Gurren Lagann News

Coffee Time With Evil Episode Three! Just for you! Technically the title is Shounen, Bishounen and Purple Hair, but I thought there might need to be some better explanation for why the third episode is posted on the forums while the others are just in blog format. Simple answer: I want to haz more views.

Found some better lighting, got some new hair, and I'm talking about a tonne today. No new manga, but you'll hear a woman's thoughts on Bleach and Gurren Lagann.
Please send in your questions as a PM on Anime Vice, in the comments below, In the blog on AV, or you can send them via e-mail to superevil225@hotmail.com
Make some suggestions for further anime for me to watch, as well as topics. If you want anything specific on the show, don't be afraid to ask. If you wanna hear about my life, writing, drawing, or rp'ing please ask. Your questions can be about anything: your life, my life, anime, manga, comics, movies, tv, kittens, est. :) Thanks for watching you guys! 
   
Oh! Sotyfan16's Dunce Cap topic!

Warning! The following blog contains strong opinions orientated towards Gurren Lagann. Be prepared for a lot of angry/displeased Superevil.
 
Alright, I can admit that this is a must watch anime. Everybody's heard of it, most have watched it. I enjoyed it for the first 5 or so episodes but, frankly it's just not doing it. I'm sitting here with episode 7 or Gurren Lagann and I just can't muster up the strength to watch it. But I can admit that it's a good series. Good animation, art, character design, acting (both Japanese and English), fantastic soundtrack, and a decent attempt at humour. But I'm really just not into this series for three main reasons.

3. The "Humorous" Plot

 Okay, I laughed the first few episodes. Kamina made some humorous acts of stupidity, but after a while, I get bored. The comedy is the show is dry, overused and at some points tasteless. I don't see how the comedy enhances the plot. In fact, the comedy sends the plot train reeling off the tracks and into a ditch of dry, dry dirt. I'm sorry, but I need at least a little bit of character development, or some new adventures in this plot. Nothing is standing out to me, I'm not laughing, and I'm just not interested. The anime is simple, too. Far too simple for my tastes. Maybe I'm just too fond of movies such as The Prestige, Inception, Sherlock Holmes, and Shawshank Redemption, or maybe Gurren Lagann is far too simple minded for anybody really. But the simple humour isn't cutting it. Sure it's totally crazy because it doesn't take itself seriously, but maybe that's it's biggest flaw. Gurren Lagann doesn't take itself seriously so it dries out. It runs out of interesting and good jokes and wallows in a pit of unmoving, uninteresting, simple minded, sexist and demeaning excuses for humour.
 

2. Sexism Vs. Strong Women

 Alright, we've got Yoko. She's strong, independent, and demeaning to women.
"But Superevil! She kicks Kamina's ass when ever he's sexist."
I say, that's exactly what I hate. I can't stand it when the anime stereotype for strong women is the fact that they're able to violently abuse men when they make a move. Sure Yoko kicks ass so hard in other departments, but I'm also close to revolted when it comes to the fanservice. I can handle panty-shots. I can handle the occasional bouncing breast, but when boobs defy gravity every time she turns around the joke runs dry and eventually becomes offensive. I admit, it might have to do with the fact that I'm a straight woman, but it's getting to the point in the anime where the fanservice is no longer passable and it becomes offensive. I'm specifically hung up over the one episode where Kamina spends 20 minutes of the episode trying to sneak a peak at Yoko's boobs. All the women are degraded to objects, who can't even try to fight for themselves and have to wait for Kamina to save them........ after he gets a look at some tits. It's gotten to the point where Gurren Lagann is just offensive.
 

1. Kamina

 Sorry, but I can't stand him. Not one bit. It was okay during the beginning. His overly inflated ego was funny at times, and his stupidity was entertaining. But now, he's just obnoxious. It's painful to see how stupid he can act, I literally cringe at every mistake he makes. His ego has gotten to the point where every time I see his face I wish I could punch it, and his chauvinistic, rude, and plain obnoxious attitude is going to drive me around the bend. I don't really see why people like this character. Sure there are plenty of characters that you would hate if they were real, but you love them in the anime. Kamina is not one of those characters. Let's take my obsession with Claire Stanfield from Baccano! He's obnoxious, egotistical and insane. I would hate him in real life, but I love him in the anime. There are redeeming qualities and events through out the anime that make you love a character like that. Kamina has no redeeming qualities, and there's nothing he does in the anime that make him lovable. Every step he takes I find myself disliking this character even more and more.
 

So, that's why I don't like Gurren Lagann so far. It was good, at the start but my patience is running out. I'm not going to watch another episode unless I get convinced by you guys. I don't want any flame from this article. All I want to do is express my thoughts on an anime that I really don't like. I respect that a lot of people like this anime, but it's really not for me. The reasons stated above are personal. I'm willing to discuss my thoughts, but I don't want people hating on me for them.

