Simon the Digger

“	My bro is dead. He's gone! But he's right there on my back, and here in my heart! He lives on as a part of me! If you're gonna dig, dig to the heavens. No matter what's in my way, I won't stop! Once I've dug through, it means that I've won! Just who the hell do you think I am? I'm Simon. I'm not my Bro! I'm me! Simon the Digger!	„
	― Simon to Guame after combining with Gurren

“	Don't fuck with me! Whether it be time, space or the multiverse, I don't give a shit. Follow the path you've decided to take, the way you've decided to take it! That's us; that's the Team Dai-Gurren way!	„
	― Simon responding to Antispiral's shock

“	Of course you can. The lights in the sky are stars. The stars where our Spiral cousins await us.	„
	― Simon to a little boy

Simon (シモン, Shimon), also known as Simon the Digger (穴掘りシモン, Anahori Shimon), is the main protagonist of the anime and manga series Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. Pronounced like "Simone" or "sea-moan" in English and "Shimon" in Japanese, Simon begins as a short, shy, and lonely boy but grows into a commanding and beloved leader. Known for embodying the spirit of a drill—a metaphor he elaborates on early in the story—Simon ultimately becomes a legendary hero who defies both personal and cosmic odds. He remains an eternal symbol of hope for humanity and all Spiral beings.

Names	Simon (シモン, Shimon), Simon the Digger (穴掘りシモン, Anahori Shimon)
Gender	Male ♂
Race	Human, Spiral
Occupation	Former Commander-in-Chief of Kamina City, Leader of Team Dai-Gurren, Pilot of Gurren Lagann, Supreme Commander of Earth
Origin	Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann Episode 1: Bust through the Heavens with Your Drill! (お前のドリルで天を突け!) "Omae no Doriru de Ten o Tsuke!" (April 1, 2007)
Alignment	Heroic
Age	14 Pre-Timeskip, 21 Post-Timeskip, 41 by the end of the series
Created By	Kazuki Nakashima, Hiroyuki Imaishi

Appearance

Simon’s defining features include his wild dark blue hair, deep indigo eyes, and lean, muscular build, though these traits evolve significantly over the series.

In the beginning, Simon is notably short for his age, even shorter than his peers Nia, Rossiu, and Yoko. At 14, he stands at approximately 5 feet tall with a lightly tanned baby face and an undeveloped physique, which makes him appear younger than he is—something he finds frustrating. However, some women still find his boyish features attractive.

By Parts 3 and 4 of the story, Simon, now 21, undergoes a striking transformation. He grows to an imposing 6'2", surpassing Kamina and Kittan in height, and his body becomes much more muscular and defined. His facial features mature, his jawline sharpens, and his voice deepens significantly. He also becomes more composed and level-headed.

In the epilogue, set 20 years later, Simon has aged gracefully, with a robust, tanned, and heavily muscular body. His hair is shorter, styled similarly to Kamina's, and has grayed over time. His right eye has developed into a spiral due to his long period of abstaining from using his immense Spiral Power. Wrinkles now line his face, reflecting his wisdom and experiences.

Simon’s attire evolves alongside his character arc:

• Early Series: Simon wears a brown cloak to protect himself from debris while digging in his home village. He pairs it with brown shorts, white socks, and sturdy brown boots. His abdomen is wrapped in white bandages, and he always carries the Core Drill on a necklace. After losing the cloak upon reaching the surface, Simon dons a dark blue jacket with red-striped shoulders and sleeves, customized by Leeron with the Gurren Gang logo on the back. He later adds a red armband, a piece of Kamina’s deceased father’s cape.
• Post-Timeskip: During his quest to rescue his fiancée and save the universe with the reformed Super Galaxy Dai-Gurren Brigade, Simon adopts a bold new look. He wears gray, low-rise jeans, a black neck brace, a haramaki, and a long navy-blue trench coat adorned with gold studs. The coat features the Team Dai-Gurren logo on the back, a tribute to his younger self’s iconic jacket.
• Goggles and Accessories: In Parts 1, 2, and 4, Simon wears digging goggles with built-in lights, usually perched on his forehead but lowered while digging. Later, after transforming the Super Galaxy Dai-Gurren, his goggles evolve into red, star-shaped sunglasses reminiscent of Kamina’s but with extra points to honor Kittan after his death. These goggles are destroyed in his climactic battle with the Anti-Spirals.
• Epilogue: In his older years, Simon adopts a simpler look, wearing a large brown cloak with a hood to conceal his face. He carries a staff tipped with a drill, symbolizing his enduring connection to his roots. In the movie adaptation, Simon also wears Nia’s wedding ring as a necklace, serving as a poignant reminder of his love and loss.

