How Gurren Lagann's Storytelling Tricks You
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- Опубликовано: 17 окт 2024
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Music used:
Song 1 - The Key We've Lost (Xenoblade Chronicles X)
Song 2 - Memories of the World (Radiant Historia)
Song 3 - Off The Edge of Despair (Final Fantasy VII)
Song 4 - Moles are Mere Moles Right! (Gurren Lagann)
Song 5 - No Way! Only 1m20 To Do It! (Gurren Lagann)
Song 6 - Thrust Through the Heavens with Your Spirit! (Gurren Lagann)
Honestly the fact that the show is so silly in the beginning is what made Kamina’s death even worse. It lulls you into a false sense of security that they’ll make it out OK.
Indeed. Is like: you see this guy. He always will get ali... and he is dead
This worked especially well on me as I thought that Kamina was the one commanding the ship in the opening scene making me think he would come back only for it to really hit me that he is truly dead after the time skip.
@@dumbibish1422 Same thing happened with me T_T
Yes
I wasn't able to rewatch the series a 4. time because of this death 😭😭😭
@@dumbibish1422 same
Kamina is the embodiment of 'fake it til you make it' and what I love about him is his self-awareness in that. But the thing I love the most about his role in Gurren Lagann is how he starts as a symbol to Simon and then becomes a literal symbol for all of mankind to see in his statue and his flag, showing what can be achieved through sheer grit. God I love Gurren Lagann.
I agree, the organic way that the "symbol" becomes so grand after starting out as so personal is sublime.
Aleczandxr That aspect is something I love about Gurren Lagann, how personal struggles end up widely impacting so much more. Kamina and Simon's personal desire for freedom ends up toppling Genome and liberating mankind, Simon's desire to see Nia again defeated the Anti-Spiral etc
There's so much that Gurren Lagann covers that it's a bit difficult to put into words sometimes
Ace ProdeJ The show is alright.. but God Kamina annoys me. xD
Are we talking about Gurren Laggann or the Dark Knight? ;P
0816 M3RC How could he annoy you?
Something I really like about Kamina is just how much sheer respect he holds for Simon. Obviously they see one another as brothers, so it's to be expected, but the amount of confidence he has in this initially poor terrified kid serves as a subtle hint that he doesn't actually see himself as all that great. Not only does he see the competence and intelligence there in Simon from the start, but he actually sees the leader this boy can and does become someday, a leader that, in his eyes, is far more determined and capable than he is. Kamina was just the stepping stone to that, and he knew it all along. It's this dedication and self-sacrifice that truly makes Kamina a hero. There may be a statue and a flag in his memory, but truly the best representation of Kamina's legacy is Simon himself.
Simon sees Kamina the way Kamina sees Simon, in a way.
@@DarksideStreams He kept noticing he was saved by Simon rather than lead. Difference between a leader and a hero. Which is shown later after Genome was defeated and Simons conflicts with society and others. In a way this shows Kamina saw himself as weak.
The reason simon is great now is because of kamina, also he isnt a hero is a legend
i know this comment was 4 years ago but it has been a long time since I watched this anime and this video popped up on my recommendations and your comment was the first one I read. I know it sounds stupid but it actually brought be to tears, it is exactly how I feel about the show. I also have a younger brother and I am often a bit more reckless than him but I do it to help him get out of his shell. its a very similar relationship and I think that's one of many reasons I love this show.
I'm not crying your crying I will never forget how hard kaminas death hit me the very first time I watched in fact I still tear up wen I watch it
In a weird way, the whole show itself is Simon. The beginning is its "weakest" part, viewing the whole world in a shallow, rose-tinted way. It's the reason why Kamina is only seen as amazing, cool, strong, and the best leader, because that's how Simon views him. It's only after episode 8 that we begin to realize the world isn't black and white, because Simon doesn't view the world in rose-tinted glasses anymore. Kamina isn't there anymore, so his world is flipped upside down. It's the reason why Nia brings levity back to the show, because Nia is Simon's light. It's the reason why Yoko becomes a teacher, because Simon no longer needs a sexual outlook, he has already found love in Nia, so he can finally view Yoko as what she always was, a kind, beautiful, loving, but awesome and cool gun girl. Gurren Lagann's beginning is a Narrative Trick, just like Simon himself tricks you to think he will forever be Kamina's number 1, but the number 2 over all. That he isn't the hero. Yet, he is.
Gurren Lagann is Simon in a narrative form and vice versa. On a meta level, this is also the world. The world is never exactly as you see it, just as you yourself always hide a part of yourself away from what the world sees. Nothing is as it seems and everyone puts on a cool red cloak and rose-tinted glasses to try and fool others. It is only as you grow up, as you continue the show, that you see life through to the end, that you can finally view the world as it really is.
