Friday, April 29, 2011

Alodia Gosiengfiao



Alodia Almira Arraiza Gosiengfiao (born March 9, 1988 in Quezon City, Philippines) is a Filipina cosplayer model and artist. She graduated in 2009 from Ateneo de Manila University with a BFA Information Design Degree. She has been called the "Cosplay Queen" of the Philippines and recognized for contributing toward raising the profile of cosplay.
She started cosplaying in 2003 at the age of 15 by joining various competitions in Metro Manila. Her popularity began in 2003 when she won in an event called the C3 Convention in 2003 as Gun Mage Rikku of FFX-2. Since then, she cosplayed over 40 anime, video game and movie titles, appearing in various local and international conventions as a participant,performer, judge or as a guest.
Her remarkable achievements in the cosplay community led her way to be recognized by various companies in the Philippines and hired her to endorse their products and services. She is one of the Ambassador and VJ For Animax-Asia known as the "Ani-mates", and the co-host of ABS-CBN's prank show called Laugh Out Loud. She also has been featured in various magazines, newspaper and TV shows locally and abroad.
Gosiengfiao also appeared on the Philippine FHM 100 Sexiest Women poll, ranking #87 in 2009 and #76 in 2010. She was named by UNO Magazine as one of the Most Influential Women in the Philippines.
In addition to her cosplay activities, for which she is most known, Gosiengfiao is also a blogger, performer, pianist, figure collector and BJD enthusiast.

Personal  Life

Alodia Gosiengfiao lives in Quezon City and is fond of art, fashion, video games, photography, collecting toys and figures, gadgets and playing the piano.[3] Her name was taken by her mother in a name book, Alodia means "love" and Almira means "princess".[3] She is of Filipino, Chinese and Spanish descent, her father is a Filipino-Chinese while her mother is Filipino-Spanish. Her parents are Mariglor and Ed Gosiengfiao and she has a younger sister, Ashley Gosiengfiao, who is a professional cosplayer and model as well.[4]
Gosiengfiao attended Assumption College (Makati) from pre-school to Grade 2; Miriam College from Grade 3 to 4th Yr High School and Ateneo de Manila University, where she graduated year 2009 with a BFA Information Design degree.[5] As a High school student, she was a member of the Miriam College High School Pep squad.
She also works on art commissions for international clients, illustrating both digital and traditional artworks.[6]




Career

Gosiengfiao became involved in cosplay after contact with other animé and video game enthusiasts in an internet fan forum called Animé Club. Encouraged by her friends from the forum, she started cosplaying in 2003 at the age of 15, joining various competitions in Metro Manila.[7] Her first cosplayed character was a Priestess from Ragnarok Online at Ragnalaunch in Glorietta.[8] She began to attract attention when she won 3rd place in the 2003 C3 Convention as Gun Mage Rikku of Final Fantasy X-2. This led to her and her younger sister Ashley Gosiengfiao being featured on the cover of Issue 14 of Culture Crash Magazine, a Manga Magazine in the Philippines.[1] Since then, she cosplayed a series of characters from over 40 animé, movie and video game titles including Witchblade, G.I. Joe, K-On!, Paradise Kiss, Evangelion, Final Fantasy X-2. As a multi-awarded cosplayer, she is now being invited to appear at conventions or to judge competitions locally and abroad. She started judging at the age of 18.

