Atarashii Prelude

Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann – 26

This is one of those anime episodes that had me holding back the tears. I didn't think there was anything that could top the previous episode of the 40% arc, but damn, this is not only the best episode of the arc yet, but the entire series itself, and for once, an epic battle scene had nothing to do with it.

The episode kicks off with Simon finally managing to activate the Chouginga Gurren-Lagann's humanoid form, which looks awesome, to say the least. And being the (possibly) final form, he turns the tables to his favor and wipes out every Anti Spiral ship without so much as breaking a sweat.

Right after disposing every foe in sight, the Anti Spiral finally shows itself(?) and warns Simon of the dangers of using the Spiral Power as it would lead to total oblivion, and this shocks Simon almost to a point of breakdown, as he instinctively realizes that the enemy if telling the truth. Even so, Lord Genome restores Simon's fighting spirit as he mentions that while what the Anti Spiral said was true, the fact Nia was waiting patiently for him is also the truth.

Displeased with the outcome, the Anti Spiral sends the entire crew into a trance like state where they are stuck in a parallel dream world cum alternate universe and have no chance of recovering. Just as the Anti Spiral is about to finish Lord Genome off, Boota leaps into the crossfire, and instead of disintegrating into mere particles, he undergoes a transformation of sorts and turns into the humanoid form fans have been speculating since episode 1, albeit in a child form.

The Anti Spiral is taken aback by Boota's sudden metamorphosis only to realize it was the source of the strange Spiral energy it has been detecting earlier. Just as the Anti Spiral confirms this, Boota lunges at his foe and attempts to strike it down, but it proves futile as he is also succumbed to the trance like state. We shift focus to Simon, who in a dream world, is living a somewhat decent life with Kamina, although they were nothing but a bunch of petty criminals stealing from the Beastmen to survive. How unsightly! The duo is soon arrested, and Kamina pleads for his own life, like a spineless coward. Ugh. Simon is somewhat dazed attempts to reach out for his drill, which is usually tied around his neck, only to realize it's not there. Then from nowhere, another Kamina appears before him and tells Simon his drill had always have been in his heart and nowhere else. Simon becomes aware of his surroundings and the fake world crumbles apart, and he is returned to his adult form.

The remainder of this sequence had me holding back the aforementioned tears, as the BGM kicks in. We are then shown the alternate worlds the remainder of the crew in, with Yoko seeing herself living in a life that could have been, if she wasn't fighting this war, a celebrity and married to Kittan(wtf!) through a television set, in which Kamina is changing the channels, each with its own scenario. Yoko then also comes to a realization and thanks Kamina and proceeds to join Simon break free of the trance like state. And so, each of the crew members proceed to free themselves from their comatose state. I think I had a tear in my eye when we got to see Viral's happy world, where he wishes for nothing more than just having a family with his wife, who incidentally looks like Princess Zelda of the Zelda games fame. Just wow.

And so, with everyone back to their own selves, the crew proceeds to the nemesis' domain on their quest to end this once and for all, just in time too, as Nia is slowly being drained by the Anti Spiral.

What will befall our heroes? Will Nia be able to survive the ordeal and live happily ever after with her knight? Will Gainax screw us over and give us a mindfuck ending? Tune in next time for the finale of TENGEN TOPPA GURREN-LAGANN! Shin out.