Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann (General Discussion thread)

[Shinndou]

The lesson of Code Geass? Care to explain it (briefly, either here or through PM if you want)? I'm curious about it, although I don't really see any close similarty with Code Geass except the fact that they're both shounen type of shows (although this one feels a lot more fast-paced than the average).

[MrProphet]

The lesson of Code Geass is that a show can be bombastic and stupid, and at the same time, be fun.

Or sometimes it can't.

[7Th]

Originally Posted by MrProphet

The lesson of Code Geass is that a show can be bombastic and stupid, and at the same time, be fun.

Or sometimes it can't.

Yeah, but this show isn't as stupid or campy as Code Geass. Hell, it's way more coherent most of the time.

[MrProphet]

You'd better actually watch the episode before saying that "this show isn't ... campy".

Not to sound condescending, but you either didn't watch it or completely missed every cue.

[Shinndou]

I see. Well it certainly does make sense.
Although I feel Gurren-Lagann might prove to be even more "silly" (in a good way), if the staff is going to adopt the same animation style and storytelling that they've adopted for Diebuster (which I liked).

[7Th]

Originally Posted by MrProphet

You'd better actually watch the episode before say that "show isn't ... campy".

Not to sound condescending, but you either didn't watch it or completely missed every cue.

It's really campy, I've watched it, just not as much as newer Code Geass, although Geass may be better defined by another word which I don't remember right now. :P

Also, they're surely going the DieBuster route as both were heavily based on classic anime concepts, like EFFORT AND GUTS or FUN UNREALISTIC SUPER ROBOTS.

[MrProphet]

Sure, there's a lot of DORYOKU TO KONJOU and the beginning of Gunbuster was also rather childish (robots doing callisthenics), so maybe Gurren-Lagann will also develop a more mature streak.

We'll see.

[Crystal_Method]

Just watched the first episode. To be honest I hope it doesn't change into a more mature anime too much. Actually, as long as there is still a good amount of humor, I really don't care.

[Sonhex]

Well I'm sure it will mature in time, like Eureka 7 did (sort of) but hopefully not at the expense of fun. Sure Kamina did camp it up something rotten (and was great all the way) but I would hesitate to call the first episode childish. Silly yes, but I'd be quite happy for it to remain so as long as it doesn't exhaust its sense of humour or become too repetitive.

Yet the prologue did hint at something bigger more dramatic to come...

[Shinndou]

I had the feeling that the character in the prologue could be

Spoiler for silly speculation:

A grown up Simon? Although that way of talking and acting does resemble more Kamina than Simon. It wouldn't be surprising if that would be an adult Simon who's adopted Kamina's behaviour.

[Sonhex]

Originally Posted by Shinndou

I had the feeling that the character in the prologue could be

Spoiler for silly speculation:

A grown up Simon? Although that way of talking and acting does resemble more Kamina than Simon. It wouldn't be surprising if that would be an adult Simon who's adopted Kamina's behaviour.

Yep, I think you're right...

Spoiler:

...a grown up Shimon, doing a Captain Harlock impression. Though if it is him, where's Kamina and Yoko? Too early to say of-course, but things could get very epic indeed esp. if Gurren Lagann's ultimate form is that huge galactic spaceship.

[BluWacky]

Originally Posted by MrProphet

The first episode was exactly as I expected: fun, well-animated and very childish.

The shounen pathos and bombast was done superbly, but this is not my cup of tea. I don't expect to be following it too closely, although, having learned the lesson of Code Geass, I won't be abandoning it out of hand either.

I'll see how it develops at arm's length.

I have to agree with you on this one. Admittedly, I was quite biased against it from the start; I'm not a fan of Gainax's school of over-the-top everything anime, and I'd already decided I wasn't really that interested from the synopses etc.

It's really nicely animated/directed/storyboard, it's very stylish and definitely looks great in pretty much every way. Somehow it just irritated me, though; I didn't have any immediate connection with any of the characters, and it just feels too...well, Gainax-y.

As long as the plot doesn't meander in filler wasteland too much and the production quality keeps up I think there's a lot of potential here for a good show, just not one that I'd particularly want to watch. It just reminds me of too many shows I haven't enjoyed for me to want to continue watching it.

[Shinndou]

Well, so far I think we all agree, after having seen this first episode, that it was a fun ride anyway. I am not expecting this show to be a masterpiece or a groundbreaking production, but if it'll stay like this during the rest of the serie it's enough for me to watch it and enjoy it without any big deal behind.

[7Th]

Here’s what I promised, the stupid longer Gurren Lagann review no-one will read. Under the spoiler for space consciousnesses. :P

Spoiler:

As I said, I’m already in love with the series. It over delivered in the whole extension of the word and that’s saying something as my expectations where enormous. An enchanting and incredibly fun premier full of charisma that overflows enjoyment that accompanies the playful script with a quality storytelling, trust me I am understating this affirmation, and the best animation so far in the year.