Personality

Simon is a polite, humble, compassionate, and courageous individual. At the start of the series, he is a shy, withdrawn boy who finds solace in digging tunnels to expand Jiha Village. Traumatized by the loss of his parents in an earthquake, Simon initially harbors a deep fear of seismic events. However, this fear subsides upon discovering that the earthquakes were caused by Gunmen. His life changes when he finds Lagann and faces a Beastman in combat for the first time. Although he begins to come out of his shell, Simon struggles with the pressure to fight bravely for his team, often relying on others—especially Kamina—for encouragement and inspiration.

Despite his initial timidity, Simon displays an innate talent for combat and even finds moments of joy in battle, as seen during his fight against Thymilph. His bravery is also evident when he refuses to stand idly by while Kamina risks his life. Simon’s level-headedness often balances Kamina's recklessness, with Kamina himself acknowledging that Simon’s steady demeanor is what keeps him alive.

As a teenager, Simon experiences jealousy and heartbreak, particularly when Yoko, the object of his affection, kisses Kamina. This moment profoundly affects Simon, haunting him during the pivotal battle against Thymilph. Distracted and unable to fight effectively, he finds himself inspired by Kamina, who ultimately sacrifices his life in the battle. Kamina's death deeply impacts Simon, plunging him into depression. He isolates himself from the crew, lashes out at Rossiu, and struggles to operate Lagann effectively. Simon’s attempt to emulate Kamina fails, as his Spiral Power rejects this forced imitation, leaving him physically and emotionally drained.

Simon’s encounter with Nia temporarily lifts his spirits, but he sinks back into despair after they return to the Dai-Gurren. With much of the crew distancing themselves from him at Yoko's urging, believing only Simon could overcome his grief, he reaches his lowest point. However, Simon's resolve awakens when he decides to rescue Nia and the crew. In a transformative moment, Simon uses his Core Drill to carve a path to freedom, symbolizing his internal breakthrough. The crew witnesses his unwavering determination, realizing the unyielding strength Kamina had always seen in him. From that moment, Simon emerges as his true self, performing the first solo Giga Drill Breaker and fully embracing his unique identity rather than trying to replicate Kamina.

Even after mastering his immense Spiral Power, Simon humbly identifies himself as "Simon the Digger," refusing to see himself as a god.

In Part 3, Simon, now the leader of Kamina City, grows disillusioned with the monotony of bureaucracy. Gimmy observes that Simon has become lazier, longing to return to his adventurous, hot-blooded life. After being imprisoned by Rossiu for saving Kamina City from the Mugann, Simon seems resigned to his fate but reveals his fighting spirit during a heated battle with Viral in the prison showers. Once freed and reunited with Team Dai-Gurren, Simon leads the mission to rescue Nia, rekindling his fiery resolve. He embraces his role as a leader, balancing Kamina’s boldness with his own wisdom and maturity. During the final battle against the Anti-Spiral, Simon exemplifies a fusion of his and Kamina’s qualities, leading a passionate and strategic assault without Kamina’s impulsiveness.

One of Simon’s most defining traits is his selflessness, often prioritizing the well-being of others over his own. This is exemplified when he orders Rossiu to rig Gurren-Lagann with a bomb to ensure he cannot escape during his trial, putting himself at great risk to protect Kamina City. Throughout his journey, Simon evolves from a timid boy into a legendary hero, revered for his courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment to the greater good.

