What the actual fuck is going on from the beginning of episode 26 to the end of 27?

>>281219344 (OP)
Awesome is going on. Don't think about it any more than the writers did.

>>281219482
I think you're completely missing the point if you think Gurren Lagann is "cool but dumb", the writing is way more meaningful than a lot of shonen slop and you SHOULD engage with it. Not necessarily with the power mechanics (they don't matter) but with the message and the subtleties it's delivered with

>>281219810
Maybe I'm retarded but the only message I saw is just an unrealistic depiction of "keep going no matter what".

>>281219344 (OP)
The Anti Spiral is a boomer refusing to give up power that believes only there way is the right way. Team Gurren is the youth saying get the fuck out of the way old man there has to be a better way.

>>281219344 (OP)
First Gainax ending?

>>281219858
Yes, that is the point actually. The authors are making a statement to never underestimate your potential. It's like a drill that can pierce the heavens, if you wield it you can do the impossible. Fight the power. The representation is outrageously over the top because the statement itself is.

No, it's not deep but as that other anon was saying, it is meaningful

>>281219876
the anti-spiral is a socialist trying to put a cap to human ambitions for the collective well-being

>>281219892
2nd, I watched Eva first but understood it. Also I don't understand how people compare this to Eva when they're two completely different types of shows.

>>281219858
It's more than that. Notice that Simon and everyone had to accept Nia's death at the end, they even knew it during the final fight. They had to refuse their ideal dreamed life to pick up the pieces and keep going forward despite all the people they lost. That sense of self sacrifice and the meaning it provides is important to Gurren Lagann.

But I think the most important part is what it says about the human spirit, always striving to keep going forward... but at the same time it's a warning about this leading to unforeseen consequences (think: destroying the world with nukes, for instance). The antispiral says uncontrolled growth is unsustainable and will lead to untold horrors. And he's right on some level, Simon and everyone else need to accept to take a loss in order to prove him wrong and show humanity can grow past that.

It's not rocket science, but this somewhat simple message is delivered with a good amount of flair I think...

>>281219344 (OP)
It's not deep. People here will gaslight you into pretending that it is heckin amazing and profound because it has an optimistic message, but it is no different from shonens and Pixar films.

There's a particular type of nerd who pretends that all media is extremely cynical/gloomy because they see nothing but right-wing misery porn and ragebait on twtitter/youtube, but if they stepped out of their misanthropic bubble then they'll realize that all 99% of all media has positive optimistic endings about not giving up.

>>281219344 (OP)
the power of the human soul, baby

>>281219810
I wouldn't call it subtle lol

>>281220468
Sometimes it's not about the content, the delivery can be way more important

I believe the fact that TTGL literally goes out of its way to destroy any pretense of groundedness is an integral part of the experience, because it actually practices what it preaches, and it is amazing to witness so much unbounded greatness

>>281220513
Of course, characters yelling at each other and arguing while fighting doesn't give off the idea of subtle. But if you slow down and pay attention to the way some things are portrayed, it's definitely more subtle than a lot of anime. Some people miss the DNA double helix metaphor in the last episode, and while I wouldn't call it complex or hard to pick up on, it's definitely something other anime would have explicitly stated

>>281219344 (OP)
In-universe explanation: The majority of the final battle (episodes 24 and on) takes place in a different dimension (I think they actually called it the space between the 12th and 13th dimensions) where thought is made manifest. At first, only the AntiSpirals have the ability to manifest their thoughts in this way, so Team Gurren spends a lot of the fight on the back foot. After they absorb the space-sea energy and overcome the multidimensional labyrinth, they gain the ability to make their thoughts reality as well, and as such create the Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann: a galaxy-size giant robot.
The AntiSpirals, who believe that the best way to beat down a Spiral lifeform is by fighting on equal terms and winning, immediately manifest a mech of equal size and power, and they do battle.

Inner in-universe explanation: Love conquers all! <3

Meta-explanation: If you believe in yourself you can do anything, but you should always be careful to avoid overdoing things. People are not gods, and everything you do should pave a path for those who will follow in your footsteps.

