Cheerio, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

The other day I was air-drumming so vigorously that I punched myself in the face. In the moments of retrospect (as one does when one punches oneself in the face), I decided that the whole event was an analogy for Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann.

You have the extended moment of frenzy, when you’re so hyperactive that you forget about appendages and their proximity to your mouth and just go completely balls out rocking the fuck out. Then you have the moment of euphoria when you’re so lost in the moment that all you can attend to are the incoherent visions and emotions overwhelming your mind. And then your fist connects with your face and, in a similarly traumatic fashion, reality comes crashing back.

I'll let you apply the specifics to Gurren Lagann's break-neck, unpredictable pace and allow the concluding violence to be attributed to any one of the show's abrupt stops (or simply that it's now over).

Ultimately, however, Gurren Lagann has been some of the most fun, purely entertaining times I've had watching an anime. The occasionally smack in the chops is more than worth it when everything else has allowed us countless opportunities for rock-star wish fulfilment.

Bugger the ridiculous Faux-Science™ that sullied its conclusion. Bugger the endless transformations and gratuitous mecha porn pandering. Bugger its shallowness and preference of fun over depth. For every point of criticism there's ten reasons why Gurren Lagann succeeded with honours.

With this show GAINAX have once again proved themselves to be the most capable, enthralling, stylish anime studio around. I disagree that they've recaptured something supposedly lost with Gurren Lagann. Rather, they've finally honed the technique of mass appeal while retaining everything that makes them credible and inspires endless amounts of affection.

And I feel no shame in being victim to their finely tuned manipulations. Like swinging too high in the playground, or rocking out just that little too far, or eating the whole tub of ice-cream in one go: Gurren Lagann is pure indulgence without any real guilt afterwards. And therein lies its mastery and reason for being completely fantastic. The sting of its absence will be felt all the more going into another lacklustre autumn season, but who knows: maybe we'll get another surprise dark horse like this. Although somehow I doubt it if GAINAX aren't behind the wheel.

Comments

[Martin]

Even though I stopped following this after it got licenced I still agree that it's one of the most entertaining shows I've seen in A LONG time - for me the mecha porn is all part of the fun but it offers great characterisation too, which felt like a bit of a bonus. Because this show is pure, unbridled, fun TV. It's also the show that finally gave me the crucial indication that Gainax haven't lost their touch after all. I'll stick my neck out here and add that it's the best piece of work they've done since FLCL, which coming from me is saying a lot.

I want this on DVD and I want it real bad. :)

[Hige]

Nah, I'd agree it's the most entertaining thing they've done since FLCL. But I stand by them as a studio and think OAVs like Re:Cutey Honey and Gunbuster 2 have at least consistently demonstrated their strengths -- enough to maintain they've never really "lost it". Thinking that way might be the fanboy apologist in me, but eh. Tis all subjective I guess.

[Goshinga]

You're right.

[Totali]

"The other day I was air-drumming so vigorously that I punched myself in the face. In the moments of retrospect (as one does when one punches oneself in the face), I decided that the whole event was an analogy for Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann."

Man....that is the coolest thing I have ever heard in my life.

[0rion]

Best lead-in for an article I've read in ages. Well done. I lol'd a lot. Good read and good conclusions. :D