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“If you're gonna dig, dig to the heavens”- 10 out of 10

Tengan Toppa Gurren Lagann had the unfortunate timing to be released in 2007, during one of anime’s greatest periods of brilliance. Death Note and Code Geass both were released on TV around the same time, and they (ranked number 1 and 5 in MyAnimeList popularity as of 9/29/09) kept this show generally receiving less attention than it should have had. However, this is one anime that I feel outstrips them both and reaches a plateau amongst the anime heavens.

Why is the series so good? Firstly because the show’s message, a simple and good ... one by the way, is overtly pounded constantly into your head unlike most other anime. Subtlety is thrown out the window; the characters don’t have time for stuff like that! Basically the message is to be all that you can be. Kamina tells us this, Simon eventually tells us this, and all the characters by the end of the show genuinely believe that the impossible can be reached. That’s what makes people stand up and say Gurren Lagann is epic; the show’s message is universal. Who in their life hasn’t been told that they were not good enough, that they were not liked, or that they didn’t have what it took. The difference in Gurren Lagann is that the characters consistently prove their naysayers wrong and fulfill their impossible dreams. Their fulfillment of their goals makes us feel like we can attain our lofty goals as well. From deep underground to the Earth’s surface to outer space to different dimensions, the characters of Gurren Lagann break through any barrier in their way, and look like Gods among men in the process.

The show’s overt message of positive self-belief is epitomized most in one
particular scene following a setback for the group. Simon, who in my opinion is the most inspirational character of the whole cast, delivers a monologue for the ages with everything on the line against a powerful enemy. Then he crushes his opponent. The scene is the turning point of the whole show, and I was in awe the moment this particular episode ended. Gainax constructed a perfect scene here, and Simon delivers what I consider my fondest memory of the whole series. Simon’s transition away from feeling worthless to becoming a man is at the heart of why this series is such a success, and although done repeatedly before, Gurren Lagann’s approach to the theme works the best. The characters, especially Simon and Kamina, consistently defy expectations and vocalize feelings that none of us would have the courage to say in real life to our critics.

The second reason why the show is one of the greatest anime ever made is
because the show has amazing plot balance. You truly cannot predict what is going to happen in the show, and that is exhilarating. It is not all brainless mech fighting that would have devalued the quality of the show. You have moments of character development and side stories along with perfectly timed periods of reflection on what has happened previously in the story in case you missed it the first time. During the actual battles, you have clever enemies saying witty words of banter to Team DaiGurren, and you of course have the truly epic speeches that are intermixed with the furious gunmen battles. Gurren Lagann achieves a strong ratio of character dialogue and fighting, and it helps the series avoid monotony to a great amount.

The third reason why this show epitomizes anime is because it is simply the easiest anime to watch without thinking. You are able to turn your brain off and simply stare in awe of what you are experiencing on the screen. Moments when the show delivers something complicated that leads you to think you have to start trying to piece things together, the show makes fun of itself with self-directed humor. Yet the show is by no means a simple story. The plot is complex and yet is not needed to enjoy the series. This is not like a chess game anime where deft understanding of one episode is required to understand the next.

Finally, I would say that this show has some of the most powerful “one-liners”, quotes, and key phrases that keep the show long in a viewer’s mind after he or she has experienced Gurren Lagann. The previously aforementioned speech is one of these, and these nuggets are everywhere in Gurren Lagann, pumping the viewer up and motivating them to keep watching. This is one anime where I would highly recommend the English dub if you can, since I felt this was a strong portion of why I was so moved by the show. I could see US or European viewers not feeling the same way about the show as others simply because they decided to watch the show with subtitles. The English Dub is really that good. Yes, you’ll be thinking hey isn’t Kamina the same guy who did Gohan from DBZ and isn’t Simon the same guy who did Sasuke from Naruto, but I feel the dub added to the emotion of each scene. Not to say watching the show in Japanese is a bad idea; I’m just going from personal experience.

Whatever you do in life, Gurren Lagann will inspire you to do that task or job with more vigor and ferocity than you ever thought possible. No other anime has the moving power that this show brings to the table, and its enjoyment factor is through the roof. This is one anime that must be experienced to understand the emotions that reviewers pour out when they speak of the show. So what are you doing reading this review? Go out and watch Tengan Toppa Gurren Lagann already! Dig a little bit and see for yourself if you find the heavens upon viewing this amazing anime. I wouldn’t be surprised if you did.