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===Themes=== |
===Themes=== |
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The main [[symbolism]] used in ''Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann'' is that of the [[spiral]], which represents a number of [[Motif (narrative)|motifs]] and [[Theme (literature)|themes]] used throughout the series. The main motif it symbolizes is that of the spiral [[drill]], which represents something that can break through imposing barriers and limitations, both in a physical and a [[Metaphysics|metaphysical]] sense. The drill has a variety of physical uses as a digging tool, a key, or a weapon, and |
The main [[symbolism]] used in ''Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann'' is that of the [[spiral]], which represents a number of [[Motif (narrative)|motifs]] and [[Theme (literature)|themes]] used throughout the series. The main motif it symbolizes is that of the spiral [[drill]], which represents something that can break through imposing barriers and limitations, both in a physical and a [[Metaphysics|metaphysical]] sense. The drill has a variety of physical uses as a digging tool, a key, or a weapon, and [[metaphor]]ically represents a struggle against those who impose their barriers and limitations on others. This is exemplified in various conflicts throughout the series, where optimistic [[protagonist]]s are rebelling against oppressive [[antagonist]]s (the Beastmen and Anti-Spirals), and in the "Fight the Power" [[Rapping|rap]] theme, which has rebellious lyrics such as the line "break through the unbreakable", a reference to the drill motif used throughout the series. Other motifs symbolized by the spiral include the shape of a spiral [[galaxy]] which is connected to the [[metric expansion of space|expansion of the universe]], and the [[double helix]] structure of [[DNA]] which is connected to the theory of [[evolution]], hence why in the second half of the series, the term "Spirals" is used to refer to humans and "Spiral power" is used to refer to human evolution.<ref name=Analysis/> |
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The spiral's symbolization of expansion and evolution also represents the increasing scale of the series, which builds up from an extremely small scale in an underground village to an extremely large scale across the universe, and the evolution of the [[Mecha]] anime genre in the storyline's structure. The first arc of the series is a revival of the [[Super Robot]] sub-genre which was once popular in the 1960s and 1970s but had declined in popularity due to the popularity of [[Real Robot]] anime such as the ''[[Gundam]]'' and ''[[The Super Dimension Fortress Macross|Macross]]'' series in the 1980s and psychological Mecha anime such as ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion (TV series)|Neon Genesis Evangelion]]'' in the 1990s. In the second arc, the Super Robot sub-genre is combined with elements from Real Robot [[space opera]]s of the 1980s, and in the third arc, both sub-genres are combined with elements from psychological Evangelion-inspired shows of the 1990s, with the fourth arc being influenced by all three Mecha sub-genres as a representation of the 2000s.<ref name=Analysis>[http://wtf.animeblogger.net/?p=140 Meaningful Symbols, Optimistic Messages, and the Hero’s Journey: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann Analysis], Anime Blogger.</ref> |
The spiral's symbolization of expansion and evolution also represents the increasing scale of the series, which builds up from an extremely small scale in an underground village to an extremely large scale across the universe, and the evolution of the [[Mecha]] anime genre in the storyline's structure. The first arc of the series is a revival of the [[Super Robot]] sub-genre which was once popular in the 1960s and 1970s but had declined in popularity due to the popularity of [[Real Robot]] anime such as the ''[[Gundam]]'' and ''[[The Super Dimension Fortress Macross|Macross]]'' series in the 1980s and psychological Mecha anime such as ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion (TV series)|Neon Genesis Evangelion]]'' in the 1990s. In the second arc, the Super Robot sub-genre is combined with elements from Real Robot [[space opera]]s of the 1980s, and in the third arc, both sub-genres are combined with elements from psychological Evangelion-inspired shows of the 1990s, with the fourth arc being influenced by all three Mecha sub-genres as a representation of the 2000s.<ref name=Analysis>[http://wtf.animeblogger.net/?p=140 Meaningful Symbols, Optimistic Messages, and the Hero’s Journey: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann Analysis], Anime Blogger.</ref> |