That’s a really interesting allusion, I’ve never thought about it that way.
Simon analysis vid when
Back at it again with the awesome comments
DEEPEST
LORE
In a slightly connected I've always viewed the story as one which literally evolves and at an exponential rate which is why it works in the grand scheme of the show. Everyone evolves in the show, even the plot and style of show itself. It get more mature as a show which each arc and is coming of age for Simon step by step
I thought i was done crying about this show.
Bøø9 lol same.........*sniff same
So f*cking true.
We'll never be done.
SAME BRUH AAAA
Stfu buzz light gear
THIS is the reason why Kamina is one of my favourite characters. It's not because of how manly of a leader he was but because of the fact that he tried to be what he needed to be. Same for Reigen from Mob Psycho to a certain extent. They are all flawed ppl putting up an act for the people around them. And idk anything more inspirational than that
There is a moment, in episode 8 i think, after Kamina had been heavily injured and everything was going to shit where Kamina got up saying "Can't a guy get a little sleep around here?" . I think that one line encapsulates so much about him in such a simple way. It's like him getting up to put on his act, to do his job as a leader not because he's badass or manly but because he needed to. The VA also did a great job putting on a much more exhausted tone than normal.
TheKalluto He's also implied to be literally dead in that scene.
I agree. I love Kamina. Always felt he fit the role of main character for Gurren Lagann rather than Simone.
Kamina knee this him self
This is why he did what he did .
I do wish the movies were dubbed in English.
@@CerealExperimentsMizukiWell, now that the English dubs for the movies premiered in theaters, I imagine they'll get a home release sooner rather than later.
The dreams of those who have fallen. The hopes of those who will follow. Those two sets of dreams weave together into a double helix, drilling a path towards tomorrow. That's Tengen Toppa! That's Gurren Lagann!
KbM Two years ago I used a quote from this anime. It was “ If there’s a wall in our way, we smash it down. If their isn’t a path, we carve one our selves.” Since it kind of inspired me at the time I needed it most.
For my senior quote
My drill is the drill that creates the heavens!
I just go around asking people to combine with me. No luck yet.....
I got chills reading that.. still such a great inspiration
You're one of the few/only "RUclips Anime Analysis Essay" types of channels whom I can actually rely on to not only actually say something about a show (ie not just recapping the entire plot as if that actually adds to discussion) but also provide insight and thoughts which I and others haven't really considered or heard before.
That means a lot to me, thank you for saying so and letting me know. Very glad to hear that.
His analysis is pretty trash though.
@@CircusFoxxo Can I ask why?
@@CircusFoxxo 2 years and you never answered the question
@@chadsomemalowsome I did, channel owner deleted the criticism
You just made my day with this video. Any Gurren Lagann video tends to be interesting, but talking about Kamina and who he actually was underneath the facade? Perfect.
Yeah, it's time someone finally states this, like Kamina's real purpose in the show. I hear so many complaints about after episode instead of analyzing what became before it. Thematically there's a lot going on in Gurren Lagann that I see a lot of people handwave or ignore as "mindless entertainment" when it's anything but that.
Gurren Lagann is a pleb filter masquerading as shallow crap masquerading as a mecha show..
His death was the masterstroke the series had close to the vest.
Kamina to Simon: "Without that head of yours, I would not be alive."
Simon loses his head -> Kamina dies
But honestly the duality of Kamina and Simon is what made Kamina so great.
His "Believe in the (Kamina)me that believes in you" is not only a sentence to motivate Simon, but the source of his own confidence.
Simon might think of Kamina as his amazing big bro, but Kamina does not. Kamina instead sees Siimon as the most amazing person in existence and that this person believes in him makes him confident.
And when his demise is near and he realizes that this motto will only be holding Simon back from then on, so he shouts at Simon to not longer believe in the Kamina that believes in him, but in the him that believes in himself.
I find the lack of "Libra me from hell" disturbing
Very fair. I put it in initially but it genuinely sounds bad with me talking over rap and opera.
Aleczandxr LMFAO ok fair enough
Aleczandxr there’s an instrumental that’s pretty good, honestly I’d find it hard to “talk to”
Libera*
15:30 That edit was pure gold
Was looking for this comment.
While the first arc isn't perfect by any mean, i still appreciate the fake sense of security the show gives you. Once kamina dies, both the audience and the characters realize how serious the situation could be, kamina alone could make lighthearted the worst of situations. This twist alone is the reason i still recommend gurren lagann, even if a lot of people consider it just a dumb super robot show
「Loru Apollo」 I think it is a bit overrated.
good for you
Still love the early episodes, nothing else has that same tone and zanyness.
