Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

[krogothwolf]

So After hearing everyone here say "Get TTGL" and singing it's praises from one end of the universe to another I finally was able to pick it up.

First Impression are after 4 episodes are as follows

Kamina is awesome which probably means he's not long for this world :( I am going to be sad if that happens.

The first combination is absolutely awesome. I had a feeling they would Combine but the actual first attempt was great, did not expect Kamina to do that, but knowing his character it totally fits.

The black family team is pretty insane. And funny.

Simone is probably going to have major changes throughout as he is to weak without Kamina and if Kamina bites it he's going to need to get over his insecurities

Leeron is absolutely great!

Yoko just seems to be eye candy who just provides information.

So far its pretty damn good anime, I can see why everyone recommended it

[NonCon]

Leeron is absolutely great!

Yes.

Yoko just seems to be eye candy who just provides information.

Yoko has some awesome moments in the second arc (eps 9-15) an entire episode about how awesome she is in the third arc (eps 17-23) and some coolness in the last arc (eps 24-27).

The thing is, you're still at the "lame" episodes. Episode 5 is pretty great, though much less actiony and much more characterizationing, but it doesn't really pick up until partway into the second arc, where it becomes mindblowingly awesome.

[Regulus Tera]

Episode 5 is meh.
Episode 6 is funny.
From episode 7 onwards it's absolutely batshit insane. You'll love it.

[NonCon]

Episode 5 is meh.


I like episode 5 because it's one of the only episodes that really shows Kamina's flaws, and he's a better character for it.

[Regulus Tera]

I actually like episode five just because it sets up Rossiu's almost ultimate fate early on, but in the grand scheme of things it needed more sexy robot violence to really stand out.

[Premonitions]

Yeah, Kamina needed to be a more human character, and episode five helps that..

[NonCon]

Kamina needed to be a more human character.

While I like that episode five does this, I don't think he needs to be more human than he was.

You're kind of seeing the Kamina arc through the eyes of Simon, at least in my opinion, and since Simon idolized Kamina it makes sense that it would depict him in such a way.

[Premonitions]

That's why segments where Simon is'nt around are best to humanize Kamina, it's just good writing. We see Kamina through whoever's near him, or just directly. Plus, everyone Idolized Kamina, he was their whole motivation for everything they did.
Lastly, why the spoilers?

[NonCon]

I'm trying to be super careful since Krogs isn't very far yet.

[Fifthfiend]

The fact that everyone's referring to Kamina in the past tense could be a pretty easy giveaway, especially given that Kroth suspects it already.

[Kerensky287]

Except that we're referring to an anime that finished so of course we're going to refer to everything in the past tense.

[Premonitions]

Exactly, which is what I'm going by when I refer to everyone in the past tense, but then, maybe I should refer to it in the future tense since the show is set in the future

[krogothwolf]

Just watched episode 5, was fairly enjoyable.

[Kerensky287]

I'm just going to throw out the fact that 6 is a useless (but silly fanservice) episode, and if you feel like skipping it you'd just be getting yourself closer to episode 7 where it really starts getting awesome.

[Aerozord]

I just love how Krog is saying how awesome the series is, and everyone is saying those are the 'bad' episodes. Really speaks of the shows quality.

Thing I love most about Kamina is that and if you really think about it, he himself is basically useless. His power is not being awesome, but inspiring others to be awesome. Just about every epic thing he did, he couldn't have done without Simon. Remember it was the one time he fights without Simon that he bites it.

What makes Kamina great, is that he isn't. But the way he carries himself you just accept that he is awesome without a second thought

[krogothwolf]

Kamina reminds me of Gai Daigoji.

It is funny about that. It is probably "bad" if you watch it a second time or so, but seriously the first episode does help draw you in.

It's a little sad that these really good anime are so short, but what can you do.

I don't know if I really get the prologue bit though, it seems to imply it's set in the future from when the anime is currently taking place.