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The central point of the spiral symbolizes ''Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s generally [[Optimism|optimistic]] message of [[hope]], which is a response to the increasingly [[Cynicism|cynical]], [[Nihilism|nihilistic]], [[Pessimism|pessimistic]] and [[dystopia]]n views of humanity commonly found in Mecha anime since ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' and as a [[science fiction]] trend in general. This is seen in various conflicts throughout the series, where the protagonists who often represent the optimistic [[Philosophy|philosophies]] of hope, [[Freedom (philosophy)|freedom]], and evolution, are rebelling against antagonists who represent the pessimistic philosophies of cynicism, nihilism, [[wiktionary:despair|despair]], [[oppression]] and [[wiktionary:stagnation|stagnation]]. This is further expemplified in the final conflict, where the designs of the Spiral protagonists are primarily influenced by the generally optimistic Super Robot sub-genre of the 1970s, and the [[Abstract art|abstract designs]] of the Anti-Spiral antagonists are primarily influenced by the generally pessimistic Evangelion-inspired Mecha sub-genre of the 1990s, while the background music, "Libera Me from Hell", has the rebellious "Fight the Power" rap theme competing against an oppressive orchestral [[choir]].<ref name=Analysis/> |
The central point of the spiral symbolizes ''Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s generally [[Optimism|optimistic]] message of [[hope]], which is a response to the increasingly [[Cynicism|cynical]], [[Nihilism|nihilistic]], [[Pessimism|pessimistic]] and [[dystopia]]n views of humanity commonly found in Mecha anime since ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' and as a [[science fiction]] trend in general. This is seen in various conflicts throughout the series, where the protagonists who often represent the optimistic [[Philosophy|philosophies]] of hope, [[Freedom (philosophy)|freedom]], and evolution, are rebelling against antagonists who represent the pessimistic philosophies of cynicism, nihilism, [[wiktionary:despair|despair]], [[oppression]] and [[wiktionary:stagnation|stagnation]]. This is further expemplified in the final conflict, where the designs of the Spiral protagonists are primarily influenced by the generally optimistic Super Robot sub-genre of the 1970s, and the [[Abstract art|abstract designs]] of the Anti-Spiral antagonists are primarily influenced by the generally pessimistic Evangelion-inspired Mecha sub-genre of the 1990s, while the background music, "Libera Me from Hell", has the rebellious "Fight the Power" rap theme competing against an oppressive orchestral [[choir]].<ref name=Analysis/> |
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''Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann'' contains several [[Postmodernist film|postmodern]] and [[Self-reference|self-referential]] elements, such as the [[history of anime|history of Mecha anime]] serving as a blueprint for the storyline structure as described above (with the final arc representing a conflict between two different generations of Mecha anime), several references to [[Gainax]]'s previous ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' such as the dream sequence in the final arc or the abstract design of the Anti-Spirals serving as a reference to the [[Angel (Neon Genesis Evangelion)|Angels]], the appearance of several characters from previous Gainax shows (''Neon Genesis Evangelion, [[Mahoromatic]]'' and ''[[Diebuster]]'') as [[fan service]] in episode six, the anime's self-awareness in its use of [[cliché]]s, and the [[suspension of disbelief]] in the final arc of the series.<ref name=Analysis/> |
''Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann'' contains several [[Postmodernist film|postmodern]] and [[Self-reference|self-referential]] elements, such as the [[history of anime|history of Mecha anime]] serving as a blueprint for the storyline structure as described above (with the final arc representing a conflict between two different generations of Mecha anime), several references to [[Gainax]]'s previous ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' such as the dream sequence in the final arc or the abstract design of the Anti-Spirals serving as a reference to the [[Angel (Neon Genesis Evangelion)|Angels]], the appearance of several characters from previous Gainax shows (''Neon Genesis Evangelion, [[Mahoromatic]]'' and ''[[Diebuster]]'') as [[fan service]] in episode six, the anime's self-awareness in its use of [[cliché]]s and [[Parody|parodies]], and the [[suspension of disbelief]] in the final arc of the series.<ref name=Analysis/> |
