Introduction[]
Gurren Lagann is a mecha anime television series animated by Gainax, known for its heavy usage of real-life scientific theory, including quantum physics. This blog is made to update the old blog, and explain the cosmological structure (and a little explication about the characters) in detail, backed up by databooks, interviews, and such, in order to show solid proofs of the verse being Hyper Dimensional+ tier.
The respective scans of the databooks and any related information were obtained from STTGL/Galo de Lion, who is quite frankly the most knowledgeable debater I've seen online on Gainax/TRIGGER verse, even fictions with massive lore such as The Elder Scrolls. Without him, seriously, this blog would not exist, so thanks a fucking lot for him, who also helped me a ton with discussions and acts as a volunteer supplier for scans! His Gurren Lagann respect thread. Also, thanks to StrymULTRA, Birgi126, and HeavyReturn77, who participated in discussions to some extent. I'd also like to thank BluudyManikin777 for his additional scans.
And before I start, I will compile all available sources, most of it will be taken from anime and databooks, but I will also take some parts from the novelization, even the manga, which is just for visualization. Can we do this? Yes, we can, because Gurren Lagann is a story of a multiverse, and every version of Gurren Lagann that we believe is real means any version can be canon. Although they differ in continuity, the cosmological structures should be the same anyway.
Final Drill:
"Next. "When did Rossiu discover LordGenome?"
Nakashima: Oh, that is written in a novel. I explained it in the DVD audio commentary, but that is a lie (laughs). Novels are sold by mail, so those who like logic is there, and those who like interesting are the DVD version. Because Gurren Lagann is a story of a multiverse, the Gurren Lagann you believe in is real!"
The multiverse[]
Branching multiverse[]
Just as many people missed, Gurren Lagann has multiversal cosmology. It was shown when the Anti-Spiral demonstrated their ability, called the Extradimensional Labyrinth, to trap the consciousness of people into infinite possibilities. The concept is that every perception made spawns universes, where each universe is split into its respective possible universes, creating a separate multiverse. Do note that "extradimensional space" is a mistranslation—the Japanese dub says "多元宇宙" or "multiverse", means the correct translation of the Extradimensional Labyrinth is actually Multiverse Labyrinth.
The multiverse is a quantum cosmology interpretation with an infinite number of universes, and each universe is actually a multiverse itself, as it's always branching off and proceeding at the same time. The universes are created through the perception of possibilities by the observers—the possible futures that are being perceived or recognized are transfomed into universes. In the play, say, there are six observed possibilities, and after one of them is realized, the rest don't vanish; they are realized elsewhere as their own realities. It is a direct reference to the Copenhagen interpretation, one of the oldest of numerous proposed interpretations of quantum mechanics, which considers the wavefunction collapse a special kind of event that occurs as a result of observation, and the MWI (many-worlds interpretation) at the same time. That is the multiverse.
Final Drill (green text):
"The "multiverse" is a universe that becomes real at the moment of recognition. It is a logical trap that no intelligent creature can escape from the multiverse forever because the possibility of a possible future changes directly into a universe. In Simon's case, for example, he is trapped in the possibility that if Kamina were alive and did not fight the beastmen, he wouldn't have died. There is an infinite number of possibilities, and hell will follow. It is no longer possible to return to the real universe after being affected by a different kind of multiverse.
The strongest and worst trap for the people by an expanded interpretation of quantum cosmology. The Anti-Spiral has dropped numerous Spiral warriors up to this point and forced them to ruin."
Final Drill (green text):
"The universe is always branching off and proceeding at the same time where people cannot recognize it." The idea of parallel universes. In the play, it appears as a chain of universes that are created at the moment of recognition. The greatest trap set up by the Anti-Spiral, which means if you are trapped in the universe you recognized, you will never be able to return to your original universe, ever again."
The universe exists in a Schrodinger state of quantum uncertainty that only becomes objectively real when observed, again using the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics as multiple universes. The databook explained that quantum cosmology is what branched the current multiverse from nothing by dealing with the microcosm immediately after the birth of the Universe.
Final Drill (dark blue text):
"[Quantum cosmology] [Other] A theory of the Universe explained by quantum mechanics. It analyzes the probabilistic interpretation of the Universe from nothingness to entire Universe by dealing with the microcosm immediately after the birth of the Universe."
The extra dimensions[]
The multiverse in Gurren Lagann is heavily alluded to following the brane cosmology application, as the multiverse, in fact, has 10 to 11-dimensional universes restricted to membranes (branes)—higher dimensions than the typical observed 4-dimensional spacetime, which means the extra dimensions are not compactified at the planck scale and triviliaze the lower dimensions since it corresponds with the large extra dimensions framework.
As a further confirmation, the novelization stated that the universes of the multiverse are in fact island universes that are separated and coexist in gravitational equilibrium. This is a direct reference to bulk in the brane multiverse model, where the universes are attracted by gravity in higher-dimensional space.
Novelization:
"Simon knows that. However, even though he knew it, it was like a ripple in his mind. It was just a small ripple, but the Anti-Spiral's words continued like the wind on the wave. "That's what you do. You Spirals will always move forward, eating what you hold dear, with its destructive impulses as an instinct, not a care in the world. The cluster of galaxies spread out in front of us, a calm space where many island universes coexist in gravitational equilibrium. The Spiral force is the force that connects the Universe to life. A single life can draw on the power of the infinite Universe. But that force cannot be controlled by life. That's the truth of this Universe," they said, filling in the green glow here and there in the cluster of galaxies. That same green glow erupted from Simon's body, which disrupted the equilibrium of the galaxy cluster. Simon knew that it was the truth of the Spiral. That it was a Spiral force run amok. The Anti-Spiral's words continue. "The Spiral force goes out of control, and the energy emanating from the body becomes a galaxy. When the Spiral force begins to run goes out of control, in an instant, as many galaxies as there are lives in the Universe are born. The excess galaxies will devour each other to become black holes and the Universe will return to nothingness. That is Spiral Nemesis. A runaway called evolution."
The manga even visualized the brane layers (membranes) in the form of sheets of paper, just like the model, and the Anti-Spiral's universe, which oscillated between them as an imaginary spacetime.
The interpretation even expanded, as Nakashima, the writer of the Gurren Lagann setting and story, stated in an interview that the "multiverse" for him is indeed 11-dimensional (he also said that Gurren Lagann's multiverse is inspired by real scientific interpretation). The guidebook also extrapolated that the multiverse is multi-layered.
"Ninja Batman" is a so-called "time thing" in which Batman is transported to the Warring States period. In Japanese anime, there's a restriction that if you change the past, the present will change, and I think people tend to be very cautious when it comes to time-altered anime. You don't worry about that kind of thing, and you go out on a limb.
Nakashima: That's because it's American comics. The world setting of the multiverse, or a universe full of universes, permeates the readership of American comics. And now, the time-modifying stuff is going to be the multiverse stuff, right? There's a whole Universe of all kinds of possibilities, so no matter what you do, you're like, "Oh, that universe!" (laughs). The interpretation of the multiverse has advanced so rapidly in the last few decades that when we were children, it was only 4 dimensional, but now it is said to be 11 dimensional. Our job is to tell lies, so we take those theories and twist them into something interesting.
Come to think of it, in "Gurren Lagann", there was a story about "quantum cosmology that exists by being observed".
Nakashima: When I looked up cosmology at that time, I hadn't read it for a while, so I found that it was very advanced. I was given the theory that the universe can be confirmed only if it is observed, and I set up the idea that there is a universe that can be created if we recognize it."
Work Soul (red text):
"Arc Gurren Lagann descending on Kamina City. (The Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is a virtual quantum body created by the multi-layered multiverse due to the activation of the Super Spiral force. It disappeared when the battle ended and returned to the normal state) the people welcoming the returning members of the Team Dai-Gurren. They are holding Dayakka with Anne in his arms."
Summary[]
- The multiverse is based on quantum cosmology interpretation (MWI and Copenhagen interpretation), where perception creates universes (the number is infinite).
- Some universes are 10 to 11-dimensional.
- The multiverse uses the elements of 11 dimensions, membranes, and bulk, leading to the conclusion that the multiverse in concrete is a brane multiverse.
- The multiverse is multi-layered as per the guidebook and is 11-dimensional via the author.
Spiral Power[]
Description[]
Spiral Power is the power of evolution, representing growth, progress, and evolution themselves throughout the Universe. Spiral Power amplifies all spiral-shaped objects in the Universe to infinity, from helical DNA strands to whole galaxies—everything, and as the multiversal expansion requires "growth", it can be well said that the multiverse expands because the Spiral Power allows it (where the universes ironically curl like spirals in their branching progress). Spiral Power serves as the Universe's foundation. It is a blatant reference to the spiral's symbol in nature or in a metaphysical sense.
"The spiral symbolizes the double helix structure of DNA, representing biological evolution, and the spiral structure of a galaxy. The spiral also represents infinity. Starting at a single point, and revolving outwardly until the end of the universe. Because of this, some civilizations believe that the Spiral is a pathway to the afterlife."
Spiral Power binds lifeforms to the Universe, where one lifeform is capable of drawing forth the power of the infinite universe.
With an infinite power binding life and the Universe together, Spiral Power allows the Spiral lifeforms to govern and manipulate even time and space.