[edit] International Appearances

Due to her constant contribution to the cosplay community in the Philippines, Gosiengfiao has been invited into various international cosplay conventions and events as a participant, performer, judge or simply to attend as a guest. In November 2009 at Suntec Convention Hall in Singapore, Gosiengfiao, together with her younger sister Ashley, represented the Philippines as one of the finalist for the Anime Festival Asia Regional Cosplay Championship. Alodia and Ashley cosplayed as Masane Amaha and Shiori Tsuzuki from the Witchblade animé.[9]
On July 3, 2010, Singapore, Alodia and Ashley Gosiengfiao were invited by the Mascot Parade supported by the Singapore Government to judge the cosplay competition. They both cosplayed characters from the romantic animé series Paradise Kiss. In addition to judging the cosplay competition, Alodia and Ashley also performed two songs on stage: Lonely in Gorgeous from Paradise Kiss, and Real Emotion from the hit Japanese roleplaying game Final Fantasy X-2. Animax also held "Meet and greet" sessions with Alodia in Camp Pong for Singaporean animé and cosplay enthusiasts.[10]
On July 21–24, 2010, Gosiengfiao attended the annual San Diego Comic-Con for a cosplay gathering at Kotobukiya booth. She landed a big role in the San Diego Comic-Con documentary directed by Morgan Spurlock (Supersize Me) and produced by Legendary Pictures. The documentary team followed 5 different people from around the world to document what they did at the San Diego Comic Convention in the US - line up includes an artist, comic book enthusiast, cosplayer, etc. Part of the team was Stan Lee, the father of Marvel Comics. This led to a meeting with Legendary Pictures CEO/founder Thomas Tull and VP Alex Garcia, regarding their new upcoming movie called Warcraft. After this meeting,Gosiengfiao was featured in a very popular US-based website Kotaku.[11] Blizzard Entertainment, maker of Warcraft, got in touch with Alodia regarding business and an endorsement deal for their new game, Star Craft 2. She also won the "Hall Costume Award", an award given by the Costume Designers Guild to convention members who wear exceptional get-ups inside the venue.[12]
On October 31, 2010, Gosiengfiao together with Animax and Hong Kong Tourism Board held an event "Hong Kong Halloween Treats Party". Hong Kong Halloween Treats Party is the culmination of a one-and-a-half-month long campaign by Hong Kong Tourism Board and Animax to promote Hong Kong across South-East Asia as the dream Halloween destination. Cosplayers from all over Asia gathered to celebrate the event.[13]
On November 13, 2010, Alodia was back again in Singapore for the Animé Festival Asia 2010 in Suntec Convention Hall, this time she was invited as a Celebrity Judge for the AFA Regional Cosplay Championship. The same event Alodia and Ashley attended as a finalist and representative of the Philippines way back 2009.[14] Gosiengfiao graced the event along with the Japanese celebrity guests namely Danny Choo, Ichirou Mizuki, May'n, SCANDAL, JAM Project, angela, Kana Hanazawa, Milky Holmes and the Cosplayers Kaname and Aira.[15]
On November 27, 2010, Gosiengfiao’s Rei Ayanami Grimrock version cosplay made its first appearance at the 2010 Supanova Pop Culture Expo in Brisbane Australia, she was invited to guest judge the Madman National Cosplay Championship as part of the Supanova Cosplay Festival.[16]

[edit] Endorsements, Media and Press

Her remarkable achievements in the cosplay community led her way to be recognized by the mainstream media and various companies in the Philippines. Currently she is endorsing "Kojie-san", a whitening skin care product;[17] "Easy Pha-max Wheatgrass", a health food and beverage product; a Japanese Sushi bar called "Robot"; Maxicollector, a Toy and Figurine distributor in the Philippines;[18] a large video game company based in Japan, "Tinier Me" by CyberAgent;[19] "Alter Space" by Aboitiz Power, the 1st Filipino environmental awareness game on Facebook;[20] a clothing line, "Fresh Gear Jeans";[14] and Japanese Snack, Pocky. She also became one of the Brand Ambassador of Globe tattoo, a Broadband Business group of Globe Telecom. As part of her endorsement for Globe Tattoo, she made a T.V commercial titled "No limits", it also served as her first major commercial on Philippine television.
Past endorsements include many video game companies such as Level-Up Games, E-Games, Kelphil's Shade and SEGA's Love and Berry. She was part of the Official Muse Guild for the Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) Mu Online. She was also a game moderator for another MMORPG called Khan Online. Gosiengfiao was chosen as the Rose-It Girl during the Level Up Games’ ROSE Online event and was given the title of "Community Manager" and a one-year contract with Level Up Games.[6] As the official model and endorser of IPVG-EGames Zhu Xian Online game in 2009, Gosiengfiao, an avid gamer, hold her first Fans Day during the Domination 3 Event on April 2009.
Gosiengfiao is the Animax’s first ever Levi’s Kawaii girl winner in the last episode of Mad Mad Fun, which was announced on air on October 27, 2007.[5] In 2010, Alodia together with Ashley Gosiengfiao and model Steph Henares was chosen by Animax to be their Ambassador and VJ, known as the Ani-Mates.[21] It was the first time Animax has chosen a cosplayer as one of its VJ's.[22] Gosiengfiao's cosplay and hosting stints in various events and Animax paved the way for her first project in ABS-CBN. She is now seen as a Host in ABS-CBN's prank show titled L.O.L Laugh Out Loud with Luis Manzano every Saturday night.[23]
She has been featured in several magazines such as Candy Magazine, Meg Magazine, GAME! Magazine, Digital Photographers Philippines Magazine and newspapers like Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin & Manila Times. She was also invited to appear as guest on TV shows like MogTV, QTV 11, Front Act, Matanglawin and Mel and Joey. Other than local media, Gosiengfiao has also been featured in newspapers and magazine in different countries such as Japan, Singapore and United States. She was also Part of the book called OTACOOL: Worldwide Otaku rooms and OTACOOL2: Worldwide Cosplayers by Danny Choo
She was also featured on a TV show in Tokyo “Culture: Japan” featuring her costumes, artworks, comic books and figure collections which was also shown in Animax [24]
Gosiengfiao ranked #76 in the Philippine FHM 100 Sexiest Women poll for 2010, and rank #87 in 2009 .[25] She was named by UNO Magazine as one of the Most Influential Women in the Philippines.[5]