Trying out the vlog. Don't eat me! I'm camera shy!!! D: *blushes* I moved this from podbean to youtube because PodBean has a space limit that I'm about to exceed for some reason. So! Enjoy the vlog! Send in comments, Q&A and any other stuff you want. Yes, there was no question for all of you this episode because I.... I..... forgot..... D: Why don't you guys make one up! XD Yes, I know the lighting is awful. The lights in our house broke.... D:
      
 
By the way, if you have any requests for silly things for me to do on this vlog, ask away. Although I'm 16 so let's keep this shit appropriate.

So, where are chapters 31-36, you ask? I don't have the volume that contains them. I will get to them later. 
Anyway, I have the Jan. 2011 edition of Dengeki Daioh (costs me $13) which contains what I wish to share. 
 
In this chapter: 
 
 
Pictures of scenes that stick out to me: 
 


  Hopefully, I'll get volume 6 soon and write about that. 
Later!

I finished these pretty quickly but I have yet to see anyone actually talk about them aside from that one old article that announced them in the first place.
I'll add the titles and add my own go at the plot and explanation of what I think that video's are about. The video's will most likely be removed at one time or another since it on Youtube you know. And if they do you can easily find them are your own again lol

The Sense Of Wonder.  

The first video is my favourite and creepy enough it also kind of falls in with the season. Its a sad romance story and simply beautifully executed. 

My xxx is Best in the Universe

Second up is a rap video (STAY!!) This is Gurren Lagann and for some reason I don't hate the rap just like I did with the original music video's Row Row Fight the Power!!!
This is pretty simple.
Long explanation that you probably already figured out: 
Short but obvious note that you didn't think up before I showed you:

Kittan Zero

I'm not even going to spoiler tag this one, Its about Kittan so it has to be awesome right? And of course it is! It could even be canon if the haircuts of certain characters weren't so different from what they originally had in the series. The best way to take this is about how Kittan tells the Dai-Gurren crew how he originally got his Gunman whilst being drunk of his ass. lol Get ready for an epic showdown of manliness even from the sisters! :D

Kiyal's Magical Time 3 Minutes Before.

In this PV Kiyal is a much younger girl who's going to high school and is friends with Darry. O and they are both Magical Girls! It really cutesy and adorable and I <3 Kiyal but this isn't really the song for me lol

Gunman Symphony

The 4th instalment is about when the Gunmen where first constructed around the time Genome was just a child. This shows the capabilities and the diversity of what the gunmen could have been if not for the Anti-Spirals. Luckily the Dai-Gurren crew made it all possible again :) IMO this is a little bit boring but hey if you like the Tech specs this is the video for you! :)
Also: 02:25 This soooo reminds me of Gundam! :D

Dai-Gurren Good Bye

I love this video! It does solve many continuity problems and it does it so beautifully :D
  

Big Building

Sadly this hasn't much more plot then the original series. Its still cool heroes beat villain up to a pulp! BUT from what I see here this is supposed to play out in either Victorian England or Victorian France. It turns from a Medabot-like battle to what I can basically describe as an modern art battle. This is the one that confuses most people, but non the less I did find something familiar in the video in the form of Ogon Bat and Doctor Nazo other then that this video is just Gainax being weirdly creative.

Bonus video: Yoko: Pieces of Sweet S.T.A.R.S

Because it so cute and yet not to cute!! And its mostly ignored by fans of the show. Its basically about Yoko going to Moe-verse during a time of peace! :D
I think that's all the video's I can put out without falling asleep from exhaustion. Enjoy them guys!! :)
 
Kelleth, Anime Otaku - Tokusatsu Otaku - AV moderator - AV Blogger and all-round lazy guy~     

Hey guys,  
 
Sorry I've not being writing much here on the blog. After watching Chaos; Head I went on holiday then came back and started the new of school and well I've not really had much time for anime between Halo Reach and homework = P The little I have been watching however seems to be stuff I've already watched. Like Ghost in the Shell, Gurren Lagann and Evangelion. Not that this is a bad thing but I haven't been watching anything new (well new to me at any rate).  
 
I've just started  Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai which so far (only two episodes have been aired as of now) and I'm really enjoying it. It's quite nice to watch a more 'down to earth' anime. The characters make me smile and I think Kyosuke and Kirino play well of each other and while showing the typical 'older brother and younger sister' relationship (basically getting at each others throats all the time) its also rather endearing and fun to watch. Then there's the Okatu side of things which I find interesting as myself have never been to Japan its a nice insight on how they are viewed in Japan. Then again I find it rather ironic as its audience is probably mainly Okatu's anyways, but really thats all part of the fun.    

For you guys who haven't seen it yet. Basically, Kyousuke hasn't ever really bonded with his little sister Kirino who is basically uber popular, smart and well loved by all. She treats him with little respect until one day Kyousuke stumbles across a dating game hidden inside a magical girl anime. He quickly works out it belongs to Kirino and discovers her extensive moe anime collection.     
 

      
Anyways off to play more Minecraft and eat Dorito's! 
 
Till next time! 
 
The Triforce Fighter  

So I just finished a couple anime and two of them really hit me. They are Gurren Lagann and Angel Beats!. I'm not sure how to break down Angel Beats! as I literally just finished it but I'll do my best. As for Gurren Lagann, I've been struggling what to think as it's so epic. 
 