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==Media== |
==Media== |
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Revision as of 01:06, 18 November 2007
| Gurren Lagann | |
| File:Gurren-english.png The logo of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann | |
| Genre | Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Mecha, Sci-Fi |
|---|---|
| Anime | |
| Directed by | Hiroyuki Imaishi |
| Studio | Gainax |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Gainax (story), Kotaro Mori (art) |
| Published by |  MediaWorks |
| Video game | |
| Developer | Konami |
| Publisher | Konami |
| Platform | Nintendo DS |
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (天元突破グレンラガン, Tengen Toppa Guren Ragan, lit. "Break-Through Heaven Gurren Lagann") is a Japanese shōnen anime television series animated by Gainax and co-produced by Aniplex and Konami. It lasted for twenty-seven episodes and premiered on April 1 2007 on Japan's TV Tokyo network.[1] It is directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi, written by veteran playwright Kazuki Nakashima and has been in development since the participation of the famed animator in the Abenobashi mecha themed episodes by the same studio. Konami has announced that they will make a video game to accompany the series, for the Nintendo DS.[2] Licensing for a North American release of Gurren Lagann was announced by ADV Films at AnimeExpo 2007 on June 30 2007. It was also announced for a UK release by ADV Films at AmeCon. ADV Films Germany also announced a 2008 release in the summer.
Plot
Story
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann takes place in a fictional far future where human beings have been forced underground and thrive in isolated subterranean civilizations. These "villages" have no contact with the surface world nor other villages. Since frequent earthquakes damage infrastructure, the villages must constantly expand deeper into the earth — individuals designated to this task are known as "diggers".
Jiiha Village is the home of Simon, a fourteen year old digger who was orphaned when his parents were killed in an earthquake. He is respected by the village elder as the best of the diggers, but is ostracized by his peers. After discovering a special drill key deep in the ground, he is recruited by an eccentric fellow orphan named Kamina into his group, the "Gurren Brigade". Kamina dreams of the surface world, which he visited as a child with his father but had to return home because he was too weak to survive.
After a failed attempt at reaching the surface, Kamina is jailed by the elder and Simon resumes digging, only to discover "a big face" deep in his tunnel. As he excitedly fetches Kamina to show him the discovery, he is caught by the village elder, but Kamina's punishment is interrupted by the ceiling of Jiiha Village collapsing as an enormous robot falls into the cavern. A girl named Yoko appears and tries to fight the robot with a large rifle, but initially cannot do much. Simon takes Kamina and Yoko to the "big face" he found earlier and discovers that the small drill key can be used to activate the small robot which he uses to end up destroying the much larger robot and effectively break through to the surface.
It is on the surface that Simon and Kamina discover that there are more large robots known as Gunmen piloted by "Beastmen" that terrorize the surface dwellers during the day. Simon and Kamina help Yoko and her village destroy three more Gunmen and Kamina takes one for himself, naming it Gurren. Eventually, Simon and Kamina decide that they will go on a journey to end the constant struggle between Beastmen and humans. Simon and Kamina are initially accompanied by Yoko and a mechanic from Yoko's village named Leeron as they head out to find the Beastmen's Human Eradication Army main head-quarters, while dealing with various Beastmen warriors, including the vicious Viral.
Along the way, Simon and the others are joined by more humans, including the "Black Kinsmen", led by Kittan, and Rossiu, a strict young man from an underground village, forming the "Great Gurren Brigade", leading up to a major battle with the Human Eradication Army which results in the death of Kamina, the arrival of Nia, the mysterious "daughter" of Beastman leader Lord Genome, and the population of Earth's surface.