Biography

Background

Simon was born in Giha Village, one of many subterranean civilizations on Earth in the distant future. Unlike other underground villages, Giha Village had access to fresh water, mole pigs for food, and electric generators for lighting. Despite these resources, the constant threat of cave-ins caused by earthquakes loomed over the inhabitants. To mitigate this, the village chief employed young diggers to carve new tunnels and expand the village. Among them, Simon quickly stood out as one of the most skilled diggers.

At the age of seven, Simon witnessed the tragic death of his parents, who were crushed during a cave-in caused by an earthquake. This event deeply traumatized him and left him with a severe phobia of earthquakes. To cope, Simon threw himself into his work, surpassing his peers in skill and dedication. However, his exceptional abilities earned him resentment from others, leaving him isolated.

The only person who reached out to Simon was Kamina, a rebellious gang leader and self-proclaimed adventurer. Kamina "recruited" Simon and together co-founded Team Gurren, a ragtag group of followers with a shared dream of escaping Giha Village to reach the surface—a place Kamina claimed to have visited as a child. Although Simon was initially reluctant, Kamina’s infectious energy and unshakeable belief in Simon’s potential drew the two closer together.

Their bond deepened during a pivotal incident where an earthquake trapped Kamina and the others in a small, enclosed space. While fear gripped the group, Kamina’s motivational words inspired Simon to dig a tunnel and free them. This act of bravery solidified their bond, and from that moment onward, Simon and Kamina were inseparable, referring to one another as brothers despite no biological relation.

Beastmen War Arc

While digging a new tunnel in Giha Village, Simon uncovers a mysterious, glowing drill-shaped object later identified as the Core Drill. During the same excavation, he also discovers a large, face-like structure buried in the ground. Soon after, Kamina, the local gang leader and Simon's closest ally, attempts another escape to the surface with Simon but is caught and imprisoned, while Simon is spared punishment.

As Simon tries to free Kamina, the village is attacked by a massive Gunmen, a mechanical beast piloted by Beastmen. Amid the chaos, a mysterious girl with a rifle, Yoko, arrives to combat the intruder. Simon leads her and Kamina to the buried face, which is revealed to be a small Gunmen. Using the Core Drill as a key, Simon activates the machine, which Kamina dubs "Lagann." With Lagann's power, Simon successfully defeats the invading Gunmen, blasting through the ceiling of Giha Village and reaching the long-sought surface world.

Team Gurren's early triumphs are largely due to Simon's abilities. Notable victories include capturing the Gunzar (renamed Gurren) and using his digging skills to trap the massive Dai-Gunzan in a sinkhole, ultimately seizing control of it. Despite these contributions, Simon is often overlooked by the older team members, with exceptions like Kamina, Dayakka, and Leeron, while younger allies like Yoko, Rossiu, Gimmy, and Darry form closer bonds with him.

Before the assault on Dai-Gunzan, Simon shares a brief, awkward interaction with Yoko, his crush. However, Yoko abruptly ends the conversation and leaves. Later, Simon seeks her out only to witness her sharing a kiss with Kamina. The sight devastates Simon, shattering his confidence and focus, which affects his ability to pilot Lagann. Kamina intervenes to encourage Simon, but during the battle with the Beastman General Thymilph, Kamina is fatally wounded. Despite delivering a final rallying speech, Kamina succumbs to his injuries after defeating Thymilph, leaving Simon grief-stricken and overwhelmed with guilt.

Kamina’s death plunges Simon into despair, making him bitter, reckless, and prone to fits of aggression. His unstable mental state disrupts Lagann's Spiral Power, causing malfunctions that render it ineffective in battle. The team’s morale falters, and Simon faces criticism from some members, particularly Kittan. Eventually, Simon relinquishes his position, further isolating himself from the group.

