Gurren Lagann: Guren-hen: A thorough analysis of the ultimate evolution of passion and emotion

Gurren Lagann: Guren-hen - Movie review and detailed explanation

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Release date

September 6, 2008 - January 1, 2000

■Distribution company

Distributor: Kadokawa Shoten, Clockworks

■Frequencies

113 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Original story: GAINAX, Kazuki Nakashima

■ Director

・Director: Hiroyuki Imaishi

■ Production

・Animation Production: GAINAX
Produced by: Gurren Lagann Movie Production Committee ^{, Aniplex, Gainax, Konami Digital Entertainment, Kadokawa Shoten, TV Tokyo, Dentsu}

■Works

©GAINAX, Kazuki Nakashima / Gurren Lagann Movie Production Committee

■ Story

This is the story of a man who is yet to realize his destiny.

In the distant future, long ago, humanity has found a habitat deep underground, where they live. Earthquakes and rockfalls occasionally strike the village. People have become small-minded and have lived in hiding for hundreds of years.
In one of these villages, Jiha Village, there were two men. One was a shy boy named Simon.
The other is Kamina, a man who firmly believes that there is an earth above. The fates of these two men are set in motion when the ceiling of the village collapses.
Falling with the collapsed ceiling were a giant mecha Gunmen with a torso as a face, a girl named Yoko wielding a superconducting rifle, and sunlight pouring down from the sky.
"There must have been a surface world after all!" With Kamina's thoughts of dreaming of a surface world in mind, the two add Yoko to their team, and then board the Lagann mecha that Simon dug up and set off towards the distant surface!

However, the Earth they saw in their dream was a world ruled by the Spiral King and his subordinates, beastmen riding Gunmen. Kamina and Simon challenge this hopeless world. As they break through what everyone has previously considered "common sense," more and more people begin to sympathize with them.

However, an overwhelming wall of power stands before the two of them.
Just as he sensed defeat coming, Kamina chose to combine Gurren and Lagann!
The fusion, which everyone thought was impossible, brings about a miracle and a new power, "Gurren Lagann," is born.
It was the signal for a counterattack against the Spiral King, and the beginning of further battles.
However, it will be some time before the man realizes his destiny...

■Explanation

The story of Simon and his friends is depicted on a scale that exceeds that of the TV series - this is our revenge tenfold! "Gurren Lagann" is finally being made into a movie!!

Many new scenes have been added! All lines have been newly recorded! A new Gurren Lagann, assembled from the TV series, is now revealed!

■Cast

・Simon/Tetsuya Kakihara・Kamina/Katsuyuki Konishi・Yoko/Marina Inoue・Nia/Yukari Fukui・Boota, Dally/Shizuka Itou・Rosiu/Mitsuki Saiga・Viral/Nobuyuki Hiyama・Gimme, Leyte/Takako Honda・Kittan/Kisho Taniyama・Kiyou/Rina Sato・Kinnon/Kana Ueda・Kiyaru/Kana Asumi・Dayakka/Daiki Nakamura・Kid/Takashi Kondo・Ilac, Artenborough/Daisuke Kirii・Zossie/Takashi Kawakami・Jogan, Gabal/Go Shinomiya・Barimbo/Kozo Dousaka・Macken/Leo Kaminaga・Tetsukan/Hisao Mizushima・Mayor Shaku/Tetsuaki Genda

■ Main staff

・Original work: GAINAX, Nakashima Kazuki・Director, mecha animation director: Imaishi Hiroyuki・Assistant director: Otsuka Masahiko・Script: Nakashima Kazuki・Storyboard: Imaishi Hiroyuki, Nishikori Atsushi・Direction: Otsuka Masahiko・Character design, chief animation director, character animation director: Nishikori Atsushi・Mecha design, opening titles: Yoshinari You・Monitor design: Arai Hirofumi・Design works: Koyama Shigeto・Eye-catches: Imaishi Hiroyuki, Nishikori Atsushi, Amemiya Satoshi・Art director: Hirama Yuka (Miho)
Art setting: Tomoyasu Fujise, color design: Harumi Takaboshi, director of photography: Toyonori Yamada, CG: Tomohiko Komiya, editor: Junichi Uematsu, sound director: Tooru Nakano, sound effects: Kenji Koyama (sound box)
Music: Taku Iwasaki Executive Producers: Masuro Ueda, Yasuhiro Takeda (Guren-hen), Akihisa Toyama, Takeshi Yasuda, Soichiro Hashi, Yoshio Takada Producer: Hironori Toba Animation: GAINAX
Produced by: Gurren Lagann Movie Production Committee (Aniplex, Gainax, Konami Digital Entertainment, Kadokawa Shoten, TV Tokyo, Dentsu)
Distributor: Kadokawa Shoten, Clockworks