The second half of the series moves seven years into the future, where mankind has become prosperous and led by Rossiu, Simon and the other members of the Great Gurren Brigade. Though all seems well, after 1,000,000 people populate the surface, a new catastrophe begins with the arrival of the Anti-Spirals, including Nia's sudden "transformation" into an Anti-Spiral messenger, and the threat of the moon literally falling onto the Earth. Simon, along with the Great Gurren Brigade and former enemy Viral, now lead the battle to defeat the Anti-Spirals and save Earth.
Principal characters
- Simon (シモン, Shimon)
- Voiced by: Tetsuya Kakihara, Takayuki Sugo (epilogue)
- Simon is a fourteen year old digger from Jiiha village. Although he is initially looked down because of it, Simon excels at drilling the earth, while the drill itself quickly becomes his trademark symbol. One day he finds a mysterious drill-shaped item, which is later revealed to be the key for a head-shaped robot he also finds buried in the soil. With the help of the robot, Kamina, and Yoko, he fights off a Gunmen who broke into the village. While finishing the Gunmen off with a drill-like attack, they reach the surface world.
- Kamina (カミナ, Kamina)
- Voiced by: Katsuyuki Konishi
- Kamina is a young man from Jiiha village who dreams of leaving the village and go to the surface, which he saw as a kid. He's very passionate about his goals, expressing his wishes through energetic speeches, which seems to affect all those who hear him. He convinces Simon to help him with his plan to drill through the roof of the village and get to the world above, but the plan failed and he was put in prison. He left the village shortly thereafter with the help of Simon and a young girl named Yoko, as a result of fighting a Gunmen, who broke into the village from the surface.
- Yoko Ritona (ヨーコ・リットナー, Yōko Ritonā)
- Voiced by: Marina Inoue
- Yoko is a girl from Jiiha's neighboring village Ritona, who had been chasing the Gunmen which entered Jiiha village. She wields an extensive range of firearms and has previous experience fighting Gunmen. She uses her marksmanship from afar to assist Kamina and Simon, while they pilot their respective Gunmen. Although she is said to be around the same age as Simon, she is much more mature (mentally and physically). She also is one of the most rational of the group.
- Nia Teppelin (ニア・テッペリン, Nia Tepperin)
- Voiced by: Yukari Fukui
- Nia is a mysterious young girl found by Simon sleeping in a capsule in the middle of a dump site. She has had no prior contact with humans except her father. She is very curious, pure and innocent, because of growing up sheltered in a peaceful environment, away from all the battles occurring in the outside world. During her travels with the Gurren Brigade, she discovers the harsh reality of the world and becomes very close to Simon.
Terminology
Beastmen
Beastmen are non-spiral beings created and cloned by Lord Genome to fight by piloting Gunmen. The animals on the planet are failed experiments. Beastmen and many other animals found on the planet cannot sexually reproduce, and instead multiply solely via cloning.
Gunmen
Gunmen (ガンメン, Ganmen) are the type of mecha used in the series. The name itself as a whole means "face" and can be broken down into "gun" and "man" — unsurprisingly, the mecha themselves are centered around faces. Gunmen sport a variety of weaponry — the more primitive models only use large clubs or bare hands, while more advanced ones use cannons or beam weapons. Gunmen powered by the "Spiral Energy" inherent in humans' DNA are much more powerful than those piloted by Beastmen.
Spiral Energy
In the series' concept, the Spiral Energy is the power of evolution itself, generated by beings capable to do so, like humans and other DNA based animals, whose spiral molecular structure allows them to get stronger through the generations. Beastmen, because they can not reproduce naturally, cannot evolve, thus are unable to produce Spiral Power. The amount of Spiral Power produced by an individual may vary, and are based not only by its own limitations, but also by its own will to survive and persevere.
