As a seasoned Gurren Lagann veteran, I'm returning six months later to watch some of these extras to enjoy just a little more of that signature Gurren Lagann fun.
As this entry is the second OVA (the full length Director's Cut version of episode 6), the other being the brief episode 5.5; I'm going to throw out a quickie here for both of them. Edited for a re-write.
Going to cover the things common to both episodes here:
Art: 10
Vibrant, vivid colors with the excellently animated and quick feel one expects from Hiroyuki Imaishi. Fluid movement, consistent character design,Highly stylized, and just a touch of the goofiness that made the show charming.
Sound: 10
Sorairo Days (OP) is an absolutely fantastic mood setting song to get you into the show. Always loved it, and still singing along. ED is the same, it's perfectly listenable too.
Voice acting is great. It's a touch grandiose and over the top, but what about Gurren Lagann isnt? Juicy explosions, awesome BGM, just overall excellent.
Characters: 7 (all for main cast, extras don't add much)
Because I'm not reviewing the main series, the focus here is going to be on what's actually different.
Kamina, Simon, and Yoko take center stage, as usual. These episodes are mostly comedic in intent and delivery, and it does so. Supporting cast are riding shotgun, and really don't do a whole lot.
We are introduced (ep5.5) to two new beastmen, a father/daughter team out for some vengeance against the naked apes. They provide some laughs, but have sort of a Team Rocket ending, and never appear again.
Story: 7
Ep 5.5: (2/7 points)
The aforementioned father/daughter crooks show up under the guise of being professional Gunmen washers, offering to clean up the dingy, neglected Gurren. Much to the dismay of Kamina, Simon keeps Lagann spotless- and after having his glasses painted over while napping, and the girl performing a miraculous paint removal service, Kamina contracts the young Beastman girl to clean Gurren with her magical spray. Commence theft and loony antics, and this one is pretty much over. At 11m in length, it's a quickie.
This episode is just an additive, kind of like putting a little food coloring in your cake. It doesn't make it taste any different, but it's something new to look at.
Ep 6 reeeeeemix: (5/7 points)
In the original series, episode 6 was a recap episode, told in the form of Simon and Kamina reminiscing through flashbacks while relaxing at a rather dubious spa found in the middle of nowhere, run by a creepy grandma. About half of the flashbacks were taken out, excepting the recap of the first episode- and we get new a little bit of new plot, mostly just a more fleshed out dialogue and scenes in between the flashbacks that get the story set for the next real episode.
It doesn't change the course of the story, but this more filled out version is a lot more interesting to watch, and would have been a better disguised flashback episode than the original. The episode was obviously one that was designed to be a budget saver, and as such doesn't radically change, but as a whole, was improved in this instance.
Enjoyment and Overall: 8
These are a little obscure, and should be watched as bonuses after seeing the series in its entirety, as they don't change the story, but rather some minor differences that just add to the fun. The first part, the 5.5, is kind of a tacked-on feeling episode.. not really necessary, but it provided a little more Gurren Lagann for someone who loved the show. I enjoyed them- kept me laughing, and reminded me why i loved Gurren Lagann in the first place: because it's just plain fun.
