← Back to Characters
Viral
ヴィラル
2,432
Likes
❓ Viral Full Character Profile
What is this character's race?
▼
Shark/Cat
📜 About Viral
Gender: Male Species: Shark/Cat Beastmen Occupation: Vice Commander/Warrior/Team Dai-Gurren Member Relationships: Kamina (rival), Simon (rival/ally), Thymilph (superior officer), Adiane (superior officer), Cytomander (superior officer), Lord Genome (king) Gunmen: Enki, Enkidu, Dai-Gunkai (temporarily), Enkidudu, Gurren, Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann, Enkidududu (drama cd), Enkidudududu (drama cd), Dai-Gunzankai (drama cd), Tengen Toppa Enki Dulga (Lagann-hen) Viral is a recurring enemy and later an important ally to Team Dai-Gurren in the japanese anime Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann. He is a shark-type Beastman with feline genetics. His appearance is more humanoid than most other Beastmen, except for his cat-like eyes, shark-like teeth, and large clawed paws in place of hands. He is skilled in piloting Gunmen, as well as in unarmed combat. While hunting for food, he attacks Kamina when he found, running into his Gunmen Enki after Yoko intervene in a ensuing fight between the two. He manages to overcome Simon and Kamina's attacks, but leaves before the fight ends. The next day, Viral returns to execute his mission as member of the Human Execution Squad, facing Kamina and Simon again; this time however, Viral is defeated by the newly formed Gurren-Lagann, barraging it missiles in order to conceal his escape, swearing revenge on Kamina for his humiliation when he took Enki's helmet in the fight. Viral later returns alongside Supreme General Thymilph and the Dai-Gunzan to crush Team Gurren with the upgraded Enkidu, but is severely injured in the battle, which resulted in the Dai-Gurren's capture and the death of his superior. He tries to obtain another chance to fight by trying to join Supreme General Adiane's side, in spite of her treating him like garbage as she blames him for Thymilph's demise. Still, Viral saved Adiane from harm during a fight with Team Dai-Gurren, by stopping the Dai-Gurren's foot from crushing her. After Adiane's death by the Dai-Gurren's attack and being the only survivor of the Dai-Gunkai, Viral curses the Gurren-Lagann and swears to bring pain and punishment to those who killed his two superiors and robbing him of a honor. Under Supreme General Cytomander's command, Viral took part on the aerial attack on the Dai-Gurren. His battle with the Gurren-Lagann, piloted by Simon and Yoko, extended to the control room of Cytomander's aerial fortress, the Dai-Gunten. There, he learned of Kamina's death, and discovered that he not only lost to a human, but to a child as well, challenging Simon to a one-on-one duel in their mecha. But the battle was interrupted by Cytomander, who took Yoko hostage, and ordered Viral to destroy the defenseless Gurren-Lagann. However, Viral disobeyed as he knew this outcome would not make him regain his lost pride and honor. For this action, Cytomander asked the Spiral King's permission to execute him for treason, but Viral's last request was hearing from the King himself of what is the true nature of human race. Thus, Lord Genome dispenses Cytomander and conducts Viral to a room where he reveals the truth behind the Beastmen's existance before making him immortal. Viral's last effort against the Gurren-Lagann was in the Spiral King's throne room, where he believed he could finally obtain his vengeance after becoming immortal, but was soundly defeated. Lord Genome revealed that the reason he gave Viral immortality was not to fight against Simon, as none without "Spiral Energy" could stand against his power, but to make of him as an eternal witness of his triumph against Team Dai-Gurren. Viral's name comes directly from the word "viral," tying in with the Beastmen's genetics theme, but there are other theories about his name's origin. One is the fact that it can also be an anagram for "rival," referring to his constant rivalry with Kamina, which transfered to Simon throughout the series until near the end. Another possible theory comes from the Nikopol Trilogy of comic books written by Enki Bilal, as Enki is the name of Viral's first Gunmen and "Bilal," pronounced in Japanese, sounds like "Viral." Supporting this theory is Viral's theme song, which is titled "Nikopol," on the anime's soundtrack. The name of Viral's Gunmen may be tied to the Sumerian diety Enki, though it is much more likely that there is a deliberate connection between his second Gunmen, Enkidu, and the character of Enkidu from the Epic of Gilgamesh. The myth consists of Enkidu ("Enki's creation"), a man of the wild who seeks to challenge King Gilgamesh, a mighty warrior, but who later befriends him and assists him in in his travels.
🏆 Top Characters
Occupation
Commander of the Human Eradication Army (former) Member of Team Dai-Gurren Gurren Pilot Gurren Lagann Co-Pilot New Leader of Team Dai-Gurren Captain of the Super Galaxy Dai-Gurren
🧠 Personality
left|thumb|Viral's cockiness. He is very cocky and headstrong and refers to humans as "Naked Apes." He holds a rather strong contempt towards humanity, which wanes as the series progresses. Viral's most defining trait is a very strong sense of honor. Though he has a bigger sense of self-preservation than his rival Kamina, he will not attack a defenseless enemy or use dishonorable tactics, like taking hostages. Viral is a proud warrior and loves the thrill of battle. It is through this that he came to respect Kamina as the only human to ever match him, and would eventually take up his role as the pilot of Gurren. After being inducted into Team Dai-Gurren by Simon, he shows that he is able to keep up with their bravado and adds to their short-but-inspirational battle speeches.thumb|172xViral in the illusion.|alt=Episode 26 reveals some hidden depths to his character when he is shown with a family in a parallel universe created by The Anti-Spiral - reflecting a desire to have a family, even though he dismisses it as a "sappy dream" once he realizes what is really happening. After hearing several theories behind spiral energy, Viral stated: "I don't understand the crap you say but I like and believe it."