Anti-Spirals
Eons before the story begins, a certain race evolved enough to expand and prosper across the stars through the use of their Spiral Energy. However, discovering that this limitless evolution would one day cause the destruction of the entire universe, they abandoned the use of Spiral Power and sealed their bodies in their home planet, ceasing to evolve at all, and just relying on the highly advanced technology they obtained through all this time, becoming the Anti-Spirals. As the name implies, they also began to oppose other civilizations whose Spiral Power could become a further threat to them. As the Spiral Energy comes from the will of its users, the Anti-Spirals tend to employ fearsome tactics to bring their enemies into despair and sap them of the very source of Spiral Power, their hope. The Anti-Spirals also tend to spare their enemies if they surrender, but not before implanting measures of control to prevent them from rising again in the future, causing their ultimate destruction in this case.
Themes
The main symbolism used in Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is that of the spiral, which represents a number of motifs and themes used throughout the series. The main motif it symbolizes is that of the spiral drill, which represents something that can break through imposing barriers and limitations, both in a physical and a metaphysical sense. The drill has a variety of physical uses as a digging tool, a key, or a weapon, and metaphorically represents a struggle against those who impose their barriers and limitations on others. This is exemplified in various conflicts throughout the series, where optimistic protagonists are rebelling against oppressive antagonists (the Beastmen and Anti-Spirals), and in the "Fight the Power" rap theme, which has rebellious lyrics such as the line "break through the unbreakable", a reference to the drill motif used throughout the series. Other motifs symbolized by the spiral include the shape of a spiral galaxy which is connected to the expansion of the universe, and the double helix structure of DNA which is connected to the theory of evolution, hence why in the second half of the series, the term "Spirals" is used to refer to humans and "Spiral power" is used to refer to human evolution.[3]
The spiral's symbolization of expansion and evolution also represents the increasing scale of the series, which builds up from an extremely small scale in an underground village to an extremely large scale across the universe, and the evolution of the Mecha anime genre in the storyline's structure. The first arc of the series is a revival of the Super Robot sub-genre which was once popular in the 1960s and 1970s but had declined in popularity due to the popularity of Real Robot anime such as the Gundam and Macross series in the 1980s and psychological Mecha anime such as Neon Genesis Evangelion in the 1990s. In the second arc, the Super Robot sub-genre is combined with elements from Real Robot space operas of the 1980s, and in the third arc, both sub-genres are combined with elements from psychological Evangelion-inspired shows of the 1990s, with the fourth arc being influenced by all three Mecha sub-genres as a representation of the 2000s.[3]
The central point of the spiral symbolizes Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann's generally optimistic message of hope, which is a response to the increasingly cynical, nihilistic, pessimistic and dystopian views of humanity commonly found in Mecha anime since Neon Genesis Evangelion and as a science fiction trend in general. This is seen in various conflicts throughout the series, where the protagonists who often represent the optimistic philosophies of hope, freedom, and evolution, are rebelling against antagonists who represent the pessimistic philosophies of cynicism, nihilism, despair, oppression and stagnation. This is further expemplified in the final conflict, where the designs of the Spiral protagonists are primarily influenced by the generally optimistic Super Robot sub-genre of the 1970s, and the abstract designs of the Anti-Spiral antagonists are primarily influenced by the generally pessimistic Evangelion-inspired Mecha sub-genre of the 1990s, while the background music, "Libera Me from Hell", has the rebellious "Fight the Power" rap theme competing against an oppressive orchestral choir.[3]
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann contains several postmodern and self-referential elements, such as the history of Mecha anime serving as a blueprint for the storyline structure as described above (with the final arc representing a conflict between two different generations of Mecha anime), several references to Gainax's previous Neon Genesis Evangelion such as the dream sequence in the final arc or the abstract design of the Anti-Spirals serving as a reference to the Angels, the appearance of several characters from previous Gainax shows (Neon Genesis Evangelion, Mahoromatic and Diebuster) as fan service in episode six, the anime's self-awareness in its use of clichés and parodies, and the suspension of disbelief in the final arc of the series.[3]
Media
Anime
Produced by the animation studio Gainax and directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi. Gurren Lagann first aired in Japan on TV Tokyo on April 1 2007 and the last episode first aired on September 30 2007. The anime has twenty-seven episodes plus two specials, the first being the version of the sixth episode uncensored, and the second is episode 5.5, a bonus that came with the Nintendo DS's game.
