Gurren Lagann IV: Conclusion

Gurren Lagann and Character Traits

Perhaps better explained is the process of human development in this analysis as is represented in the show. When it comes down to it, the characters of the show are also human; such as Simon's emotional instability due to loss and jealousy at one point.

As the fourth and final part of this analysis, we'll take a moment to examine just exactly how such a production came into existence in the first place. GAINAX is a studio known for their "epic scale" plots and productions. However, Gurren Lagann stands out as a production very much alive with an epic, living message. The liberties taken with the production of Gurren Lagann can be seen in the rash-looking animation and color designs, which sometimes reflect a more materialistic depiction and tend to attract younger audiences. Yet it all the same retains that deeper and vital element. It is a production for the young and old, the child and the adult, the fun-lover and the thinker. The producers knew what they were doing, or at least they did in their subconsciousness.

Animators and manga-writers have been known to be in contact with psychological material like the works of C.G. Jung, therefore having read about said theories of symbolism and the revealing of the hidden self (individuation). Therefore it's very likely that the makers of this show had some relevant knowledge of what's been discussed here. It could also be that they are entirely clueless of this consciously; then it's left to the sub-conscience to do the work.

Gurren Lagann and Modernity

Gurren Lagann reflects the re-emergence of the myth in post-modernity. The the mighty driving forces of monolithic modernity come to a dead end, the mess left afterwards allows to the slight beginnings of the re-emergence of the classic myth albeit in hidden forms, often suppressed by a modern society, but nevertheless coming into embodiment through artists struggling to express urges and archetypes which well up in the sub-conscience and for which they innerly yearn.

Gurren Lagann, thus, is an expression of what lacks in modern society, or what is absent in the modern world. The issue of modernity and post-modernity is a big issue in Japan, as a society and a culture, because for the first time in that nation's history, they have been subjugated into a system other than the Imperial and natively Japanese one; into a system of materialism and modernism which rejects the esoteric religious functions of proper Japanese traditional perceptions and takes away the unity of the Japanese nation as well as the structure of Japanese hierarchy. The Emperor no longer lives a monolithic reign as the traditional godhead; the Japanese collective spirit and religiosity is thrown into a decay and decline.

A quick trip to Tokyo will affirm this. The "fashion" industry in Japan reflects all of this, totally built on the artificial and materialistic. Without the nation-uniting forces of the Imperial order, which pretty much gave meaning to life for the Japanese, the Japanese people are forced into a world without meaning or sense, their only sense of meaning crushed. We see this desire to follow meaning embodied in the rise of Otaku, which live their lives obsessed with anything that there is to be obsessed about in the modern world. Some Otaku become obsessors of Nazi Germany because they're afraid to vilify their own cultural past, the one they truly want to follow, because of post-war politics which condemn the traditional Japanese culture. The solidarity of Japanese culture has been destroyed, and modernism has replaced it. The Japanese, stifled in this environment, struggle beneath the mountains of ashed to express that mythopoetic spirit of the esoteric and divine which has been hidden and suppressed by the trends of modernity.

The wildness of Gurren Lagann represents a break from modern life. In Gurren Lagann, you are not afraid to be a man, or do what needs to be done, or fight for what's common sense; these things are taken away from the Japanese, but in Gurren Lagann, they are matter of fact things that the characters fight for. The conflicts in Gurren Lagann represent real conflicts in our universe, and therefore conflicts in our world that otherwise people couldn't speak of. That spirit of militarism, victory and fighting spirit is what pumps up so many viewers; and so we see how much that is suppressed and lacked in the modern world.

Also, the defeat of the suppressive Enlightenment philosophy, the first most forerunner and foundation of Modernism, is mentioned in many of the lines in Gurren Lagann. Repeatedly the phrase "Kick reason to the curb," is heard, that "Reason" being the limited humanist vision of the Enlightenment philosophy, responsible for the shortsightedness and destructiveness of Modernism.

The Positive Message

We see that the recurrent theme in this entire series is Hope. Hope against the enemy, Hope against entropy, it is always Hope that is the main focus - that Hope always exists. This is perhaps an expression of the fight against an iron-set modernity which seems, as it were, to have no hope of every changing, and people have no hope of returning to a system of values or meaning.

Unlike most anime, which is built merely around an entertaining substance which entertains earthly and materialistic ideals, Gurren Lagann is built with the substance of a strong, active message; the message that action must be taken with Hope.

