Gurren Lagann

[Andrew Cunningham]

"Don't believe in yourself. Believe in me, and believe that I believe in you!"
Gainax makes up for years of shit with the first episode alone.
All the energy of FLCL, but packed to the brim with MANLY dialogue! And a girl in a bikini with a giant gun! And drilling! Lots of drilling!
Loved every second of it.

[Lego]

While it's interesting, I just couldn't get into it. It seemed like FLCL, Abenoshi, and Gunbuster mixed into one for me. With that said I really, really, really like Yoko as a character. I can see her becoming the "it girl" for this season :blush:

[Ty]

While it's interesting, I just couldn't get into it. It seemed like FLCL, Abenoshi, and Gunbuster mixed into one for me. With that said I really, really, really like Yoko as a character. I can see her becoming the "it girl" for this season :blush:
You couldn't get into a combination of those three? Maybe it comes on a little too strongly, because that sounds like a winning formula to me.

[Andrew Cunningham]

I initially suspected it might provoke a Kemonozume-like divisive reaction, with some people responding to the style, and other people just being baffled.
But the story is pretty straightforward classic mecha show stuff, so the style only adds to it.
I would tend to assume you either like this kind of show, or you don't...

[Captain Impulse]

Sounds promising. Gainax has been in desperate need of redemption in my book since This Ugly Yet Beautiful World.

[Andrew Cunningham]

You've seen the promo?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jC_lSGooF1Y
Actually seems to deemphasize just how much action and manly shouting there is, but gives a taste.

[Captain Impulse]

You've seen the promo?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jC_lSGooF1Y
Actually seems to deemphasize just how much action and manly shouting there is, but gives a taste.

So it's like RE: Cutey Honey meets...Dig Dug?

[Jumbo]

With that said I really, really, really like Yoko as a character. I can see her becoming the "it girl" for this season :blush:

She was built to be a PVC/Garage Kit figure IMO. Ahh, the wait for Summer wonderfest is a long one...

[Lego]

Well this is Gainax so at least you know they'll merchandise the hell out of the show. As for getting into it, I can watch it and actually like the characters, it just doesn't feel like something that I'd look forward to each week.

[mrsparklenoodle]

So it's full of macho crap? I will say the trailer is beautiful, animation wise, I may like this, I've been waiting for Gainax to do something outstanding other than Kare Kano and Furi Kuri for ages now (yep those are the only two Gainax shows I like).

[Pyocola]

Looks like Gainax has finally managed to do a decent TV series after years of boring maids and aliens. Not sure I like all the designs; main character looks a bit weak and that head with arms/legs was silly as hell, but overall it was pretty good and animation was top-notch. Best though was Iwasaki Taku's trademark majestic music.

And Yôko is hot.

[Andrew Cunningham]

The second episode was also lots of fun.

[Andrew Cunningham]

Best transformation sequence ever.

[masterpez]

Best transformation sequence ever.

It was!!! And it was awesome as hell. I even saw that coming and I still laughed out loud. This show is definitely a winner. Good job Gainax *thumbs up*. Anyways, does it really air in the early morning?? I have to wonder with all the specially selected camera angles that they tend display Yoko in.

[something]

I watched this last night for Yoko, and by the end I pretty much confirmed with myself that she's the only real reason I'd continue watching.

For fans of spastic Gainax roboty goodness, I can easily see the appeal. The animation is fluid, there's lots of yelling, hotblooded passion and all such other things. I don't really like the character designs (except for Yoko), but it's a style that has its fans.

I do sort of like Simon and it would be amusing to see Yoko try to seduce him and whatnot, but hnestly, I think I'll just give it one more episode to hook me. Which is unlikely, because I assume the giant robotyness will start in earnest in episode two, which will send me running with haste.

So unless Yoko is just too godly awesome for me to peel my eyes away (as she was in episode one), I'll pass on keeping up with this show and instead content myself with the absolute torrent of awesome Yoko art the Japanese fanart community has been churning out lately. That right there would encompass like 85% of what I was getting out of the show anyway =P Yoko is love.

[Shikamaru824]

Nearing the end of my "1st's list", and all I gotta say is I WISH I watched this earlier! I love everything about it; the sytle, the animation, the over-the-top passion; this show is hitting every Note a Robot show needs to execute perfectly! And above all, it's was just plain fun to watch.

...and above that, there's Yoko :virgin: There's so many degrees of SEX built into her, Gainax is going to invent angles and cinematography shots. I know there's going to be that one special scene where Yoko's positioned just right....that I'm going to have to stop my mail for a week.

[Andrew Cunningham]

The villains are cranky pink Loco Roco?
The emergency rations was great, but the transformation sequence badly needed some awesome music behind it. Instead, I think they played a bit of the horrendous ending song...

[masterpez]

:O I love the ending song. But then again, I'm probably the exact demographic that it's supposed to cater to (excluding the fact that I'm not Japanese). This series continues to be awesome. The new guy (can't remember his name) seems to have as much over the top passion as Kamina.....and as for his sisters, the more girls the marrier. Going to be hard getting their names right though, but then again it's doubtful that one would need to refer to any of them individually.

[Andrew Cunningham]

It just sounds like somebody tone deaf hogging the kareoke mike.

[ZetaEpyon]

Wow, I guess they brought in the B-team for the animation on episode 4. Good lord that was terrible.

That, or they spent the entire budget for the episode on the union sequence. :sd:

[Shale]

I watched this last night for Yoko, and by the end I pretty much confirmed with myself that she's the only real reason I'd continue watching.

For fans of spastic Gainax roboty goodness, I can easily see the appeal. The animation is fluid, there's lots of yelling, hotblooded passion and all such other things. I don't really like the character designs (except for Yoko), but it's a style that has its fans.

I do sort of like Simon and it would be amusing to see Yoko try to seduce him and whatnot, but hnestly, I think I'll just give it one more episode to hook me. Which is unlikely, because I assume the giant robotyness will start in earnest in episode two, which will send me running with haste.

So unless Yoko is just too godly awesome for me to peel my eyes away (as she was in episode one), I'll pass on keeping up with this show and instead content myself with the absolute torrent of awesome Yoko art the Japanese fanart community has been churning out lately. That right there would encompass like 85% of what I was getting out of the show anyway =P Yoko is love.


Funny, Yoko's the thing I like least about this show. But then, I'm a fan of the spastic Gainax roboty goodness, and not so much of the random and pointless cheesecake character designs.

Anyway, I realize it's probably not your thing, but if you want to see what the show's going to turn out to be, watch the third episode too. That's where the humor, characters and robot-ness come together.