Just because it's not as deep and nobody was throwing galaxies like frisbies doesn't mean it wasn't a helluva ride.
tbh i've always preferred the first arc over the second one. i like both ofc, but the first part just felt better to me (storywise)
Same, Even if it wasn't the most original plot. They still executed nicely the first part, the second half had some pacing issues by the end
Loved this. The early shallowness made Simon's development feel far more wholesome and satisfying. I wasn't the biggest Kamina fan at first, so I was amazed at how much they made me miss him.
It took me over a year, but I just now finally finished Gurren Lagann.
I have to say, I normally really hate the "Just keep watching cause it eventually gets good" mentality that's constantly thrown around in the anime community, but dangnabit, Gurren Lagann is the one show where I actually agree with that sentiment.
Cause it actually makes use of it
"Keep watching and it'll eventually get good"?? I never watch anime I don't find good in the first episode/10 minutes. And I've seen hundreds of anime series.
When I recommend the show to people, I always warn them that episode 4 is Not Very Good, episode 5 is slow, but important, and episode 6 is really corny, but before and after that, it's a fantastic show through and through.
I think the bombast and visual spectacle carry the show through the first few episodes, and that spectacle combined with drama and philosophical content carry it though the back end, but it has that unfortunate lull early on that can kill interest.
@@fieldrequired283 Episode 4 is garbage. The art style change is jarring and it undermines the introduction of Kittan and his sisters. It's such a shame.
Ive looked at Gurren Lagann as you would watch a child grow. Our early years are usually ones of joy, and the simple nature of life. The child like optimism of Kamina, and his simple mindedness. They are like watching a child play and create with a box of action figures. Then it comes to the point when the child hits puberty and early adult hood. The harsh reality of life hits you and you move from the simple nature of childhood into the more complex world of an adult. The death of Kamina is end of childhood, as Simon moves into a wider world of complex issues and interactions. Though he sometimes stumbles in his attempt to find his way but in the end, keeps his optimistic outlook on life (Kamina) as he gets older, and integrates that into his newly expanded view of the world.
Just my two cents.
parallels to "life's path" are much more integral to the show. Early gurren is focused on Kamina, Simons parental figure who seems to be indestructible, unshaken and knowng everything. Idealised parent. This parts are nice and funny and light as are our memories of childhood (most often). As the time and life progresses more and more time is given to other characters, to new characters as our lives get more connected to others. There is coming of age part where Kamina dies, there is maturing when lord Genome falls. Then all major characters sort of spread around the world, get involded in their own lives, got boring jobs. Simons get what he was aiming for - position of leader, but it's not what he really wanted. He got lost for a time (loosing his position, jail) but then clears his mind and focuses on new goal in sight. He is also needed once again - similarly to becoming a parent. In the end he creates new future for children of the world and retires as old nameless wanderer when the world is left to the new generation.
TTGL is life. The structure of the show is parallel to one person's life
This quickly turned into a Kamina analysis vid, and i love you for it lol
I can't help myself sometimes..
Well now you achieved at making two videos. Of course if you plan on making a kamina vid, you wont hear any complaints from me
No plans for a Kamina video, I've talked about him a ton already.
The first part belongs to Kamina, so it makes sense.
You really can't analyze the first bunch of episodes without analyzing Kamina. He really is an important part of the show and is the most important part of the show pre Simon carving out his own identity. His actions realistically drive the show and development.
I'm gonna say it:
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is a perfect anime. I still can't watch Kamina die without crying, ten years after first watching.
well its more realistic to find god himself, before you can watch it without crying ;--;
Amen
It just works
Justin Y. Hey boi
You need to stop. I've seen you every single day for the past 2 weeks on RUclips lol
I know you don't always watch videos in their entirety. But you gotta watch this one.
You've said that exact comment before Justin...... I'm disappointed.
Titanic Tuna Bruh, he says the exact same things many times.
It's absolutely insane how I've watched this show at least 5 times now, and there are STILL things I'm learning about it. Great video man
Thanks!
Man, the style of the Anti-Spirals and the Spiral King make me think these guys could have done an amazing Berserk adaptation.
In a sense Kamina was the image of the ideal leader: He builds himself as larger than life so he can inspire others to follow him, but when it's needed he knows when to let others do the tasks that are more appropiate for them than to him: For example when he motivated Simon to pilot Lagann in the first episode, anybody else would have understimate Simon(because he was a kid) but Kamina by instinct knew Simon was better for it.
