Furu Anime Panikku

Somehow or another, I managed to catch Gurren Lagann on the silver screen while I was in Japan 2 weeks ago. Despite the movie tickets in Japan being crazily overpriced, I still went ahead with the movie even after I’ve already watched 20th Century Boys which life-drained a steep 1,500 yen out of my wallet.

I shall keep this review short and sweet, since there’s really not much difference from the movie and the anime series, except for the movie being much more compressed, and packing some really uber scenes.

The movie starts off with the latest Gurren Lagann Parallel Works video, the one featuring Lordgenome. Now, that’s the proper way to kick start such an anime!

The story then progresses quickly, introducing the various characters in the Dai Gurren Dan, followed by escalating onward to Kamina’s death. Most of the animation sequences for more than 50% of the movie seem to have been reused, if my memory serves. Still, the new stuff that’s packed into the movie justifies the ticket price.

Remember the episode which Simon and gang went against 2 of the generals? If you thought that was awesome, wait till you see the 1 on 4 single battle campaign against the all-star team; Adiane, Viral, Cytomander and Guame. I was stunned in total awe by that rage of GARness shining from Simon, and I’m sure the rest of the audience in that same theater felt the same way I did too. You could literally sense the intense aura of concentration in that room.

I so want this poster!

The movie ends after all the Beastmen except Viral are annihilated, and the Dai Gurren Dan move on towards Lordgenome. As usual, everyone stayed back while the credits roll, specially for the next part’s trailer. I can’t really remember the trailer well, but if my memory is reliable, there will be a different ending for the movie. I really need a cyberbrain for a better memory >_>

I doubt the movie will ever make it over to out sunny little red dot, since it’s viewership definitely can’t be compared to the one the Rebuild of Evangelion gathers, so the only way for the rest of the Gurren Lagann fans to watch it might be to wait for the DVD release.

After the movie ended, I dropped by the goods store on the way out and purchased a copy of some thin artbook which costed 800 yen. I’m not sure if it’s even worth the cash though, since I’ve yet to browse through it. And yes, that was the only Gurren Lagann thing I bought during my entire trip.

The next chapter, which is also the conclusion of the movie, will be released in 2009, though there has yet to be a specific date. However, judging from the stamp card I received at the cinema, the calendar ends at April, so I’m guessing that’s the period for the next release.

The stamp card encourages fans to watch the 1st movie twice for a free limited not-for-sale postcard, and watching the 1st movie twice and the 2nd movie once will reward fans with some limited movie goods. This totally reeks of a typical milking scheme by the one and only, Gainax.

Anyway, HOLY SPIRALS, I CAN’T WAIT!!!!