[ayareiko]

Breaking News:

Because of the controversy regarding his comments about otaku and the firestorm that followed, Gainax co-founder Akai Takami has resigned from the company and will no longer be a part of Gurren Lagann's production staff.

Source (http://heiseidemocracy.com/2007/04/27/breaking-news-gurren-lagann-producer-resigns-quits-gainax-board-of-directors-over-episode-4-and-mixi-scandal-fallout/)

Edit: Seperate thread for this. (http://www.animeondvd.com/forum/showtopic.php?tid/19869/)

[Fencedude]

Wow, I guess they brought in the B-team for the animation on episode 4. Good lord that was terrible.

That, or they spent the entire budget for the episode on the union sequence. :sd:

Actually, they had a really famous and well known animator do basically the entire thing, but yeah, didn't work too well.

[ZetaEpyon]

Actually, they had a really famous and well known animator do basically the entire thing, but yeah, didn't work too well.


Hmm, I didn't know that; that kinda makes it worse even. :(

[Lego]

Osamu Kobayashi was the animation director for episode four, his credits include a lot of high profile titles, so they probably thought that it was a safe bet. While I don't watch Gurren, this whole thing reminds me if fans went nuts after a certain episode of Aquarion.

[ayareiko]

Osamu Kobayashi was the animation director for episode four, his credits include a lot of high profile titles, so they probably thought that it was a safe bet. While I don't watch Gurren, this whole thing reminds me if fans went nuts after a certain episode of Aquarion.
To put it in a easier to understand analogy:
Though Oliver Stone is highly regarded (at least in some circles), no one in their right mind would let him direct a Mickey Mouse animated short.
In a way, something similar happened here. The person hired to direct episode four, despite their resume, was not the right fit for the series.

[FigNewton]

I honestly didn't think it was all that bad. I'm glad it was only for one episode, but it was an interesting experiment.

[Andrew Cunningham]

It was hardly the Super Horse episode of Kenshin, or the cactus episode of Outlaw Star.
The running joke fell flat, Kamina came across as a bit of a dick, the new characters served no real function, the final transformation sequence had no excitement to it...
But really, it only came across so badly because the first three episodes had set the bar so high.

[Jumbo]

That's how it came across for me. I'm not completely against stuff like this (Noien was able to pull it off very well IMO) but between the jerky lip flaps and way off model character designs it kind of crushed the world view that had been set up so well before.

Episode 4 wasn't a highlight reel in the first place, Osamu Kobayashi's personal touch was kind of a nail in the coffin I think. (Especially with it being the first time seeing those new characters.)

I'm not going to abandon the series or anything but I am glad that the preview for 5 has everything looking more or less back to normal.

[Andrew Cunningham]

The fourth and fifth episodes were both kind of boring filler, with much lower animation quality.
The sixth episode was a lot of fun again, and had some of the original energy back...but about ten minutes of the episodes were devoted to lengthy recaps of the first five episodes. Inexcusable.

[Speedy Boris]

Jeez, a recap episode ALREADY? :(

[Andrew Cunningham]

Only half, and during Golden Week...
But not very encouraging.

[Fencedude]

Only half, and during Golden Week...
But not very encouraging.

Supposedly on the DVDs the recaps will be replaced by FANSERVICE FANSERVICE FANSERVICE

Oh, and episode 7 was UNBELIEVABLY AWESOME!

[Thanatos]

"Believe in yourself. Do not believe in me and that I believe in you. Believe in yourself!"

Sunday can not get here any quicker :(

[Andrew Cunningham]

Oh, and episode 7 was UNBELIEVABLY AWESOME!


Yes. Yes it was. Major return to form.
And that little musical sting they play at every dramatic moment is ridiculously awesome.

[Fencedude]

There are no words.

There are only manly tears.

Farewell, Comrades

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[masterpez]

[edit] I'm not sure if I need to spoiler tag this....so I guess I'll tag the whole thing. It's kind of cryptic anyway. *shrugs*

I can't believe it happened. But given the opening sequence to the series, and the fact that he wasn't in that scene...it kind of makes sense (then again, Yoko wasn't in that scene either, not that it's related at all). I was pretty sad at first....but then I went to /m/ to see what they thought, and it became really hard to keep a straight face while browsing some of the threads (I don't go there often). I was given a history lesson on other fellow super robot series hero's who've fallen in battle. And right now I'm kind of "eh" but with disbelief. GAR :( . I wonder if Yoko will take his place as the second pilot...

[golthin]

well that is something, there is a lesson to be learned here. You never do what Yoko did before a big battle, maybe she didn't notice Simon feelings for her, but indirectly it was all her fault.

[golthin]

well, it seems all it takes for Yoko to get interested in a guy is for some female to pay attention to that guy, we see Yoko show her Jealous face in episode 9 as she had in previous episodes.

[Nosredna]

I'm a bit behind on this series, but I thought it was Simon that was going to be bumped off. Guess I haven't been paying close enough attention.

[Fencedude]

I'm a bit behind on this series, but I thought it was Simon that was going to be bumped off. Guess I haven't been paying close enough attention.

...you mean that you didn't realize that Simon was the main character, not Kamina?

[Fencedude]

You know what?

Nia's hardcore. I can't believe people were whining about her joining the cast.

[Andrew Cunningham]

She came off badly in the preview.
Will have to catch up and judge for myself.

[hikaru004]

Well, they can't appeal to the target broadcast fanbase, so now we have a character to appeal to the otaku. Moe, clueless Nia.

Nia suffers from Princess Syndrome. Those unfortunates afflicted by this think,"I won't get killed because I'm daddy's (the king) little girl so I can say what I like." On top of that, she was clueless as to what was happening to the humans in the capital.

Nia comes off as GAR in ep. 11 to some but it's the Princess Syndrome again only this time substitute "daddy" for "Simon" imo.

In fact, her really basic cluelessness is truly unforgiveable. It's pretty obvious that she isn't human, yet she hasn't figured it out yet.

This character truly ranks up there with the rumored age of Yoko as bad Gainax ideas for this title.

[Fencedude]

What?

Nia's NOTHING like what you have described. She's insightful, intelligent and doesn't waste time bitching and moaning when she discovers the truth about her father and her existence.

And I disagree about her not being human, as well.

[Speedy Boris]

Nia has single-handedly made the show much more interesting.

