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Watching Gurren Lagann is a very unique experience that doesn't come along too often.

You first find yourself in a very simple world with a seemingly average protagonist until you're suddenly swept away into something larger than life. You're introduced to a large variety of characters from the strong yet vulnerable Yoko, to the energetic and inspiring Kamina, and finally to the hero of our story: the seemingly weak and cowardly Simon who turns out to be so much more than you initially expect.

The story of Gurren Lagann is completely ridiculous at first glance but it also holds some emotional depth to it. Like most Gainax ... series it's a story about growing up at its core ,and I feel like this is one of their best attempts at it. You watch these characters face multiple hardships and find themselves in hopeless situations, but they always keep fighting against destiny and it's honestly inspiring to watch. And maybe I'm giving the story too much credit because as I said, the actual plot is completely ridiculous and doesn't take itself seriously. One of the reoccurring themes in the show is even "Kick logic to the curb and do the impossible", but it's that whole "Do the impossible" aspect of the series grabbed me hard and has never let go. It's definitely a series that needs to be watched with the heart and not the head in order to fully enjoy it.

The animation in Gurren Lagann ranges from really great to painfully noticeable that the budget ran out (i.e. episode 4), but most of the time it is very excellent, especially in the last few episodes which are absolutely gorgeous. The art style is fun and completely over the top and it definitely works well for a series like this one.

Gurren Lagann is honestly enjoyable whether you choose to watch the dub or sub. Both feature solid casts who slip into their roles nicely. However, I am more partial to the sub because I feel like there's a really passionate energy there that I don't think the dub cast quite managed to capture, especially Kyle Hebert as Kamina, but it is still an excellent dub. I also have to give a mention to Yuri Lowenthal's portrayal of Simon's growth throughout the show because it is a truly fantastic performance. The music is one of my favorite things about the series with a killer OST that mixes rap, opera, and orchestral pieces that help to intensify the more serious moments and more often than that, get you hyped up for the battles as they play behind one of the many over the top and uplifting speeches of the show.

The characters are hands down the strongest part of Gurren Lagann, delving into some of the best character development I've seen in a long time especially with Simon. It's not afraid to touch on the weaknesses of humans and work to overcome those weaknesses. A lot of series have a problem of backtracking after a character has already developed, but Gurren Lagann still pushes forward, continuing to still exploit weaknesses, but never backtracking. Each character is unique in their own way and they're all memorable. It's a really fun and varied cast that is easy to develop a connection with.

Overall, Gurren Lagann is a really enjoyable series if you can watch it without thinking about it too logically. It's definitely not going to be the type of show for everybody, and despite its flaws and silliness, it's personally my favorite anime. There's a passion about Gurren Lagann that I had never seen before and never seen since. You can tell that everybody who worked on this series really loved it and put their all into it and that passion definitely shines though in every aspect. It may not be the most serious show but if you can get into it then I feel like you can really take something out of it.