First off, really good analysis and I'm glad you covered the nuances of Kamina's character. There are just two bits you missed with his character that I'd like to point out. Firstly, Kamina's regret over not following his father to the surface is a prominent reason why he so adamantly spouts ideals about manliness and seeing a fight to the end, even in the face of defeat. It's because he feels so much guilt over being too cowardly to follow his father, guilt that is only compounded when he discovers his corpse.
Another clever narrative trick Gurren Lagann implements is perspective. Although Kamina steals the spotlight for the first arc of the show, we really don't get a taste for his motivations until episode 7. Moreover, the true nature of Simon's brotherhood with Kamina is kept secret until Simon comes to the realization that snaps him out of his grief. Up until that point, Kamina was portrayed to be the one-sided inspiration to Simon. But with the flashback to his conversation with Yoko, Kamina reveals that Simon was his inspiration and as you mentioned, Kamina derived the strength and confidence he needed to inspire Simon from Simon himself. What results is a symbiotic relationship where both feed off of each other and I found it really refreshing. I wish more mentor-pupil relationships were like this and less unilateral. God I love this show!
*DO THE IMPOSSIBLE, SEE THE INVISIBLE!*
*ROW! ROW!*
*FIGHT THE POWAH!*
I love the music in gurren lagann 😆
Seriously tho, that early Kamina death is one of the best storytelling thing I've withnessed/felt in and out of anime.
Great cut there with Rossiu
You mean "Forehead Guy"
I watched Gurren Lagann for the first time recently and it was amazing so great timing.
rakmal 786 did you cry at an point of watching?
TheMrKingmenow No because every sad moment that occurred was during an epic moment so I didn't feel bad about it, Kamina died after giving Simon an epic speech and Kittan along with the rest who died against the Anti Spiral also died with a smile on their face.
Didn't cry the first time I watched Kittan die, bawled like a bitch the second time tho.
Big T. Larrity true fan 😭👍
@@TheMrKingmenow lol I watched the show a couple of weeks ago and cried at every episode after the 8th because that’s how deep Kamina’s death hit and they mentioned him every episode so that didn’t help either
"Kamina is not the hero we wanted, he's the hero we needed."
Kamina was the hero _everyone_ wanted. But in the end, everyone could only count on the hero within
Kamina never dies in Episode 8. That's the real message of the show in my opinion. Kamina through his bravery and sacrifice continues to live forever.
Legends never die.
A true man never dies, even when he’s killed!
The entire theme of the story is: The Man Who Fights Against Fate. Seriously. Think about that. There's no other more perfectly streamlined coming-of-age theme than when the entire world/universe has already written you off, seemingly destined your life to be stepped on, to become nothing. You say: No. And you grab hold of those reins of fate, you grab hold of your own destiny, and you carve your own path straight through the very center of your own despair. You obliterate your own fear. You Giga-Drill Break it by sheer Willpower alone. You turn your guilt and your regrets into strength. You remember this very minute, this very second, the very moment that your drill, your drive, is directly injected straight into your vein. I first watched this anime 10 years ago. 10 YEARS AGO! And I still haven't found anything, in any medium, that could beat it. Gainax, I don't always agree with your shows, but TTGL hands down won the entire genre. Forever.
well i mean the people at gainax who made it went on to form trigger so...
Fighting fate? Almost like seeing the invisible, doing the impossible.
@@brianl8481ROW ROW FIGHT THE POWER
It’s like Kamina is really trying to say “I’m insecure and I don’t believe in myself, either. But I know if I act this way, I can make you believe in me. And then I won’t have to believe in myself - I can believe in the Simon that believes in me”
I think to make this short, Kamina is just a pure representation of the "fears" everyone feels. The fear that everyone, and I mean EVERYONE is trying to run away from. I'm not saying that Kamina is that brave, that's exactly the reason why keeps saying the same set of lines over and over. That's why he's wearing the glasses and the cape. It's the iron-clad reinforcement that he thought would be the best way to counter fear, both for others and from within himself.
This is the same thing Simon learned, and the Anti-Spirals are against. Simon eventually learning that just keep moving forward, instead of just doubting what tomorrow would bring. He questioned almost everything Kamina did at first (first thing is why does he needs to use Gurenn to be Lagann's head). He questioned himself when Kamina was gone. People questioned him as a leader. All because of fear. Kamina felt that before, and realized that fear is paralyzing. The worse case was the Anti-Spirals just stopping their evolution and go into death like sleep just to stop their growth.
Kamina may be seemingly dumb and reckless most of the time. But for him, inaction and complacency is more stupid of a choice. Just like what he did when he was a child. Just like a drill, you have to drill through dirt, to get to the gems.
You say that this idea summarizes the video but I put forth much more than just that point about Kamina.