[Andrew Cunningham]

I watched episode nine just now, and am taking a middle view - she has shown signs of being perceptive and proactive, but her voice gives me a sore throat just listening to it.
Human voices were not meant to go that high. As written, she's not bad, even if her design is from some other, much less interesting show, but the voice actress may end up killing it anyway. And the new villains all looked boring as dirt.

[Fencedude]

even if her design is from some other, much less interesting show,


...what?

...its like people SET OUT to hate her. I don't understand it.

[masterpez]

Not that my opinion matters much, but I liked her from the beginning. She earns extra points for bringing Simon out of his hole, which I don't think I could've took for another episode.

Also, on a side note, did anyone else think that Simon's voice change was kind of drastic?? I'm pretty sure he has that same voice in the opening scene of the series, but hearing it come out of that pint sized body was really weird.

[Andrew Cunningham]

...what?

...its like people SET OUT to hate her. I don't understand it.


Lots of people hate that art style. It's not a deal breaker for me, but that look has been used in a lot of very shallow, empty shows. Anything that smacks of moe gets people on their guard until the actual character and how the character is used prove them wrong.
I'd also probably like her a lot more if she weren't replacing a character I vastly preferred. There's a little bitterness backing it up, and it's going to take more than one episode to win me over.
But I think this comes down to the eternal schism between moe and manliness.

[Fencedude]

But...there shouldn't BE a schism god dammit.

Its like you are only allowed to like one or the other, not both.

WELL GOD FUCKING DAMMIT I LIKE BOTH!

[hikaru004]

Yeah, his voice did change during that scene. It was like he reached puberty all of a sudden. :sd:

And fencedude, just looking at those pupils hints that her origins aren't exactly normal. Also, she was referred to as "cherry blossom" in ep. 9.

Besides this is a hot-blooded mecha title. Even the moe one (psychologist) in Dancougar Nova had a GAR side.

[Nosredna]

I'm a bit behind on this series, but I thought it was Simon that was going to be bumped off. Guess I haven't been paying close enough attention.

...you mean that you didn't realize that Simon was the main character, not Kamina?


Nope I had no clue.

[Thanatos]

So, we`ve had like 8 or 9 episodes begin with a closeup of Simon`s face and narration `this is the story of a man who has not yet realized his destiny` and people are SURPRISED Simon is the main character??

I don`t know if I should be :sigh: or :(

[Nosredna]

I guess I'm not quite at the level that the "Master of Sarcasm" is at yet :tired: . Of course I knew who the main character is.

[hikaru004]

I'm a bit behind on this series, but I thought it was Simon that was going to be bumped off. Guess I haven't been paying close enough attention.

...you mean that you didn't realize that Simon was the main character, not Kamina?



Nope I had no clue.


Well, you got to admit Kamina is still a show stealer. Also, they had to do a prologue in ep. 9 to remind us about that fact about who is actually in ep. 1 prologue and to pay one last tribute to Kamina.

[Thanatos]

I guess I'm not quite at the level that the "Master of Sarcasm" is at yet :tired: . Of course I knew who the main character is.

Oh, my bad. Sorry. No worries, though, sarcasm is the lowest form of wit after all. Being the "master" of it isn't anything to write home about. :)

[Speedy Boris]

Beach episode: Yoko wearing a more modest swimsuit than her usual outfit was good for a laugh.

[Nosredna]

Nia has single-handedly made the show much more interesting.

I agree with you and what Pez said. Simon was just getting on my nerves, so I'm glad Nia had confidence in him and that he worked things out. Although I'm not a huge fan of her new haircut, but I'm sure I'll get used to it :sd: .

[golthin]

Just watched episode 13 and finally Simon is showing the first signs of his awesomeness.
No doubt that he is headed toward gaining the title of Garmon!

[Nosredna]

All I can say from the preview of the next episode is if they take Nia away there's going to be hell to pay. :realanger: Hopefully I'm picking that up wrong :nervous: .

[golthin]

All I can say from the preview of the next episode is if they take Nia away there's going to be hell to pay. :realanger: Hopefully I'm picking that up wrong :nervous: .
The consencus in the majorty of the places is that could be a big posibility as she already performed her role in the show which was
To bring Simon out of his slump, something that Yoko couldn't do because she was also in the same set of mind. Some people translate what she say as Farewall, friends and other translate as goodday or hi, friends! "Gokygeyou" can be either farewell or good day and hello! So we going to have to wait for the episode.

[Andrew Cunningham]

Beach episode: Yoko wearing a more modest swimsuit than her usual outfit was good for a laugh.

Did not expect the beach episode to be a fake out and turn from service filler into the most sustained kick assery since the first few episodes. Nice.
Nia's new haircut a VAST improvement.

[StudioZEL]

I just started watching this. One episode wasn't enough, so I marathoned through 11.

Episode 4 was horrid...

Episode 8 made me cry...

...but Episode 11 ROCKED MY WORLD!!

GAINAX IS BACK BABY!!! XD

[something]

. Well, I finally decided to get back to this. Yoko compels me.


Episode 2:

- YOKO!
- [stuff about fighting and being a man and explaining the surface and Ganmen to Kamina and Simon and them more fighting]
- YOKO!

Meh.


Episode 3:

- YOKO!
- Viral is cool. I liked the Viral vs. Kamina fight better when they weren't in the robots. Too bad it was like 30 seconds long.
- YOKO pep talk. Get your ass moving, Simon!
- Best combination sequence ever. ::Gurren shoves Lagann through its own head:: "Now we have two faces!"
- Mmm, this is what you call "the ep that wins the undecided viewer over". Viral is going to be a great villain, and Kamina, who so far has equally straddled "fun" and "fucking annoying" should lean towards the former more often with Yoko and a more confident Simon to keep him in check.

In short, Ep. 3 >>>>>>>>>::insert infinity::>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Eps. 1-2. Yoko, Simon, Kamina and Ron should make a dynamic and interesting team.

Also... YOKO! Christ I want to touch her butt so badly. Let Ron have Kamina, I want Yoko to seduce Simon asap.


Episode 4:

- ...well that fucking sucked even worse than I was lead to believe (I didnt think that was possible).


Episode 5:

- YOKO! Topless... o_O But then foced to put on a big cloak... damn prudes! She still looks pretty cute in it though.
- Interesting artistic choice in this episode. And yes, an actual artistic choice executed well and with thought behind it, unlike the "we have no idea what the hell we're doing" nonsense in episode 4. Everything is realy washed out, the darks are DARK and the lights are really bright. Candles or the hole in the ceiling are the only illumination. It seemed strange at first, but it worked really well. It reflected the life Roshiu had been living underground, and the sudden intense vibrance when he reaches the surface is all the more meaningful for it.
- The episode itself was pretty good. I didn't expect the priest to be made into a sympathetic figure. Hell, I half expected him to be a beastman in disguise, working covertly to keep a human community forever stunted in its growth.