Novelization:
"Spiral lifeforms, including human beings, once built a super-scientific civilization on a galactic level. The source was the Spiral Power. With the infinite power that connects the Universe and life, the time and space were under their control."
Spiral Power is accelerated through willpower, hope, and dreams, as they are presented as double helixes that pierce the heavens (scene). One's Spiral Power can also be strengthened by the power of belief from someone else, which corresponds to the fact that Simon and Team Dai-Gurren were empowered by the "dreams of those who have fallen" and "hopes of those who will follow" (still the same scene as above).
It is also the main reason for Anti-Spiral's attempt to invoke despair to shut off their evolution—their power ceases when Spiral lifeforms lose their will to go forward.
Leeron (Episode 23):
"All right, let's get down to business. This is the result of collating all data thus far. The Earth Spiral race flagship currently in lunar orbit, the Cathedral Terra. It was stolen by the Anti-Spiral and disguised as our Moon. Gurren Lagann. Arc-Gurren. Cathedral Terra. The thing that brings out the potential of each is Spiral Power. That refers to the power of evolution present in us lifeforms that possess a double-helix genetic structure.
...To put it in simple terms, it's fighting spirit."
Spiral Power is literally the power of will—the Galactic Spiral Abyss, a spacetime that turns Spiral Energy into mass, is actually converting people's wills. This is supported by the fact that the Infinity Big Bang Storm's energy, which was transformed into Spiral Energy, is Lordgenome's will itself.
Final Drill:
"A spacetime dominated by empty shadows.
Galactic Spiral Abyss
The Galactic Spiral Abyss, where Spiral Energy is converted into mass. Super Galaxy Dai-Gurren goes to the bottom of the sea.
The Super Galaxy Dai-Gurren flies into the "isolated universe" that lies between the 10th and 11th dimensions. The name of the pitch-black sea that spreads out at the bottom of the universe is "imaginary space". An imaginary number is the square root of a negative number. There, people's will (Spiral Power) is converted into negative energy and pulled down into the abyss by strong gravity. Simon is doomed by the Anti-Spiral's plan."
Spiral Power encompasses all points of time—past, present, and future—along with every emotion possible, such as wishes, regrets, hopes, anger, sadness, compassion, et cetera. Context-wise, it was a Spiral Power that takes form as a humanoid mecha, an abstract entity, so the Spiral Power should scale (see Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann).
Novelization:
"Nia entered the cockpit of the Lagann, along with Simon. Each Lagann merged into Gurren Lagann. It was anger. It was sadness. It was compassion. It was every emotion one could think of. The feelings that each of us had in our respective universes appeared in the form of a drill, breaking through the wall. It was appearing in the form of two shapes and sizes, and they became one. If you have no choice but to fight, do not hesitate. We are not afraid to ask for power. If there's a wall, we'll hit and break it, if there's no way, we'll make it with our own hands! No, more. Breaks through cause, effect and fate, the cry of life resounds in the galaxy yet, more. Engrave the feelings of a friend in this body, and turn infinite darkness into light! -That's it. A power greater than the stars, greater than the galaxies. A power greater than dimension and time."
Novelization:
"There, a giant that crossed the galaxy was born. Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. The ultimate evolution of Gurren Lagann, created by swallowing all of our thoughts, wishes, regrets, hopes, past, and future. That giant, engulfed in green flames, was the greatest power that humanity, or rather the Spiral race, had ever gained. The face is on the chest, abdomen, arms, thighs, legs, and key points of the deformed body. It corresponded to Lagann on which each Team Dai-Gurren was riding. Now each of them had the same power as Simon. However, the voice of the Anti-Spiral sounded there..."
The Spiral Power, or transcendental double helix, causes life to vibrate with the galaxy. Lifeforms absorb Spiral Power from spiral galaxies, which is subsequently converted into energy and emitted by their neurological centers. In theory, one lifeform can release as much energy as an entire universe. That is, the power of will.
Work Soul:
"Gurren Lagann's hands and feet are turning a huge drill. In the same way, Gurren Lagann is turning the drill in its Arc Gurren Lagann. Simon is releasing his Spiral Power in the cockpit of Lagann. Spiral Power is the power of the spiral factors that make up a living organism to synchronize with a spiral galaxy, transforming the galaxy's inherent potential into energy and releasing it. Theoretically, one life form can release as much energy as an entire universe. It is the complex and vast electrical signals emitted from the nerve centers of Spiral Life that synchronize life with the galaxies, in other words, the power of will. Life resonates with the galaxy through the power of the transcendental double helix."
For additional information, the Spiral Power is drawn not only from the spiral galaxies in the same spacetime but also from another dimension.
Nakashima:
"Nakashima: (Ignoring) But the setting was that black matter would gain mass and cause a Big Crunch, causing the Universe to contract and collapse, which would be Spiral Nemesis. But if you think about it, it's the same as "'GaoGaiGar FINAL!" I realized it was a sinker and rejected it (laughs). So, that's enough! It's "Gurren Lagann", so when the Spiral Power is activated, people become galaxies! In short, the Spiral Power of the double helix actually transfers the energy of spiral galaxies that are connected in another dimension. The infinite energy of the Spiral Power is activated by controlling the energy of a single galaxy with human will. When it can no longer be controlled, it devours the body and a galaxy is born. That is the Spiral Nemesis, meaning that galaxies will form in the Universe for the number of Spiral Lifeforms forms, and as a result, the Universe itself will collapse. ...I don't really understand it, but I do know that it's a great idea."
Beastmen, who are reproduced through cloning, naturally don't have Spiral Power. And thus, they can't have children, because genetic diversity resulting from gamogenesis is the key to evolution. In other words, Spiral Power is the reason for life.
Leeron (Episode 23):
"They don't have spiral Power, so they can't have children. It's the genetic diversity resulting from gamogenesis that is the key to evolution. It's in this that the upwardly-mobile Power of the Spiral resides.
In other words, it means that love changes the Universe!"
The human form is the one where the Spiral Power is most strongly manifested, by turning Super Galaxy Dai-Gurren into humanoid mode, it will amplify its strength tens of times and rival the micro cosmos.
The ultimate mastery of Spiral Power enables its users to manifest objects through thoughts by utilizing the Super Spiral Universe.
Final Drill (green text):
"Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is the final form of Gurren Lagann and is emerged with Super Spiral Universe embodying by thought. It is also the most powerful Spiral weapon that can directly output the passengers abilities."
It is also worth noting that because Spiral Power connects the Universe and life, Spiral Lifeforms may have varied degrees of cosmic awareness. For example, the Anti-Spiral (who possessed infinite Spiral Power) was capable of comprehending the Spiral Nemesis, and Simon (who was still growing into infinity) was instinctively aware and accepted of the Spiral Nemesis' existence following the relevation (scene).
Spiral Nemesis[]
Although the Spiral Power governs the Universe, it can also end it. The Spiral Power connects lifeforms with the Universe, and the expansion of galaxies is proportional to that of living. Lifeforms develop to find a form that allows them to increase their Spiral Power. However, they would eventually lose control of their Spiral Power, and life would become its own galaxy, with these living mega-galaxies devouring each other to generate a black hole that would engulf all of existence. That is the Spiral Nemesis, a universal cataclysm that destroys the entire Universe due to an excess of Spiral Power (scene).
The Anti-Spiral (Episode 26):
"Then watch. Watch where this Universe is headed. See the Universe destroyed by the power of the Spiral, which thinks only of evolving. Spiral Power is the force which binds together lifeforms and the Universe. The growth of galaxies is proportional to the growth of life. Life developed in search of forms that would help it acquire...even more power of the Spiral. This is evolution. But the end result would be a loss of control over their Spiral Power, and all life becoming its own galaxy. These mega galaxies would then devour each other, forming a black hole, and then this Universe would return to nothingness. This is the Spiral Nemesis."
The novelization goes a step further in its explanation. The Spiral Nemesis is, in fact, a Big Crunch (the opposite of the Big Bang), a phenomenon where it crushes all spacetime and dimensions into a dimensionless point. All existences are destroyed due to the Spiral Power running amok.
Novelization:
""In the blink of an eye, it will destroy the entire Universe." Yes, that's right. A scene was unfolding before Simon's eyes, just as the Anti-Spiral had described. Green light erupted from people's bodies, which became galaxies, or super-galaxy clusters. It was an instantaneous event. Immediately, an excess cluster of galaxies was born, and its enormous gravity crushed both time and space, converging into a dimensionless singularity. It is the inverse of the Big Bang, the Big Crunch. All existence returns to nothingness. For a brief moment. Spirally well. That is Spiral Nemesis. It is the end of the Universe, caused by a runaway Spiral Power. "No way, that's..." Simon understood. Simon is not the only one. All life forms aboard the Super Galaxy Gurren Lagann understood. It is not a word. It appeals directly to the brain. As "recognition". And they have been eaten by the Universe. Their consciousness was devoured by the labyrinth of the multiverse, from which they could never escape as long as they had intelligence."
Which corresponds with the fact that the Big Bang (birth of the Universe) started everything from nothing via the probabilistic interpretation.
Final Drill (dark blue text):
"[Quantum cosmology] [Other] A theory of the Universe explained by quantum mechanics. It analyzes the probabilistic interpretation of the Universe from nothingness to entire Universe by dealing with the microcosm immediately after the birth of the Universe."
