Gurren Lagann Parallel Works 8 – Genome is Boss

Yoh Yoshinari’s contribution to the Gurren Lagann parallel works is not as good as I thought it’d be. It is far, far better. If you haven’t already done so, watch it here.
  

Although it was pretty much explained during the show how Genome became humanity’s oppressor, seeing it actually happen was awesome. The animation is fantastic and Gurren Lagann’s sketchy style has never looked better. I love the way they used a limited color palette but with contrasting colors and shadows that make it feel, pardon the pun, quite dark. I originally thought they should’ve used “Libera Me” (it’s used in the movie and with narration too) but the paranoid, ominous sound of “All You Bastards Get Fired Up!” actually works perfectly. 

Just thought I’d post a few things I noticed/thoughts I had while watching it:

• boy Genome looks like Nia but I already knew that
• Genome sitting among a bunch of animal statues like some kind of young god is a great touch
• Adiane (scorpion), Cytomander (bird), Thymilph (gorilla) and Guame (armadillo – the only real one) are all there. Pikachu is sitting by his left knee
• the Antispiral ship, Asyutanga, is at least thrice as long as the planet. The design is still as cool and strange as it was the first time I saw it
• the first mecha Genome finds is a Lagann but he pilots Lazengann. Is its head actually a Lagann?
• which is more badass, Genome’s fiery hair or his chest hair?
• Teppelin instead of Arc Gurren inside of Cathedral Terra is pretty cool

It’s hard to dislike Genome after learning the reasons for his betrayal. Although cold logic really has no place in a show like Gurren Lagann it must be remembered that Genome was worse off than Simon. He didn’t have Kamina to punch him around and dispense advice on how to be hotheaded and never give up. Nor did he have Nia as either a motivation to continue fighting or an Anti-Spiral homing device. He never could find the Anti-Spiral planet and in all likelihood his fight was doomed right from the start which no amount of giga drill breaking could have stopped. Unless, maybe, it sounded like this.

Now that all the parallel works videos have been released I can safely say this is my favorite one. I just hope Gainax will make an OVA that further expands Genome’s story.