Not enough YOKO though.


Episode 6:

- Silly recap >______>
- Bunny ganmen, gainax Girl onsen harem, return of the Black something or other sisters from "that ep"... GIMMIE YOKOSERVICE!
- More recap? But this is only episode six... >_>
- Of course, the onsen is a ganmen :sd: I love Roshiu and his "ayashi... ayashiii..."
- Haha, ok, the episode ended really well. The recap is still WTF, and NEED MORE YOKO BOOBIES, but it really tapped into that absurd overblown craziness in a way that worked pretty well for me.
- Also, FUCKING FURRIES!! Someome needs to unleash our Great Leader Yomi upon their asses.
- And I have no idea why I like Viral so much, but he's just a great villain so far, though he's only been in one episode prior to the very end here.

Yoko, don't be a tease... need so much mooooooore~~


Episode 7:

- Mmmm, more Viral, though he's preempted from having a real fight by the less interesting giant sword phallus ganmen capital thing.
- Kamina was really annoying me in this episode, completely overdoing the "NEVER RUN AWAY" crap. Is it "manly" to die and endanger all those who rely on you? I don't think so. But that was the point, Kamina totally overdoes it, and Simon snaps him back into reality, like he did in an earlier episode.
- Yoko notices it immediately too, and makes damn sure Kamina knows that he owes Simon his life. That they all do, really. Kamina will still be the visible leader of the DAIGurren-dan, but Simon will be no less important. Yoko and Simon have to continue to act as a check on the sometimes-crazed Kamina.


Episode 8:

- God damn that pan up on Yoko with the bullets in the air from the OP is so amazing~
- Yoko focus! At least early in the episode. I hope she is able to do more as the series wears on. I already see some signs of her being reduced to a cheerleader for the guys, and lord it's boring when that happens.
- Oh shit! Nooo! Simon, I weep for you. I WEEP!! ;_; <~~~~~~ see, weeping! Poor guy, right before the biggest battle of his life, he sees the woman of his dreams making out with his comrade, best buddy, his partner. That's gotta be devastating.
- The Gurren-dan has indeed grown, I can only imagine we'll see... some thinning of the ranks soon.
- Anyway, pull it together Simon, you can do it~
- Oh yay, Yoko joins the battle, as sniper on an artillery ganmen. She plays a pretty active part too, which is good.
- Just as Simon and Yoko keep Kamina in check, Kamina is there to smack some sense into Simon (literally), when Simon is losing his confidence. Regaining it, they take DaiGanzan.
- Then one last time they go Gurren Lagann, and with GIGA DRILL BREAKER take out Thylphil or whatever his name it. I never bothered to learn it, and now he's dead, so whatever :sd:
- So, how much do I believe Kamina is really dead? Not much, but I guess he'll be out for awhile while he goes off to find a suitable mask and cloak, to return as a masked ally of justice, or something.

Anyway, a much better ep than my meager comments imply, I just didn't feel like going into too many details. I can dig THE PASSION OF A HOT BLOODED MAN'S LAST STAND and such too, when it's done well anyway. Gurren Lagann did it really well. So, what will become of the DaiGurren-dan? Will Yoko recover, and what role will Simon play in that recovery? Is Kamina actually dead? Who will Ron raep now?


Episode 9:

- Ooh, very good job on the OP change Gainax. Instead of just blanking out a character or something, they actually took a huge turning point and developed something that tells a story based on it. That was definitely one of the better examples in a long, long time of knowing how to change an OP without changing the song.
- Animation... very noticeable dip. Well, Gainax was never exactly consistent, but it's definitely not the level of ep 4.
- And it just got much better with... Nia! Oh Nia, you're amazing. I expected her to be some childish, hyper character, but at least in the first two minutes of her introduction, she's definitely not. Love her voice too, she was Sara in SR and Kagome in Strawberry Panic.
- And she's the daughter of the king o_O Why... does he have a human daughter? Or rather, is she not really human then? Not that the king looks like a beast either. Is she just a slave he kept? Why did he get rid of her? Hmmmmmmm.

Assuming she stays a somewhat serious character, and doesn't devolve into a romantic/comedic Ayeka to Yoko's Ryoko, or whatever, I think I'll like her a lot. I also think a lot depends on how fast Simon rebounds and gets out of his funk. Whether it's Yoko or Nia who drags him out, I don't care, I just hope it happens soon.


Episode 10:

- Yeah, I definitely like Nia a lot. A friend of mine who was complaining about her made me expect something so different, and instead she's not like that at all. She's a very good addition to the show, and she came at a perfect time. Just perfect. She would have been very badly placed if she showed up before Kamina's death. There was no place for her. Now there is, and I think the show is going to owe a lot of its depth to her. This is assuming the things I mentioned at the end of my ep 9 comments, anyway.
- She mixes naive and intelligent, polite and playful, in a way that Simon could benefit from. Her sheltered nature causes problems -- such as when she tells Simon she doesn't get why he's dixated on someone who isn't there anymore -- but her intentions are good, and she offers a very useful counter to Simon's claims that he can't do anything without Kamina. As she says, Simon saved her. That's certainly worth something, certainly to Nia at least. Simon's problem in dealing with Kamina's death is that he used to fight to protect others, to free others, but now he's been fighting to forget, to avenge, to drown his sorrows. The Gurren Lagann isn't powered by such emotions. Nia, hopefully, along with Yoko, will make Simon see that.
- Oh shit, it's over, I'm officially in love. Nia just rocked that confrontation with Adiane with EPIC FINGER POINTING!
- Yay, everyone loves her now. Adiane getting kicked by DaiGurren was hilarious. But then Viral saves her and takes her away. She abuses him more... that bitch! Get your hands off Viral-chan! I hope she gets hers, and then some.
- But Simon is still in emo mode...


