Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

Simon and Kamina were born and raised in a deep, underground village, hidden from the fabled surface. Kamina is a free-spirited loose cannon bent on making a name for himself, while Simon is a timid young boy with no real aspirations. One day while excavating the earth, Simon stumbles upon a mysterious object that turns out to be the ignition key to an ancient artifact of war, which the duo dubs Lagann. Using their new weapon, Simon and Kamina fend off a surprise attack from the surface with the help of Yoko Littner, a hot-blooded redhead wielding a massive gun who wanders the world above.

In the aftermath of the battle, the sky is now in plain view, prompting Simon and Kamina to set off on a journey alongside Yoko to explore the wastelands of the surface. Soon, they join the fight against the "Beastmen," humanoid creatures that terrorize the remnants of humanity in powerful robots called "Gunmen." Although they face some challenges and setbacks, the trio bravely fights these new enemies alongside other survivors to reclaim the surface, while slowly unraveling a galaxy-sized mystery.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Kamina Main

Konishi, Katsuyuki Japanese

Simon Main

Kakihara, Tetsuya Japanese

Littner, Yoko Main

Inoue, Marina Japanese

Teppelin, Nia Main

Fukui, Yukari Japanese

Viral Supporting

Hiyama, Nobuyuki Japanese

Bachika, Kittan Supporting

Taniyama, Kishou Japanese

Boota Supporting

Itou, Shizuka Japanese

Lordgenome Supporting

Ikeda, Narushi Japanese

Littner, Leeron Supporting

Onosaka, Masaya Japanese

Adai, Rossiu Supporting

Nakata, Jouji Japanese

Kamagata, Eiichi Producer

Takeda, Yasuhiro Producer

Akai, Takami Producer

Shiraishi, Naoko Producer, Production Manager

Reviews

Mar 15, 2025

lucasvcapuli

Recommended

The mecha anime genre has seen several renaissances, and Gurren Lagann is a testament to its enduring appeal. Released just six months after Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion and over a decade after Neon Genesis Evangelion, this series has firmly established itself as one of the defining mecha anime of its time.

It also stands as a landmark in original anime productions, joining the ranks of:
- Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995-96)
- Cowboy Bebop (1998-99)
- Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (2006-08)

Story – 10/10
- Unlike other Gainax productions—particularly Neon Genesis Evangelion, the only other Gainax anime I had watched before this—Gurren Lagann carves out its own identity ... with a straightforward yet exhilarating narrative.
- The story follows Simon and Kamina, two young men who uncover a mysterious object—an ignition key to a small mecha they dub Lagann. With the fearless marksman Yoko Littner by their side, they set off on a journey to reclaim the surface world from oppressive forces.
- The first half is energetic and adventurous, sprinkled with emotional moments, while the second half raises the stakes dramatically. Political intrigue, grand-scale battles, and deeply personal struggles turn Gurren Lagann into an emotional rollercoaster.

Characters – 10/10
- Simon starts as a timid, uncertain boy, but his growth into a confident leader is one of the best character arcs in anime. His journey of self-discovery and resilience makes him a truly inspiring protagonist.
- Kamina is the embodiment of raw charisma—fearless, passionate, and a natural-born leader. His unwavering belief in others makes him one of Gainax’s most unforgettable characters.
- Every character, from allies to villains, contributes to the larger-than-life energy of the show.

Animation – 10/10
- Gurren Lagann’s animation is nothing short of spectacular. Gainax pushes its visual style to the extreme, embracing vibrant colors, exaggerated character designs, and over-the-top mecha battles.
- The mecha designs are brilliantly absurd, constantly evolving into larger and more ridiculous forms.
- The action sequences, especially in the final six episodes, are breathtaking. Few anime have ever matched the sheer scale and intensity of these battles.
- Even small details, like the ever-changing eyecatches, add to the show’s visual creativity.
- The fluidity and energy of the animation elevate Gurren Lagann beyond just another mecha anime—it becomes a work of unfiltered imagination.

