nwizardblog

I have been very open to friends (and strangers) in my love for Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, of which has become my single favorite anime, nay, my single favorite piece of moving pictures entertainment ever.

However, conveying this love to others who have not been born again in the spiral energy is hard to do in an effective way and oft leaves people questioning my sanity. I came across a letter one guy wrote who shares my issue, and I thought I’d repost it here (with a little tweaking to make it more personal):

Awhile a go, I was bombarded with reports and praise about an anime called Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. Being a man normally not easily persuaded into what doesn’t appeal to him at first glance, and having a bit of distaste for the standard mecha genre formula, I mostly disregarded it. However, after so many articles trying to relate the greatness of this particular Gainax expedition, and hearing of the Fooly Cooly producer having worked on it, I finally broke down and got (read: downloaded but intending to buy) the 27 episode Mech-Opera.

With tears in my eyes and a burning in my soul, I completely agree with whatever positive things have ever been said about the wondrous Gurren Lagann. From Yoko’s particular brand of hotness to the adrenaline pumping fight scenes and the emotion-destroying deaths that are sprinkled ever-so-delicately throughout the show, I loved it. To be perfectly honest, I mostly had tears in my eyes for the last eight episodes of the damn series….and I’m not even going to tell you what episodes eight and nine did to me. None the less, I loved this anime like I have loved few other anime in my life. Was it deep? Not particularly. Was it formulaic? You bet your sweet ass! Was it still the mostly totally awesome nine hours of my life? More than you will ever know…

I finished watching it just a little while ago and have had no one with which I could fully explain why it was so awesome. Oh, I’ve tried, don’t get me wrong, but after the fourth conversation of, “It’s great cause there is like this drill AND IT GETS HUGE and totally punches the HELL out of the other guy plus there are hot chicks and the animation is like…wow…plus..” you get the point. Maybe I sound like a crazy person. Maybe I’m a bit old to love this sort of shonen anime goodness. I’m not sure. I suppose I’ve scared the shit out of some of you guys with my odd obsession…

Seriously, this series has stuck with me like no other has, honestly helping me get through the tougher times in my life by remembering the strength the characters showed and the lessons of never giving up. Sure, all shonen have that, but I don’t know what it is about TTGL that just really pumps me up…I can always go back and replay the last episode whenever I need a boost…
So…yeah…go watch Gurren Lagann! Best series ever! The DVDs can’t release fast enough…