Episode 11:

- Icky Guame, wants to make Nia a sexual play thing for his dirty furries. He reveals a little about what she was intended for... the King is ovre 1000 years old, and makes a habit of having kids and treating them like dolls. When he's done, he tosses them away. Nia is just one of... thousands? that he's done the same with.
- Haha holy shit I love the old man. Nobody even really notices that he joined the Gurren-dan from the onsen debacle, but he keeps showing up at weird times. Normally it's just irrelevant little stuff but... what the hell, he SAVED NIA'S LIFE o_O
- And Simon is back! He delivers a slightly more awakward version of a Kamina speech, and then giga drill breaks Guame's ganmen. Thank you so much, Nia~ I did want Yoko to get more involved in bringing him around, but still, Nia has taken this show by storm. And if you ask me, she's really done it all in the spirit of the show as a whole. She *looks* insanely out of place, but I think she's been integrated brilliantly.
- And then her request to the Gurren-dan to bury the remains of all the discarded princesses was so sudden, it really took me by surprise and instantly got me teary eyed. Damnit.

Nia is fucking AWESOME. This show has two of the most epic women I've come across in a long time.


Episode 12:

- BIKINI! BIKINI! Or in Nia's case, adorable white one piece! It was damn funny to see the guys complain that Yoko's bikini is more conservative than her normal clothes XD Oh, and the three sisters look damn good as well...
- I definitely feel bad for Yoko here. All the guys are essentially ganging up on her and acting like she doesn't have feelings. Hey, she can be jealous too. She's human too. It's definitely not Nia's fault (wow, volleyball serve of death), and you can tell Nia wants to be friends with Yoko, but Yoko is going to wind up taking it out on her in frustration. Aww~
- Until now I was totally cool with a Yoko-Simon pairing. But... I can't suppress it... the yuri demon inside of me... it... ittttt... GAH I CAN'T PUT ASIDE THE DESIRE TO SEE TWO TRULY EPIC WOMEN GET TOGETHER!!! ::breathes heavily:: It.. it... it would beeeeeeeeeee....... AHHHHHHHHHHHH! ::stops, exhales, calms down:: Ok... I know there's no likelihood or even reason that that would ever happen. It's NOT an option. So I'm not going to expect it or look for it. But... Buttttt... Gah!
- And then, Adiane attacks. In the ocean she has a huge advantage. She also has Viral commanding her submarine while she attacks in her ganmen.
- As a side note, I'm liking the development where Roshiu becomes the Gurren's pilot. I wonder if that sticks, or if he's a placeholder for someone else?
- Yoko! Been awhile since she got the spotlight. It was funny watching the guys think she was going to kill Nia :sd: But oh god no, the hair, NOT THE HAIR!! THE HAAAAAAAAAAIR!!!!!!!
- Oh well at least we get a cute moment between Yoko and Nia out of it. I love the trust and faith Nia has in Simon and Yoko.
- And so two of the Big Four down. And Nia's hair... ::weeps more::

This is truly traumatic for me.


Episode 13:

- Nia the chef!
- Well that answers my Roshiu question. He comes down with a "mysterious illness" (I think it's a bacteria of the species Plotius Developmentius Necessitus) and Yoko becomes the Gurren's pilot.
- Heh, GL can't fly? Use the drill to treat the flying ganmen like monkey bars! And then, you know, just assimilate one of them and have flight capability :sd:
- Viral can fly!
- BLAAAAAAAAAH. Craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap. Yoko gets in the GL finally, and the first fight has her getting hurt and Simon having to protect her, like some damsel in distress. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
- Meh, that messed this episode up for me. The next episode title doesn't make me feel any better either. They better play their cards right with whatever is coming up in 14. Interesting things happening with Viral will help a lot, but it won't be enough by itself. Don't do anything stupid, TTGL.

[Andrew Cunningham]

I disagree with like, half the things you say, but the sheer enthusiasm makes me not care.
Glad you're on board.

[something]

I disagree with like, half the things you say
I imagine 95% of GL fandom does :sd:
but the sheer enthusiasm makes me not care.
Glad you're on board.
Yeah, I always have that at least-=P

[Westlo]

Ep 6 recap scenes will be replaced with fanservice scenes on the dvd version.

I love Viral, his theme is so kick ass.. "WHERE THE FUCK IS KAMINA!!!!!!!"

[StudioZEL]

Welcome to Gurren Lagann something! I just joined a few days ago myself! ^_^

[something]

Ep 6 recap scenes will be replaced with fanservice scenes on the dvd version.
That may be one of the best ideas ever.

[StudioZEL]

Revised sketch (http://www.studio-zel.com/images/gurrensketch2.jpg)

[something]

Welcome to Gurren Lagann something! I just joined a few days ago myself! ^_^
The timing of me finally deciding to get back into this, which was completely random, in absolute whim in the most precise sense, just blows me away seeing as how it got licensed less than 12 hours later.

...Wow. Well, I guess I was "on board" for only a few hours, Andrew :sd: Damn... time to disembark >_> Oh well, definitely buying this one, via singles. I guess I'm happy that if I have to leave off, it was at a pretty good point anyway.

PS: I know she gets a lot of flack, but I'm really glad I watched up to Nia. I was going to stop for the night after ep 8, because, well, thats just a really good stopping point. But I pressed on to the most recent available, and while I probably would have bought it anyway just after 8, Nia completely cemented it. She's a wonderful character, and a wonderful human being. She plays to the strengths of everyone around her, and brings out others they didn't know they had. And she's a great complement to the equally INCREDIBLE Yoko.

[Jadawin]

The first 3-4 eps. weren't that enjoyable for me. And I watched up to episode 6 just because I wanted to see what those Gainax lookalike characters were like.
But I really enjoyed those past eps.
I have a feeling that Viral might join forces with Simon. Well, if he's not killed by the King before that of course. :D

[Westlo]

14 was great but it's hard too see this going another 12 eps at this pace.

Time skip? Like upto the very first scene of Gurren Lagann?

[Andrew Cunningham]

I dunno, I think it's becoming pretty obvious we're gonna end up in space.

[bobma]

Wow....just wow...








...wow.

[golthin]

Wow....just wow...








...wow.
Gainax didn't disappoint with that episode!

[Andrew Cunningham]

Yeah, holy crap. The sheer scale of that, and the smooth transitions from thousand robot battles to fist fights...
How are they ever going to top this? It was like a season ender that wasn't!

[Westlo]

Just amazing, just amazing... 1-15 alone has cemented a spot in my top 5 animes of all time.

15 was perfection.

[StudioZEL]

Holy f***ing shit, how's Gainax possibly going to take this further? o.o

[guyver83]

I'm soo shocked I haven't seen this anime before. Nos got me to watch and I just finished ep 8 and WOW is all I could say. He was like my fav character! I've read most of your posts up to ep 8 and I gotta agree this def jumps in my all time favs. I mean it has it all that I love. I can't wait to watch the rest and catch up to you all. Man I cried for Simon.

