A roaring, drill-tipped mecha epic where defiance burns hotter than any sun, and a boy buried underground claws through the ceiling of the world, then of the universe, on pure spiraling willpower.
Gurren Lagann
天元突破グレンラガン
"Your drill is the drill that will pierce the Heavens!"
01 April 2007
— 30 September 2007
Japan
1 season
27 episode
Ended
8.2
(629)
Cast: Tetsuya Kakihara, Katsuyuki Konishi, Marina Inoue, Kiyoyuki Yanada, Nobuyuki Hiyama
Animation
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Action & Adventure
Willpower and defying limits
Coming of age and inheritance
Belief in others
Grief and loss
Evolution, freedom and responsibility
Gurren Lagann — Characters & Cast
Character Analysis
Simon
Katsuyuki Konishi
Archetype: Reluctant hero who becomes a leader
Key Trait: Quiet determination that grows into legendary resolve
Motivation
At first he wants to follow his brother and see the sky. Later he fights to protect the friends and the world Kamina's example gave him.
Character Arc
Simon begins as a timid digger who lets Kamina do the believing for him. After Kamina's death he falls into depression, and he rebuilds himself with the help of friends. By the final arc he has become a leader who surpasses his mentor and carries humanity's future.
Kamina
Tetsuya Kakihara
Archetype: Charismatic mentor and catalyst
Key Trait: Reckless, contagious bravado
Motivation
To escape the underground, defy the ruling order and prove he and his friends can do the impossible.
Character Arc
Kamina is an arrogant, loud dreamer who drags Simon to the surface and inspires the whole movement. Production notes say his death in episode 8 was written to give Simon character development and make him the main character. His influence outlives him.
Yoko Littner
Marina Inoue
Archetype: Sharpshooter and big-sister figure
Key Trait: Cool competence with a warm core
Motivation
To protect her people and the team she comes to see as family.
Character Arc
Yoko starts as a skilled fighter from a neighboring village who helps the pair. She becomes a steadying part of Team Gurren and a stabilising figure for Simon after loss.
Lordgenome
Kiyoyuki Yanada
Archetype: Tyrannical ruler with a tragic reason
Key Trait: Imposing, weary authority
Motivation
To keep humanity safe from a greater threat, whatever the cost to its freedom.
Character Arc
Lordgenome is the Spiral King who keeps humanity underground. The series reveals that his rule has deeper motives than simple cruelty, and that he becomes a part of the larger story.
Cast
Tetsuya Kakihara
as Simon (voice)
Katsuyuki Konishi
as Kamina (voice)
Marina Inoue
as Yoko Littner (voice)
Kiyoyuki Yanada
as Thymilph (voice)
Nobuyuki Hiyama
as Viral (voice)
Mitsuki Saiga
as Rossiu Adai (voice)
Yukari Fukui
as Nia Teppelin (voice)
Michiko Neya
as Adiane (voice)
Takako Honda
as Leite Jokin (voice)
Takashi Kondo
as Kidd Coega (voice)
Takaya Kamikawa
as Anti-Spiral (voice)
Shizuka Itoh
as Darry Adai (voice)
Kisho Taniyama
as Kittan Bachika (voice)
Kana Ueda
as Kinon Bachika (voice)
Kana Asumi
as Kiyal Bachika (voice)
Explore More About This Movie
Dive deeper into specific aspects of the movie with our detailed analysis pages