During this dark period, Simon meets Nia, a kind and sincere girl who offers him unwavering support. Her gentle encouragement helps Simon rediscover his sense of purpose and confidence. With her help, Simon overcomes his grief, declaring himself "Simon the Digger" and reasserting his determination to lead Team Dai-Gurren. Inspired by Simon's renewed strength, the team unanimously accepts him as their new leader.

Simon leads the team to Teppelin, the stronghold of the Spiral King, Lordgenome. In the climactic battle, Simon and Lagann confront Lordgenome's powerful Gunmen. Although initially overpowered, Simon channels his Spiral Power to its fullest, ultimately defeating the Spiral King by driving the Core Drill into his chest and unleashing a devastating Spiral burst. With Lordgenome's death, the Beastmen forces collapse, and humanity is finally free from oppression. Simon returns to his friends as a hero, ready to embrace the challenges of a liberated world.

Anti-Spiral War Arc

Following the defeat of the Spiral King and the end of the Beastmen War, Simon assumes the role of Supreme Commander, leading the newly established Kamina City on the remains of Teppelin. Under his leadership, humanity thrives for seven years, enjoying peace and progress. However, when the Earth's population reaches one million, the Human Annihilation System is triggered, marking the return of the Anti-Spiral threat.

Amidst this event, Simon proposes to Nia, who accepts his proposal. Shortly afterward, Nia is transformed into the Anti-Spiral's messenger, revealing their intent to annihilate humanity to prevent the catastrophic Spiral Nemesis. Fear spreads throughout Kamina City, leading to unrest. Public outrage culminates in the destruction of Kamina's statue, and Simon is blamed for humanity's plight. Seizing the opportunity, his second-in-command, Rossiu, betrays him, removing Simon from power and orchestrating a sham trial that sentences him to death.

While imprisoned in Lincarne Prison, Simon encounters his former adversary, Viral. After an incident in the prison, both are placed in solitary confinement. During an attempted escape, Nia appears to Simon, and their brief conversation is interrupted by Yoko, who has infiltrated the prison to rescue him. At Simon's request, Viral is freed, and the trio reunites with the reassembled Team Dai-Gurren, now preparing to fight the Anti-Spiral.

Simon leads the team into space aboard the Arc-Gurren Lagann to repel an Anti-Spiral assault. They successfully halt the Human Annihilation System and take control of the Cathedral Terra, renaming it the Super Galaxy Dai-Gurren. Determined to rescue Nia, Simon leaves Rossiu in charge of Kamina City and ventures into deep space with Team Dai-Gurren.

The battle intensifies as the team confronts the Anti-Spiral forces. Simon and the crew nearly succumb to the Sea of Despair, which saps Spiral Power, but they destroy the Death Spiral Machine at great cost. Kittan sacrifices himself to ensure its destruction, inspiring Simon to honor him by creating star-shaped glasses. The Super Galaxy Gurren Lagann emerges, obliterating the Anti-Spiral fleet, but the team becomes trapped in the Multiverse Labyrinth.

In the labyrinth, Simon is freed by a vision of Kamina, who reignites his determination. With renewed resolve, Simon rescues his comrades, and they unite the remaining Laganns of fallen Spiral warriors to form their ultimate weapon: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. Together, they confront the Anti-Spiral in a climactic battle. Simon uses the Lagann Impact to deliver the final blow, defeating the Anti-Spiral and ensuring the universe's safety from the Spiral Nemesis.

In the aftermath, Simon and Nia marry, but their happiness is fleeting. As a virtual lifeform tied to the Anti-Spiral's existence, Nia fades away shortly after the ceremony. Though heartbroken, Simon had accepted this outcome and refuses to misuse Spiral Power to resurrect her or others who perished, believing that the dead should not interfere with the future.

Passing the Core Drill to Gimmy as Lagann's new pilot, Simon relinquishes his role as humanity's leader. Accompanied by his companion Boota, Simon wanders the Earth, content to leave the future in the hands of the next generation.