List of Cosplayed Characters

Cosplayed Characters[5][26]
Year Character Event Features/Achievements/Awards
2003 Priestess of Ragnarok Online
  • "Ragnalaunch: Glorietta 4 Activity Center" - Cosplay Competition Participant

2003 Rikku: Magic Gunner of Final Fantasy X-2
  • "Culture Crash Comics Convention" - Cosplay Competition Participant
  • 3rd place
  • People’s Choice Award
  • Featured on Culture Crash Magazine
2004 Isis of Ragnarok Online
  • "Ragnarok World Championships 2004: Folk Arts Theater" - Cosplay Competition Participant
  • Alberta Craftsmanship Award
2004 Chii of Chobits
  • "ToyCon 2004: Megatrade Hall,Megamall" - Cosplay Competition Participant
  • 3rd place
2005 Creature Pink of Gunbound Online
  • "Animé Explosion: Megatrade Hall" - Cosplay Competition Participant
  • 1st place
  • Most Innovative Award
  • Best Props Award
2005 Quistis of Final Fantasy VIII
  • "Final Fantasy: The Gathering" - Guest

2006 Alexiel of Angel Sanctuary
  • "ToyCon 2006: Megatrade Hall,Megamall" - Cosplay Competition Participant
  • 1st place Group Cosplay
2006 Goddess Arua of ROSE Online
  • "National Cosplay Competition: Megatrade Hall" - Cosplay Competition Participant
  • Online Voting Winner
2007 Shall of Dream of Doll
  • "Cosplay Photoshoot"

2007 Misa Amane of Death Note
  • "Mangaholix Mangamania Convention 2007" - Cosplay Competition Guest Judge

2008 Lili Rochefort of Tekken 5
  • "Mangaholix Mangamania Convention 2008" - Guest
  • Featured on QTV The Beat
2008 Japanese Mini Kimono
  • "Harajuku Fashion Competition: UP: Diliman" - Cosplay Competition Guest Judge

2008 Shana of Shakugan No Shana
  • "TV5 in RAN Online Global Tournament 2008" - Cosplayed for TV5
  • "Collecticon 2008" - Maxicollector Toys and Collectible Store Ambassador

2008 Alice Cullen of Twilight
  • "Cosplay Photoshoot"

2008 I-no of Guilty Gear
  • "ToyCon 2008: Megatrade Hall,Megamall Day 1"
  • "Kyo Ritu Art Studio: Ali Mall 2009" - Cosplay Competition Guest Judge

