From the surface, this series has the typical trappings of good mecha show. The voice acting is rock solid and appropriately bursting with energy. The animation is creative even if occasionally inconsistent. And it has giant robots piloted by passionate badass heroes. Yet what makes Gurren Lagann truly shine is that while it still has the awesome look and feel of a typical idealistic super robot show, it also includes a smart story with likable characters, an awareness of conventions found in anime shows, and meaningful themes.
All of the charactera are developed and memorable even at their silliest moments. Initially they come off as typical stock archetypes with Simon being the crybaby, Kamina being the hyperactive big brother, and Rossiu being the emo cynic. However, as the series progresses, each character reveal additional hidden traits and experience character arcs. The seemingly fearless Kamina secretly feels seems moments of terror yet still persists because of Simon. Simon initially was presented as a crybaby and coward who would snap at every setback. However, with enough encouragement from Kamina and Nia, he was able to believe in the ideal version of himself and become a truly confident hero. Even Rossiu, the doubting strawman who seems out of place in a world driven by badass willpower, is shown as a fully developed figure instead of a nagging caricature. Sure he doesn't stick behind Simon yet he still genuinely cares about helping humanity and even expresses remorse for screwing over others. In fact, even Simon still values Rossiu as a human being and is willing to help him in his moment of despair. For all their over the top quirks, the characters still feel relatable and dynamic.
In relationship to other mecha series, Gurren Lagann serves as both an homage and a spiritual antithesis to Evangelion and Gundam (note that this reviewer appreciates the works of Anno and Tomino and does not mean to denigrate their positive contributions). Specifically, Lagann counters the elements of despair in Evangelion and death in Universal Century Gundam. Like Evangelion, the heroes fall into moments of despair with Simon and Yoko suffering from self-loathing and low self-esteem. However, unlike Evangelion, these characters were able to bind together and help each other overcome their problems, thus allowing them to deal with further hardships. Like Gundam, many beloved characters are killed off in unexpected moments. However, even when facing their inevitable deaths, each character go out in a blaze of glory, fighting to the last breath and making the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the safety of all life. Gurren Lagann addresses these issues such that the characters could work around them in an uplifting manner. In other words, it looks at the world in an idealistic half-full view.
Yet ultimately, Gurren Lagann has some very meaningful messages that help viewers. Of course the reoccurring theme is believing in one another. By having trust and faith in even the least likely person, the heroes are able to overcome obstacles and defy the odds. Given how cynicism runs rampant in many recent works, this theme really add assurance and gives confidence. Yet another important message is how to overcome obstacles to become a true hero. In one of the earlier arcs, Simon falls into emotional despair yet his friends sans Kamina only care about forcing him into Kamina's role, regardless of the emotional strain. However, after meeting the compassionate Nia, Simon realizes that he is not the same person as Kamina and found comfort in a moment of despair. Such that this a gotcha moment: You cannot make someone overcome hardships by force and give them unreasobale expectations. A person can achieve greatness only when given loving support and an identity tailored to themselves. Of course, all of these messages are best summed up by Simon's boast after his character development: "If you're gonna dig, dig to the heavens. No matter what's in my way, I won't stop! Once I've dug through — it means that I've won! Just who the hell do you think I am? I'm Simon. I'm not my Bro! I'M ME!! Simon the Digger!"
In the end Gurren Lagann works because of how it is an idealistic series that leaves one feeling much better. While the series has awesome action and presentation, much of the idealistic experience comes from its smart story. Each character experiences moments of self-doubt and emotional hardships yet they experience growth and overcome these obstacles. It counters genuine hardships and setbacks one would expect from mecha anime. Yet most importantly, its take away morals can help leaving people rejuvenated and optimistic. In a turbulent and uncertain world, Gurren Lagann provides a genuinely refreshing and uplifting experiences that helps viewers tackle problems in life.