2channel incident
Takami Akai, the producer of the series and a co-founder of Gainax, announced that he would resign his position effective episode five, which aired on April 29 2007, over comments that he made regarding posts on the Japanese Internet forum 2channel. Akai and another Gainax employee, Keiko Mimori, made disparaging remarks about comments criticizing the animation style of the fourth episode of Gurren Lagann, which was completely directed by guest and friend Osamu Kobayashi. With regard to reading the fan criticisms, Akai stated that it was "like putting [his] face next to an anus and breathing deeply." Fans later became aware of his comments, and he announced his departure from the company he helped to found.[4]
Music
- Opening theme
- "Sky Blue Days" (空色デイズ, Sorairo Deizu) by Shōko Nakagawa
- (From episode seventeen onwards, the opening featured the second verse of the same song.)
- Ending themes
- "Underground" by High Voltage (1-15)
- "Happily ever after" by Shoko Nakagawa (16)
- "Everyone's Peace" (みんなのピース, Minna no Pīsu) by Afromania (17-27)
- "Burning soul! Kick all your reason to the curb! This is the insane Great Gurren-Dan Theme that will blow away your ears!"
- "A Mole should stay being a Mole?"
- "Big Tits VS Big Tits (Yoko’s Theme)"
- "An Elegy for Kamina’s Father who turned to Bones"
- "The wolf has arrived!"
- "BafBau! Being fired up like this…don’t you like it?"
- "Nikopol"
- "The moon and the stars and meee~~"
- "Escaping the wasteland of hot sand the Dai-Gurren Dan goes forth"
- "Rap is the language of a man’s soul! Wait… am I right? Is my rap acceptable or what?"
- "What in the world is this ‘moe’?"
- "Get fired up, all of you!"
- "To hell with Gattai!"
- "Spin Spin Spin Spin"
- "Love Conservative"
- "Rap is a man’s spirit…was…you know…"
- "The YOSHINARI"
- "How you like my mad trumpet skills?!"
- "Libera Me From Hell"
- "With your XXX…"
- "Pierce the Heavens with your XXX!"
Manga
The Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann manga, illustrated by Kotaro Mori, started serialization in the Japanese shōnen magazine Dengeki Comic Gao! on April 27 2007, published by MediaWorks. The first bound volume was released on September 27 2007, containing the first five chapters, and is published under MediaWorks' Dengeki Comics label. The story of the manga follows the same plotline as with the anime, however there are several changes to the layout of events, and the addition of backstory that essentially fills in gaps from the anime such as the relationship between Dayakka and Kiyoh.
Video games
An online video game was developed by Konami called Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann Chouzetsu Hakkutsu ONLINE (天元突破グレンラガン 超絶発掘ONLINE). Beta testing had ended on April 16 2007. The player takes up the role of a driller and drills for treasures in first person view. There is a shop to purchase drills — the shopkeeper is an original character named Asaki. The player can also collect digital trading cards. The game was canceled at the closed beta stage, as installing the game crashed Windows indefinitely. Konami even had to send out 500GB external hard drives to beta users so that they could back up files while reinstalling their broken operating systems.[5][6]
A game for the Nintendo DS was released October 25 2007, not only featuring the characters from the series, but also containing a special episode set in the early stages of the story as a pre-order bonus.
References
- ^ "Air date for new gainax series announced". Anime News Network. February 1 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-04.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Gainax Announces New Anime". Anime News Network. July 11 2006. Retrieved 2007-04-04.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c d Meaningful Symbols, Optimistic Messages, and the Hero’s Journey: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann Analysis, Anime Blogger.
- ^ "Co-Founder Takami Akai Steps Down From Gainax's Board". Anime News Network. April 27 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-01.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ "Konami Hits the Brakes on Gurren Lagann MMO". Retrieved 2007-09-15.
- ^ "Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann game online service suspension notification" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2007-09-15.