2008 Pink Haired Schoolgirl
  • "ToyCon 2008: Megatrade Hall,Megamall Day 2" - Guest

2008 Elven Fairy
  • "Cosplay Photoshoot: Eco Park"
  • Featured in OTACOOL2: World Wide Cosplayers Book

Gothic Lolita Haruhi Suzumiya of Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
  • "Cosmania 2008" - Maxicollector Toys and Collectible Store Ambassador
  • "Otakuzine: Otaku Expo 2010" - Cosplay Competition Judge and Maid for the Ozine Maid Cafe
  • "Singapore Animax Meet&Greet / Press Con 2010"
  • "Animé Festival Asia 2010:Suntec Convention Hall, Singapore Day 1" - Guest
  • Featured in Straits Times: Singapore 11/11/10 issue
  • Featured in Sunday Inquirer Magazine 7/18/10 issue
  • Featured in Playworks Magazine: Singapore August 2010 Issue
2009 Bi Yao of Zhu Xian Online
  • "E-Games Zhu Xian Online Launch" - Brand Ambassador for Zhu Xian Online

2009 Caster of Zhu Xian Online
  • E-Games Domination 3 "Alodia Fans Day" - Cosplay Competition Judge and Special Guest

2009 Pink Kimono Girl of Magna Carta
  • "Cosplay Photoshoot"
  • Featured in Sunday Inquirer Magazine(Cover) 7/18/10 issue
2009 Red Gothic Lolita
  • "ToyCon 2009: Megatrade Hall,Megamall Day 1"

2009 Elf Girl
  • "ToyCon 2009: Megatrade Hall, Megamall Day 2" - Cosplay Competition Guest Judge

2009 Black Mage of Final Fantasy
  • "Cosplay Fusion; Power Plant Mall" - Cosplay Competition Guest Judge and Organizer

2009 The Baroness of G.I. Joe
  • "G.I. Joe Cos-trip event: Power Plant Mall, Rockwell" - Guest
  • "Collecticon 2009: Robinsons,Ermita Manila" - Guest
  • "Cyberzone Cosplay Tour 2, SM Marikina" - Cosplay Competition Guest Judge
  • "San Diego Comic-Con 2010 Day 1" - Guest
  • Featured in FHM 2009-2010
  • Featured in Mog TV: Sept 11, 2009 episode
  • Featured in The Straits Times: Singapore, 11/11/10 issue
  • Featured in Sunday Inquirer Magazine 7/18/10 issue
2009 Rikku: Thief of Final Fantasy X-2
  • "Cosplay Photoshoot" - for Jay Tablante
  • Featured in Les Femme Fatales Cosplay Exhibit
2009 Morrigan Aensland of Dark Stalkers
  • "Cosplay Photoshoot" - for Jay Tablante
  • Featured in Les Femme Fatales Cosplay Exhibit
  • Featured in Digital Photographer Philippines Magazine
2009 Water Fairy

Masane Amaha of Witchblade
  • "AFA Regional Cosplay Championships 2009" - Finalist representing the Philippines
  • "San Dego Comic-Con 2010 Day 3" - Guest
  • AFA '09 Finalist
  • San Diego Comic-Con 2010 Costume Designers Guild:Hall Costume Award
  • Featured in Les Femme Fatales Cosplay Exhibit
2009 Mirai Suenaga of Culture Japan by Danny Choo
  • "Animé Festival Asia 2009; OTACOOL, Singapore" - for OTACOOL: Worldwide Otaku rooms book launch
  • "MORPH Ateneo Cosplay Competition 2010" - Cosplay Competition Guest Judge

2010 Yakuza Girl
  • "Cosplay Photoshoot"

2010 White Queen of Alice in Wonderland
  • "Alice in Wonderland Tea Party: Power Plant Mall"
  • "Cosplay Photoshoot" for Jay Tablante
  • Featured in Les Femmes Fatales Exhibit
  • Featured in Digital Photographer Philippines Magazine #35
2010 Yui Hirasawa of K-On!
2010 The Chinese Empress
2010 Neko Girl
  • "Cosplay Photoshoot"
  • Featured in OTACOOL2 World Wide Cosplayers Book
2010 Ayano Kannagi of Stigma of the Wind
  • "Animax VJ" - Ani-Mates
  • Featured in Sunday Inquirer Magazine 7/18/10
2010 Kagome Higurashi of InuYasha
  • "ToyCon 2010: Megatrade Hall, Megamall" - Maxicollector and Animax Ambassador
  • "Animax Meet&Greet/Press Con: Singapore" Animax Event Ambassador
  • "Hong Kong Halloween Treats Party" - Animax and Hong Kong Tourism Board Event