WARNING: THERE ARE SPOILERS. THIS IS A BLOG AND I WANT TO FULLY EXPLAIN WHAT I THINK AND FEEL. IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN EITHER OF THESE ANIME AND DO NOT WANT TO SUBJECT YOURSELF TO SPOILER INFORMATION IT WOULD BE WISE TO NOT READ BEYOND THIS POINT. OTHER THAN THAT, ENJOY!
 
Gurren Lagann: 
I don't know how far in the future the story takes place but it seems that humanity had regressed. To start, I found the characters very likeable as they gave ridiculous

 speeches full of half-assed reasons to fight. But as Kamina says, "That's how Team Gurren rolls!". It was so cool watching Team Dai-Gurren get stronger and give people hope as they took on the oppressing Beastmen. But the time always comes where one must fall so the others go on. Kamina's death was another in a growing list of ones that sadden me. I mean, he really was the man. He was macho and wild and crazy and determined. He will always be remembered as Bro.It was great, too, that his cape and sword were still in place after the moon came crashing down. 
 
What I find interesting as well are the two fast-forward points to move the story along and how the series is 27 eps long. But for the eps the series is actually 25 as one is a recap and the other is an uncut version of another ep. I'm not bothered by the time leaps, I'll say that. The first one is important as to heed Lord Genome's warning and show how the world has progressed. Many of the characters underwent transformations not only in looks but in attitudes as well. Another thing I noticed was how the people who used to live underground and are now in the city are overcome with material possessions and blaming others (basically being selfish and not taking circumstances into question). Since I'm on the subject of time leaps I should talk about the final leap. Things moved along a lot in the 20 years after the final battle against the Anti-Spirals. What gets me the most is how Simon just exiled himself and didn't even stay to even try and have another life that included a family or traveling the universe. In addition, Simon and Rossiu seemed to have aged pretty badly compared to everyone else (they looked older than Yoko). 

 
Now for the main point of Gurren Lagann: Spiral (slight pun). I cheated a little when I was reading about the series to see if I would like it and found out about the spiral motif. Not to mention the names of some of the characters has to do with DNA. But seeing that information beforehand I think helped me understand the series much better as a whole. People are always wanting to aim for something better or higher. The spiral shape (ex. drill) is a perfect symbol for aiming up and forward. Human evolution really is amazing. I could do nothing but agree as situations would become ever more dire and Simon and the others would have an influx of Spiral Energy from their beliefs and resolve (much like has been seen before in human history). 
 
Now, who the hell do you think I am?!
 
 
 
 
 
Angel Beats!: 

What I first liked about Angel Beats! was the music and animation. The animation was great but I've seen the style before so the anime's score is what really stuck to me. The episode that stands out the most for music is of course ep 3. I had so much fun watching the band, Girls Dead Monster, play and "My Song" was so touching. I had tears in my eyes when the girl disappeared. That episode was so gripping; I hadn't felt quite that way before while watching an anime. Thanks to Angel Beats! I pay more attention to an anime's soundtrack. 
 
Don't worry, I found the story interesting, too. At first it didn't quite make sense but then it seemed like their world was a kind of purgatory for souls who were not yet ready to move on. The SSS's fights with Angel pretty much got them nowhere most of the time (and it's funny how they can "die" then come back and they feel all the pain). In fact, I'm actually still a bit confused about how that world actually works as you never got to see its creator or the creator of the programs. I wonder what will happen to that world now.. 

 
Lastly, I want to cover some of the characters and their backgrounds. Otonashi lost his memory so that made him interesting from the start. When he finally regained them it was incredible what he had been through with his sister and how he lived his life. What he did to save those people before he died is above praise. Him being in love with Kanade threw me for a bit of a loop as well. Yuri's gruesome past left me speechless. I cannot imagine the feelings of living through such an ordeal. She also seemed tempted to take over the world they were in and turn it into a paradise. Angel only meant to do right but her methods got lost in translation with the SSS. How Kanade died is beyond me and since Otonashi was her donor it seemed odd that she died. In connection with Otonashi I don't quite get why Kanade loves him either. However, I find it amazing that they come across each other in another life (and she's humming "My Song"!). That was a heart-pounding and -breaking ending. Iwasawa, the lead singer of Girls Dead Monster, did what she could during her life and just wanted to be understood and accepted. Her family problems were very saddening and her accident just topped it off. But her acceptance of everything that allowed her to fully pass on was magnificent. Yui's life was regrettable in how she was paralyzed. She simply wanted to have fun with everyone and find someone who truly cared about her. Hinata was very manly when he said he'd marry Yui no matter what. That, is really caring about someone. 
 
All I can really say is to live life without regrets and be happy. Do what you can. Find someone to care about. Find something to protect. Be passionate. But if I find myself in purgatory I hope it's like that of Angel Beats!.

This is GaoGurrenGar, created by spikewible on DeviantArt check his art out, its really well done.