👔 Appearance
left|thumb|alt=|Viral as he appears in the Beastmen War arc. Viral's appearance is more humanoid than most other Beastmen, except for his cat-like eyes, shark-like teeth, and large clawed paws in place of conventional human hands. During the first half of the series, Viral wears a brown jacket adorned with shoulder pads and fur collar with matching pants, and bandages from his knees down to his simple black pointed shoes. He had short platinum blond hair that reached to his chin in the front and his shoulders in the back. He also usually kept with him a large knife, resembling that of a butcher's, with which he was very proficient. thumb|alt=|Viral as he appears in the Anti-Spiral War arc. During the second half, Viral is reintroduced in brown rags covering his old uniform, though it is now tattered, along with two red belts. His hair had also grown considerably, reaching his shoulders in front and his shoulder blades in the back. After his escape from prison and induction into Team Dai-Gurren, he wore a blue full-body uniform with gold stripes around the waist and arms and a brown scarf that serves as a cloak of sorts, under which he kept hidden his old knife. After the twenty year timeskip at the end of the series, Viral cut down his hair back to its original length.
⚡ Abilities
Beastman Physiology: Beastmen are half animal half humanoid hybrids as implied by the terminology. They are beings created through cloning by the genius scientist, Lordgenome, that harbor some natural abilities. * Superhuman Strength: Beastman are beings that were created to be far stronger than that of humans (although, there are exceptional humans). Viral corroborates this statement by kicking a larger Beastman through a stonewall in Lincarne prison. * Superhuman Speed: In episode 3, right after Yoko fired at Viral, the latter managed to arrive to his Gunmen in a relatively short period of time. He was even able to keep up in a sword fight with Kamina, who's able to dodge an arrow at point blank range. * Bodily Weaponry: Beastman, as mutations of certain animals, retain the animals' natural arsenal. In Viral's case, he has sharp claws from his feline genetics, and his teeth come from his shark origin. * thumb|Viral quick dodge Yoko bullet shot with his senses.Enhanced Senses: As a Beastman, Viral would also retain the incredible senses of the animals from which he had mutated from. As proof of that, Viral was able to spot Yoko from afar, and was therefore able to dodge a bullet in a literal sense; the latter's reaction even implies that she shouldn't have been spotted from where she camped * Regeneration: All non-ancient Beastmen have natural regenerative ability that allows them to heal most injuries over a night's rest. Immortal Body: In episode 15, Viral confirms that Lordgenome had given him a new body that can never die, which grants him new abilities for his survival. *Eternal Life: Lordgenome himself states that Viral had been given eternal life like himself, so that he may recount for all of humanity's failure of defeating the Spiral King; to be a storyteller. *thumb|Viral's hand regenerate.Enhanced Regeneration: In episode 20, he became wounded by the Bird Beastman's claws, and had large holes in his hands. This damage was immediately fixed, and Viral claims that it is the result of the new physiology given by the Spiral King. In the novelization of this same scene, Viral was capable of regenerating a damaged stomach from the same Beastman who attacked him in the anime. *Limitless Stamina: In episode 15, before he commences his battle with Gurren Lagann for the last time, he states that he doesn't need rest, and he can fight indefinitely. *Electricity Resistance: In episode 22, he along with Simon aboard the Gurren Lagann, became trapped inside the Kuu-Mugann, so that the 2 pilots could be electrocuted. Moments later, Simon and Viral don't give in, and they manage to escape the enormous Mugann's grasp. It is unknown whether this resistance is due to his new body or if he was always capable of resisting this; regardless, it would be safer to assume it's the former, due to the fact that he showcased this ability with the new body. thumb|Viral unlocks his Spiral Power. Spiral Power: Viral had gained the power of the Spiral, moments before the final battle had ensued between Team Dai-Gurren and Antispiral. This was due to being given the same power as Simon, after aboarding the Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, as stated in the novelization. As a Beastman with newfound Spiral Power, he is capable of utilizing the ability to evolve, which can be amplified as he retains his willpower or "fighting spirit". In episode 27, Viral, like all other members of Team Dai-Gurren, has fully awakened and has access to infinite amounts of Spiral Power (via being given the same power as Simon), and is capable of using it in any possible way. As all members of Team Dai-Gurren have fully awakened their Spiral Power, he should be just as capable without the use of Gunmen as well; additionally having every capability the Tengen Toppa Series have shown, similar to Lordgenome and Simon. * Gunmen Piloting: Gunmen were created by the Spiral King, Lordgenome, for Spiral Warriors to pilot, using their Spiral Power to power and control mecha. Additionally, the condition of the Gunmen is reflected upon the pilots; ie, the pilots feel the pain and retain the injuries. Spiral Power doesn't just power the Gunmen, it also assists the mecha in producing abilities for the user to adapt to certain situations in battle. * Reality Warping: In Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, he is even capable of manifesting a galactic scale version of his swords. In the movie he had manage to manifest a Tengen Toppa mech of his own, the Tengen Toppa Enki Durga, which has a galactic green flame at its back, insinuating at it being Spiral Power, which also has a green color to it.
💬 Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!