2010 Amanda Werner of Blassreiter
  • "SM Cyberzone National Cosplay Competition: Grand Finals" - Cosplay Competition Guest Judge and Performer
  • "Hong Kong Halloween Treats Party" - Guest, together with Animax-Asia and Hong Kong Tourism Boad
  • "Toyota's Thanksgiving Media Party" - Host

2010 Doronjo of Yatterman
  • "TV5 Grand Relaunch" - Cosplay Performance

2010 Random Lolita Girl
  • "Animé Festival Asia 2010: Suntec Convention Hall, Singapore Day 2" - Cosplay Competition Guest Judge

2010 Rei Ayanami of Evangelion
  • "Supanova: Madman Cosplay Championships: Brisbane Australia" - Cosplay Competition Guest Judge

2010 Miwako Sakurada of Paradise Kiss
  • "Animax Meet&Greet/Press Con/Mascot Parade:Singapore" - Guest and Performer
  • "TV5 Noontime variety show PO5" - Cosplay Performance
  • "San Diego Comic-Con 2010 day 2" - Guest
2010 Elizabeth Middleford of Black Butler
  • "Animax VJ" - Ani-Mates

2011 Yuki-Onna of Nura:Rise of the Yokai Clan
  • "Animax VJ" - Ani-Mates

2011 Hildegard Valentine of Shadow Hearts: From the New World
  • "Globe Tattoo Goes to Tokyo" - Guest

2011 Mario of Super Mario Bros.
  • "Cyberzone Technolife Affair and Fans day"

2011 Haruhi Suzumiya of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya 2
  • "Animax VJ" - Ani-Mates

Art Awards

Art Awards[5]
  • 1st Place Unedited Category, My Toy Photo Contest, Collecticon 2008, October 5, 2008
  • 8th Place Anima Fanart Contest; Artbook to be published on March 2008
  • Ateneo Numina: "E-Vogue" Digital Art Finalist; Rockwell Powerplant Mall; January 26, 2008
  • 1st Place Digital Art; U Got Game X3M XPO; Market! Market! Activity Area; September 22, 2007
  • Deviant Art Daily Deviation; DeviantArt.com; September 14, 2005
  • 1st Place Modern Filipina; Ateneo Siklab Fashion Design Week; September 9, 2005
  • 2nd Place Freestyle; Ateneo Siklab Fashion Design Week; September 9, 2005
  • 3rd Place Ateneo Apparel; Ateneo Siklab Fashion Design Week; September 9, 2005
  • 1st place; Ragnarok Online War of Emperium On-The-Spot Drawing Contest; Glorietta 4 Activity Center; April 3, 2004
  • 2nd place Digital Art Contest; Tinta Sinta Pinta, MCHS; SY 2003-2004
  • 1st place On-The-Spot Poster-Making Contest; Science Week, MCHS; SY 2003-2004
  • 2nd place On-The-Spot Poster-Making Contest; Peace History Week, MCHS SY 2003-2004
  • 1st place On-The-Spot Poster-Making Contest; 25th Year Anniversary of Miriam College High School; SY 2001-2002