I fucking love Gurren Lagann.

>>281220468
You just described people who like rick and morty

>>281220165
The key is the antispiral out of fear has become antiprogress while Team Gurren is all for progress.

The issue is there is a truth to what the antispiral says if Spiral Energy continues growing unchecked it will destroy the universe. The entire final battle the antispiral is scolding them for letting their spiral Energy grow so unchecked and wild. The antispiral upon revealing the true nature of their race and the sacrifice they made in their belief they could save the universe even if it meant destroying any Spiral Race who advanced to far demands to know if Team Gurren has the will to go to such lengths.

>Anti-Spiral: Foolish creatures, drunk on your Spiral power. Do you possess the resolve to do that?
>Anti-Spiral: We defended the universe by killing our fellow Spirals, and halting our own evolution.
>Anti-Spiral: Do you possess the sheer fortitude that is on par with that?! DO YOU?!
>Anti-Spiral: We say, NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO! NOT! AT! ALL!!!
>Anti-Spiral: You possess neither will! Nor resolve! NOR REASON!

Simon's own response is that the Antispiral's decided that on their own.

Anti-Spiral: That is the path that leads to extinction. Why can't you see the pathetic limitation of the Spiral race?
Simon: No, that's YOUR limitation! You sit here, closed-off, locking away other lifeforms like some kind of king! That's nobody's limitation but your own!!

Leading to the final big speech.

Mark my words. This drill will open a hole in the universe! And that hole will be a path for those behind us! 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! And that's Tengen Toppa. That's Gurren Lagann! My drill is the drill... THAT CREATES THE HEAVENS!!!

Simon recognizes the sacrifice he, Nina, Lord Genome and the AntiSpiral made is to drill the path that will lead to defeating the Spiral Nemesis.

>>281219344 (OP)
Cinema, as they call it. enjoy the end

I wish Kamina didn't die.

>>281220179
Plot wise it's actually pretty plausible that TTGL is a sequel to the original NGE continuity. The NGE2 classified information materials explicitly describe S2 engines as a biological source of limitless energy with a helical structure resembling DNA. Sound like spiral energy?

The same materials also say the human First Ancestral Race wanted to ensure the Fruit of Life and Fruit of Knowledge never came into contact (hence the spears). The continuity never reveals their motivations, but one thing that would fit perfectly would be that they had motivations similar to the Spiral King. IE, they were people who couldn't overcome the Anti-Spirals and wanted some form of life to continue, even if it wasn't as full or fulfilling as before. So what did they do? They separated human consciousness/willpower from spiral energy and tried to seed the universe with life that had one or the other but not both. Earth through cosmic chance ended up with terraforming devices designed for both, leading to NGE and EoE. After the new genesis of EoE is complete , the new human race started by Shinji and Asuka are now completed humans, containing both consciousness and spiral energy (Fruit of Knowledge and Fruit of Life). The new and more complete human race advances quickly, takes the fight to the Anti-spirals, and ultimately loses, leading to the reign of the Spiral King. Plus the desert world of TTGL resembles the world at the end of EoE, the moon is a plot point in both series, and Rei/Asuka make explicit cameos.

NGE explicitly states that souls exists and Simon has a lot of similarities to Shinji at the start. Yoko and Nia also have similar color codes to Asuka and Rei and could be said to be more idealized versions of their archetypes.

Thematically TTGL could easily be a sequel. NGE is about struggling with yourself and overcoming depression. TTGL is about harnessing newfound optimism and overcoming the world. It would certainly make a better sequel than the Rebuilds.

>>281223578
Why? His death had meaning.

>lord genome revived himself for the fight even if only for a moment.
>but nia can't come back
It's shit

>>281223578
Him dying was always going to be important to Simon's character arc, but I wish he was there for longer. He's easily the most iconic character of the series but he's not even there for 1/3 of the runtime.

>>281219858
>the only message I saw is just an unrealistic depiction of "keep going no matter what".
No. You're like those fucking goons that think that Simon letting Nia go is 'out of character'.