[Andrew Cunningham]

A friend of mine said it's like a 52 episode show with all the boring stuff cut out, and a really kick ass fight every episode.

[Andrew Cunningham]

16 - recap episode.

Apparently 17 will jump forward in time seven years...

[StudioZEL]

Apparently 17 will jump forward in time seven years...

Anyone else beginning to suspect that the brief bit we saw at the very beginning of Episode 01 of Gurren Lagann might be the end, and the guy giving the commands is Simon?

[Andrew Cunningham]

That wasn't completely obvious all along?
Maybe I've seen too many of these things...

[Fencedude]

Apparently 17 will jump forward in time seven years...

Anyone else beginning to suspect that the brief bit we saw at the very beginning of Episode 01 of Gurren Lagann might be the end, and the guy giving the commands is Simon?

Uhh...that was obvious from episode 1...

[StudioZEL]

Apparently 17 will jump forward in time seven years...

Anyone else beginning to suspect that the brief bit we saw at the very beginning of Episode 01 of Gurren Lagann might be the end, and the guy giving the commands is Simon?

Uhh...that was obvious from episode 1...


....

*hides*

[golthin]

Anyone else beginning to suspect that the brief bit we saw at the very beginning of Episode 01 of Gurren Lagann might be the end, and the guy giving the commands is Simon?

Jeez! That is so old news! Even I that usually is clueless about such things realized that after the first episode was over.

[Westlo]

A friend of mine said it's like a 52 episode show with all the boring stuff cut out, and a really kick ass fight every episode.

That doesn't apply to episode 4.

[Andrew Cunningham]

Haven't the other fourteen episodes helped you get over that yet?

[Westlo]

What's the quality of the other episodes have to do with episode 4 being crap? Just because 15 is one of the best episodes of anime I've seen period doesn't make 4 failure aok now.

It's still a 10/10 anime but please don't act like it's flawless.

[Fencedude]

Haven't the other fourteen episodes helped you get over that yet?

No kidding.

Episode 4, while easily the worst episode of the series, is not THAT bad.

[Andrew Cunningham]

I just couldn't figure out why you'd brought it up again now.
Just because something is true doesn't mean it is necessary to bring it up again every time someone praises the series as a whole.

[Westlo]

*puts on blinkers*

Every episode of Gurren Lagann is amazing ^____^

[Andrew Cunningham]

17 - Um, wow. Part two is going to be a lot darker than part one. Not sure that's a good thing...

[roastedpekingduck]

17 - Um, wow. Part two is going to be a lot darker than part one. Not sure that's a good thing...
Curses! Now you've gotten me interested in Gurren Lagann. :angry:

[Fencedude]

17 - Um, wow. Part two is going to be a lot darker than part one. Not sure that's a good thing...

Evil Nia is EEEEEEEEEEVIL

And hot.

Oh, and Darry grew up quite fine herself.

[TheGreenMan]

Randomc has pics up for episode 17. WTF is happening to my Nia? O.O

[StudioZEL]

17 - Um, wow. Part two is going to be a lot darker than part one. Not sure that's a good thing...

It is indeed VERY interesting. Rossiu is pursuing his own agenda behind Simon's back, and somehow seems to think that he's the one who's running the show these days. Hell, he's got supporters too (including Kinoh, that surprised me)! And evil Nia is f***ing HOT :virgin: :virgin: I wonder if Rossiu is going to try and pull a coup d'etat?

[Westlo]

I like where this is going.

Looking forward to the re-entrance of Yoko later on.

[HellKorn]

Yeah, I'm kind of wondering how the energy of the first half will be translated to the second. Gainax has ten episodes to work with this "one million monkeys = bad end" plot, so it's entirely possible to work with it given the the show's straightforwardness.

I am relieved that the time jump transition went rather smoothly. The recap bridged the high of episode fifteen to our new setting quite nicely.

I also find it amusing how obvious it was that Kiyoh's child was going to be the "one millionth monkey."

[Andrew Cunningham]

I think I'm out.
I hate every single thing the second half of the show is doing, and I can't bear to watch it self-destruct like this.

[StudioZEL]

Okay, Rossiu has become a total f***ing bastard! >> <<

[Fencedude]

I think I'm out.
I hate every single thing the second half of the show is doing, and I can't bear to watch it self-destruct like this.

You know, all things considered...thats the point.

They have specifically crafted these events to piss off the majority of their fanbase. Its BRILLIANT.

[Thanatos]

Why isn't Rossiu dead yet? I... don't understand.

KILL THE TREACHEROUS BITCH ALREADY!!

[StudioZEL]

KILL THE TREACHEROUS BITCH ALREADY!!

Which one? :P

[Nosredna]

Nia still has a shot at redemption, Rossiu on the other hand as far as I'm concerned can jump off a cliff.

[Fencedude]

lol

I find all of this so INCREDIBLY amusing.

[StudioZEL]

Nia still has a shot at redemption, Rossiu on the other hand as far as I'm concerned can jump off a cliff.

Actually, I was thinking Kimon more than Nia, but either way. XD

[Nosredna]

Nia still has a shot at redemption, Rossiu on the other hand as far as I'm concerned can jump off a cliff.

Actually, I was thinking Kimon more than Nia, but either way. XD

Ah her :sd: . Well we know where her alligance lies, so I suspect if Rossiu is going down, she'll go down with him.

[Thanatos]

Nah, evil Nia is still wearing the shiny ring, so Simon will save her in a true GAR finale. Rossiu, on the other hand, should be shot like a little bitch who isn't even worth a closeup.

[StudioZEL]

Okay, I liked Kittan before, but now he's officially one bad-ass mofo! XD

[hide]*pumps a shotgun*[/hide}

[guyver83]

Okay, I liked Kittan before, but now he's officially one bad-ass mofo! XD

[hide]*pumps a shotgun*[/hide}

Totally agree man it was like.. I'm a bad ass muther *shut yo mouth* haha and Yoko is back with what looks ilke a BIGGER gun ahahah

[StudioZEL]

Yoko = HOTTEST TEACHER EVER!! :virgin: :virgin: :virgin:

Simon + Viral piloting Gurren Lagann= Made of WIN! XD

[InsaneZero]

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/3007/1187481798536aq8zx2eq7.jpg

The two paths of man and beast combine into one spiral way!
I reject the fate that made us enemies, and with these hands I make the path to tomorrow!
Destined Union! GURREN-LAGANN! WHO DO YOU THINK WE ARE!?!?

[Fencedude]

Viral was sounding very king of braves in this episode.

