I believe the best description of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is calling it an epic. No, I don’t mean the overused term, ‘epic’, in which people use to describe various things they deem simply cool. I’m talking about the word epic that stems from Greek literature; a journey that focuses on a hero overcoming all odds through success and failure. Gurren Lagann is truly a spectacle that every anime watcher should see at some point during their anime watching career. While Gurren Laggan isn't perfect, can we really say that anything is really perfect? It has its own deficiencies and hiccups that hold it back from achieving a more perfect state, yet still elevates its good points masterfully.
The story isn't exceptionally thought invoking or full of intellectual plot twists that stimulate the brain. If you're using your brain, you've chosen the incorrect organ of choice. What Gurren Lagann lacks in logical prowess it makes up for in heart. It's uplifting and depressing, exhilarating and discouraging, and fascinating yet illogical. The story of Gurren Lagann is one in which a young man tosses away the shackles of oppression and forges his own destiny to pierce heaven itself. With the exception of a couple episodes of what I consider filler, I loved every moment of Gurren Lagann. It was exciting, fresh, and accelerated past my brain, drilling it's place into my heart.
The art/animation of TTGL is a bit of a mixture of good and bad. While there are dips in the animation and consistency, it still swings back to its natural, explosive greatness when we need it to; it immensely satisfies when satisfaction is expected. The style of TTGL is unmistakably over the top and excessive when it comes to fights, explosions, and kicking all concepts of physics and logic to the curb, but that's also part of its appeal.
Gurren Lagann's soundtrack was by no means fantastic or anything of the like, but somehow everything fits together and creates such an enjoyable experience that it doesn't really matter. Fuck logic, think with raw emotion. As anyone else who has seen the show will tell you, Libera Me From Hell will probably be imprinted into your soul as it's the song grows on you during battles, speeches, and moments of greatness during the last few episodes. It complements TTGL extremely well and is the defining piece of the series. I think the OST in general was good as well; it felt inspirational and helped fuel the already exploding levels of testosterone in the audience.
Characters is where Gurren Lagann has the most success. The Dai-Gurren Gang/Dai-Gurren Brigade are all easily likeable and mesh so well that near impossible not to enjoy their presence on screen. Simon is the main character of the series and for the most part almost everything is dedicated to his growth as a character, though inspired by his role model and big brother figure, Kamina. The most admirable trait about Simon is that he remains such a humble figure from start to finish. Despite the power, glory, and hardships along the way, Simon stays true to himself. One thing that I would have liked was a little more development of the supporting cast. Some characters seem to lose their importance later in the series which is saddening to watch. Yoko, the original main female lead is subjected to this. All in all, I loved the characters of TTGL as a whole. They were the heart and soul of the series and they made such an amazing show possible.
The last thing I would like to talk about is the ending. Personally I think Gurren Lagann had one of the best endings in anime of all time. It depicts the struggles of what it means to have great power and the sacrifices you must make in being the hero. Tacking on such a powerful ending to top off a grand journey of surpassing dreams, tossing away logic, and overcoming the most unlikely of odds adds such a bittersweet feeling and concludes a fine chapter in the ever so growing collection of anime. Upon finishing the series for the second time, I am once again filled with angst and a feeling of depression just like my first. It's not because the series was at all disappointing. It's because I realize I probably won't feel the same charged emotions, shed the same manly tears, and raise my finger in the air pointing to the heavens ever again.
Abayo, Dachikō. I bid you adieu.