Summary[]
- Spiral Power is the underpinning of the Universe that amplies all spiral-shaped objects (everything) to infinity.
- Spiral Power is the power of “will” that drives universal abstractions such as “evolution” and “infinity.”
- Spiral Power is synchronized with the thoughts and emotions of the Universe and its beings (spatiotemporally)—love changes the Universe.
- Spiral Power connects the Universe to life and allows its wielders to earn infinite potential and applications in cosmic levels of reality-warping ability, corresponding to the degrees of mastery.
- Spiral Power starts and ends the Universe through the multiversal branch (the Big Bang) and the Spiral Nemesis (the Big Crunch).
- Spiral Nemesis collapses all spacetime and dimensions into a dimensionless point.
The Anti-Spiral[]
The Anti Spiral battles Simon the Digger in their pocket universe
'The Universe itself'[]
The Anti-Spiral were once Spiral Lifeforms but sealed their evolution forever after realizing the horror of the Spiral Nemesis. As a thought body, its form has no discernible substance—it has no physical form and cannot be seen. The Anti-Spiral are so powerful that they can easily transcend time and space and manipulate the other dimensions, where they are often called "the Universe" itself.
Final Drill (blue text):
"Simon's greatest enemy is this Universe itself.
The greatest, strongest, and most fearsome enemy that attempts to eradicate all creatures with Spiral Power. Even before Simon and his comrades, numerous Spiral warriors have challenged the Anti-Spiral and been buried. Its form has no discernible substance, has capability to lightly transcend time and space, affects the multiple-dimensions. It is truly an entity that can be called 'the Universe' itself."
Final Drill (green text):
"(Anti-Spiral) [Character/Episode 24] The thought body of the Anti-Spiral race. In order to prevent the "Spiral Nemesis", a cosmic collapse brought about by the Spiral Power, they plan to eradicate the Spiral race. To this end, they have set up an automatic annihilating system on the planet where the Spiral race lives, killing any Spiral race member who has reached a certain population level. Their power is like the Universe itself. They have no physical form and cannot be seen by humans. It uses sophisticated tactics to trap the Spirals in the multiverse and deprive their fighting spirit. In the distant past, when the Earth mimics led by Lordgenome fought a battle, Lordgenome pursued the Anti-Spiral, but was unable to find its home base and was exhausted. As a result, Lordgenome was forced to flee back to its home planet of Earth. The Anti-Spiral themselves were once Spirals, but when they became aware of the horrors of Spiral Nemesis, they sealed off their home planet and locked their powers away forever. Until they decided on a name, they were commonly known as "Spaceman" (the original name was invented by Mr. Nakashima). It means the Universe itself. Imaishi was in charge of the design."
Apart from being able to transcend time and space easily, they also aren't bound by time or gravity, which means that the Anti-Spiral are resistant to any kind of spacetime or gravity manipulation since it ignores the gravitational time dilation.
Work Soul (yellow text):
"When the Super Galaxy Gurren Lagann throws, the Ashtanga-class fleet is destroyed. And, in front of the giant Nia, something like a small, black, irregular-shaped humanoid body floats. It's a stop unbounded by time and gravity."
The Anti-Spiral control their universe completely according to their own whims. Whether law and physics, probability, or even time itself. They are also capable of being omnipresent within said pocket universe.
Novelization:
"The universe was a closed universe. How many years were reassembled there? Of course, it doesn't make sense to count the time that has passed by in this space. Until known, there will be enemies who have been frozen. Time began to flow again with that information. The isolated universe, which was created solely for the purpose of eradicating the Spirals, are a major element that make up the universe."
The Anti-Spiral control everything in their universe, including death and birth. They are capable of making the Visaka Class (only existing in the novelization and script) suddenly appear and disappear with such an ability.
Novelization:
"It wasn't hidden. It was born," says Lordgenome Head. "The Anti-Spiral are the creators of this universe itself. They are the ones who control everything, including death and birth. They are this isolated universe. I told you so."
The Anti-Spiral's universe is an isolated universe with different dimensional axes. It is located between 10 and 11-dimensional membranes as an imaginary oscillating spacetime (see the extra dimensions), which would correspond with complex projective space or imaginary space, which means that it complements the 10th and 11th dimensions to form a complex manifold, a non-euclidean universal manifold of space and time consisting of 10 dimensions of space and 1 dimension of time—an 11-dimensional universe. For further evidence, said universe sits on the edge of the multiverse (with the number of dimensions being 11).
"The final battle between the Spirals and the Anti-Spirals, begins at the edge of the multiverse!"
The space in the Anti-Spiral's dimension isn't dark due to being nearly vacuumed or the light being re-radiated to human eyes. Instead, the space is full of colors akin to surrealist paintings, where the galaxies filled the sky with astonishing clarity and a backdrop of stars shining like jewels, implying that the Anti-Spiral's universe is much denser and more complex than the regular 4-dimensional spacetime. The universe also defies logic where common sense is out of bounds.
Final Drill (blue text):
"In a grotesque and vivid different world, the battle begins.
The Anti-Spiral was hiding between the 10th and 11th dimensions. Also known as the "isolated universe," it was an extraordinary space where common sense had no place in it. Galaxies filled the sky with astonishing clarity. The Anti-Spiral fleet suddenly appears against the backdrop of stars that shine like jewels. The scene looks like a surrealist painting. It is an astonishing otherworldly world where mankind has never set foot. The universe itself becomes the enemy of Simon and his friends, and they bare their fangs.
The homeworld of the Anti-Spiral has been separated from the rest of the space-time continuum with an independent flow of time and is made of non-euclidean matter. The place where the Anti-Spiral absorb Nia's information while she desperately tries to regenerate.
Novelization:
"Nia's scream is the only sound that echoed in the empty room. The Anti-spiral's homeworld. The space between the tenth and eleventh dimensions. An empty space-time on this planet, separated from both time and space. Nia, trapped there, is now about to be completely analyzed by the Anti-Spiral's original form. "No matter how much you examine my body, you will never be able to defeat them now. He will come, you can be sure of that." Nia said, desperately trying to regenerate. She brings back memories of the past and spins her body with them. "It's useless, irregular." But the Anti-Spiral instantly read the truth of the information."
Novelization:
"It is a strange room. It is not even a room. It is a place separated from continuous time and space. It is surrounded by walls, but I couldn't tell if it is matter, or if it is fixed time, or if it is something else entirely. It doesn't radiate anything. It doesn't reflect anything. It is not interfered with by any time in the universe. It is an independent time flowing only in this room."
The Anti-Spiral pocket dimension prevents Spiral Power from materializing. Members of Team Dai-Gurren had to materialize their own energy in order to escape the Multiverse Labyrinth, which negated the use of Spiral Power (see Extradimensional Labyrinth).
Novelization:
"In this isolated universe that we have created, it is impossible to materialize Spiral Energy. I see. You were able to escape from the Multiverse Labyrinth. It is no wonder that our messenger was made irregular by such Spiral Power."
And remember, the possible observed outcomes in Gurren Lagann will automatically create parallel universes via quantum cosmology, which doesn't apply to the Anti-Spiral because their universe is totally isolated with no parallel counterpart. Meaning that they've also freed themselves from the multiverse completely and have no past or future, which is further evidenced by how they are separated from continuous spacetime while also being unbounded by time, space, and gravity—they are acausal.
Extradimensional Labyrinth[]
One of the notorious feats of the Anti-Spiral in transcending time and space and controlling the multiple dimensions is the demonstration of the Extradimensional Labyrinth. Or, to be precise, the "Multiverse Labyrinth" (the correct translation). In concept, the Anti-Spiral expand the quantum cosmology interpretation by forcing victims to perceive infinite possibilities—a trap to confine the victim's consciousness into infinite possibilities by materializing the multiverse, generated by the divergence of the time axis at the moment of perception, instant to instant.
As long as they have the intelligence to recognize possibilities, they won't escape, and the technique also instantly nullifies the victims' ability to use Spiral Power. And as they manipulated the construction of the multiverse itself, it would need an 11-dimensional reality-warping feat to do so.
Final Drill (green text):
"The "multiverse" is a universe that becomes real at the moment of recognition. It is a logical trap that no intelligent creature can escape from the multiverse forever because the possibility of a possible future changes directly into a universe. In Simon's case, for example, he is trapped in the possibility that if Kamina were alive and did not fight the beastmen, he wouldn't have died. There is an infinite number of possibilities, and hell will follow. It is no longer possible to return to the real universe after being affected by a different kind of multiverse.
The strongest and worst trap for the people by an expanded interpretation of quantum cosmology. The Anti-Spiral has dropped numerous Spiral warriors up to this point and forced them to ruin."
Nakashima used the example of students being given a variety of color options, and it became increasingly difficult for them to select more colors. With infinite choices, they would quickly freeze. With infinite possibilities perceived, an infinite number of universes are produced, each branching out into infinitely more universes, and so on, in order to maintain their consciousness frozen (which means the labyrinth size would be infinite times infinite times infinite, and so on).
