action/adventure story. However, there is enough comedy for it to be funny at times; there is enough ecchi for the girls to look really hot at times; there is enough drama to make you feel sad at times. In fact, I even have trouble classifying TTGL as a pure action/adventure series, because it seems to have fused the elements of action/adventure/comedy/ecchi/drama together into one anime. For example, in the middle of a battle you can have comedy, ecchi and drama occurring all at once, without disturbing the flow of the battle. Tengen Teppo Gurren Lagann has transcended the genres.
In conclusion
After hearing all the hype about TTGL, I had to see it. However, it did not seem to impress me so much during the first few episodes (it was good, but not THAT good). But I have to say, this is one of those rare animes that just gets better and better, and never stops up until you are left speechless in front of your screen. Every episode seems to be better than the previous one; and fortunately, Tengen Teppo Gurren Lagann also has one of the most epic anime endings ever.
TTGL is a `guy` show or so to speak. But whether you are a girl, or whether you absolutely despise mecha and action/adventure, I can guarantee that you will not regret watching it. Be warned though, that Tengen Teppo Gurren Lagann is a story of heroic tragedy. A touching and yet epic tale that deserves to be considered the masterpiece of all masterpieces.
|
20 of 25 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
|
|
|
|
| Average |
9.0 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Story |
8 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Story about Piercing Heaven/Sky.
Gainax has done a great job to pull this one off, this anime might seem to be targetting younger viewers, but it has a distinguish value which is greatly appreciative to adults as well.
If your looking for a title that can remind you of past times when you just flat out enjoyed watching action-funny anime, this title is highly recommended.
Animation Sound are approriate for this title, I believe these two actually boost / mix well with Value / Enjoyment.
Story, about a boy who followed a great brother's idea about breaking the sky/heaven. Following the great brother's ideas, whom laters incorporates this very idea to his own motto, and beliefs.
Confined to underground, breaking the sky/heaven literally means to break free, to face the world.
Fighting in funny looking robots, to free themselves, they portray how humans try their best to survive even in most impossible situtation.
Enjoyment? You can only appreciate this kind of anime, for they don't come often. You can literally watch the whole series in 1 go, and thirst for more.
|
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
|
|
|
Pakxenon |
(2007-10-05 02:25:14) 2007-10-01 20:17:08 |
|
| Average |
9.2 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
8 |
| GAINAX has a history of ups and downs, from flops like He Is My Master and Mahoromatic, and explosions like FLCL and the controversial and still-popular Neon Genesis Evangelion. But lately GAINAX has been flopping, with poor adaptions of mediocre manga and giving most of them a GAINAX (mindfuck/non-cohesive) ending like they did with NGE. So after all these years, GAINAX announced their next anime, a totally original mecha anime consisting of 26 episodes. And most people thought it was going to be another flop.
Trends come and go, people. They were wrong.
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is GAINAX's answer to these ponders, and their ultimate comeback from the pits of despair. This isn't just any comeback - they broke the impossibly-high barrier set by NGE 12 years ago by bringing back something old school and sored straight into the heavens with a drill as big as galaxies. And I'm not kidding!
TTGL is an original mecha story about a young underground boy by the name of Simon, who, along with his big brother Kamina, drilled through onto the surface of the Earth and started their adventures to take it back from the Beastmen, who roam and order the surface by piloting mechas called Gunman. These mecha are unusual - they are piloted from the center of the body, which is composed entirely of a face, with arms and legs sticking out where they should be. Simon, who found his own Gunman, the Lagann, helps Kamina hijack his own Gunman, the Gurren. When put together, they compose into the super-Gunman, the Gurren-Lagann. Along the way, they meet up with other humans and allies bent on the same goal - to take back the surface stolen from them many years ago.
It is an epic story about friendship, trust, teamwork, constitution, heart, and most importantly, BELIEF. Simon may start out as another Shinji Ikari, but with his hot-blooded brother Kamina, he transforms, losing all naiveness and cowardice into a man as manly as his idol. From the various quotes his brother taught him, to his own self-judgment, Simon means it when he says humans has always been evolving, never complete until the day they'll die.
Following these two brothers are Yoko (the big-breasted gunner), Leeron (the engineer), Kittan (the hot-shot), Rossiu (the conservative), and many more who come into play in later in the story. It started out with only this small bandits-like group, but the cast turns into a huge army, ready to take on anything that threatens their existence (I also had troubles remembering all their names). Each character is significant to the greater scheme, and all their lives are explored in a grand struggle in the last third of the series. Suffice to say, while the cast keeps getting bigger, the story gets more epic.
There are three sections to the story: Simon and Kamina's emergence from the underground, Nia and the fall of Lord Genome, and the galaxy-sized rebellion against the Anti-Spirals. Each one builds on top of the next with no signs of slouching, even when the first peak of the story can be depressing to people with its sad-made-epic plot twist. Put into despair? Not in any moment in TTGL! Those scenes are quickly reimbursed with tears crying at the epicness, always making each slough of despair hopeful of a comeback higher than before.
TTGL is all about drills, as they seemed popular with the kids. And what a great motif it is. Lessons about piercing the heavens with an earthly tool, spiral energy that makes it spin faster and drill through anything, and the power that comes from the drill in your heart... Each speech by Kamina being more drilling-in-your-head than the next... What more is there to say?
There ain't no emo-angst shit or mindfucks, just pure zaniness and action-packed epic fights, one after another. Possibly even more burning than what FLCL gave, TTGL is a pinnacle of GAINAX's anime history, a heaven-piercing peak among a plain, and a masterpiece to stand time for years to come.
|
7 of 10 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
|
|
|
Site design by ecxol.net:
|