■ Main Characters

・Simon The protagonist of this story. He is treated as an oddball because he is silent and has a craftsman-like nature, but he is highly respected by the residents of Jiha Village as an expert hole-digger. He doesn't like to be in the spotlight, and prefers to stay behind Kamina, whom he looks up to as an older brother. When he finds a small drill while digging a hole, it changes his fate...
Kamina is a passionate and ambitious team leader. He has a somewhat carefree personality, recklessly pursuing his romantic dreams, but at the same time, he has a strong charm that draws people in. He is like an older brother to Simon, and although the two have completely different personalities, they work together perfectly to overcome the enemies and difficulties that stand in their way. He is characterized by the tattoos (irezumi) carved all over his body.
Yoko is a beautiful sniper who never lets go of her huge rifle. After being saved from danger by Simon and Kamina, they start working together. Having survived the harsh conditions on the surface, she is much tougher than Simon, who is the same age as her. She treats the timid and naive Simon like a child. Even so, she occasionally shows signs of immaturity and fragility appropriate to her age.
LeeLon is from the same Littner village as Yoko and works as a mechanic. Later, he joins Simon and the others. He is always calm and objective, as if he has a philosophical outlook. He is a skilled mechanic and is in charge of maintaining all of the Gunmen, including Lagann. He is also the brains and narrator of the Gurren Brigade.
Viral: A mysterious beastman tasked with exterminating humans who have ventured onto the surface. He pilots the Gunmen "Enki." He is a skilled Gunmen pilot, and causes trouble for Kamina and Simon.
・The leader of Dayakkarittna Village. He leads the villagers in resistance against the Gunmen army that is attacking the village. He is very sensible and serious.
Kitan: The leader of the beastman hunters, the Black Brothers, and the eldest son. Is he more short-tempered and hot-blooded than Kamina? He often competes with Kamina in terms of personality.
・Kiyo is a member of the "Black Brothers" and is the eldest daughter. She has a nicer body than Yoko.
Kinon: A member of the "Black Brothers" and the second daughter. She has a laid-back personality and always does things at her own pace. Her glasses are her charm point.
・Kiyaru is the youngest of the "Black Brothers." Perhaps influenced by Kitan, he uses language a little roughly.
Rossiu: A boy that you meet during your journey. He is sensible and speaks like an adult for his age.
Gimme & Dally Twins who live in Rossiu village. Gimme is a mischievous boy and Dally is a shy girl.
A mysterious old man who appears before Gurren Lagann as he wanders through the mist and invites him to a hot springs inn. After that, he somehow ends up joining the Gurren Corps.
- A girl that Niasimon discovers in the container. She is completely naive, but also possesses a nobility not found in other humans. What will her presence bring to the Glenn Brigade?
The Great Gurren Brigade were fighting against the beastmen in their own areas, but upon hearing of Kamina and his group's exploits, many of them began to gather.
Chimilf One of the four heavenly kings of the Spiral King, he has the nickname "Chmilf of the Raging Waves". He is endowed with the mobile fortress type Gunmen Daiganzan. He is a dynamic warrior who lives up to his appearance.
Adine: "Elegant Adine", one of the four heavenly kings of the Spiral King. A female beast with a scorpion tail. She has a cruel and harsh personality. She is gifted with the Fortress Type Gunmen Daigunkai and the Custom Gunmen Sailun.
One of the four heavenly kings of the Spiral King, "Lightning-fast Sitomandra." A handsome man with peacock-like wings, he is also quite narcissistic. He has received the aerial fortress Gunmen Daiganten from the Spiral King.
One of the four heavenly kings of the Spiral King, "Immovable Guarm". He is an armadillo-like beastman, but contrary to his comical appearance, he is very cunning. He seems to have known the Spiral King for a long time, and sometimes speaks disrespectful lines, even respecting Shitomandra.
・Logenome The king lives in the royal capital of Teppelin and commands beastmen. He looks exactly like a human, but... his purpose in using beastmen to drive humans underground is shrouded in mystery.
・A baby pig mole kept in Butajeeha Village and Simon's pet. He was almost used as emergency food by the Glenn Brigade... What a surprise!

■ Main robot items

・Lagann A mysterious mecha that Simon unearthed while excavating. It seems to activate in response to the core drill, but...? Its abilities depend on Simon's mental ups and downs. It combines with Gurren, piloted by Kamina, to become "Gurren Lagann."
・Gurren: A Gunmen that Kamina steals from the enemy at the beginning of the story and pilots from then on. Its huge sunglasses that can also be used as a boomerang are its defining feature. It combines with Simon's Lagann to form "Gurren Lagann."
Gurren Lagann: A mecha formed by combining Simon's Lagann and Kamina's Gurren. It fights many enemy Gunmen. It becomes the main mecha from the beginning.
・The Gunmen piloted by Enkiviral. As expected of a unit leader, it stands out from the other beastmen's Gunmen. It has weapons built into various parts of its body.
・Gozujiha Village is hit by a giant Gunmen that attacks Simon and his friends. It is the first Gunmen that Simon and his friends have ever seen.

