Forum - View topicGurran Lagann and Quantum Theory.
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Metaflux
 Posts: 78 |
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I know this thread is probably a few years too late but here is my question.
spoiler[Finally watching the last episodes of Gurren Lagann and there appears to be some Quantum Universe Theory thrown in the mix. It seems the bar keeps getting anted and its storyline grew to such a grand scale, the show wondered into theoretical concepts. I'm actually fine with this because I realized you just have to go with the flow on this one. Taking a few minutes to look up new ideas doesn't bother me, but how much of the show really follows Quantum Universe Theory? I barely know anything about it and after watching Steins;Gate it appears to be a semi-popular theme. So I guess a "yeah the show follows it pretty close" or "no it is all over the place and totally deviates from the original ideas" would be enough to satisfy my curiosity. Seeing as this topic is pretty complex I wouldn't expect someone to analyze the whole series for me, but just to share your thoughts would be enough. On another note Gurren Lagann was a series that seemed to "click" for me. Once I realized the producers were doing everything to the extreme on purpose, I gave into its ridiculousness and started enjoying it immensely. That was probably about 1/3 or halfway into the series, especially when the two protagonists combined for the first time. I almost consider Gurren Lagann a borderline "Mecha Parody/Satire". ] |
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Melanchthon
 Posts: 550 Location: Northwest from Here |
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I am no expert in quantum mechanics, as most of my information on the subject comes from books by Michio Kaku and PBS documentaries, but this is the internet, and as far as you know I am the Nobel Prize winner in Science. That being said, Gurren is crap. Yes, there is flashy animation and music, but it was all crap science, crap writing, crap characters. I don't remember anything interesting quantum wise about the show, and I can't go back and watch it again because in a fit of rage I used the forbidden shred -fu * command on the fansubs (try this from root, kids!). But what I remember about the show, besides plot holes you could drive a spaceship through, was Star Trek level technobabble. Steins;Gate, much like the TV show Fringe, has fantastical interpretations of real science theory. Madoka used real science like the Second Law of Thermodynamics and the Heat Death of the Universe. These shows have college level science writing, Gurren was more like 9th grade level. It had concepts right, but when you got down to brass tacks, it was stupid retarded. Particularly bad is Gurren's treatment of genetics and evolution, which I have studied at a college level and can say with authority that Gurren is 100% nonsensical. But to answer your question, quantum theories have so penetrated the mass psyche that nearly all modern science fiction uses them, although as Richard Feynman once said, "nobody understands quantum mechanics". And while Gurren uses the idea of quantum mechanics, in terms of actual theory, it's nowhere close. On a scale of Star Trek to Alastair Reynolds, Gurren is firmly on the Star Trek side.
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Metaflux
Posts: 78 |
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Thank you for your response, it definitely answered my question. Regarding Steins;Gate it accurately references different scientific theories pretty close? That's interesting to know, I'll probably watch a few episodes again with that in mind. Also is there a good documentary you'd recommend that explains quantum theory for someone who isn't an expert in the field? |
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Dorcas_Aurelia
 Posts: 5344 Location: Philly |
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While I disagree with Melanchthon's complete dismissal of the series' writing and characters, Gurren Lagann pretty clearly decided to base its "science" on whatever looked the most interesting, facts and logic be damned. Even other giant robot shows look at TTGL and think it's ridiculous in its disregard for physics.
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Chagen46
 Posts: 4377 |
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You all seem to be laboring under the belief that Gurren Lagann was ever trying to be realistic in the slightest.
Here's a little hint: Willing Suspension of Disbelief. Might want to learn how to do it. |
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dtm42
Posts: 14084 Location: currently stalking my waifu |
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Except, it's kind of hard to have Willing Suspension of Disbelief when the show doesn't even try to be realistic. Come on man, I expect entertainment to at least have the decency to meet me somewhere approaching halfway. If I have to do all the work, then it ain't entertainment now, is it. And no, that's not a question 'cause we already know the answer. 'Tis a chore, no doubt about it. And personally pal, I don't wanna turn my hobby into even more of a chore than it already is, thank you very much. |
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Chagen46
Posts: 4377 |
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I had no problems suspending my disbelief for TTGL.
Indeed, it is my favorite anime of all time. Dare I say one of my favorite TV shows of all time. The ENTIRE POINT is to be as ridiculous as possible, something it succeeds at marvelously. |
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yamata no orochi
Posts: 137 |
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Probably the best summing up of the merits of Gurren Lagann I've heard, paraphrased below:
There's often a lot of talk about works being "style over substance." In Gurren Lagann, the style is the substance. You can probably dismiss the science behind the whole endeavor (because the writers of the show didn't even try to make it realistic, besides using scientific concepts like evolution to provide thematic weight) but I find it difficult to fault the execution. Another pretty neat tack to take in breaking this show down might be to look at some of the reoccurring imagery and examine how it ties into the faux-scientific concepts the show evokes. Spirals, anybody? (The writer of Gurren Lagann is actually a playwright, and obviously knows a thing or two about storytelling--he also wrote for Oh! Edo Rocket) |
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Konopan
Posts: 399 |
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It's just a saturday morning mecha show with some good art. Of course the terminology is bullshit. It's just supposed to sound cool.
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tuxedocat
 Posts: 2183 |
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One of the things I loved about TTGL was how ridiculous it was in making fun of other robot shows (Evangelion in particular). The GL robot just kept powering up until it was the size of a Galaxy, or even the Universe. That was the joke. (I thought that was funny, but I guess YMMV).
When it comes to quantum theory, I thought Noein had some interesting things to say, at least on a rudimentary level. They did well enough since approaching that kind of subject carries with it the danger of bogging down the narrative with a ton of expository dialog. |
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Metaflux
Posts: 78 |
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I don't see how this = On another note Gurren Lagann was a series that seemed to "click" for me. Once I realized the producers were doing everything to the extreme on purpose, I gave into its ridiculousness and started enjoying it immensely. That was probably about 1/3 or halfway into the series, especially whenspoiler[ the two protagonists combined for the first time.] I almost consider Gurren Lagann a borderline "Mecha Parody/Satire". ...Is any different than this = Willing Suspension of Disbelief Could you elaborate?
Your comment was something that occurred to me as well before posting this thread. Then I figured "Why not?", I'm curious to know what other people's thoughts are and it might facilitate an interesting conversation.
Interesting, thank you for your response. And tuxedocat I like your Avatar, that's from Aria: The Animation Right? |
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tuxedocat
Posts: 2183 |
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Yep. President Maa! |
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JaffaOrange
 Posts: 254 |
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Science and Gurran Lagann don't really mix at all in my opinion. You can't analyze the science in it because there is no science. Merely magic with pseudo-scientific words. It definitely doesn't explore the concepts behind quantum mechanics.
If you want to know more about what quantum mechanics (or any sort of field of science really) don't refer to anime.
I must disagree with that statement. (the college level science writing part) Funnily enough, I'm of the opposite mindset that when a show tries to insert some sort of pseudo-scientific explanation as a justification for what's happening it annoys me. I'd rather a show just go nuts than to bog itself down trying to present concepts it thinks it understands but clearly doesn't. |
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Metaflux
Posts: 78 |
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Fair enough, thank you for your response. |
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