[Aerozord]

there is the theory they are good BECAUSE they are short. Basically they cut out all the crap and leave you only the good bits

[krogothwolf]

yet they still always have clip shows. Does this one have a clip show and is it worth watching or skipping?

[Regulus Tera]

TTGL is so good precisely because there's no filler (episode sixteen doesn't count).

[Nique]

The second-half of this series bugs me a lot as it turns into insane mega-battles and lots of drama, but I'm really happy that I watched it all the way through.

[Premonitions]

I just love how Krog is saying how awesome the series is, and everyone is saying those are the 'bad' episodes. Really speaks of the shows quality.
Fuck that, I love all the episodes, all of them.. yes all of them. Even that one you hate because you're a heathen.. yes that one.
The second-half of this series bugs me a lot as it turns into insane mega-battles and lots of drama,

This is why you're wrong...about everything

[Aerozord]

from my understanding TTGL is a giant deconstruction of the evolution of mech anime. Also seems like you can guage which arc they like best by what mech anime they prefer. My one friend for example was a big Macross, Transformers fan, he also liked the second arc best. Final arc being his least favorite, and he also strongly dislikes modern mech anime

[NonCon]

I just love all mecha anime. Well, all good mecha anime, so I loved the whole show. I don't think you can really appreciate arcs 1 and 2 until you've seen 3 and 4 though.

EDIT: Also Nique is a crazy person who is crazy.

[Ryong]

See, the weird thing for me is that I've always hated mecha anime. TTGL, Eureka Seven and Gunbuster are the only ones I like, but at least I really like them.

Unlike Patlabor, Full Metal Panic! and the Gundam series.

Specially Patlabor. Goddamn criminals using giant robots in robberies? Clearly, the police has to have them, too! And they're terrible! It's a show that's supposed to be "realistic" on how giant mecha should work...Which makes the whole thing stupid.

[Nique]

Also Nique is a crazy person who is crazy.

Hey no one is arguing that!

But I mean, oh we've built a modern utopia within seven years and established a full working government AND corrupted it. Seven years? Takes me out of it a little. Also was weirded out by the final universe size mecha

[Aerozord]

well to be fair goverment was really just them taking on political power as opposed to military athority. This was also why it was corrupt, these were not politicians and thus the one guy that knew how to be political could effortlessly out maneuver them. The giant mecha was logical to me, as the whole serious was about exponential growth

besides how could you not think this is awesome (potential spoiler of crowning moment of awesome) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/aerozord/TengenToppaGurren-LagannMECH.jpg)

Its like the mech you'd expect satan to pilot

[krogothwolf]

wtf was with episodes 6....like wtf! What the hell! That little kid, seriously, what the fuck! WHAT THE FUCK! And And....Kamina betraying the team for tits! TITS!!!!! Like...man, he let me down there. The blurries were a nice touch though but still, that little kid kinda went above and beyond while looking for the little hole. Least he found one.

[NonCon]

I think one of the things I love about that episode that makes it better after you've seen the rest of the series is the foreshadowing. Like "Someday we'll even go to the moon!"

[Regulus Tera]

wtf was with episodes 6....like wtf! What the hell! That little kid, seriously, what the fuck! WHAT THE FUCK! And And....Kamina betraying the team for tits! TITS!!!!! Like...man, he let me down there. The blurries were a nice touch though but still, that little kid kinda went above and beyond while looking for the little hole. Least he found one.

You don't like boobies?

[Premonitions]

Also was weirded out by the final universe size mecha
okay, look, You know how some crazy homeless people do minor illegal things so they'll get thrown in jail and they'll have a place to stay for the night? It does'nt work on the internet and it does'nt work with just plain crazy and wrong.

[krogothwolf]

You don't like boobies?

I like boobies, but Kamina really went the extra mile, and that little dude, poking the hole he found, now that, THAT was a little bit crazy!

[Nique]

okay, look, You know how some crazy homeless people do minor illegal things so they'll get thrown in jail and they'll have a place to stay for the night? It does'nt work on the internet and it does'nt work with just plain crazy and wrong.


Buuuh... what?