Final Drill:
"Nakashima: Indeed. We are opposed to each other because we are in the same position. Also, I was impressed by a story I heard from my university psychology teacher around that time. He said, "I feel sorry for male students today." He said that if you take out 6 crayons and ask them to choose their favorite color, they can choose, but if you take out 120 colors, they can't choose. In other words, today's boys have so many choices that they can't choose. Girls, on the other hand, unfortunately, still have only about six colors to choose from, so they are able to choose cheerfully. When I heard that, I thought, "That's exactly what I'm talking about!". The reason for the youth's sense of boredom I was feeling fell into my own hands. And then, with a snap, I was blown away by "Gurren".
It is. When "presented with infinite possibilities," a person can't do anything but stand still and become stuck. But in the end, the only choice one can make is one's own will. That's what I wanted to convey to the young people, to show them that kind of straightforwardness as entertainment. That's the fourth part of the story."
Further descriptions of the Anti-Spiral from the Super Robot Wars Omega collaboration.
"螺旋力を持つ全ての生物を根絶やしにせんとする存在。その実態は反螺旋族の思念体であり、螺旋力がもたらすと言われる「スパイラルネメシス」を阻止するため、螺旋族の根絶を目論んだ。宇宙そのものとも呼べるほどの強大な力を持ち、実体を持たないために視認することができない。また、対象を多元宇宙に閉じ込め、戦闘意欲を奪おうとしたり、相手と同等の力で戦い、勝利することで絶対的絶望を植え付けようとしたりするなど、精神攻撃にも長けている。"
"An entity that seeks to eradicate all beings possessing Spiral power. Their true form is a thought entity of the Anti-Spiral race, and they plot to exterminate the Spiral race in order to prevent the 'Spiral Nemesis' said to be brought about by Spiral power. They possess a power so immense that it can be called the Universe itself, and because they have no physical form, they cannot be seen. They are also skilled in mental attacks, such as trying to imprison their target in a multiverse to drain their will to fight, or fighting with equivalent strength and attempting to instill absolute despair by winning."
"その力は時間空間を超越し、多次元に影響を及ぼす。また、時間軸の分岐によって発生する多元宇宙を、認識した瞬間に実体化させ、その宇宙と入れ替える事で無限の可能性に精神を閉じこめる「多元宇宙迷宮」という能力を持つ。これは知的生命体に対して絶対的な力を誇っていた。更に自らの力で宇宙を生み出し、なおかつそれら全てを操る力を持つため、ロージェノムはその存在を「宇宙そのもの」と説明した。"
"Their power transcends time and space, affecting multiple dimensions. Furthermore, they have the ability to manifest the multiverse created by the branching of timelines as soon as it is recognized, and by replacing the current universe with that one, they can trap the mind in infinite possibilities, a power called the 'Multiverse Labyrinth.' This power boasted absolute strength over intelligent life forms. Additionally, because they can create universes with their own power and control all of them, Lordgenome described their existence as 'the Universe itself."
Infinity Big Bang Storm[]
Infinity Big Bang Storm is an ultimate move from the Granzeboma that far surpasses the TTGL's ability (which means it is narratively far more impressive than the Multiverse Labyrinth). The blast fires an indefinite energy projection that is on par with the Big Bang itself and would destroy anything to a quantum level in its path.
Final Drill:
"Granzeboma is the final weapon of the Anti-Spiral. It mimics the appearance of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, but its ability is far superior. Its special move is the "Infinity Big Bang Storm"!!"
Final Drill:
"In order to deliver the final blow, Granzeboma kneads up energy comparable to that of the Big Bang."
The potential shouldn't be misunderstood as a regular universal blast, as the Big Bang is actually a phenomenon that was responsible for the birth of spacetime and dimensions, or everything that exists (see Spiral Nemesis). In other words, the Anti-Spiral were literally throwing the entire cosmology power into Team Dai-Gurren's faces.
Summary[]
- The Anti-Spiral can lightly transcend time and space while also controlling the multiple dimensions (universes and higher dimensions).
- The Anti-Spiral's universe is located on the edge of the multiverse as an 11-dimensional universe. The universe has different laws and physics, and the Anti-Spiral can control it according to their own will, even manipulating its time and probability. The universe would also automatically prevent the materialization of Spiral Power.
- The Anti-Spiral are invisible, incorporeal, and unrestricted to the elements of the Universe like spacetime and gravity. Their homeworld (and universe) is also separated from continuous time and space and the quantum cosmology of the multiverse, making the Anti-Spiral acausal.
- Multiverse Labyrinth mind traps consciousness into infinite universes that are created instant to instant and nullifies their usage of Spiral Power.
- Infinity Big Bang Storm is the Anti-Spiral's ultimate technique that is on par with that of the Big Bang, a phenomenon that spawns the totality of existence.
Simon the Digger[]
Simon and the spirit of Kamina
And here we are, with the very protagonist himself. After breaking free from the Multiverse Labyrinth, Simon viewed all possible universes of all possible doppelgangers of himself in the multiverse as pillars of light and then integrated (or united) with them. With infinite possibilities, infinite universes were being integrated by Simon in the multiverse.
Do note that the pillars of light (which represent all Simon's appearances in alternate universes) that Simon integrated in the Multiverse Labyrinth were also the same pillar-formed possible possibilities that the Anti-Spiral used to trap Simon's consciousness in the Multiverse Labyrinth beforehand.
Gurren Lagann Best Sound (red text):
"When Simon awakens without hesitation, he intergrates with the multiverse and rescues the members of the Team Dai-Gurren from the endless chain of possibilities. Finally getting Nia back from the Anti-Spiral. As Gurren Lagann emitted a new light, the final evolution of Gurren Lagann began."
Work Soul (green text):
"Kamina: Yeah. (Nodding)
The other members of the Team Dai-Gurren who were behind him nodded. Simon turns his back. Simon's appearances spread out across the entire space. It's Simon's appearances spread out in a multiverse of possibilities for each possible appearance. But the core drill shines in Simon's chest. and his left arm becomes Gurren Lagann's. A drill appears from there. That drill spins rapidly. The drill engulfs Simons in the multiverse, turning him into a vortex of light. Simon "Let's go, buddy." In that glow, Simon transforms into Gurren Lagann's form and flies off into the void."
The novelization explanation went even more detailed, saying that Simon not only combined the variations of himself in parallel but also every place and every time, including the past and future, where the innumerable selves of Simon live in the multiverse of infinite possibilities.
Novelization:
""Yeah!"
The members of the Gurren Lagann behind me nodded vigorously when I said that. Thank you, brother. I believe in you who believes in me. I believe in my friends who believes in myself. Simon held up his core drill to the heaven and a flash of light flashed across the sky. Innumerable appearances of Simon appeared in the sky, and they were the past, the present, and the future, every place, every time, and the innumerable selves that live in a world of infinite possibilities. There is no escaping wherever you go. In a closed infinite universe, various lives are repeated. In that universe of possibilities, Simon twisted the innumerable selves he had drilled into one, twisting them together into a giant drill, and before he realized that it was a huge drill, Simon wasn't there but Gurren Lagann. There stood Gurren Lagann, holding up the giga drill,
"Let's go, buddy!""
Simon, as Gurren Lagann, whom he manifested after uniting with the multiverse, flies across the multiverse with mere speed by breaking through the walls of the universes in order to save his friends.
Novelization (red text):
"The drill broke through the walls of the multiverse. Leeron, Dayakka, Gimmy, Darry... The green-shining drill was crushes one after another the cognitive universe where the crew of the Super Galaxy Gurren Lagann were trapped."
To counter misconceptions and downplays, Simon is not a glass cannon character who always depends on mechas in battles. On the contrary, Imaishi (Gurren Lagann's director) asserted that Spiral Warrior doesn't need mecha, but only one body (correlated to the fact that the human body manifested Spiral Power the strongest; see Spiral Power)—the power comes from Simon, not the mecha, because the mecha is nothing but an amplifier or armor.
This would apply to everyone with decent Spiral Power mastery, such as Lordgenome, who was capable of beating Lagann after it overpowered his own mecha, Lazengann.
"When you see the climax, you can see that Simon himself is Gurren Lagann, isn't he?
Imaishi: That's right. You don't need a mecha, you don't need to combine, you just need one body.
Imaishi: I can't help but feel that way. Because Simon himself has the power. The Spiral Power doesn't come from the robot, but from Simon, and that's the only way to drop it. The robot itself is just an amplifier. It's like an armor."
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann[]
The Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann battles the Granzeboma at the edge of the multiverse
The Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (TTGL) is the materialization of all possible Gurren Lagann in the multiverse, being a virtual quantum body created by the multi-layered multiverse due to the activation of the Super Spiral Power. That is the ultimate evolution of Gurren Lagann.
Work Soul (red text):
"The core drill shines as it spins on in response to Simon's shout. The same glow at the same time in every part of Gurren Lagann is emitted and from various parts of his body, a number of faces with Lagann-like expressions appeared. Yoko, Dayakka, Leeron, Viral, Tetsukan, Attenborough, Leite, and Gimme-Darry each ride in a Lagann-like cockpit. Lordgenome also somehow has a body and is in the cockpit. Nia is in the same cockpit as Simon as well Boota popped out from Simon's chest.
The possibilities of Gurren Lagann's existence in the multiverse has been materialized and merged with Simon's Gurren Lagann. The ultimate evolution of Gurren Lagann has been activated."
