aloe, dream

This statement says it all…

TTGL, is a very well accomplished piece of media. Sure it holds great popularity, but it backs it up every step of the way. TTGL did almost everything I could ask for in an anime, and even some things I will have to ask for in future series, but is it the greatest of 2007… Saaa we’ll see.

Relative

It is a must to include this section, though I am half-hearted against it because it’s GAINAX. A studio that has already pushed the brink and brought influence to the anime industry should not need notable influences, but they are there anyway, even if NGE is one of them. While the first half, a standalone story in itself, strikes Eureka 7 and NGE, the final arc also brings a range of Noein to the table. Remarkably, TTGL manages to keep the influences, but stylishly “upgrade” and render them in ways which give the series a fresh and atypical feel.

Highlights

First, it lives up to the hype, this is something that really can take away from a series, but after experiencing TTGL it is as amazing as one would hear. Another great attribute of TTGL is the monumental passage of setting; underground Earth to Galactic stage battle. I want to say it is epic, but I’m not so sure it is epic, though it is extremely monumental; I regard epic for something deeper, darker, more parallel to the nature of space, unknown. Here is where I say characters, but… I did not feel that individuals could stand alone as characters, they needed everyone together; this comes from minimal development of the secondary characters, but it is not a bad thing.

Of course, Simon is the best developed of all characters, and he fills a similar position as Jomy in Terra e, but I do believe Simon is a better character. Sure he was nearly typical shounen (Kurosaki Ichigo), but with everything and everyone riding on him, he becomes legendary; striking attitude. Still, he will never see the amount of love I bare for Nia, she is the beating heart.

Miscellaneous

Some of the little things I enjoyed, chisai

• Nia’s cell-phone answering message, lol
• Yoko’s re-entry to the story
• the “What’s a stratosphere?”, “Can I eat it?” comment, lol
• The $#(”)ing Gurren Lagann Brigade slogan!
• Kamina being Kamina in the beginning
• Nia’s cute moments before the leap (there were a lot)

Overall

While additional character development could have brought the experience closer to the heart, and the initial sketchiness of the first arc are minor to the series, I will say that the enjoyment factor of TTGL is through the roof. I mean, it really makes you want to cheer, because it is that inspiring, that mesmerizing, that brilliant, luminous like a gorgeous smile; fills the heart with glee.

TTGL is my most enjoyable series of the year. The level of teeth gnashing and heartache was low, but enjoyment, alone, does not make the greatest. In terms of 2007, I’ve marked it’s equivalence to that of Terra e…, which is a similar situation, but I found the moods much different between the two; fulfilling and inspiring versus beautiful and sad. TTGL may have had those “against all odds, come back with emotion Spiral power” moments, but that was the general motto, theme and everything to the Brigade. It was the focus, expected, and did not disappoint.

God, wasn’t it just so memorable though? I guess that is what makes legends.

Ryan A