It's an interesting point about the glasses though, reminds me of how Dave Bautista (you may know him better as Drax from Marvel movies) wore sunglasses when he was cutting promos in the wrestling ring because he had a huge phobia about public speaking (and still does) but his character had no problem talking in front of a crowd. He wore the glasses so that no one could see the terror in his eyes and he could talk as if it didn't bother him.
Kamina: Your best argument for convincing your group to let you play a bard since 2007
I keep thinking of Yoko too. I don't think she will ever find happiness. As important as she is, she gets pushed to the side because the story/life is more important. She finds happiness with Kamina then he dies. Then finally sees that Kittan likes her and she for him...then he dies. It is a very tough war for her as well as Simon. I think it would be too hard to replace Kamina and Kittan. She accepted the way things were in that regard but still kept moving forward in other areas.
Fire time viewer.
I am absolutely awe-struck by the amount of effort and thought that was put into this video. The analysis was super well thought out and the narration took me for a spin. You earned yourself a subscriber and a potential patron in the months to come. This video was absolutely brilliant and beautiful.
That's incredibly kind of you, thanks! Very glad that you enjoyed.
I think it's beyond incredible that the show can bounce back and forth from the basest of goofy silly, even fan service, moments - to truly moving and inspiring motivations/themeology. 15 years later and this anime of less than 30 episodes is still one of my all time favorites. I know every twist and turn of the plot at this point and still cry / feel my soul set ablaze every time I watch it. Honestly, i should rewatch every time I feel any self doubt. Watching this every few years reminds me that we should always put our all into our goals; running at them headfirst without fear....even if that brave face is a facade
Kamina isn’t perfect, but that is why he is
Eicafe - No such thing as perfect.
his imperfections is the reason why hes perfect
and that applies to everyone in the show
As for me, the strongest moment in Gurren Lagann is when Kamina is telling That Story Underneath (they were trapped with Simon while drilling). And we understand that Kamina shows the bold front because he sees how Simon takes things on the chin
. He relies on Simon. He acts as "The One To Follow Because He Is Strong Himself", but if nobody followed, he would be Just a Guy (Without Any Adjectives))
Another thing about Kamina's death is that he died smiling. He accepted and embraced the fact that he would die after he and Simon succeeded in taking Dai Gunzen. At that point he could die happy knowing that the mission wasn't for nothing. That his friends and Simon still had a fighting chance and that his death wouldn't be in vain.
another great video! I got a bit of chills when you were talking about Kamina's role as a leader. I never thought that deep about his character so to me this was awesome. Keep up the rad work!!
Thanks very much, I'll do my best! :)
There is something about this anime that just never fails to get my blood boiling and make me smile ear to ear. It just makes me absolutely euphoric and excited and I don't entirely know why but I love it and I'm not complaining.
Even in the beginning of the show in my first viewing, I still sense and underlying subtlety in the first arc of the series. And I find depth in the unveiling of the story which is pretty much what the beginning of gurren lagann was about
Very good video, that's a really smart detail. It also reinforces the theme and gives extra layers for rewatches.
Thanks.
I remember when I first watched this series. I could tell that the show was pushing Kamina as the lead but at the same time I knew it was Simone that was destined for the lead because of his drill.
It was so interesting to watch.
The opening act is the REASON the later acts are so good! It’s the foundation!
I saw Kamina as the impersonation of the evolution spirit itself. Always strive upwards, do the impossible, etc. That's pretty much what the spiral power and evolution is all about.
When Kamina revealed that he is just putting on a brave front and that he never was the kind of reckless hero he portrays himself as, that's when the show became great to me. More inspiring than an indomitable natural leader is a man who fears and doubts, but pushes past it because he knows those around him need him to be something more. It showed that the anime was self-aware of how much bluster it used before and that it was all intentional.
Kamina had the least spiral power in the group, he was basically just a normal guy with a lot of grit who truly understood people. And I find that even more interesting than Simon's slow progression into a leader who actually has infinite potential from the start.
There's a mechanic in literature, specifically young adult literature, that does not allow for something to be too good or too evil. The simplicity of youth, when "everything was simple and made sense," is forcibly thrown out of the story. Kamina had to die because, as you mentioned, he was rather one-dimensional and was more of symbol for unfaltering determination, even to a fault. Because he was so pure a leader in that respect, he could not exist in the world. Obviously Gurren Lagaan has other huge coming-of-age elements strewn throughout the show, but that's why Kamina had to go.
Seeing as he would have beaten that first gunman with just his sword, he had to die, he was too powerful.
It's really exemplified in the mechs of the show too. The gunman were all a body that was a head. But along comes Kamina, who shoves Simone, the one who is his brain, on top of the body. And in the process makes the strongest force: still supporting his brother and giving him the push he needs.
