Sep 29, 2009
I just have to thank the team behind Gurren Lagann for doing me a favor. In 27 episodes, I have re-experienced a great deal of my favorite childhood moments. It has moved me in a way I haven't been moved for a very, very long time. For someone who's seen many of the highs and lows of anime/cartoons that's a very tall order to fulfill.
Gurren Lagann knows what it is and doesn't deviate much from it's intent. It's an awfully childish indulgence, but one that you shouldn't pass up. If you aren't completely repulsed by mecha, and still have some ability to be a kid
...
again, then do so for that kid's sake. Don't compare this to Evangelion, don't expect it to be better than Scryed or worse than Full Metal Panic.. just let it do it's thing and entertain you.
Let yourself indulge, "kick reason to the curb" and tell your adult self to shut up for a while. Be that little kid again who anxiously awaited next week's episode of your favorite anime or cartoon. The kid in you will be happy, sad, angry, anxious and thrilled (often all in the same episode). The adult in you might also smile a little, even if it's to see how far you've come since you were a kid.
Truth be told, almost everything conspires against Gurren Lagann. It has some blaise early episodes and way too much "stuff" is going on (too many characters, too much story at once, etc etc). It also has some slightly excessive eccentricities that can border on the distasteful for people who are too sensitive to excessive fanservice (ie, onsen episodes) or the occasional trophic homophobic reaction. But who really cares when you are having this much fun? I'm willing to forgive a series it's few low points when there so many highs.
Production-wise, everything is where it needs to be. Everything seems engineered for maximum emotional impact. The music is cued and suits the mood incredibly well so that it helps pull at your heartstrings. The visuals and "artistic flare" are also very effective and tend to suit the moment. The plot is so insanely arrogant and stupid that it collapses under it's own ambition to form a singularity of win and awesome.
The characters are purposely one-dimensional, yet feel more three-dimensional than they probably deserve. Perhaps that's because they are intended to *epitomize* heartwarming stereotypes, not transcend them. If you give them a chance to do what they are designed to do, you might actually start to care about them and what they represent.
But what gets me the most is that while the kid in me was greatly entertained throughout, the adult in me actually cried during the last episode when Simon realized what his victory would cost him. I also almost cried a second time in the ending teaser when you see the aged version of Simon gracefully accept that his role is over.
After the rollercoaster ride, Gurren Lagann still had the decency to bring me back to reality with a suitably epic ending. It had the tact to end up more than a mere kid's show, and not make me feel like I had wasted 27 episodes of time just for a cheap thrill. Frankly I appreciate that, even if many other people don't seem to like an ending that doesn't cheapen the "values" the show was constantly rubbing in your face.
Overall, watching Gurren Lagann for the first time I realized how much I genuinely miss well-done cheeseball action stories. You are completely missing the point if aren't watching this like a kid hungrily waiting for the next week's episode of their favorite show.
For being able to entertain both the child and adult in me, and satisfy both of them, I cannot give this show anything less than a 9. The kid in me wants to give it a 10, the adult in me wants to give it a 7, and I think I'll let the kid win for a change!
PS: The OSTs are fantastic, I'd rather them up there with Cowboy Bebop and FLCL. "Omae no XXX de ten wo tsuke" is phenomenal!
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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