The main factor which keeps the world as it is is Despair, and Hope the only cure. Gurren Lagann has a very positive message and is optimistic, for its message is Hope. Like Madoka, Gurren Lagann too, imparting a superior symbology and mythological process, is steeped in the message of Hope against the Despair of universal entropy; like Madoka, Gurren Lagann also deals with battle between cosmic and spiritual forces instead of the mundane and material, personal problems that most anime are built around. These things are seen as insignificant, truly, compared to the actual matter at hand, the real battle in the universe, of Order versus Entropy.

As Simon says,
"Maybe, but it isn't zero. As far as I'm concerned, that makes it the same as a 100% chance."

Conclusion

It's easy to see Gurren Lagann as ether a fun show or a depth of symbols - either one is perfectly fine. The creation is a work of art - open to interpretation.

"It's not who spoke the words, but the words themselves that matter."

So we can look at Gurren Lagann with our own eyes and realize what it means to us - whether it's concurrent with one analysis or another. But you'll find that these mythological references and archetypes do present themselves within the series; as a matter of fact.

Gurren Lagann is an example of the re-emergence of mythopoesis in modernity; even though the myths of old have been destroyed and forgotten (at least for their true meaning, with symbols intact), the artists of modern day are beginning to form a new expression to manifest these timeless archetypes. It is the part of a greater process of awakening - or I should say, reawakening - to the myths of old and the inert knowledge or gnosis possessed in the ancient wisdom. As these timeless archetypes and myths begin to express and liberate themselves from modern dogma, and emerge within modernity, they must be realized for what they truly are: modern myths. The myth is reborn into modernity, it's older form having been crucified and died, and is thus reborn savior of the next generation.

If the youth takes positive and timeless message from these works of fiction, it is only a matter of time and effort before gnosis is achieved and the human being reawakened. Men will start to realize and think about the world they live in... and do something about it. It will reawaken the heroic and righteous spirit within them.

The greatest obstacle here is the bias against fiction - the pejorative use of the word "fantasy" and the destructive and hateful attitude that modern society and the modern world has towards the creative process and the heroic. People are encouraged to believe that myths and fiction are of no real value, that they are only to be enjoyed in the sense of immersed entertainment and that they have no relevance or power in the real world at all; statement of frightened Modernists who fear the power of our message. When the youth believes this, they become trapped in the mindset of Modernity, thus viewing works of fiction purely as processes of escapism that is juxtaposed with reality, not intertwined on basic levels concerning archetypes and meaning. Meaning is eschewed; they will never be able to realize it or recognize it, thus fiction becomes a destructive act that takes away from society.

Good fiction, and a good use of it, can be told when the individual takes from fiction and inspires him to work harder in the real world because of it or its message. A bad or destructive use of fiction, which results from the modern mindset, is when the individual is lead away from reality or distracted from reality through escapism into the fictional world - only one way of severing off a person from our world and therefore cutting off one more person that could be of potential help (all the while making them a slave to consumerism via their addiction).

Therefore, spread the word of Gurren Lagann. Take from it, be productive with what you've taken; let it inspire you to achieve great things and let it give you hope against the seemingly impossible. Let it bolster your spirit, your fighting spirit, so your spiral energy might break through the heavens - and transcend the plains of the spirit. Let nothing stand in your way. Show others this show; let them take from it too.

無茶で無謀と笑われようと、mucha de mubou to waraware youto (kamina)
Whether it's laughable or irrational
維持が支えの喧嘩道！ iji ga sasae no kenka michi (kamina)
This is the path that ALL great men walk!
壁があったら殴って壊す！kabe ga attara nagutte kowasu (simon)
If there's a wall in our way, we'll destroy it!
道がなければ、この手で作る！ michi ga nakereba, kono te de tsukuru (simon)
If there's no road, we'll pave it with our own hands!
心のマグマが炎と燃える！ kokoro no maguma ga homura to moeru (together)
The magma in our hearts is blazing like flames!
超絶合体！グレンラガン！ chouzetsu gattai! GURREN-LAGANN! (together)
The perfect fusion: GURREN-LAGANN!

俺を… ore o (simon)
Who...
俺たちを… ore tachi o (kamina)
...all of you...
誰だと思ってやがる！！！ dare da to omotte yagaru!!! (together)
The hell do you think we are!?! 

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-Quotes from Gurren Lagann- 

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