Absolute brilliant masterpiece of analysis. The fact that you intelligently look upon this medium with introspective analysis and acute critical commentary is a breath of fresh air among most critics, commentators, and youtubers who mistake summary and opinion pieces as actual intellectual discourse. Once again, thank you for your contributions to the anime world.
Not quite sure I deserve all of this but it is so, so appreciated, thank you! And I'm very happy that you enjoy the content.
I still can't get my brother, my older brother, to sit down at watch Gurren Lagann and that makes me sad.
My entire perspective on brothers changed when I watched Kamina die. It made me have to accept that, despite his age and similarities, my own brother's life isn't a guarantee, despite him meaning more to me than even my parents, and that sometimes life hands you a change that makes you want to actually die.
Dude thanks. I never realized that scrap piece of cloth that Simone used as arm-tie came from Kamina's father's cape, and what that eludes to. Nice catch.
Hearing these aspects of the show, remembering and thinking about about Kamina and realizing just how amazing the show was brought tears to my eyes. Awesome video
Thanks! I’m glad you liked it.
It's cool how kamina has a ring in his eye( around the pupil) because in the end of the show people who show great spiral power have rings in their eyes but kamina had one from the beginning
I’m a simple man, I like guren laagan, I like aleczandxr videos, so I clicked
W/e
I'm very happy this video exists!
:)
The show just kept you on your toes from start to finish. Just when you think you figured it out, it throws you for a loop.
Why tf am i cryin in the club rn
Ninja cutting onions everywhere
I'm going to have to come back and watch this again, I feel like there were a lot of ideas that flew over my head, haha. But from what I did understand and the editing that took place here may I just say that this was an awesome video and I look forward to going through your catalog as well as seeing what you come out with next!
Thanks very much!
so what your telling me is that... THERE ARE NO WEAK EPISODES OF GURREN LAGANN.
Well I kinda hate episode 4 but apart from that..
Aleczandxr no, no, no, no. THERE ARE NO WEAK EPISODES. ITS MOTHERFUCKING GURREN LAGANN.
Whatever you say, dude.
Tbf Wasnt EP 4 like outsourced
Thanks for putting words to what I felt so strongly throughout this series. It was the first anime I watched all the way through start to finish, and in one binge. I had to go outside with my best friend to stare at the stars, when it ended. That's how powerfully the show's themes were delivered to us, it forever changed the way that I look at humanity, space, courage, friendship, and the "impossible".
Still a little sad I watched Gurren Laggan......
Becuase I feel like no other anime I will see from know will ever give me chills and hype like this anime.....welp time to watch this a 6th time....
Found any yet? Because I didn't😔
@@rullocompressore1550 try playing Asura's Wrath (you can watch all the cutscenes on youtube I guess but all the crazy button pressing adds to the experience lol). It's not something thats ever light-hearted like Gurren Laggan, but I think it hits the same notes of small intimate moments to extremely large scale catharsis
@@PantsaBear thanks but I already wathced it (I don't own a PS3 unfortunately). It was still amazing! I hope someone will do something similar on PS4 or 5 (in the same way I'm hoping for something set in the Gurren Lagann universe because I want more WORLD BUILDING)
@@rullocompressore1550 lmao great minds think alike I suppose, although I actually don't like Gurren Laggan too much personally. What it does well it does very well, just didn't like the humor and fan service and the pacing (a lot of deus ex machina too). I know theres a point and payoff to it, just wasn't worth that payoff to me lmao. Anyway, if you have a pc or sony system in general, I can highly recommend Trails in the Sky and Trails of Cold Steel (probably Sky first, has aged incredibly after the beginning trust me). But yeah, best world building and plot I've played in any game/show/media and the music and combat is kickass and emotional af
@@PantsaBear well as I like to say, to each their own. Probably the only thing that I don't really like in Gurren Lagann is the fanservice of Yoko. It's kind of unnecessary because she has a strong personality and all that "jiggle" doesn't help her. About the Deus Ex Machina I didn't bothered because it was literally an in-universe power and I thought it was better than "last second power of friendship". As for the payoff well, here is even more personal, I loved the ending. The two lines of Old Simon at end "nah, guess I'm no one" and "All the light in the sky are stars" make always me shiver. It's not by any mean perfect, but all the symbolisms, the characters, the themes and the messages that it delivers are somehow deep (I have no doubt that someone could make an in depth analysis of the anime as someone already did but with different results) and likable and this make the show IMO one of the "big". Enough with Gurren Lagann and thank you for the game recommendations, I'll chek them out as soon as I can :)
This video was really insightful! Now I'm thinking to rewatch the series.
