Gurren Lagann was one of my first ever anime. The only other's I had watched were Bo-bo-bo and Inuyasha. Neither of which I had finished or even had knoledge of what anime was at the time I watched them. So for all intensive purposes, Gurren Lagann was my first legitimate experiences, thus my opinion may be a bit bias so if you decide to stop reading and leave now, I don't blame you. However, for those who stayed, I thank you and hope you find something worthwhile in this review.
To start, Gurren lagann is not complex. There is a lot that happens, but none of it is deep, convoluted, or intricate. It's a simple story of rising above oppression and to reach for higher heights. The show starts with our two protagonist Simon and Kamina. Simon is a alienated, anti-social minner in his underground village who meets and befriends Kamina. Kamina is the essential driving force for Simon for the Majority of the show. He hates rules, and restrictions, and only wishes to leave the village and see the surface. However, when they finally do get to the surface, their faced with the fact that there is a large army of humanoid creatures who pilot mechs. Now Kamina, simon, and a growing group of rebels have a new bigger oppressor to beat. What is there ultimate goal? What will they do after they end there oppression? Who knows. It is everything and anything. Skies the limit. It's not about what they'll do after, its the idea that they should be free to grow, and reach for the stars. And that, in every sense, is what this show is about. Taking fate into your own hands. Believing in you own power, and in the powers of those around you. To believe in something so much your willing to fight for it. Willing to fight even god himself if it means reaching a higher place.
This is what I love so much about this show and why even to this day, 8-9 years later, it remains my number one favorite anime. I have taken SO MUCH from Gurren Lagann. I have lived my life since then by the motto's this show has taught me. "If there isn't a path for us will carve one out ourselves!", " Who the hell do you think we are", "believe in the you that believes in yourself", " Step after step, each second we grow past the person we were before." All of these lines have shaped me into the person I am today, and I wouldn't want it any other way. Break the unbreakable, touch the untouchable, row row fight the power.