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This movie is such a heartwarmer, it really deserves its spot as the most iconic anime movie of all time!!

To start off, the animation is gorgeous, even today. The vibrant environments, the very fluid movements, and the expressiveness of all the characters will definitely keep your eyes glued to the screen! The plot is very simple, but it does work very well for what the movie is trying to accomplish, and while it does get tense near the end, it’s overall a happy watch that’ll warm your heart once all is said and done. The cast of characters is also lovely! You won’t just be ... waiting for Totoro to appear throughout the movie, as Satsuki, Mei, Kanta and the parents’ simple, yet adorable personalities and dynamics will hook you easily, especially Mei’s naivety and childish innocence that can capture the hearts of an entire audience, which makes her my personal favorite. The fantastical creatures of this movie are also very charming, and their appearances being more occasional than the rest of the cast makes you want to savor every scene you have with them. When it comes to Totoro, it’s easy to tell why he became Studio Ghibli’s mascot and their most famous character: his animal-like design, his silly behavior, and how he can express so much without saying a single word, it all adds up to make every scene with the big fluffy guy a delight!

Even with all my current praise, there’s still one thing I love even more… the OST. Every composition fits this movie so unbelievably good, while also sounding so whimsical and bouncy! Hey Let’s Go is amazing to set the tone of the movie, along with the animation displaying all the delightful characters in the movie as the song plays. Go listen to the soundtrack once you’ve finished the movie and you’ll realize just how much it immersed you into it. Joe Hisashi did an outstanding job on this OST, and he deserves every bit of praise he gets!!

Overall, it’s super easy to tell why My Neighbor Totoro rose to popuarity as much as it did; it’s super simple and accessible, and when you add that the poster boy Totoro is adorable, it’s very easy to market the movie to young kids and family groups. Most importantly, it’s a great movie that will get an “aww” or two out of you! In Fantano fashion, I am feeling a LIGHT 9 on My Neighbor Totoro!!

Whew, this anime is awesome!!! I will be dividing this review into multiple paragrahs, going over all the different aspects, pros and cons of Gurren Lagann.

Let’s start with the qualities that are specific to anime as a medium. The show’s animation is absolutely great, and in particular, the way the Anti Spiral is drawn is unlike anything I’ve really seen! The voice acting also excels at showing these character’s personalities; Kamina and Kittan are more rough and energetic, Simon can fluctuate between nervous and confident very well, Nia is very soft, Anti Spiral has an amazing effect that really seperates his voice from the rest, ... and the delivery of “Infinity Big Bang Storm” in the final episode is so top notch! Lastly, this anime’s OST is amazing, and it just adds to the energy of the anime!

The cast of characters is great, and their dynamics with each other are super fun to watch! From Kamina guiding Simon and giving him the confidence he needs, Anti Spiral’s reunion with Lordgenome at the end, Boota supporting Simon and even sacrificing his own tail for him, Kittan and Kamina’s arrogance bouncing off of each other super smoothly, Yoko slowly opening up to Nia, and even someone minor like Dayakka’s desire to live happily with Kiyal all keep you wanting more and to see these character’s personalities compliment each other!

Now, this is a mecha anime, so of course we have to bring up the fights, which I LOVE!!! The team effort, the determination, the dynamics, the scale, the mechs, the OST, all of it makes this anime such an adrenaline rush and filled to the total brim with hype!

I’ll be reviewing the two parts of the story seperately and then giving my overall score, as I think the division into two parts is really cool!

Although the first few episodes won’t hook you immediately, the first half of the anime contains the lovely dynamic between Kamina and Simon, with Kamina pushing Simon to grow stronger, and Simon taking his advice to believe in the Kamina that believes in him, it ultimately ends up being such a delight to watch them grow and aid each other, which only makes Kamina’s death even more of a tragic moment that sure as hell made me cry. The remaining members of Team Gurren Lagann are introduced later into the story, and while they aren’t given as much substance as they are in the second half, they’re still lovely. Although, there is definitely one criticism I can give, and my one criticsm with the anime in general, that being the fanservice. Fanservice isn’t make or break in an anime, but the problem is that most of it is directed towards Yoko, and it ends up making her feel like a more boring character. Thankfully, she becomes much more interesting after Kamina’s death, and even more interesting in the episode of her time as a teacher!

Now, the truly exciting part… the second half of the anime is perfect in every single episode. With the now renovated and advanced society of the surface, the anime becomes a lot more intriguing with its character writing and character arcs, and it’s overall just more epic! Simon goes through a very interesting character arc, Rossiu, Gimmy, Darry, the Black Siblings, and more all become much more interesting characters, Viral gets his redemption arc, having Rossiu attempt suicide is a bold, yet amazing move that adds great tension, and the scale of the final fight is unparalleled. All of these qualities add up in this second half, making it absolutely awesome!!

Overall, I must say that I am a massive fan of Gurren Lagann, and it is an epic and energetic watches that will have you motivated as hell. In Fantano fashion, I am feeling a DECENT 9 on this anime!!