/anime/2001/gurren-lagann
This is probably the most purest shounen experience I had in Anime. I'm going to say this now, if you want some complex characters or a well structured story, this is not for you. The reason I said "Pure Shounen" is because "Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagaan" has all the elements that screams teen energy from it's story, characters, world, dialogue, animation, music and pretty much everything a teenager wants from grand adventure-like story and this Anime delivers and even exceeds in that regard.
I don't think it won't be an exaggeration when I said that Kamina carries the entire show. "Kamina" is like broest of the bros, the manliest of the man and while I'm getting embarrassment writing lines as cheesy as these, I can't really describe him in any other way. He's like a role model for how to make a cool character despite being constrained to only cliches. There isn't anything unique about the way Kamina is written but what makes Kamina so special is not about him, but how you can see him everywhere and in everyone in the show. There are a lot of one dimensional, one note or 'whatever you wanna call the type of characters that make you lose interest in them' here, but these are never shallow characters and that's because they carry Kamina in them which defines everyone in this Anime. The creators did a really great job at making a man that can carry the whole show.
Simon is the character who we follow the journey of, and you're gonna see every phase in his life. One of the things I like about this Anime, is how complete it made this character's life story. But one thing that kinda bothered me is how the Anime forgot to mention his dead parents in later episodes. It's a big moment in his life yet you won't even see how they died, they just show glimpses about in early episodes, but I guess, finding a parent figure made him forgot his own parents... I don't really buy that but whatever.
You can take one look at
Yoko character design (or any other woman for that regard) and tell what's her purpose, fan service and plot convenience. Though the plot tried to shove some light on her but didn't really worked. I personally don't like fan service and...
OH C'MON! What kind of a man you are if you can't say "YES!" to tits? (Kamina, probably)
....... Well, you heard the man. It doesn't bother the enjoyment that much tho. So, if you're a man then stop complaining about this here.
... I'll excuse myself
Nia comes into the play mid through who plays a critical role in the story but her characterization is as basic as everyone else.
Rossiu becomes kinda interesting down the road but at the end, he's still not a main character he so desperately tried to become. And the rest of the cast are mostly there to fill the room. But personally I liked the trigger happy
Artenborough Cortich. He's the kinda guy who pushes every red button and I kinda liked that trait.
#
DRILL THROUGH HEAVEN!!!
The plot is a mess, disastrous, stupidly amazing, absurd, funny, so full of cliches & a few metaphors yet it never really bores you. For the first few episodes I kinda thought how conveniently they use willpower as a solution to everything (though it wraps up a bit later) but after seeing how the Anime doesn't even care about it holes and just goes along with it, I kinda stopped caring about it too, I kinda didn't saw a point in pondering what it severely lacks but started taking whatever it throws at me and for the most part, it's just willpower, an overly blown world (& tits). I'm kinda amazed how the creators overbuilt the world like it starts in some pit underground and somehow reaches to space-time quantum physics.
Just don't care about it too much. Follow their journey and it kinda warps itself when the exposition comes in.
#RO~ RO~ FIGHT DA POWAA~
Ro~
Ro~
Fight Da Powaa~
I've said enough.
#BLASTING BY YOUR EYES!!!
I prefer action in Anime to be either fluid & smooth like the swords fights in Sword of the Stranger, well choreographed fights like in Samurai Champloo or just a brawl hand-2-hand combat like "Gon vs Hisoka" in Hunter X Hunter, "Kogami vs Makishima" in PSYCHO PASS or like just any fight in Katanagatari. Gurren Lagaan is neither of these but why I think Gurren Lagaan's action is great, is because how it enhances what every action sequence should have.
##THE IMPACT
Every gunshot, every drill and every punch packs an immense amount of impact and power that just makes you feel the whole intensity. While I don't prefer bombastic action, given the show is about willpower I think making the action as bombastic as possible, really goes well with that theme and teenage energy and screaming. But the action I really liked isn't any of those, but these.
These character expressions & postures are what sold me to this action. The action here is not about blowing or punching or drilling, but just showing pure emotional energy with high intensity and raw impact. The line animation and lighting did a great job at bringing that raw emotion in these scenes and I love them. You can really feel their scream on your face. Props to Imaishi (Gonna check Kill la Kill next).
While it really excels at action, other times it just kinda...
It just feels lazy and seems to be done to save time. While I understand that this came back in 2007 (Holy Shit! Wtf! This is 15 years old!?), and most of Gainax (& TRIGGER) Anime also tend to follow this approach, so not really a problem. Just a nitpick.I'll probably remember that line for the rest of my life. It did a stellar job at telling a powerful story, despite the basic storyline. Like looking back, it all started between a boy who drills holes for life and a man who never give up. And seeing how fulfilled I am after completing this Anime, I definitely think it's a great Anime worth a chance. Do give this Anime a try, more so if you're in your teen age.
It tells one manly story.
