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Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann.

I recently returned from Gainax's Gurren-Lagann panel. I didn't bring my video camera this time, so I'm typing this from memory.

First, they showed the episode one of Gurren-Lagann without subtitles, but I'm pretty sure almost everyone there had already seen it fansubbed. After the episode was over, Hiroyuki Yamaga said, "If you want to see what happens next... I don't care, watch a fansub or something." So there you go: WE ARE FULLY AUTHORIZED TO DOWNLOAD GURREN-LAGANN. Then, people could ask Yamaga about the show.

Some of the important statements follow:

-Because of the bad reaction to episode four, there will not be any more extreme experiments with the animation style, only the usual we used in FLCL.

-The planet Gurren-Lagann takes place on is Earth in the future.

-The mole pig stampede (one of Yamaga's favorite scenes, and mine as well), the crazy-looking animals, and the Gainax cameos were not scripted the way they ended up, but were the results of the animators going crazy.

-Apparently, in Japan, "boys like drills".

-And, finally, someone asked, "Is Yoko really 14?" to much laughter and applause. Yamaga responded that "As the series takes place underground, time may be measured differently. So a year underground may be different from what we consider to be a year." That was met with the most cheering I had heard at the panel yet. Personally, I think it's the best non-committal answer I've ever heard.

-The series is going to be 26 episodes and self-concluding, since over that would probably wear them out and shorter isn't enough to get in what they want

-They are currently recording Episode 21 (as of 5/27/2007) (OH SNAP!)

-Episode 6 (Hot Springs) that aired on TV isn't the complete episode. Due to airing requirements, they had to cut out some scenes. Though he did say that the uncut version will be on the DVD release

-Gurren-Lagann may have a sequel, but the plot would be completely new since episode 26 will be the "end" of Simon's story.

Gainax ran their third panel (or fourth, if you include their joint panel with Bandai Visual USA) today, and it focused entirely on Gainax’s newest show Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. Hiroyuki Yamaga starred once more, and this time he aired the first episode of the anime (raw, of course).

Let’s see, the most important piece of information: there are most definitely plans to bring the show to the U.S., though of course no licensing announcement yet. But never fear, you will see Gurren Lagann drill its way through North America in the future. For the rest, hit the jump.

For those who wondered about the stylistic change in episode 4 of the show, Yamaga said that given the negative reaction of fans all over the place, they would probably not be doing anything quite like that again during the 26-episode run of the series.

When asked why drills were selected as a main weapon of the show, Yamaga said that maybe people in America don’t get it, but in Japan, boys like drills. Interpret as you will. In all seriousness, it was chosen because it was unrealistic and over the top - like the show itself.

One attendee asked about the inspiration for Kamina, and was told that it had to do with how the voice actor acts. I asked Curium’s question about why humans came to live underground and was told: that will be addressed in episode 15. Ask an’ ye shall receive, readers! The show is currently recording episode 21, by the way, even though episode nine only just aired - if that gives you a sense of what kind of lead time there is on an anime.

Another attendee inquired as to Gurren Lagann’s length, versus 6-episode OVAs like FLCL or Gunbuster, and Yamaga said that the Gainax staff had been really interested in creating something more character-driven, which requires more time than a 6-episode series can provide. Apparently they originally hoped to make it a year-long series, but decided they’d get burned out, so decided on 26 episodes instead.

With regards to the Gainax girls cameo in episode six - featuring Evangelion’s Rei and Asuka, Mahoromatic’s Mahoro, and Gunbuster 2’s Nono and Lark - Yamaga noted that the episode was originally supposed to be about Kamina attempting to peep on the girls at a hot spring, but since it airs at 8:30am on Sundays, it had to be toned down for potential kid-watching. They hope to do late-night reruns with the “real” episode six, and that the real version will also be on the DVD release.

Oh, and a final attendee asked if the buxom sniper Yoko was actually supposed to be 14 years old. Yamaga very carefully didn’t say “yes,” but suggested that since she grew up underground, perhaps they measure years differently. Smooth man, that Yamaga.

Yamaga also gave out drills at the end of the panel. (Yes, I fought hordes and got one.)

Aaaaand that’s pretty much it for industry panels here at Fanime Con in San Jose.

I'm confuse because I remember seen kamina on top of the dai gurren just in the first episode Yelling gurren laggan pierce troght the sky whit your drill so I tought he couldn´t posibly die but he did so maybe that of the first episode was a mistake or something wasnt it

Even if it were simon hoe would be piloting the langan and it wolud be creepy that simon turn out to be so similar to kamina