■ Related works

・Gurren Lagann ・Gurren Lagann: The Movie ・Gurren Lagann PARALLEL WORKS 1
・Gurren Lagann PARALLEL WORKS 2
・Kirameki☆Yoko BOX Pieces of sweet stars
・Gurren Lagann OVA Episode 5.5 ・Gurren Lagann Episode 6 Unlocked Edition

■ Theme songs and music

・TM1
・Continuing World・Lyrics by meg rock
・Composition: Itsuki Fujisue ・Arrangement: nishi-ken
・Singer: Shoko Nakagawa

・IN1
・Happily ever after
・Lyrics by meg rock
・Composition: Katsuhiko Kurosu ・Arrangement: Katsuhiko Kurosu ・Singer: Shoko Nakagawa

■ Movie reviews and detailed commentary

"Gurren Lagann: Guren-hen" is an animated film released in 2008 that reconstructs the story of the TV series "Gurren Lagann" and adds new scenes and lines. The film depicts the adventures and growth of Simon and Kamina, and depicts on an epic scale the rebellion against the Spiral King and the battle for the future of humanity.

The story of the movie begins with Simon and Kamina escaping from Jiha Village to the surface. The surface is ruled by the Spiral King and his beastmen, and Simon and Kamina must face this desperate situation. Kamina's passion and Simon's growth are at the center of the story, and the friendship and bond between them is depicted. In particular, Kamina's line, "So there was a surface after all!" strikes a strong chord with viewers.

The greatest appeal of the film is the growth and friendship between Simon and Kamina. Simon starts out as a shy and unsure boy, but as the story progresses, he grows into a strong leader. Meanwhile, Kamina is a consistently positive and passionate character, whose presence supports Simon and propels the story forward. The scene where the two combine Gurren and Lagann to create "Gurren Lagann" is the climax of the film and leaves a strong impression on viewers.

The film's visuals are also outstanding. Director Imaishi Hiroyuki's unique drawing style, combined with Nishigori Atsushi's character designs, make the characters' expressions and movements very lively. In particular, the mecha movements in the battle scenes are realistic and powerful, providing a visual treat. Yoshinari You's mecha designs are also excellent, and the individual personalities of each Gunmen are well expressed.

The music also adds to the film's appeal. Taku Iwasaki's music effectively conveys the tension and emotion of the story, and the theme song "Tsudzuku Sekai" and the insert song "Happily Ever After" in particular have beautiful melodies that symbolize the theme of the story. Shoko Nakagawa's singing voice is also impressive, and will leave a deep impression on the viewer's mind.

The cast is also excellent, with the voice actors of each character, including Tetsuya Kakihara as Simon, Katsuyuki Konishi as Kamina, and Marina Inoue as Yoko, bringing out the best in their characters. In particular, Katsuyuki Konishi's performance as Kamina is very passionate and has the power to draw the viewer in.

"Gurren Lagann: Guren Arc" is a film that can be recommended not only to fans of the TV series, but to anyone who loves animated films. The story's themes of "human potential" and the power of "friendship" deeply move viewers, making it a film that you will want to watch over and over again. Please watch this film and experience the adventures and growth of Simon and Kamina.

■Recommendation details

After watching "Gurren Lagann: Guren-hen," be sure to check out the following related works:

■ Related works

・An original TV series depicting the adventures of Gurren Lagann Simon and Kamina. It contains many scenes and episodes that are different from the movie version, so you can enjoy it while comparing it with the movie version.

Like the theatrical version of Gurren Lagann: The Lightning-Curse Chapter, this is a movie adaptation of the TV series. This tells the story from a different perspective than the theatrical version of The Lightning-Curse Chapter, allowing for a deeper understanding.

・Gurren Lagann PARALLEL WORKS 1
A collection of short animations based on the worldview of "Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann." With the participation of various creators, you can enjoy the world of "Gurren Lagann" from a new perspective.

・Gurren Lagann PARALLEL WORKS 2
A sequel to "PARALLEL WORKS 1," it depicts the world of "Gurren Lagann" from even more diverse perspectives.

・Kirameki☆Yoko BOX Pieces of sweet stars
A collection of character songs centered around Yoko. You can learn more about Yoko's charms.

・Gurren Lagann OVA Episode 5.5
Episodes inserted between the TV series. They are full of scenes not seen in the TV series, such as the daily lives of Simon and friends and the introduction of new characters.

・Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann Episode 6 Unlocked Edition
A special edition of episode 6 of the TV series, re-edited with new scenes and lines to deepen your understanding of the story.

■Other recommendations

For those who enjoyed "Gurren Lagann: Guren-hen," we also recommend the following works:

・Like the new Evangelion movie series "Gurren Lagann," this is a movie series that recreates the TV series. Its deep themes and epic storyline are what make it so appealing.

・Gundam series: A monumental achievement in mecha anime. Mobile Suit Gundam UC in particular is appealing for its epic scale and deep storyline.

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion is a story about strategy and friendship. The protagonist's growth and battles share a common theme with "Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann."

"Gurren Lagann: Guren Arc" is a moving work that depicts the adventures and growth of Simon and Kamina. Please watch this movie and experience their story. Also, check out related works and other recommended works for a deeper understanding and enjoyment.