3:22
"Rose tinted glasses"
Crimson Sunglasses*
Man, these vids have made me appreciate Gurren Lagann in whole new ways. Your analysis and presentation are on point! Can’t wait to rewatch the series through this new lens ❤️
Thank you!
Don't let The Narrative Trick of Early Gurren Lagann distract you from the fact that Neferpitou is, in fact, male.
TheRandomThings23 true
Soccer Stuff Clearly Male in the Dub, Sub, and Manga
Oh god not this again.
They're NYAN-binary ha ha ha
Well...
Technically Chimera Ants don't have genders apart from the King and the Queen.
She's a "it".
the kamina shit is so much cooler when you think about the story Kamina tells to Yoko about Simon digging them out of the hole. Kamina saw the vast empty space, the chances of death, and was scared, but Simon just dug without as much as a word. He just got started. And that's what Simon does the entire story. I don't think Kamina didn't know how to get humans on the surface and defeat the ganmen, in a way I think he knew. But the scope of it was just so impossible for him. But Simon was the one who pushes it forward despite the impossible odds.
Kamina is quite literally our role model because he shows us even if we arent the best suited for the role we still can do our best to inspire the future even if u fail u still inspire others to go on and move forward
how is your channel not growing as much as he deserve, YOUR CONTENT IS AWSOME
Lol thanks! I think part of the problem is that I hardly ever discuss currently airing series, which is what tends to be popular for Anime RUclips. A lot of people like to watch discussions on currently airing stuff, not something like Kuroko no Basket or Gurren Lagann, neither of which is a hot topic.
I have no idea what you're talking about. I fell in love with the show in the first episode. These criticisms in the first four minutes seem like they just don't get what the show is about. Like people expect the characters to be deep and emotional at the very beginning wtf?
I explain myself very clearly. No, the sentiment is not that they have to be deep. That is not the point. It is more about the sense of tone portrayed.
Aleczandxr, I broke the first rule of RUclips comments and didn't watch the whole video before commenting. You explained that right after the part I was responding to 😁
Lol, alrighty.
Aleczandxr Still disagree that the beginning is weak in any way, it was incredibly refreshing and not at all generic like you claimed.
Episode 4 being an obvious exception.
Big T. Larrity Did you watch the whole video? I never said the beginning was weak. I said it SEEMED like it was weak but that later events add proper context and dimensions to strengthen it. And I never once used the word "generic" throughout the entire video, except once where I immediately said that this is a false, untrue criticism. Please don't put words in my mouth and misinterpret my points.
"Drilling in that philosophy". I see what you did there aleczandxr.
It starts superficial and then makes its way in to a deeper and more complex narrative, the concept of going everitime deeper is in all over this anime.
Aleczandxr always has the best videos on the best anime. I just finished Gurren Lagann yesterday and I would have never thought it would be THAT good.
I honestly think this anime should have been longer
The fact that Kamina´s father ignited that spark of wanting to leave underground and even after Kamina´s death it managed to beat the anti-spiral, not even knowing they existed is just comically epic, even with the tyrant measures they took they still got their just desserts. I really like the story despite all the silly business that makes it fun there is a cosmic threat far from understanding yet despite looking invincible their fear of the spiral power was in the end VERY real.
Kaminas biggest flaw is that he literally is wearing rose tinted glasses.
“Believe in me that I believe in you” hit hard as fuck beside the drill quotes
I didn't realize that people found Gurren Lagann difficult to get into. It being 'stupid' with Kamina being a fun dumbass was why I found it so entertaining. I just stayed because I liked the rest too.
Welp, I remember checking out your first Gurren Lagann video when it came out. Your channel sure has grown since then, keep it up!
Thanks!
The beginning was difficult to get through, I couldn't appreciate it until after episode 8. If I didn't know there was a light at the end of the tunnel, I would've dropped it after episode 2.
Great Video! Great editing, great narration and a soothing voice to pack it all together. I love video essays and your's was truly great.
Keep 'em coming!
Thanks!
This is still one of the best anime I've seen. Shame there has been nothing like it since or even a spin-off like a story about lord genome or humanity reaching out to alien civilization
This is the Greatest Video I have Ever Seen.
Thank you (:
Thanks for watching!
I'm sorry to go off tangent, but I've noticed you using a lot of Radiant Historia music as of late (probably one of my favorite games ever, of course I'd recognize it). Why's that? Did you play the game recently or replay it?
I beat it for the first time a few months ago and I love Yoko Shimomura.
Great analysis, I've had just about all of these thoughts but you put them in in academically sound presentation very well. Keep up the good work!
Thanks!
I liked Kamina’s arc because it was obvious he was gonna die, as soon as I understood Yoko was in love with him I kinda guessed. Knowing that, you can guess that his death would bring some intensity to the show, since his presence made everything seem easy and lighthearted (because of the effect he had on Simon).