[StudioZEL]

Well, though I think it was pretty plain earlier that Rossiu has a soft spot for Yoko, this episode made it plain and clear when he sent her a message asking her to get on the Arc Gurren because "she's someone who should survive". Uhuh. Yeah. Not that Simon was worth saving eh? >> I would have laughed my ass off if Rossiu had died somehow before Simon came and saved his ass.

I was glad when Yoko acted disgusted at his message. At least she's still sane (and badass!)

[Garasharp K7]

I'm loving the show so far, and I can't wait to see where it's headed. I'm up to ep 20 now - definitely agree with folks who think Rossiu deserves to be knocked down a fair few pegs. It looks like he'll eventually realize just how much he's screwed up, but I really want to see him get his come-uppance - hopefully at the business end of a Ganmen's giant metal foot. :)

And I think Gainax are swiping sound effects from movies again, as I'm pretty sure I heard a few sound effects from Robocop 2 in that ep. To these ears, one of the Anti-Spiral ships makes a noise taken straight out of that film... :)

[HellKorn]

The Ganmen attacking felt too ridiculously contrived, even for a show like this, but the second half of the episode delivered. After four episodes of screwing around with the viewers' emotions, we get back to manliness and fucking awesome fights.

The preview (http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/4130/gurrenlagann21previewsisa4.jpg) even further indicates a return to form.

[StudioZEL]

True enough, 3 episodes of Rossiu ass-hatery was more than enough for me. :sd: Glad we're back to the goods again. ^^

[Fencedude]

Hahaha...wow.

I think half of /a/ just imploded from the awesome, and thats just from screenshots.

[Fencedude]

*finishes watching*

*explodes*

GATTAI

ARC-GURREN-LAGANN!

[InsaneZero]

Oh wow.

Simon LITERALLY pierced the heavens.

He just... wow.

[Fencedude]

How do I Shatter Space? (http://img213.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1188097645674wx7.jpg)

[StudioZEL]

Okay, this episode was made of so much win I simply don't know where to begin!

AWESOME!! o.O

[StudioZEL]

o.O Holy shit at Yoko's new outfit, that's hot!!!

EDIT: Took some shopping to remove the clocks, but well worth it. ^^ (http://www.studio-zel.com/images/yokonew.jpg)

[Westlo]

The opera version of Fight the Power Iwasaki made is just epic.

Even though it was just in his mind it was great to see Kamina-sama again

[pi8you]

With or without the operatic version of the theme, at this point the show's 'gone to plaid'(bonus points to anyone who gets that reference without looking it up), the 40% has definitely been paying off and I can't wait for the finale.

CCGL shrugging off planets! Drills with drills with lasers! Yoko's wakeup with Kamina ;_;. Viral's fantasy was huuuuge if you think about it. Core Drills(and Laganns?!) for everyone! And too much other awesome mindf**k everywhere.

[StudioZEL]

With or without the operatic version of the theme, at this point the show's 'gone to plaid'(bonus points to anyone who gets that reference without looking it up)

Heh, any Spaceballs reference is a good reference! ^^

[Sean_Connolly]

With or without the operatic version of the theme, at this point the show's 'gone to plaid'(bonus points to anyone who gets that reference without looking it up), the 40% has definitely been paying off and I can't wait for the finale.

CCGL shrugging off planets! Drills with drills with lasers! Yoko's wakeup with Kamina ;_;. Viral's fantasy was huuuuge if you think about it. Core Drills(and Laganns?!) for everyone! And too much other awesome mindf**k everywhere.

I can't find words for this show. All I end up saying is "So awesome." Best show of the year, no question in my mind. If ADV gets a volume out before the year is up in the US, it gets my vote there too.

[pi8you]

With or without the operatic version of the theme, at this point the show's 'gone to plaid'(bonus points to anyone who gets that reference without looking it up)

Heh, any Spaceballs reference is a good reference! ^^
Indeed! :D

[Redshirt 24]

I'm only a few episodes in, myself (having just watched episode 7)...I kind of like it, though it's more comic than anything else. I've spent the last seven episodes thinking "Why is Tatewaki Kunou wearing New Wave sunglasses?"

[LordGeo]

With or without the operatic version of the theme, at this point the show's 'gone to plaid'(bonus points to anyone who gets that reference without looking it up), the 40% has definitely been paying off and I can't wait for the finale.

CCGL shrugging off planets! Drills with drills with lasers! Yoko's wakeup with Kamina ;_;. Viral's fantasy was huuuuge if you think about it. Core Drills(and Laganns?!) for everyone! And too much other awesome mindf**k everywhere.

26 was a great episode, but...

I think that since Simon and Yoko got to see Kamina, Viral should have gotten one last moment with his original rival. I was kind of annoyed when Viral just got a core drill, but didn't get to see Kamina.

That would have been a cool moment.

[Fencedude]

Epic, yet bittersweet.

[TheGreenMan]

Well, the ending sucked, for me anyway.

[Fencedude]

Well, the ending sucked, for me anyway.

Why, out of curiosity.

[Nosredna]

What happened at the end is pretty much what I expected. To me the ending was good, but not great. Still I throughly enjoyed the series.

[Carbon]

I loved it (obviously) and am VERY much looking forward to it getting released here. I just hope ADV plans on bringing over the OVAs too if they weren't included in the licensing deal.

[Splitter]

Whoa whoa whoa! Where did you see there would be OVAs?

I thought the last episode was a perfect ending, even more so because it was GAINAX of all people that came up with that ending. And it was nothing NOTHING less than epic.

[Carbon]

They will be releasing 3 OVAs that I know of, if I'm not mistaken. Episodes 3.5, 11.5 and umm I think it was 15.5. Just little bits that take place during the first portion of the series. The first OVA will be released with the DS game this month in Japan.

[Splitter]

They will be releasing 3 OVAs that I know of, if I'm not mistaken. Episodes 3.5, 11.5 and umm I think it was 15.5. Just little bits that take place during the first portion of the series. The first OVA will be released with the DS game this month in Japan.

Oh thank God. The last thing I want is for Gainax to "make a better ending".

[Carbon]

Haha, no nothing like that. I hope the thought never crosses their minds to do something like that. I'm not thrilled about Simon giving the drill to Gimmy, but otherwise it was excellent. Nor am I offended by Nia dying like some people are. Sure it was like, aw..., but I wasn't bothered by it.

[TheGreenMan]

Well, the ending sucked, for me anyway.

Why, out of curiosity.



Edit: I better not spoil it.