I found the underlying themes if typical, not like that’s a bad thing before someone jumps over me calling me an silly and pretentious avant-garde snob that needs his anime to be intellectually revolutionary as that would far from the truth for someone whose second favorite anime is a long 60 minutes super-fast action scene called Dead Leaves, appropriate and extremely well executed. Kamina’s and Shimon’s relationship felt realistic, in a campy fiction-like way of course, and even if heavily clichéd in concept and implementation an interesting point of “dramatic”, still feels rong to use this word to describe this series even if this premier already had a few developments in this fashion like the epic and memorable, quoting Sohex, climax when the trio exits the underworld and both brothers are able to see the sun for the first time in their lives, foundations for the tradition shounen cheese, with an slightly and very satisfactory graphical twist, you’ll expect from a hot-blooded super-robot grand-scale .

The visuals are beautifully crafted, highly stylish and even if superficially not on the same atypical gritty level of Imaishi previous graphical madness an excellent example of this director genius thanks to the motion management, which ended up being “softer”, in a good way to be honest, and less edgy than what we could see in Dead Leaves or his Cutey Honey entry yet still as kinetically frenetic, and a camera work with a particularly good, both aesthetically and for its main narrative purpose, mise-en-scène that pretty much becomes a portal for the spectator join the charming kitsch universe represented in screen. The first true sakuga series in the year, with the delightfully aggressive movement that characterized Imaishi projects but this time with a singular notion of natural heaviness that appears to fit quite well the original designs.

All this is done in the end for the sake of entertainment, not like anyone was expecting more, something in my opinion impossible to achieve without making the viewers actually enjoy the entity and somewhat care about the characters or setting. While it sure it’s campy and silly you can feel the endearing magic of older journey-anime that really excites the heart while evoking an authentic mood of adventure I for one hadn’t experienced in a long time. Still not going to be loved by everyone, it can’t be said it’s badly done although preferences vary by person and as the over-the-top Gainax production motto some people aren’t fond-of makes itself strongly present in a not-so-subtle fashion this time a few won’t be able to really get the whole package.

On a side note:

According to a post in the production blog a month ago they had already finished episode 13 voice recording and had the storyboards ready until episode 24, so I’ve got hopes of them keeping this quality up for at least most of their run, and if things go as I expect we have without any doubt a really exciting ride awaiting for us.

[orion]

Originally Posted by Sonhex

Yep, I think you're right...

Spoiler:

...a grown up Shimon, doing a Captain Harlock impression. Though if it is him, where's Kamina and Yoko? Too early to say of-course, but things could get very epic indeed esp. if Gurren Lagann's ultimate form is that huge galactic spaceship.

Well...

Spoiler:

Maybe Kamina was the guy at the front of the deck. Shimon was holding the drill and Yoko was the female over the speaker. The emblem on the guy's back does look like a amalgam of 2 characters. (glasses from Kamina, skull from Yoko).

That was a fun episode.

[Scribble]

Originally Posted by 7Th

While it sure it’s campy and silly you can feel the endearing magic of older journey-anime that really excites the heart while evoking an authentic mood of adventure I for one hadn’t experienced in a long time.

That's nice to hear - now I'm a bit more eager to check out the first episode because I'm a sucker for series which hold a hand out to you and go "come along for the ride, it'll be a long one!" Escapism at its finest, hehe.

I haven't seen many older series, but the one I have been watching - Galaxy Express 999 - definitely has that "endearing magic" you mentioned.

[te2rx]

"Imaishi gold" is how I'd describe it too. I didn't understand what they were saying, but I wasn't bored for a second. Everything that happened on the screen was in the name of entertainment -- I love how the mecha seemed to be gritting his teeth when was trapped between the monster's jaws. It's that kind of hilarious detail and resourcefulness that makes Imaishi-lead anime pure fun to watch. (and it also gave me appreciation for the somewhat absurd mecha design... I wonder how they'll further utilize it in the coming episodes)

My high hopes are only reinforced by seeing this ep#1.

[Sonhex]

Gurren Lagann at high-res, even an upscale, is such a feast for the eyes :




Ep 2 story from the website...

Spoiler:

...takes place in Yoko's village apparently, where attacks by the monsters (such as Ganmen and those at the end of ep 1) are common place. This is why Yoko is trying to defeat them to protect her home against attack. Shimon and Kamina decide to help the village, using Lagann to confront the enemy!

[7Th]

Originally Posted by Sonhex

Gurren Lagann at high-res, even an upscale, is such a feast for the eyes:




Ep 2 story...

Spoiler:

...takes place in Yoko's village, where attacks by the monsters are common place. This is why Yoko is trying to defeat them to protect her home apparently. Shimon and Kamina decide to help the village, using Lagann to confront the enemy!

Is that the 500MB raw? You've convinced me to download it!

Spoiler:

Episode 2 sounds more epic and fun than I thought, I was expecting them to fight random monsters in the desert with no apparent objective. The most focused the better, I say, so it's a great surprise.

[Grv]

I was very surprised by the upscale too. So much so that I began to question if it were or not. Deciding factor was the credits being a bit blurry yet the clock remains crystal clear, wonders never cease...