Music – 10/10
- The soundtrack is as bold as the series itself.
- The opening theme, "Sorairo Days", is a perfect match—catchy, energetic, and filled with the same passion that drives the story.
- Standout tracks like "Nikopol", "To Hell with Your Combi", and "Libera Me from Hell" amplify the action to legendary levels.
- Few anime have a soundtrack that fuels the adrenaline of each scene so perfectly.

Ending – 10/10
- Unlike the cryptic and divisive endings Gainax is known for (Evangelion, anyone?), Gurren Lagann delivers a conclusion that is both emotionally satisfying and thematically complete.
- The final battle is a visual spectacle of unprecedented scale.
- The aftermath is poignant, emphasizing the show’s themes of growth, sacrifice, and legacy.
- The epilogue ties everything together beautifully, offering a bittersweet but meaningful resolution.

Overall
- Gurren Lagann is a modern classic that cements itself as one of the greatest anime of all time. It never slows down, maintaining a relentless pace from beginning to end. Whether you're new to anime or a longtime mecha fan, this series is a must-watch.

Reviewer’s Rating: 10

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Feb 22, 2025

ibernard

Mixed Feelings

I'd recommend this to more hardcore anime fans, but not to newbies or casual fans. It's not bad but not great. The beginning is more wishy washy. It's quirky and fun, but also takes some time to get to anything really memorable or interesting. Once it does it picks up quite a bit, but this is like halfway through the series. Even then, the action makes no sense. It's literally, we believe in ourselves so, our powers work better. Very immature, but still done in a way that's quite likable I will add. It has some mature themes mixed in with it and reminds me ... of some of the American stuff you see that is also immature but mixed with mature themes that are really aimed more at adults. I'd say this does better than all of those though. It's a fun ride, but not something I'd really rave about either.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Nov 16, 2024

clarkr

Not Recommended

Funny

If you consider yourself an anime fan, you'll probably like this. But if you're like me and think that 90% of anime produced is unwatchable garbage, this will probably bore you out of your mind—at least the first half will. The second half is a bit more engaging, but as a whole, this show is just a bunch of uninspired tropes. Not a single character is unique or interesting; they're all the most basic anime stereotypes imaginable. The plot is kinda interesting? But the show spends way too much time introducing me to characters I don't care about, which drags on the story to the ... point that I'm uninterested in what is happening, especially in the first half.

This is a Mecha show, so I assume that the appeal for most people watching this is the Mecha fights, but I found them unbelievably boring to watch. The choreography is practically nonexistent, and the end result of every battle is predictable after episode one. The animation is technically impressive, but the choreography isn't appealing or interesting to look at, and none of the characters are compelling enough for me to have any emotional stake in the outcome of any battle. Also, the fights just don't seem real. It doesn't feel like a giant robot is punching and shooting lasers; it instead feels like I'm watching someone play with action figures. There's no gravity or power behind anything happening. The only fight where this was done well (and the only fight in the show that I actually liked) was in episode 3, and it wasn’t even a Mecha fight.

At the end of the day, this is one of the most boring and generic anime I've ever seen. How far Gainax has fallen. You'll like this if you watch shows like "Reincarnated in another world with my girlfriend but I'm level 100000 and she's my pet" or some shit. Though I can't recommend it because of the gross fan service. Leave it to Japan to degrade and objectify women.

Reviewer’s Rating: 4

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	Poll: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann Episode 27 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page ) accela - Sep 29, 2007	1,175 replies	by LavenderHaze »» Mar 31, 11:59 PM
	Poll: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann Episode 26 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ) accela - Sep 22, 2007	224 replies	by somboo817 »» Mar 30, 10:07 AM
	Any fanart of Yoko dual wielding pistols? (Credit them please) SOEMasterAgent - Mar 26	4 replies	by CARRGAMER »» Mar 27, 6:17 PM
	Poll: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann Episode 7 Discussion ( 1 2 ) Krelian - May 16, 2007	98 replies	by AnimatedAddict »» Mar 9, 11:06 PM
	Poll: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann Episode 6 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 ) MasterChief - May 10, 2007	187 replies	by madeinearth22 »» Mar 9, 1:03 PM

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