[Splitter]

Haha, no nothing like that. I hope the thought never crosses their minds to do something like that. I'm not thrilled about Simon giving the drill to Gimmy, but otherwise it was excellent. Nor am I offended by Nia dying like some people are. Sure it was like, aw..., but I wasn't bothered by it.

I was totally apathetic to Nia's death. Personally, once Simon got his GAR, her usefulness dropped like a rock, not to mention she never went anywhere as a character... well, at least she saved Simon from falling prey to Black Widow Yoko's advances... poor Kittan...

[Sean_Connolly]

I was totally apathetic to Nia's death. Personally, once Simon got his GAR, her usefulness dropped like a rock, not to mention she never went anywhere as a character... well, at least she saved Simon from falling prey to Black Widow Yoko's advances... poor Kittan...


Technically, NO ONE went anywhere with their characters. None of the characters in the show, save Simon, Nia (Nia went from naive blob of nothing to pretty strong support character pre timeskip) and Rossiu (he turned into his old village leader for a bit, then back to minor support) for a tiny bit, showed any progression or development. There was no change from beginning to end for the vast majority of the cast. And that's just fine for a show of this type. =)

Also, are you saying Yoko showed any feelings toward Kittan, at all in the show? =O

[pi8you]

Really, I think the show ended about as well as it could without having another episode for the epilogue(and I don't know that I would have wanted one).

The final battle was absolutely insane, I mean seriously, completely bonkers! Anti-Spirals = Genome writ-large was a little disappointing, but still rather impressive in scope/will. Simon doesn't get Nia, sure, but they part on their own terms, in their own time. Simon continues to be true to himself, creating the path to let others achieve their dreams, and getting out of the way when its done. (And Yoko in the suit, yowza!)

It was nice to see them leave it open for a potential follow up, but given the scale of rampup, it'd almost have to be a movie or OVA. Sign me up for buying this one though, it dragged a bit in the middle, but the final arc absolutely made up for everything, and I hope that we ARE talking about it years from now, it really deserves it.

[Westlo]

Amazing ending, series and OST. I re watched eps 1-3 getting ready for the 3.5 OVA, can't wait to see more from Kamina.

ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA

[pianocello]

Couldn't find this thread earlier but since an R1 release is upcoming, I'd like to post some slightly spoilery thoughts on this show.

While flawed in certain aspects, I thought this was a great show. Rarely does an anime show different stages of a protagonist's life. And while I'm more into bishoujo anime, I truly enjoyed the manliness of this anime. The final episode reminded me of Gunbuster 2's final episode for being so over-the-top. Oh...and the meche here has to be some of the ugliest I've ever seen.
Some notable characters:
Nia
In the 1st half of the series, she was absolutely my favorite character. Don't really like what they did to her in the 2nd half though.

Yoko
I would have prefered a 20 years later, the older Simon and Yoko finally put their past loves behind themselves and become a couple. Some of the fanservice regarding Yoko was a little too-in-your-face considering that you never really see any nipples.

Darry
Who would have thought that she would have become so hot when she became older? So did she become a couple with Gimmy?

Gimmy
Would like a spin-off series before the 20 year time skip featuring him and Darry as the protagonists?

Kittan
I liked the extra focus on him in the later episodes.

Kittan's sisters
The romance involving the megane sister and Rossiu makes me want to barf. There needs to be more of the other two sisters though.

[Nagato-san]

So, I guess since the first R1 is out, I'll start a sub thread for it.

Anyway, I've watched up to episode 2 (though I saw up to ep.8 during the Japanese TV run). It just feels so good to watch this again. The first two episodes are just as good as they were when I first saw them.

The DVD is nice, and the picture quality is pretty good. Overall, I'm very impressed with the release.

[7Th]

Haha, no nothing like that. I hope the thought never crosses their minds to do something like that. I'm not thrilled about Simon giving the drill to Gimmy, but otherwise it was excellent. Nor am I offended by Nia dying like some people are. Sure it was like, aw..., but I wasn't bothered by it.

I was totally apathetic to Nia's death. Personally, once Simon got his GAR, her usefulness dropped like a rock, not to mention she never went anywhere as a character... well, at least she saved Simon from falling prey to Black Widow Yoko's advances... poor Kittan...


Technically, NO ONE went anywhere with their characters. None of the characters in the show, save Simon, Nia (Nia went from naive blob of nothing to pretty strong support character pre timeskip) and Rossiu (he turned into his old village leader for a bit, then back to minor support) for a tiny bit, showed any progression or development. There was no change from beginning to end for the vast majority of the cast. And that's just fine for a show of this type. =)

Also, are you saying Yoko showed any feelings toward Kittan, at all in the show? =O

I honestly think your statements are gross oversimplifications for character development in this show. It's very visual and nuanced, actually. Not usually delivered directly and at times even quite ambiguous. It's pretty common, practically out of Riders of the Lost Arc, well-delivered writing.

Nia was a naive girl living in an absolute truth that suddenly loses everything she believes in and becomes insecure about her own worth, ultimately learning from Simon how "reciprocal" love is and the importance of it in giving humans their individuality. However, like Kamina, Nia was a character tied by the chains of her origin. In the end, just like Kamina's fear of mortality and Rossiu's village ends up coming to claim their souls, Nia's origin, Genome's sin of surrender against the Anti-Spiral, came to claim hers. Her only desire was to face Simon and look him in the eyes as an equal, and that's why the conclusion to her storyline was satisfying. It was also particularly sweet to see Genome's gaining a sense of true love towards her by effect of his interactions with Simon.

Yoko's role was to sympathize with the spectator and bring Kamina's charisma close to heart. Her presence in the story made the existence of Kittan, Zoushi, Kidd and the rest of the gang easier to believe. They were all warriors fighting to survive who ultimately decided to fight for freedom by following the Gurren Brigade's larger-than-life ideals but the entire development took place only in Yoko's heart.

It's also silly to believe Simon ever stopped relying on Nia. On a fundamental level, Simon's character development was also entirely constructed around Nia(and, obviously Kamina). Nearly every action he took was focused on her. Even when he was fighting against Nia, he was still fighting for her sake. Trying to protect the city she made, the world she built. too.

The point of their relationship was Simon required Nia as much as she required him. Simon wasn't Simon without Nia. Simon needed Nia. She wasn't your usual incidental romantic interest, she was integral to Simon's personality.

[xia]

I finally broke the dvds out and watched the first two episodes. Highly amusing! I'm only on the second episode but i'm looking forward to watching more.

I love Kamina.