Work Soul (red text):
"Arc Gurren Lagann descending on Kamina City. (The Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is a virtual quantum body created by the multi-layered multiverse due to the activation of the Super Spiral Power. It disappeared when the battle ended and returned to the normal state) the people welcoming the returning members of the Team Dai-Gurren. They are holding Dayakka with Anne in his arms."
TTGL is not only a mecha with the size of a giant galaxy possessing multiversal power, but also a walking abstract universe. It has a whole spacetime continuum made by abstract thought (and emotion) called the Super Spiral Universe (or Super Spiral Space, kanji: 超螺旋宇宙), as both explained in the interview and Final Drill guidebook. The Super Spiral Universe also wields the power of reality-warping, where every thought takes form.
TTGL can also automatically assume its passengers' power and abilities.
Final Drill (green text):
"Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is the final form of Gurren Lagann and is emerged with Super Spiral Universe embodying by thought. It is also the most powerful Spiral weapon that can directly output the passengers abilities."
Because of its abstract nature as a mecha, where it was made by materializing existences as thought, TTGL size cannot be physically measured, as it doesn't really exist in the physical world (it needs the Super Spiral Universe in order to exist, as stated above).
Scale of Gurren Lagann:
"The second half of "Gurren Lagann" overwhelms viewers with an intense driving feeling but the scale of the Gurren Lagann series has been on a many viewer's minds. If the size of "Lagann" is approximately 1 meter and and "Gurren Lagann" is about 5 meters then it follows that the figures below are rough estimates. However, because Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is a materialized thought, it's size is impossible to calculate (It doesn't exactly exist in the physical world.). Use this as only a guide so you can grasp the magnitude of these sizes. When comparing the first Gurren Lagann and Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is about 10²⁵ times larger or 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 times larger (In the "Gurren Lagann" style it's multiplied by 10.). It could be said that this size is truly unimaginable."
To be specific, the "thought" aspect that created TTGL actually refers to all kinds of thoughts and emotions from the pilots across all points of time being swallowed (which means that TTGL and its pilots are acausal). The Team Dai-Gurren members are also said to be as powerful as Simon.
Novelization:
"There, a giant that crossed the galaxy was born. Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. The ultimate evolution of Gurren Lagann, created by swallowing all of our thoughts, wishes, regrets, hopes, past, and future. That giant, engulfed in green flames, was the greatest power that humanity, or rather the Spiral race, had ever gained. The face is on the chest, abdomen, arms, thighs, legs, and key points of the deformed body. It corresponded to Lagann on which each Team Dai-Gurren was riding. Now each of them had the same power as Simon. However, the voice of the Anti-Spiral sounded there..."
The novelization again delves deeper into TTGL's creation—all of the emotions of the Super Galaxy Brigade in the multiverse manifest as drills, which combine to form a being that transcends fate and causality, a power greater than stars and galaxies, and even the dimension and time themselves, correlated to Spiral Power being fundamental and "feelings" (which is Spiral Power's subset) transcending time and space.
Novelization:
"Nia entered the cockpit of the Lagann, along with Simon. Each Lagann merged into Gurren Lagann. It was anger. It was sadness. It was compassion. It was every emotion one could think of. The feelings that each of us had in our respective universes appeared in the form of a drill, breaking through the wall. It was appearing in the form of two shapes and sizes, and they became one. If you have no choice but to fight, do not hesitate. We are not afraid to ask for power. If there's a wall, we'll hit and break it, if there's no way, we'll make it with our own hands! No, more. Breaks through cause, effect and fate, the cry of life resounds in the galaxy yet, more. Engrave the feelings of a friend in this body, and turn infinite darkness into light! -That's it. A power greater than the stars, greater than the galaxies. A power greater than dimension and time."
TTGL is the infinite Spiral Power that takes the form of a humanoid body. With such power, one is able to draw forth the power of the Universe itself and put the entire time and space under control (see Spiral power). To put it simply, more or less, TTGL has the power of the multiverse itself.
Novelization:
"The infinite power that overflows from this body. Give it form. It takes the form of a person. Thoughts overflow. Words break through the heart. Nia speaks. "Even when trapped in the cycle of cause and effect!" Yoko prays. "The feelings left behind will open the door!" Leeron tells us. "Even if the infinite universe stands in our way," Viral cries. "This bloodletting will decide our fate!" Simon shouts. "Break through the heaven and the dimension!" They all wears. "To grab hold of our own path!" The universe trembles. "Who the hell do you think we are!?"."
Lagann-Hen DVD audio commentary by Kazuki Nakashima stated that TTGL ignores all laws and physics. Allowing it to have a speed far exceeding the speed of light, standing in outer space, and throwing galaxies.
"光速を遥かに超えるスピードの原理は、グレンラガンの行動の現出そのものを連続的に宇宙で発生（選択）させている為。宇宙空間に立っていたり銀河を投げられるなど、認識実体によってあらゆる物理法則を支配、無視している。"
"The principle behind speeds far exceeding the speed of light is that the manifestation of Gurren Lagann's actions is continuously generated (selected) in space. All physical phenomena, such as standing in outer space or throwing galaxies, are caused by a cognitive entity that dominates and ignores the laws of physics."
Due to the nature of TTGL as an abstract and extradimensional mecha, regular humans would likely have a hard time perceiving it. However, thanks to the interview's explanation, via spatio-temporal rip, they are able to see the battle through projected images (or, some say, holograms).
"The fact that everyone on the ground was watching a galactic battle on a galactic scale gave a sense of scale that was very much like a GAINAX work.
Imaishi: Oh, is that so? I got a good laugh at the scenario meeting (laughs). When I said, "I want you to be able to see it in real time," Nakashima said, "That's not possible! He told me. So in the play, the space-time is twisted and the image is projected, but I wanted it to be seen live, in real time. They're fighting in that galaxy over there! like that. Yeah, it's too big to see (laughs).
Imaishi: Yes, that's right. What do you think about being able to see it because it's so big? When I asked him about it, he said no. What's more, you're talking about where the galaxy is.
Otsuka: It would take tens of thousands of years to see them.
Imaishi: Well, I think that's true. But by that time, I'm sure Nakashima-san will have found another reason for it! (laughs) because I was expecting it. I didn't say anything, thinking, "Maybe if I say something like this, Mr. Nakashima will come up with something good that doesn't change the picture."
Super Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann[]
The Super Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann with the rest of the Tengen Toppa Brigade Gunmens
And then finally, the Super Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (STTGL), which is literally the super version of TTGL, where TTGL resides inside its head. It is formed by combining the other Tengen Toppa Gunmens with the converted energy of the Infinity Big Bang Storm (equivalent to the Big Bang, or the creation of the whole existence; see Spiral Nemesis), manifesting a mecha that is said to be so large that it surpasses even the universe in size, according to Nakashima and multiple sources.
Work Soul (blue text):
"■ Super Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (99)
Nakashima: At this point, I'm not even sure if it's a robot anime or not. The last is the Evil Demon of the Great Goin (laughs). However, there is a feeling that it is bigger than the universe. It is said to be extremely huge.
Imaishi: The only contrast is the galaxy. The galaxy is drawn very small.
Nakashima: And there's even a dove flying around...... What kind of dove is this?
Imaishi: This is a pigeon that is historically necessary for anime (laughs)."
STTGL is so huge that it was designed to be a translucent body where the universe can be seen floating behind its back.
STTGL Concept:
"I have ideas for "translucent" and "all the Tengen Toppa Gunmen combined," but I just can't come up with a definitive design. The design for Super Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann was a difficult one. In the end, without being able to decide on a design, director Imaishi went into storyboarding. After completing the storyboards, he entrusted the mechanical design and drawing of Gurren Lagann to Yoh Yoshinari. A dynamic design of a mass of effects was established, with a swirling vortex of mediums and the universe floating behind the translucent body. Director Imaishi said, "Only Mr. Yoshinari can draw this design.""
STTGL's body is purely made from Spiral Energy, with a size that is said to be a large universe class that far surpasses galaxies and globular clusters—the ultimate absolute form of transcendence from Team Dai-Gurren. The Giga Drills clash between STTGL and Super Granzeboma induces infinite energy, transcends time and space, and shakes the entire Universe—the friction between pro-evolution and anti-evolution. The clash causes the Anti-Spiral's universe to collapse into a singularity before remaking it in an instant.
Work Soul:
"The ultimate absolute form of transcendence reached by Simon and the others in a Super Spiral Universe where thought is materialized. It was created by combining the Infinity Big Bang Storm, an attack with energy on par with the birth of the Universe released by the Granzeboma driven by the Anti-Spiral as a Spiral drill and combining it with the Tengen Toppa Gunmen of the Dai-Gurrren Brigade. Wearing a giant flag like a cape, maintaining a humanoid shape by swelling Spiral Energy throughout the body.
Its size is a large universe class that far surpasses galaxies and globular clusters. Underneath the sunglasses, the silhouette of Gurren Lagann could be seen in small size. Against the Super Granzeboma, Simon unleashes its "Super Tengen Toppa Giga Drill Break". The whole body is strengthened into a drill and collides with the "Anti-Spiral Giga Drill Break" of the Super Granzeboma. The friction between the Spiral that calls for evolution and the Anti-Spiral that shuts off evolution shakes the Universe and transcends time and space."