>>281224659
It feels like if any series could have a "and they lived happily ever after" ending it should be TTGL. On the other hand, maybe the ending is there to challenge you to not let your indomitable headcannon be contained by reality.

>>281225835
TTGL needs some sense of gravity and loss to tie everything together. It can't just end on more power fantasy

>>281225293
>Simon letting Nia go is 'out of character's
I found it a bit strange how he readily accepted her disappearing right before his eyes.

>>281226744
They knew it would happen from the start of the final fight, the movie actually even adds a line about it, but you can tell Simon can see it's happening in the middle of the final battle when he watches Nia flicker in front of him

This show pleb filters so many people

>>281219344 (OP)
I love how my self insert who grows from a faggot midge to a tall chad aura farms scene after scene and punches the big boss in the face that nobody else can cause they're not as cool as me look at my big ass sunglasses

>>281219344 (OP)
Extreme level kino

>>281224659
Head in a jar Genome didn't revive himself in the final battle. Being in the pocket universe just enabled him to will himself into a full-bodied form.

>>281226886
This unironically, based

>>281226886
>>281228112
Wish fulfillment and ultimate power fantasies are shitty escapism.

>>281228145
It's BASED

>>281226743
people did die tho in the final battle, not just Nia.

>>281228352
They did but still, they went on their own terms, meanwhile the initial goal was to save Nia, if they can achieve their objective it's just a little too convenient. Just like in real life someone you know will die from random accident and you wont be able to change it

>>281219876
>>281220165
>>281221510
One "issue" with Gurren Lagann is that everyone agrees that the AntiSpirals are, fundamentally, correct. Spiral Energy, left unchecked, will destroy the universe. Simon is a great man so he is able to lead humanity down a righteous path where Spiral Energy is used but not abused, but there is no answer in the show for what will happen when someone eventually does get drunk on Spiral Energy and goes totally nuts with it. Simon would be a benevolent leader, but eventually a despot will get into power.

>>281228466
TTGL kind of leaves it hanging in the same way Hitei responds at the end of Katanagatari: "that's for the warriors of the future to sort out lol"

>>281228466
Simon is practically immortal and promised the Anti-spiral to preserve humanity, so he would battle the despot when he gets out of hand.

>>281228466
I think the idea is that humanity will foster a culture and environment where rational people can keep despots in check

>>281228739
I don't think Simon would make himself immortal like Lordgenome did - if that were his plan, he'd have no reason to let himself grow old in the first place.
He truly believes in the future so he believes the hero of that generation would stop the upcoming despots. I don't share his belief in people that strongly.

>>281228772
It's nice to believe that but evil people thrive on manipulating systems. It's the lion versus the fox. Simon is a lion, but a cunning enough fox could usurp power and do terrible things to other lions.

>>281229387
You're right but that goes beyond the scope of TTGL. There are no guarantees things wont go to shit at some point. But you have to have faith and try nevertheless.

>>281219344 (OP)
>watching gurren faggan
that's your mistake

>>281219344 (OP)
Yoko should have never lost to Kittan's cock.

dropped like a brick after that.

i dont care of the supposed lesson, letting Nia die was pure shit

>>281230333
I just found it on netflix

>>281232423
she was irrelevant tbqh.
Yoko is the real deal.

>>281219482
The writers didnt think

>>281233988
I would like to take this moment to announce that after everything that happened Simon and Yoko got together and had an entire baseball team worth of kids and a happy and fulfilling marriage. Yoko is a school principal after the kids are grown up and Simon still goes out to the desert to dig because he is autistic. It fits into the ending, it just wasn't shown.

Source: fighting spirit revealed this to me.

>>281226744
>he readily accepted her disappearing right before his eyes
He had advanced warning.

>>281219344 (OP)
Does anyone know what the hell the intro scene was about? Where someone who looks like Simon declares war to the whole universe? Is it the future or the past?

>>281220468
Are you talking about people who put Gundam on a pedestal because they think it's a srs franchise with real science and tragic narratives for srs adults?

>>281236934
One of many possible futures
Someone on Gainax staff probably suggested it as a viewer retention measure