With that arc I just got eager to see how would Simon do without Kamina (let’s not forget it has always be shown Simon was the main, so he would have to face something big eventually) and came to like the charaters, even Viral.
The part I had problem with was when Rossiu got bossy, I got annoyed ...
The central theme of the show is the spiral turning ever higher, pushing those at the top further than those who came before (and individuals further than the person they were a moment before).
I think in addition to your commentary, perhaps even more so, the introduction of the series represents the people the main characters were and what they were capable of along with the rest of humanity. They were shallow because that was the extent of their perspective and experience. They didn't know exactly what they wanted, what was important to them, or what they could be because they hadn't had any opportunities to explore their surroundings or themselves. Those early episodes showed us exactly who they were at the time, and then they literally became more than what and who they were.
Gee, I wonder where this came from lol. Could it perhaps be the twitter ramblings of one individual called CritiCold?
Context?
Big T. Larrity The first 8 minutes and 40 seconds are all points I made on Twitter during my initial watch of Gurren Lagann, down to the order they're listed in, and the rest of the video is something we talked about a little bit in private, basically. Of course, he definitely polished all the stuff about Kamina which subsequently became the main body of this video.
@@criticold Like... The main body of Gurren Lagann?
_Eh?_
*Eh?*
*_EHHHHHHH?!?_*
This is an amazing video essay which adds to why I love gurren laggan. I got to watch this again man seeing Simon grow and kamina drilled that will to move forward and reach an impossible future with your own hands
Thanks very much.
Interestingly, I've seen many people claiming that episodes before Kamina death are better than after it
Main argument is selfishness of Simon (Kamina was defending others in his squad, Simon leaves them to fight main enemies)
That's a strange argument to try to substantiate that claim, but hey.
I personally liked the first half of the show better than the second half because after the timeskip it felt like it was almost completely serious and all the comedy and lighthearted stuff was almost gone.
I like it better when animes mix funny and lighthearted stuff with serious, dark and emotional stuff like the first half did.
@@CyberLance26 Agreed
Holy shit! Your channel is growing so fast! I remember when you had around 30,000 subscribers. Happy 100k subs in advance, I hope you continue to make excellent videos!
It's not rapid growth but I really can't complain, I'm very humbled and thankful for the support. Thanks mate, hopefully we reach the milestone soon!
Aleczandxr I try to recommend your videos whenever I get the chance. I’m grateful that you’re willing to share your knowledge with us in these well put together videos. Once again, thanks for the great content(one of the best anime RUclips content creators imo)!
I always found it weird that they killed the main character to not have it be a regular shounen in which everyone survives, but in the end it is the power of friendship that gets them through. Also found the ending kinda sad.
I don't think it's fair to say that "the power of friendship" is what gets them through in the end. Simon's speech in the final battle against the anti-spiral was a tribute to the human spirit: its relentlessness in the face of obstacles, its desire to create a better future, and its ability to change and evolve. Sure, camaraderie was a big part of what helped them succeed but it wasn't the main focus imo.
The power of friendship is an excellent thing to focus on IF it isn't actually described as such. Doing so is falling into telling instead of showing. If you show the bonds between characters and give them weight and importance, it gives said characters the proper motivation to push beyond what they perceive to be their limits. The whole theme behind Gurren Lagann is making the impossible possible, and Kamina serves as the driving inspiration through which that can be achieved. In my opinion, another anime that does this well is Fairy Tail, creating believable ties between characters that push them forward against seemingly impossible odds. Don't get me wrong, done badly, this is a horrendous trope. Done well however, and it can result in a masterpiece.
Also Kamina was never the main character. He just stole the show because his character was so larger than life.
I never thought of kamina as a main character
Theworst
The OP
DAMN, you almost got me in the first part. I thought this was going to be a hate video about the GL and Kamina from that beginning, but thank whoever, it wasn't. Really, really beautiful video
Cheers.
I'mma simple boy...
Nothing further
keep working with what youre doing now, this is quality content
Thanks.
Gurren Log-on?
Good one.
Oh my gawd aleczandxr senpai I cant watch this right now but I’ll be looking forward to seeing it over the next 5 hours
Hope you like it when you do!
Oh my god he replied to me
so kaminia is batman
zero woah is that a ship name and not a typo
Kamina is best waifu
zero but batman does not die because he is batman
Rip kamina
More like Batman's parents.
15:22 that was such a good transition… and it speaks volumes because Kamina was already taking care of Simon. He left Rossiu to the new and updated Simon. It’s really cool to see how Kamina’s legacy affected everyone even after his death.