Otakuism

Ah, Gurren-Lagann 15, the finale that isn’t a finale. I’m going to try to not use terms like “mind blowingly awesome, epic, and fuckwin” more than once in this post, so as to save this entry from the usual string of hyperbole’s my rants on Gurren-Lagann usually are. With that said, Gurren-Lagann 15 was mind blowingly awesome, epic, and fuckwin.

Couldn’t of asked for a better final battle against the Helix King. All the requisite hot blooded yelling, speeches, final attacks, and self-sacrifices were here. I particularly liked the sacrifice of most of the Dai-Gurren in order to get Simon and Nia to the Helix King. Really showed the faith everyone has in Simon and his skills, along with their wish to help Nia that they would basically destroy their home for them. And they all played their parts in the battle, from Kittan and his sisters kicking ass to the small guys like Beamspam McMuppet and Gar Helmsmen. And anyone notice when the Grandpa opened the window to let Nia out? I really wish Gainax would tell us who he is already. There’s too many little mysteries around him for him not to be important.

Oh yeah, he’s a topless.

The Helix King really shined as the villian this episode. There’s something just so undeniably badass about him. Probably taking on the Lagann with just his fists. That, and the flaming hair. His final message was very ominous, about a messenger from hell appearing on the moon. Probably an envoy of whatever intergalactic government rules the universe. I wonder what the negative consequences of the spiral Power were that the Helix King was talking about? Did he try to take on the intergalactic government and lost? He did say he was like Simon once, taking on the world. On a less serious note, The Rasengan was one sexy looking mecha. One of the few thoroughly pleasing mecha designs in the show.

And how about the animation this episode? This was OVA level quality here, similar to the best scenes of Diebuster. The gorgeous shots of Simon staring down Tepperin were awe-inspiring, and the fluid battle between Gurren-Lagann and Rasengan was action-packed goodness. Gainax really is throwing everything they have into this. Guess they can afford to with all the money their going to get from the Evangelion movies.

Man, life sucks for Viral. The Helix King gave him an “immortal” body, whatever that entails, but not to beat Simon but to be a freakin’ bard. And then Simon owns him with one punch and he falls into the ruins of Tepperin. Not that Viral is dead or anything. He’s like a cockroach. A moe cockroach. And he does the preview for next week’s recap episode. Wonder if he’ll continue after that. Ah, two weeks till the time skip. At least I have Koutetsushin Jeeg’s finale to tide me over till then.