Alodia Gosiengfiao \m/

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann


Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is a Japanese mecha anime television series animated by Gainax and co-produced by Aniplex and Konami. It ran for twenty-seven episodes on Japan's TV Tokyo between April 1, 2007 and September 30, 2007. It was directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi, written by veteran playwright Kazuki Nakashima and had been in development since the participation of the famed animator in the Abenobashi mecha themed episodes by the same studio. The anime won several awards at the Tokyo International Anime Fair[1] and the Animation Kobe[2] and Japan Media Arts Festivals.[3]
 Licensing for a North American release of Gurren Lagann was announced by ADV Films at AnimeExpo 2007 on June 30, 2007; however, after an unexplained removal from ADV's catalog (despite having had finished the first five episodes), Bandai Entertainment announced it held the license at New York Comic Con 2008.[4] It was also announced for a UK release by ADV Films at AmeCon 2007, however at AmeCon 2008 Beez Entertainment announced that they had the UK distribution rights instead. It was also announced by ADV Films Germany for a summer 2008 release. The Sci Fi Channel acquired the broadcasting rights of Gurren Lagann, and began airing the anime on July 28, 2008 as part of Sci Fi's Ani-Monday anime block.[5][6]
A manga adaptation started serialization in MediaWorks' Dengeki Comic Gao! on April 27, 2007, but switched over to ASCII Media Works' manga magazine Dengeki Daioh on April 21, 2008 due to the former being discontinued on February 27, 2008. Bandai Entertainment licensed the manga and released it in English in North America. A series of light novels have also been created and are published by Shogakukan. A video game based on the series, for the Nintendo DS, was released in October 2007, bundled with a special episode of the anime series.[7] Two animated film versions were produced. The first premiered in Japanese theaters on September 6, 2008, and the second premiered on April 25, 2009.

 Story
Gurren Lagann takes place in a fictional future where Earth is ruled by the Spiral King, Lord Genome, who forces mankind to live in isolated subterranean villages that have no contact with the surface world or other villages. These villages are under constant threat of earthquakes, so select villagers called diggers are relegated to expand their homes deeper underground. Simon, a meek young digger who is ostracized by his peers, finds solace in his best friend and older brother figure, an eccentric delinquent named Kamina, who allows Simon to join his gang, Team Gurren, to help him achieve his dream of visiting the surface world.
One day, Simon unearths a drill-shaped key called a Core Drill, followed by a small mecha resembling a face called a Gunman. Shortly thereafter, a giant Gunman crashes through the ceiling and begins attacking the village, followed by a girl named Yoko who attempts to repel the Gunman. Simon uses his Core Drill to activate the smaller Gunman, which Kamina names Lagann and is used to destroy the larger Gunman and break through to the surface world.
Simon and Kamina learn from Yoko that humans on the surface world are attacked each day by Gunmen piloted by beastmen, humanoid creatures who serve as Lord Genome's army. Kamina hijacks a Gunman and names it Gurren, combining it with Simon's Lagann to form the mecha Gurren Lagann, which they use to help fight off enemy Gunmen. Their actions inspire other humans to steal their own Gunmen and join Team Gurren, which is eventually renamed Team Dai-Gurren. Eventually Team Dai-Gurren captures an enemy Gunmen fortress to use as their base of operations, though Kamina is mortally wounded in the preceding battle.
Simon sinks into depression following Kamina's death when he meets Nia, Lord Genome's daughter. Team Dai-Gurren is initially distrustful of her, but allows her to join when it becomes apparent that she was abandoned by her father. Nia helps Simon come to terms with Kamina's death, and he takes up the role as Team Dai-Gurren's leader, leading them to defeat Lord Genome and the beastman army.
Seven years later, mankind has prospered on the surface world with Simon and the members of Team Dai-Gurren serving as the world's government. This attracts the attention of a new threat called the Anti-Spirals, who use Nia as their messenger to announce the Moon's collision with Earth, which will wipe out all life on the planet. With guidance from a partially resurrected Lord Genome, Team Dai-Gurren prevents the moon's collision, rescue Nia, and destroy the Anti-Spirals. This, however, causes Nia to fade away and die as her own existence is tied to that of the Anti-Spirals. Simon spends the rest of his life wandering the planet as a nameless vagrant while his comrades set out to contact other races throughout the galaxy to ensure the safety of the universe.

