First of all, let's begin with Gurren Lagann's story. To be honest, the story is a typical "Coming of Age" tale, and wouldn't exactly be anything special if it weren't for the fantastic staff of characters. It also follows the very cliche idea of a hero saving the earth from some insurmountable danger; however, this is not to say that it doesn't pull this cliche off well, because, quite simply, it does.
I mean, if it's not broke, don't fix it, right? (I'm sure that phrase alone has slaughtered the creativity of many individuals, many times.)
Although Gurren Lagann's story in itself is nothing spectacularly unique or awe-inspiring, the many sub-textual messages delivered throughout the course of the story are pronounced and undoubtedly profound. I found myself noticing a very humanistic side of Gurren Lagann at some parts, and at others an obvious message of unwavering perseverance. All of these elements melt together to make what we know today as Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann; however, the story is only a portion of what makes Gurren Lagann a masterpiece. The art of Gurren Lagann also plays an important part.
The art in Gurren Lagann is epic. Everything seems to follow a not-so-subtle "drill" theme, and the art is no exception. Mechs sometimes have so many drills that you're wondering why they're even necessary, until you're drilled into an awe-inspired silence. Then you willingly suspend disbelief like a good viewer and enjoy the rest of the show.
Nonetheless, even with this odd theme, Gurren Lagann's animation is smooth, impressive and, at times, stunning. There are several points where the art style changes, but there is only one instance I can recall in the entire series where this is a bad thing; however, this one instance is enough to bring the score down to a nine. After this event, the art simply returns to normal, as if the series had never experienced a lapse in animation quality.
If you can't quite rip yourself away from that one instance in the anime where the animation is lacking (Episode four, if memory serves), awkward, and, quite frankly, dreadful, then you're soon silenced by the overwhelmingly emotional soundtrack that Gurren Lagann has to offer. The musical pieces in Gurren Lagann are always well placed and never seem intrusive to any event in the story. The opening and endings for the series are enjoyable and downright catchy. You will undoubtedly find yourself becoming very emotional listening to some of the songs on this soundtrack, whether it be the hot-blooded musical piece that plays at various inspirational points in the series, or the sorrowful, tear-jerking piano that plays at others. However, glorious though it may be, even Gurren Lagann's great soundtrack pales in comparison to the single most attractive feature of the series--the characters.
The characters in Gurren Lagann are so large in number, so lasting in memory, and so vivid in expression that I'm eager to say that they are some of most developed, likable characters in any anime that I've seen. Boasting a large staff of twenty-five characters (not counting antagonists), Gurren Lagann has some of the most unique characters to be seen. At many points, as I was re-watching Gurren Lagann, I would mutter quietly to myself or to a friend of mine that "this character only gets more awesome later." And it's true. Every character has some important role to play in the series. Some are exclusively comic relief, and some are your typical fan service suppliers, but all of them work together to make an inseparable, unforgettable cast. I still, even as I write this, marvel at how amazing some of the minor characters were, and how impressive and influential the main characters were.
Of course, like any anime, the characters played a major hand in how enjoyable the series was overall.
And how enjoyable was it? I'm not afraid to say that it is the single most enjoyable anime I have ever seen. At some points I was so emotional that I thought I could cry (admittedly, I did), and at other points I was so riled up that I yelled out loud in my bedroom; much to the dismay of my family. (I believe my exact words were something along the lines of "F*CK YEAH!") There were no points in Gurren Lagann where I was dissuaded from watching the next episode. Even the aforementioned lapse in animation had its humorous points that kept me watching.
Overall, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is great for any avid anime viewer. It's like you're in heaven for 27 episodes (and hell for one), but then you realize that Gurren Lagann is much too large to be constricted to mere celestial environments, and you find yourself looking up as it continues to rise, without hesitation, to the realm that all great anime eventually end up in.
So, if you happen to see Gurren Lagann at a store, or even online, I urge you to immediately indulge yourself and experience one of the more recent jewels in anime history. And if you find yourself sad when you finish the series, don't worry! There are a couple of movies, too! Both of which recap the series with even better visuals, manly dialogue and fan service!
I hope this review has persuaded at least a few of you to consider watching Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann in all of its mecha splendor, and if you happen to dislike Gurren Lagann for some reason, I hope you don't hold it against me.
That being said, enjoy!