Work Soul:
"The final form of the Anti-Spiral, which has emerged in response to the appearance of Gurren Lagann, is the unprecedented Anti-Spiral (anti-helix) that denies the power of evolution. As soon as it appears, the white doves soar into the galaxy, and the flames of the Anti-Spiral (anti-helix) blaze forth. Skeletal silhouettes can be seen on its kneecaps, chest, shoulders, and face. The figure has no expression on its face, and its eyes are nothing more than a pair of vacant pupils. On its head is the Granzeboma, surrounded by Anti-Spiral (anti-helix) flames, and the main body of the Anti-Spiral seems to be there as well. The attack of the Super Granzeboma is a huge drill that could kick out an entire galaxy cluster. Simon and his team counterattack with the "Super Tengen Toppa Giga Drill Break," but the Anti-Spiral counters with the "Anti-Spiral Giga Drill Break" from Super Granzeboma. The clash of special moves triggered an infinite amount of energy, shaking the whole Universe. Super Granzeboma briefly wins the special attack battle, but soon Simon and his team strike back. The Anti-Spiral succumbs to the unbreakable spirit of Simon and his team."
We see countless galaxies (with a universal size comparable to STTGL) getting sucked into the Giga Drill collisions in the second movie, but are they really galaxies? Maybe? Maybe not. As per Japanese Wikipedia, Nakashima has said that galaxies are universes (secondary source; take it as a grain of salt; STTGL also confirmed that he had a hard time finding such evidence, despite the bunch of materials he owned).
"A galaxy-like celestial body is placed as a comparison, but according to the "Work Soul", this itself is a representation of a single universe. According to Kazuki Nakashima, the scriptwriter, the surrounding celestial bodies are the universes, and the Super Tengen Toppa is much bigger than the universe. In the discussion video, it is estimated to be about 150 billion light years."
Again, according to Japanese Wikipedia, the Giga Drill collisions cause the multiversal Big Crunch, destroying a massive quantity of universes like a grain of sand. As soon as the world becomes void, they are recreated through instantaneous inflation, or the Big Bang.
"Gurren Lagann unleashes the Giga Drill Break. The power of the burning Spiral itself transforms into a gigantic Giga Drill and appears. It boasts a power that destroys a large number of universes like a grain of dirt, but because its power is evenly matched by the Anti-Spiral's "Anti-Spiral Giga Drill Break", the aftermath of the collision causes a Big Crunch that destroys not only the Super Spiral Universe, but also all universes created by Anti-Spiral. Immediately after becoming a world of nothingness, the reaction of the destructive energy and the friction between the Spirals and the Anti-Spirals caused the instantaneous creation of the Universe (Big Bang) again (Inflation), and yet the energy never ran out. What appears at the end of the collision of the two superb drills..."
Otoko no Jouken! Gurren Lagann[]
The Otoko Series is a tetralogy of drama CDs released for Gurren Lagann. It presents a parallel world where the cast of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann lives in modern-day Japan, most of them either in attendance of or staffing the Dai-Gurren Academy, dealing with the impending forcible takeover of Japan by America's Teppelin Foundation.
Some scans from the drama CD found by STTGL. He said there is a ton more stuff, so let's wait! Here is the summary of the incoming drama:
- Otoko Simon is capable of doing an immersion by linking his manuscript to reality—connecting a fictional, 2-dimensional world of Garlock Simon to the real world with his pen through Spiral Power (the fictional world exists as a parallel universe). Otoko Simon also rewrote the world of Garlock Simon (the manuscript), where Kamina, who initially didn't exist, came to exist.
- The universe Otoko Simon lives in is a sound-based reality, where the world and everything inside it are made up by the perception of sound. A soul-filled voice (will) shape the world by transcending the source of existence and forcing it to accept it; it's called the Power of Persuasion (aligned with Conceptual Manipulation). It also proves that the universes in Gurren Lagann can have different laws and physics.
- Spiral Power can be amplified to a 20-dimensional level by combining combat power and the Power of Persuasion.
- Garlock Simon can absorb powers with his Core Drill.
(9:39)
Simon: It's okay, Rossiu-san, I have a manuscript.
Rossiu: Heh?
Simon: I thought I'd make it my next serial, so I drew it in secret. Can you stop Gransebouya and use this instead?
Rossiu: You have a manuscript like that…?
Simon: Here, this is it.
Rossiu: …It starts with a war in space? It's about robots?
Simon: Yeah. The title is "Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann"!
Rossiu: Gurren Lagann? That's…
Simon: Right! It's the robot we piloted! I'm basing this on those battles we fought back then. But it's a much bigger story! A timid, drill-loving boy escapes from an underground world, and finally, he gets to throw galaxies at the edge of the universe!
Rossiu: I don't think such a story would be well-received.
Simon: Don't say that! We won't know unless we try!
Garlock: That's exactly right. Let's teach them a little something– teach them exactly who they're facing!
Kittan: Who's voice is that?
Kiyal: Look at that!
Kiyoh: A human is coming out of the manuscript!
Kinon: I can't believe it…
Rossiu: But it's real…
Kittan: On top of that, doesn't he look a lot like Simon?
Kiyal: But he's wearing a cape or something, and he's got a really cocky attitude!
Garlock: Simon? I see…you're this world's Simon? You look like a really unreliable man to me.
Simon: Me? You're…me?
Rossiu: What does this mean?
Garlock: Now I see. You threw away your Core Drill and use your power with a pen instead. With your power that has the ability to create universes, you tied this world and my two-dimensional universe together.
Kittan: This guy…even though he's Simon, he sure says some complicated stuff!
Rossiu: Two-dimensional universe? You mean there are multiple universes?
Garlock: That's Rossiu for you! Even in this world, you're as quick to understand as your forehead is wide.
Rossiu: That's enough talk about my forehead… What are you planning to do?!
Garlock: Obviously, I'll do what I want. Because all the lights in the heavens are my enemy!
Rossiu: What /are/ you…?
Garlock: My name is Simon Avant! Now come, Softy Simon! I'll be taking your power!
Kittan: What?! He's got a Core Drill too!
Kiyoh: He stabbed Simon with it!
Simon: UWAAAAAAAAH!
(17:59)
"グレンラガン じゃ ねえ か。 それ も ただ の グレンラガン じゃ ない。 全身 黒光り し てる ぞ。 ああ。 たくましく て ちょっと 素敵。 異 次元 超越 ブラック グレンラガン。 まずは この 世界 で の 俺 の 力 試さ せ て もらお け。 行く ぜ！ 橋 下 さん 今 の 声 シモン か ロッシー の 声 も し た ぞ。"
"Isn't that the Gurren Lagann? But it's not just any Gurren Lagann. It's shining all over in black."
"Ah, it looks strong and a bit impressive."
"A transcendent, interdimensional, Black Gurren Lagann."
"First, let me test my power in this world."
"Here we go!"
"Hey, did I just hear Simon’s voice? Or maybe it was Rossiu’s voice?"
(20:33)
"巨大 化 は、 シモン が 原稿 を 破っ た 瞬間 と 君 が 元 に 戻っ た 時 が 一致 し た と すれ ば、 シモン の 漫画 原稿 が 現実 と リンク し た の かも しれ ない わ ね。 下 の 漫画 が 実体 化 し た って こと と。 いう より も、 彼 の 力 が 別 の 宇宙 の 扉 を 開い た シモン の 原稿 を ゲート と し た 2次元 宇宙 の パワー の 干渉 って こと やん かい 皆 さん。"
"If the moment Simon tore up the manuscript and the moment you returned to normal coincide, it might mean Simon’s manga manuscript was linked to reality."
"So, instead of the manga just materializing, his power might have opened the door to another universe."
"Using Simon’s manuscript as a gateway, the power of the two-dimensional universe interfered with this one, right, everyone?"
(29:10)
"ママ ママ な の？ あの 赤い ロボット に 乗っ てる の？ ああ そう。 だ よ。 大丈夫。 メメ が 心配 する こと は 何 も ない から。 ね。 ギガ ドリル。 ブレイク が 破れる と は。 どう だろ う？ ジェノム。 これ が 次元 の 壁 を 突破 する 俺 の 力 だ。 そう か。 この 力 だ。 戦力 化。"
"Mama? Is that you? Are you the one piloting that red robot?"
"Yes, that’s right. It’s okay. There’s nothing for Memu to worry about, okay?"
"The Giga Drill Break being shattered... Could it be, Genome?"
"This is my power, the one that breaks through the dimensional walls."
"I see. So, this is that power—turning it into battle strength."
