Gurren Lagann Vol. 1 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		4.5

Gurren Lagann Vol. 1 Blu-ray Movie Review

An excellent start to an exciting action-adventure anime.

The Series:

An intense and action-packed anime series with plenty of good “old fashioned” mecha fun, Gurren Lagann is a cult classic anime series which aired on TV Tokyo in Japan. The action-adventure mecha has plenty of robot thrills while exploring a futuristic sci-fi world. Produced by Eiichi Kamagata, Norio Yamakawa, and Naoki Sasada, Gurren Lagann is appointment television for anime enthusiasts: a must see television creation. Distributed by Aniplex, Gurren Lagann is an ultimate mecha anime for genre fans.

Gurren Lagann revolves around the adventures of two energetic teenager friends: Simon (Tetsuya Kakihara) and Kamina (Katsuyuki Konishi). The pair find themselves banding together to take on the baddies: a mission that the duo stakes out while going on a brave new mission. In the distant future, in a unique land where Earth dwellers live in subterranean villages, the heroes live under the rule of the Spiral King, Lordgenome. Simon and Kamina end up meeting resistance fighter Yoko (Marina Inoue), a badass (who is as tough-as-nails) with a perfect aim.

Using the strength of the Lagann mecha, the heroes of the tale unite to fight the evil forces of the Lorgenome on the surface-world. As the battle over earth ensues, the action-packed adventure is catapulted in to even more high-stakes dramatics at every turn in the tale. As the story of Gurren Lagann unfolds, Nia Teppelin (Yukari Fukui) enters the equation: the daughter of Lorgenome, she carries a mysterious past and begins a close friendship with Simon (and the duo eventually begin a romance). Does Nia hold the key to saving planet Earth?

The animation is one of the best elements of the sci-fi production. The hyper-stylized animation is super sleek and compelling throughout the entire run. The production efforts undertaken by the animation team are first-rate on every level. The character designs crafted by Atsushi Nishigori (Evangelion: 3.0+1.0: Thrice Upon A Time, Panty and Stocking in Sanitarybox) are compelling. Meanwhile, the art direction by Yuka Hirama (Magical Girl Ore, Kase-san and Morning Glories) manages to mystify and impress in every episode.

There is so much beauty to appreciate in the art. The animation has spectacular backgrounds and outstanding mecha designs. The sci-fi landscape of the production is stunning. A true revelation. The cinematographic efforts of Toyonori Yamada (Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches, The Dragon Dentist) also intrigue and give the series a shine that is polished and rewarding. The animators truly delivered on the production aesthetics in spades.

The music score composed by Taku Iwasaki (Read or Die, Bungo Stray Dogs) is one of my favorite elements of the anime. The score has an undeniably fun energy behind it that blends together techno music with rap, hip-hop, and rock'n'roll. The score is sweepingly epic and compelling throughout the entire run of episodes. The end results are magical. An epic score to match the epic animation.

As Gurren Lagann explores its sci-fi landscape, the screenplay by Kazuki Nakashima (Batman Ninja, Kill la Kill) finds a great tonal balance. The early episodes are more action-adventure based (with an abundance of goofy fun) while the second half of the series takes on a much more serious (and often somber) tone. The scripts are fun and imbue a lot of magic in to the series. The characters are quirky, charming, and entertaining. The sci-fi plot is exciting.

Hiroyuki Imaishi (Kill la Kill, Dead Leaves) capably directs Gurren Lagann. The series has such an energetic tone that manages to pull audiences in to the universe of the production with ease. It is an outstanding directorial effort and one that never seems to miss a beat. The scale and scope of the production is massive to behold. Fans of action-packed mecha series won't want to miss it.

The epic begins.

Volume 1:

Episode 1: "Bust Through the Heavens with Your Drill!"

Screenplay by: Kazuki Nakashima

Directed by: Masahiko Ōtsuka

Episode 2: "I Said I'm Gonna Pilot That Thing!!"

Screenplay: Kazuki Nakashima

Directed by: Shouji Saeki

Episode 3: "Who Do You Think You Are, Having Two Faces!?"

Screenplay by: Kazuki Nakashima

Directed by: Son Seung-heui

Episode 4: "Having Multiple Faces Makes You Great?"

Screenplay by: Hiroshi Yamaguchi

Directed by: Osamu Kobayashi

Episode 5: "I Don't Get It, Not One Bit!"

Screenplay by: Shouji Saeki

Directed by: Hiroaki Tomita

Gurren Lagann Vol. 1 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Aniplex, Gurren Lagann is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original television broadcast aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The series is a truly spectacular visual experience with plenty of exciting visual splendor throughout the series run. The animation looks stunning in high-definition. Colors are vivid and engaging. Background art work is nicely detailed. The entire encode is top-notch and delivers in spades (without any hiccups).

Gurren Lagann Vol. 1 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in Japanese uncompressed PCM 2.0 (with English subtitles) and English uncompressed PCM 2.0. The lossless, high-resolution audio is engaging throughout the production. Dialogue is crisp, clear, and easy to understand. The dynamics are engaging. The music sounds spectacular as well.

Gurren Lagann Vol. 1 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Gurren Lagann: Vol. 1 includes a double-sided poster and a 16 page booklet including interviews and art work.

Clip (OA Version) (HD, 00:16)

Textless Opening 1 (HD, 1:31)

Textless Ending 1 (HD, 1:32)

Gurren Lagann Vol. 1 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Gurren Lagann Vol. 1 is a great kick-start to the action-packed sci-fi adventure. The anime is full of life and vitality. The animation is spectacular. The music is exciting throughout. The Blu-ray features an impressive video-audio presentation. The first volume contains episodes #1-#5 and a selection of extras. Highly recommended.