Characters

Simon (シモン Shimon?)
Voiced by: Tetsuya Kakihara (Japanese), Yuri Lowenthal (English) Old Simon Voiced by: Takayuki Sugo (Japanese), Tony Oliver (English)
Simon is a fourteen year-old digger from Giha village. Although he is initially looked down upon because of it, Simon excels at drilling through the ground, and the drill quickly becomes his trademark symbol. One day, he finds a mysterious drill-shaped item, which is later revealed to be the "Core Drill" for a head-shaped Gunmen he also finds buried in the soil. With the help of the small Gunmen, Kamina, and Yoko, he fights off a much larger Gunmen that falls into the village. In the process of defeating the invader, they reach the surface world. Prior to the time-skip, Simon is mostly depicted as merely following Kamina's lead and often acting as a counter-balance to Kamina's impulsiveness, due to being very timid and weak. He is also shown to be somewhat jealous of Kamina's strength of character. His personality changes to be more like that of Kamina, as he acquires his own fighting spirit and determination. His Gunmen "Lagann" has the power to produce drills from seemingly nowhere, which is handy, since they're Simon's weapon of choice. He can also produce a massive drill from the bottom, a move called "Lagann Impact", to combine with Kamina's Gurren to produce "Gurren Lagann" a much more powerful Gunmen. The drill can also combine with other gunmen to control them, Simon's Lagann was able to capture the gunman Dai-Gunzan by combining with its cockpit and controlling its movements.
Kamina (カミナ Kamina?)
Voiced by: Katsuyuki Konishi (Japanese), Kyle Hebert (English)
Kamina is a young man from Giha Village who dreams of leaving the village and go to the surface, which he saw as a child. He is very passionate about his goals, expressing his wishes through energetic speeches which seem to affect all those who hear them. Kamina believes that with his manliness and honor, he can do anything he feels like, saying such quotes as "Go beyond the impossible and kick reason to the curb!" and "Who the hell do you think I am?!". The leader of the "Team Gurren " he convinces Simon to aid him in his plan to drill through the roof of the village and get to the world above, but the plan fails and he is imprisoned. After defeating an invading Gunmen, he leaves the village with Simon and Yoko in the cockpit of a tiny but powerful Gunmen Simon unearths and Kamina names "Lagann". He is extremely impulsive, and sometimes acts with little regard for his life. His plans are rarely well thought-out, often relying solely on brute strength and determination to win, but for some strange reason or another, they seem to work most of the time; in this way he is an ideal and classical counterpart to Simon in the first arc. It is revealed that Kamina's impulsive confidence is mostly a show to give Simon the courage to act, telling his "Bro" (they aren't actually brothers, but share such a close relationship that he insists they call each other such) "Don't believe in the you who believes in me. Don't believe in the me who believes in you. Believe in the you who believes in yourself." whenever he cannot seem to go on anymore. Kamina never lives to see his dream of freeing the human race come to fruition as he is killed in battle during the seizure of the giant Gunman, Dai-Gunzan.
Yoko Littner (ヨーコ・リットナー Yōko Rittonā?)
Voiced by: Marina Inoue (Japanese), Michelle Ruff (English)
Yoko Littner is a young girl from Giha's neighboring village of Littner. She had been tracking the Gunmen, which subsequently crashed through the surface and into Giha. She wields an extensive arsenal of weapons and has substantial experience fighting the enemy. She uses her outstanding soldiering skills and wise counsel to advance the war of liberation. She wears short shorts and a bikini top: as she states in episode five, she avoids clothing which restricts her movement in combat situations. In early episodes, it is shown that she has feelings for Kamina. Due to her looks, several characters are instantly attracted to her including Simon and Kamina. She loves children and has a dream to become an elementary school teacher.
Nia Teppelin (ニア・テッペリン Nia Tepperin?)
Young Nia Voiced by: Yukari Fukui (Japanese), Hynden Walch (English)
Timeskip Nia Teppelin Voiced by: Yukari Fukui (Japanese), Bridget Hoffman (English)
Nia is a mysterious young girl found by Simon sleeping in a capsule in the middle of a dump site. She has had no prior contact with humans except her father. She is by nature very curious, polite, pure, and innocent, due in part her sheltered childhood in a peaceful environment away from all the battles occurring in the outside world and her only recently-attained sentience. During her travels with the Dai-Gurren Brigade, she discovers the harsh realities of the world. She develops a very close relationship with Simon throughout the story. The two fall in love, Simon proposing to her immediately after the time-skip, before discovering she is an agent for the Anti-Spirals and is being forced by another personality (Messenger Nia) to fight against Simon, ultimately fighting against her other self and regaining control of her body.
http://www.gainax.co.jp/anime/gurren-lagann/index.html http://www.gurren-lagann-movie.net/