(29:43)
"そう だ、 人間 が 滅多 な こと で は 出せ ん 力。 時に 火事場 の 馬鹿力 と も 言わ れる 限界 を 突破 し た 時 で は ない と。 出せ マックス パワー だ。 噂 に は 聞い て い た が、 実在 し た と は だ。 戦力 なんて 間抜け な 響き だ。 だ が 老 ジェノム 様 の いい 声 で 聞く と なんとなく 納得 し て しまう。 なるほど、 この 世界 で は そんな 名前 で 呼ば れ て いる の か だ。 戦力 で も 達成 力 で も なん でも いい。 この 力 が ある 限り 俺 に は かない こ ない ん だ よ。 貴様、 その 力 を 使っ て 何 を する？ 決まっ てる。 点 も 次元 を 突破 する ん だ。 俺 の 2次元 宇宙 も、 貴様 等 の 音 次元 宇宙 も 超え て 神 の 肉体 を 持つ 音 次元 だ ぞ。 何 それ な ん だ！ 貴様 ら 気づい て ない の か？ ここ は 音 で 整理 する 次元 だ。 音 による 認識 が 世界 を 構成 し て いる ん だ。 あいつ は 何 を 言っ て ん だ？ あんな 難しい こと を 言っ た の は 確か に 俺 たち が し たら 指紋 じゃ ない ぜ。 ああ、 そう か。 私 たち は ここ に 存在 し て いる。 でも それ は 音 だけ な の ね。 理論 じゃ 理解 し て いる の です か？ なんとなく ね。 私 たち は 言葉 を 発する こと で イメージ する 言葉 と 実態 が イコール な 世界。 それ が 音 次元。 宇宙 を 口 に し た こと は 実在 する。 そう 思っ て おけ ば いい わ。 それで 俺 たち は こんなに よく しゃべる の か。 そういう こと ね。 そう だ、 この 音 次元 宇宙 は 平たい 銀盤 が ぐるぐる 回っ てる よう な もん だ。 この 世界 を ぶち壊す ため に ローゼ の 躯 にゃ お前 たち の 力 も いただく ぜ。 コア ドリル が 光っ てる の か。 この 世界 の シモン の 力 も 俺 の ため に 使わ れ て。 えっ と さ みっ て。"
"That's right, it's a power that humans rarely unleash. It's sometimes called 'the strength of fools in a crisis,' and it only appears when someone breaks through their limits. That's when you can unleash max power. I had heard rumors about it, but to think it actually exists. The term 'combat power' sounds foolish. But when I hear it in the dignified voice of Lordgenome, I somehow find myself agreeing. I see, so this is what it's called in this world. It doesn't matter if you call it combat power or achievement power. As long as I have this power, no one can defeat me."
"What will you do with that power?"
"It's obvious. I'll break through even points and dimensions. My two-dimensional universe, your sound-dimensional universe—I'll surpass them all and reach the physical form of God in the sound dimension."
"What the hell is that?!"
"Haven't you realized? This is a dimension that is organized by sound. Recognition through sound constructs the world. What is he talking about? That’s really complicated."
"Ah, I see. We exist here, but only as sound."
"Do you understand that theoretically?"
"Kind of. In this world, when we speak words, the image of those words and their reality are one and the same. That’s the sound dimension. If you speak of the universe, it truly exists. Just believe that."
"So that’s why we talk so much."
"That’s right."
"This sound-dimensional universe is like a flat silver disc spinning round and round. To destroy this world, I'll need your power as well, Rose’s body."
"Is the Core Drill shining?"
"Even Simon's power in this world will be used for my sake."
"Wait a second..."
(32:00)
"黒い グレンラガン の ギガ ドリル が 輝い てる。 まるで 下 の コア ドリル の よう。 に ギガ ドリル スピンオン。 グレンラガン に ドリル を 突き刺し た。 ジェノム たち の グレンラガン が。 光 に なっ て 吸収 さ れ て いく。 ローゼル さん クリア。 黒い グレンラガン が 赤い グレンラガン を 融合 し て 黒い まま だ。 いい か、 よく 覚え とけ。 黒 に 赤 を 混ぜ て も 黒 に なる。 絵の具 を 使う 時 は 気 を つけろ よ。 はい 先生。 こんな 時 に 教師 ヅラ する な。 しかも 美術 教師 で も ない くせ に。 ヴィラル。 小さい ぞ。 俺 は 芽生 の 担任 だ。 だから 娘 の 名前 を 呼び捨て に する な。 よーし 行く ぜ お前 たち の 打線 力 ふりしぼっ て もらお う か？ うーん。 これ は 体 に 力 が みなぎる。 みなぎっ て みなぎっ て。 みなぎり すぎる ぞ。"
The black Gurren Lagann’s Giga Drill is shining. It’s just like the Core Drill below.
Giga Drill Spin-On!
The drill pierces into Gurren Lagann.
Genome’s Gurren Lagann turns into light and is absorbed.
"Roselle-san, clear."
The black Gurren Lagann fuses with the red Gurren Lagann but remains black.
"Listen well, remember this: even if you mix red into black, it remains black. Be careful when using paint."
"Yes, teacher."
"Don’t act like a teacher at a time like this. Especially since you’re not even an art teacher."
"Viral, that’s petty."
"I’m Memu’s homeroom teacher. So don’t address my daughter by just her name."
"Alright, let’s go! Are you guys ready to give it everything you’ve got?"
"Hmm, this is... My body feels overflowing with power... Overflowing and overflowing… It’s overflowing too much!"
(37:57)
"いや、 上 君 の 言う 通り だ。 君 の 声 が パワー を くれ た。 空間 転移 を 可能 に し て くれ た。 その 力 が なけれ ば、 いくら グレート グレンラガン で も 間に合わ なかっ た よ。 グレート グレンラガン そう だ、 次元 干渉 波 の 存在 に 気づき、 こんな こと も あろ う か と 製作 し て おい た スーパー ロボット だ。 黙っ て 聞い てりゃ 勝手 な こと を。 なん だ その ご都合主義 は。 ふざける な。 ご都合主義 で は ない。 これ が 我々 の 力 だ。 開き直る な。 開き直る。 強引 な 肯定 こそ 勝利 へ の 道 な の だ。 何 正しく この 世界 は 音 次元 宇宙 音 が 世界 を 構築 する だ から こそ、 魂 の こもっ た 声 が 世界 を 作る 説得 力 を 増す って こと か。 いや、 説得 で は ない。 有無 を 言わ せ ぬ 力ずく で 世界 を 納得 さ せる の だ。 これぞ 打線。 力 を 上回る 究極 の 声 力、 納得 力 な の だ。 よく わかん ねえ が、 声 の 大きい 方 が 勝つ って こと で いい ん だ な。 それ で いい。 さあ、 乗り込み たまえ。 一緒 に 我が 息子 の 指紋 を 取り戻そ う。"
"Yeah, you’re right, Ue-kun. Your voice gave me power. It made spatial transfer possible. Without that power, no matter how much we had the Great Gurren Lagann, we wouldn't have made it in time."
"The Great Gurren Lagann—yes, it was built in anticipation of things like dimensional interference waves. It’s the super robot we created for situations like this."
"If you just stay quiet and listen, we’ll do whatever we want. What’s with that convenient reasoning? Don’t joke around."
"It’s not convenient reasoning. This is our power."
"Don’t act like that."
"Act like that. It’s through forceful affirmation that we pave the way to victory."
"That’s right, this world is the sound-dimensional universe. Sound constructs the world, so it’s the soul-filled voice that shapes the world and increases its persuasive power."
"No, it’s not about persuasion. It’s about using sheer force to make the world accept it. This is the batting lineup."
"The ultimate voice power, the power that surpasses strength—this is the power of persuasion."
"I don’t really get it, but does this mean the louder voice wins?"
"That’s right."
"Now, get on board. Together, let’s reclaim my son’s fingerprint."
(39:12)
"彼 は いい 男 です よ。
魂 震わす 男 の 叫び、 天 を 切り裂き 悪 を 刺す 時間 空間 ねじ曲げ て。 俺 の 思い が 世界 を 作る 根源 超越 我と なら ん。 納得 力 だ と。 ふざける な。 でも さっき 脱線 力 の 説明 も ろう。 ジェノム 様 の 声 力 に 納得 さ せ られ た。 既に 敵 の 策 に 取り込ま れ てる わ よ。 どう しよ う。
そう だ グランゾ ボーマ に かなう 奴 は い ねぇ。 一瞬 に し て やっつけ て やる よ。"
"He’s a good man."
"The cry of a man that shakes the soul—tearing through the heavens and piercing evil, bending time and space."
"My will shapes the world, transcending the source of existence. Will you stand with me?"
"'The power of persuasion,' you say? Don’t mess with me."
"But earlier, we were told about 'the power of derailment,' and we were convinced by Lord Genome’s voice power."
"We’re already caught in the enemy’s trap. What should we do?"
"That’s right, no one can match Granzeboma. I’ll finish it off in an instant!"
(41:00)
"戦力 プラス 納得 力 2つ の 力 を 20次元 に ねじ曲げ て 勝利 を 掴む ハゲ が 吠える 位 インフィニティ ビッグ モンスター な。 パワー だ。 宇宙 創 生 の 業火 に 焼か れ、 DNA の 1片 まで 完全 消滅 じゃ ない わ。 この ハゲ ヒゲ 胸毛 が どこ か で 聞い た よう な セリフ を 吐き おっ て だ が、 この 納得 力 は 半端 で は ない。 いけ ない。 この まま で は グレート グレンラガン が 焼き 尽くさ れる は。 上 の 野郎。 何 が 芽生 の 担任 だ。 大きな 口 ばかり 叩き や がっ て。"
"Combining combat power and the power of persuasion, twisting these two forces into the 20th dimension to seize victory—that bald guy’s roar is as mighty as an Infinity Big Monster.
Power. The flames of cosmic creation will burn it all away, down to every fragment of DNA, completely annihilated.
This bald, bearded, chest-haired guy spouts lines that sound like something I’ve heard before, but this persuasive power is no joke.
