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Gurren Lagann fans: What exactly is "spiral power"? (lemmy.world)

submitted 2 months ago by CumbrianCucumber@lemmy.world to c/anime@ani.social

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(spoiler warning)

I feel really stupid for having to ask this after seeing the Gurren Lagann recap movies, but what exactly is this "Spiral Power" that the show starts referring to in its second half? Throughout the whole anime, the main character Simone's favourite weapon is a drill, so in a literal sense, he's physically using the power of a spiral to fight.

But as the show goes on, it's revealed that humans are "spiral beings", meaning they're capable of using spiral power, among other spiral beings in the multiverse. Drills can shoot lasers as part of their spiral power, creatures that hang out with spiral beings can withhold spiral power of their own, and the main antagonists fear that the use of spiral power will lead to the destruction of the universe??

Was there an explanation to this that I totally missed or something? Is spiral power still something that comes primarily from Simone's drill? Is it more of a Dragonball-style energy wave that you're not supposed to think too hard about? Does it refer to the spiralling power upgrades that the characters go through, and it's meant to be a metaphor for humanity's ability to self-improve? Does it not really matter in an anime that's more about the character's ability to break through anything with sheer testosterone and willpower? Is it all meant to be left up to interpretation? I swear, I've seen this anime twice and now the recap movies too, and I STILL have no idea what it's about!

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[–] djsoren19@lemmy.blahaj.zone 18 points 2 months ago (1 children)

If I recall, it has to do with humanity's DNA. The double helix spiral somehow grants us boundless potential and makes it so we grow quickly. Simon's drill harnesses the potential of spiral energy, which in itself can be described mostly as potential energy.

You can completely ignore it. As far as a power system goes, it's about as nonsensical as Haki, and using spiral energy is mostly just about wanting to win more then your opponent. It's just a convenient way to make the final conflict be a clash of change vs stagnation.

[–] CumbrianCucumber@lemmy.world 6 points 2 months ago

Thanks! I do remember a few visual cues associating the DNA double helix with spiral power, so that would make a lot of sense! As a Dragonball fan, I had to learn the hard way that you'll always enjoy an anime more by focusing on the story and characters over obsessing about the power levels and maths!