This is bad. At this rate, the Great Gurren Lagann will be completely incinerated.
That guy, Ue. What kind of 'homeroom teacher for Memu's is he? All he ever does is talk big!"
(46:13)
"ヴィダル 目 を 覚ませ！ クロニカ！ お前 は メム の 母親 だ。 そして 俺 の 妻 だ。 俺 の 夢 は 芽生 と 平和 に 暮らす こと だ。 妻 で ある お前 と 一緒 に な。 それ を 守る ため なら 命 を かけ て も 惜しく は ない。 さあ おいで。 入学 式 の やり直し だ。 ネーム が 待っ てる。 はい。 あなた。 指紋 大丈夫 か？ あ。 ありがとう 兄貴。 父さん。 シモン。 カバン は どう し た？ 消え た よ。 さっき の 衝撃 で 2次元 世界 に 封印 さ れ た。 そう か。 もう 漫画 は やめ た 方 が いい。 また 次元 の 扉 が 開く と 厄介 だ。 うん。 僕 は 書く よ。 なんで 彼 の コア ドリル に 封印 さ れ てる 時 に わかっ た。 彼 の 世界 に は 兄貴 も 庭 も い なかっ た。 たった 一 人 で 宇宙 の 全て と 戦っ て た ん だ。 戦っ て 戦っ て、 向こう の 宇宙 で 戦う 相手 が なくなっ て この 世界 に 来 た。 そう な の か？ だから 僕 が 書き直せ。 書き直す 兄貴 が ニヤッ と 出会う 世界 を。
あの 下 に も 教え たい ん だ。 それ が 僕 が 描く 天元。 突破 グレンラガン な ん だ。 わかっ た。 お前 も 1 人前。 に なっ た な。 妹 の 上 を 横 に は。 心配 かけ て ごめん。
こうして 俺 の 教師 1 日 目 は 終わっ て 大変 な 日 だっ た が、 まあ 俺 らしい 派手 な スタート だろ う。 ロシウ は なぜ か キノン に ひどく 叱ら れ て 反省 し た よう だ。 ヴィラル の 娘 の 芽生 も 元気 に 学校 に 通っ てる。 くろ にゃ も すっかり 落ち着い て いい 母親 に なっ てる。 ただ、 時々 どこ か に いる 老 ジェノム と 長電話 し てる よう だ。 また よから ぬ こと を 考え てる の かも しれ ねえ が、 その 時 は 俺 たち が 体 を 張っ て 止めれ ば いい。 たとえ ここ が 銀盤 に 封じ込め られ た 音 次元 だ として も、 住め ば 都 だ。 もしも あんた が 俺 たち の 宇宙 を 見つけ たら、 聞い て み て くれ。 きっと にぎやか に 暮らし てる の が わかる だろ う。 いつか どこ か で また 会お。 う。"
"Viral, wake up! Chronica! You are Memu’s mother. And you are my wife. My dream is to live peacefully with Memu. To live together with you, my wife. I would risk my life to protect that. Now, come here. Let’s redo the entrance ceremony. Name is waiting."
"Yes. You. Are your fingerprints okay?"
"Ah, thank you, bro."
"Dad. Simon. What happened to the bag?"
"It’s gone. It was sealed into the 2D world after that shock earlier."
"I see. Maybe it’s time to stop the comics. If the dimensional door opens again, it’ll be troublesome."
"Yeah. I’ll write it."
"How did I know when it was sealed in his core drill? In his world, neither big brother nor the garden existed. He fought alone, against everything in the universe. He fought and fought, and when there were no more opponents left in that universe, he came to this world."
"Is that so? Then I'll rewrite it. Big brother will meet the world with a grin."
"I want to teach the one below as well. That’s the Heaven I draw."
"It’s Breakthrough Gurren Lagann."
"I see. You’ve grown up."
"You’ve become someone who can take care of things."
"Sorry for worrying you."
(48:20)
"こうして 俺 の 教師 1 日 目 は 終わっ て 大変 な 日 だっ た が、 まあ 俺 らしい 派手 な スタート だろ う。 ロシウ は なぜ か キノン に ひどく 叱ら れ て 反省 し た よう だ。 ヴィラル の 娘 の 芽生 も 元気 に 学校 に 通っ てる。 くろ にゃ も すっかり 落ち着い て いい 母親 に なっ てる。 ただ、 時々 どこ か に いる 老 ジェノム と 長電話 し てる よう だ。 また よから ぬ こと を 考え てる の かも しれ ねえ が、 その 時 は 俺 たち が 体 を 張っ て 止めれ ば いい。 たとえ ここ が 銀盤 に 封じ込め られ た 音 次元 だ として も、 住め ば 都 だ。 もしも あんた が 俺 たち の 宇宙 を 見つけ たら、 聞い て み て くれ。 きっと にぎやか に 暮らし てる の が わかる だろ う。 いつか どこ か で また 会お。 う。"
"Thus, my first day as a teacher ended. It was a tough day, but well, it was a flashy start, as expected of me."
"Rossiu, for some reason, got severely scolded by Kinnon and seems to have reflected on it."
"Viral’s daughter, Memu, is also attending school energetically."
"Kuro-Nya has completely settled down and has become a great mother."
"However, it seems like she’s sometimes on long phone calls with Old Genome, who might be thinking of something troublesome again."
"If that’s the case, we’ll stop him with our own bodies."
"Even if this is the sound dimension, sealed in a silver disk, it’s still our home."
"If you ever find our universe, listen carefully. You’ll surely understand that we’re living happily."
"One day, we’ll meet again somewhere."
Extra info[]
The Galactic Spiral Abyss is a spacetime that uses the term imaginary number, an imaginary space. It converts the people's will (Spiral Power) to negative energy or mass.
Final Drill:
"A spacetime dominated by empty shadows.
Galactic Spiral Abyss
The Galactic Spiral Abyss, where Spiral Energy is converted into mass. Super Galaxy Dai-Gurren goes to the bottom of the sea.
The Super Galaxy Dai-Gurren flies into the "isolated universe" that lies between the 10th and 11th dimensions. The name of the pitch-black sea that spreads out at the bottom of the universe is "imaginary space". An imaginary number is the square root of a negative number. There, people's will (Spiral Power) is converted into negative energy and pulled down into the abyss by strong gravity. Simon is doomed by the Anti-Spiral's plan."
The Super Galaxy Dai-Gurren is capable of scanning every point of space-time and dimensions that is already recognized.
Final Drill (cyan text):
"Spiral Wave Detection Monitor [Mecha/Machine - Episode 23] Popular name, spiral radar. It is connected to the Super Galaxy Dai-Gurren's Spiral space transcendence machine and hyper spiral computer, and explores all dimensions and space-time. It is possible to track what has been recognized once and detect its location. It traced the ring of Nia and discovered an isolated universe between the 10 dimensional universe and 11 dimensional universe where the Anti-Spiral is hidden."
As Super Galaxy Gurren Lagann (SGGL), it can fire on every point of space-time and dimensions, from the near past to the near future, against an immeasurable number of targets.
Final Drill (red text):
"[Possible space-time simultaneous firing][Special Move / Episode 26] A Super Galaxy Gurren Lagann's "Mega-Vortex Cannon" and "Maelstrom Cannon" is an all-gun attack that fires probability fluctuation bullets. Artor an immeasurable number of enemies in every space-time and dimensions from the near past to the near future."
Gurren Lagann mechas (like many other mecha series by Gainax and TRIGGER) are not just machines but sapient and self-aware—they have intelligence and emotions.
Studio TRIGGER here! We're back with Hiromi Wakabayashi's answer from the previous AMA!:
"androidnoobbaby: In Evangelion, Diebuster and Gurren-Lagann, the mecha have their own consciousness. Would you say that this inspired you to take it even further with the DarliFra, which blurs the line between character and robot with the Pistils and the Franxx being extensions of each other?
Hiromi Wakabayashi324: I'm surprised that you've caught on to that. You've definitely studied the concept for GAINAX mech series. Darling in the Franxx definitely follows this trend. I cannot disclose any information, but I hope you enjoy the rest of Darling in the Franxx!"
Nia is capable of creating false information, which most likely she used to trick the Anti-Spiral to save her friends.
Novelization:
"Next. "The false information that Nia is planting was promptly deleted. Her limbs disappear. Her stomach, her breasts, her neck. And her face."
Nia is capable of doing thought-based instant teleportation, which would definitely scale to the Anti-Spiral.
Novelization:
""Right. If you recognize an opponent, you will instantly be transported to that opponent. --If you think about it, you can jump" Leeron said, capturing Lordgenome Head's words."
Simon excels in martial arts after only three years of training.
Novelization:
"He dodged his claws. Simon’s movements were agile. He had started training in martial arts at the same time he became the Commander-in-Chief. Perhaps it was in his nature to start with the basics and work his way up, but after three years he had become quite proficient. If the Bird Beastman attacked blindly, he could read his moves. If you handled it calmly, it was not an opponent to fear. I would persuade him in time."
Conclusion[]
This blog explains everything that is needed to know to understand the cosmological structure of Gurren Lagann and proves that the tier of the verse is not limited to Universal+, and all of these are confirmed from the canon sources. If any new information is obtained regarding the current topic, this blog will be updated.