Epilogue

Twenty years after the climactic battle against the Anti-Spiral, an elderly Simon is seen living a quiet life on the outskirts of Kamina City. Carrying only a staff tipped with a large drill, Simon comes across a young boy struggling to open a coconut with a drill. Offering a simple hint, Simon helps the boy succeed. Their moment is interrupted when a fleet of Gunmen, including Gurren Lagann and Spiral-Powered Grapearls, flies overhead toward the Super Galaxy Dai-Gurren. Awestruck, the boy exclaims, "It's Gurren Lagann! Look at all the Gurren Laganns!"

Simon smiles and agrees, responding, "Yeah, you're right." The boy, full of excitement, asks if he too might one day join the fleet. Simon reassures him with, "Sure you will, because the lights in the sky are stars." The scene shifts to Simon's weathered face, illuminated by the glow of the flying Gunmen, his left eye marked with a faint spiral pattern.

As the boy stares at the sky, Boota, Simon's ever-faithful companion, emerges from inside Simon's clothes, perching on his shoulder. Boota lets out a curious noise, to which Simon softly replies, "Yeah, they're stars. Stars where our Spiral cousins are waiting for us." Together, Simon, Boota, and the boy watch as the Gunmen disappear into the heavens, the stars twinkling brightly in the night sky. The story closes with this poignant scene, a testament to the enduring legacy of Team Dai-Gurren and the infinite potential of humanity.

In the alternate version presented in the second movie, Lagann-hen, it is revealed that during the years after leaving Team Dai-Gurren, Simon traveled the world helping people in need. As payment for his kindness, Simon often requested that flowers be planted to honor Nia's dream of a world filled with beauty and hope. He carries her wedding ring on a necklace, a constant reminder of their love.

The series epilogue also unveils a final twist: the elderly Simon has been the narrator of the entire story, his voice carrying the audience through the adventures of Team Dai-Gurren and the rise of Spiral Power.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics, Piloting, Will Empowerment, Supernatural Willpower, Spiral Power, Reactive Evolution (Spiral Power is effectively the power of evolution itself, whether biological or cosmic. As a Spiral being is pushed further to their limits and retains their fighting spirit, they will inevitably grow increasingly stronger, and more capable of handling the threat before them), Technology Manipulation (Can control Lagann via Spiral Power)

Same as before, Acrobatics, Weapon Mastery, Natural Weaponry (Can use and create drills from its body), Regeneration (Low), Forcefield Creation (Can create a spiral power forcefield), Enhanced Senses, Flight, Fusionism (Can combine with any mecha assimilated by Lagann)

Superhuman Physical Characteristics, Piloting, Will Empowerment, Supernatural Willpower, Spiral Power, Reactive Evolution (Spiral Power is effectively the power of evolution itself, whether biological or cosmic. As a Spiral being is pushed further to their limits and retains their fighting spirit, they will inevitably grow increasingly stronger, and more capable of handling the threat before them), Technology Manipulation (Can control Lagann via Spiral Power), Genius Intelligence

Same as before, Physical Combat (Fought on par with a skilled martial artist such as Lordgenome), Acrobatics, Weapon Mastery, Natural Weaponry (Can use and create drills from its body), Regeneration (Low), Forcefield Creation (Can create a spiral power forcefield), Enhanced Senses, Flight, Fusionism (Can combine with any mecha assimilated by Lagann)

Superhuman Physical Characteristics, Physical Combat (Managed to fight a trained soldier such as Viral one on one in prison), Acrobatics, Piloting, Will Empowerment, Supernatural Willpower, Skilled Marksman, Spiral Power, Reactive Evolution (Spiral Power is effectively the power of evolution itself, whether biological or cosmic. As a Spiral being is pushed further to their limits and retains their fighting spirit, they will inevitably grow increasingly stronger, and more capable of handling the threat before them), Technology Manipulation (Can control Lagann via Spiral Power), Genius Intelligence, Resistance to Electricity Manipulation (Could handle the electrical attack from the Kuu-Mugann), Absorption (Can indefinitely increase his spiral energy with sheer willpower)

Same as before, Natural Weaponry (Can use and create drills from its body), Life Manipulation and Limited Black Hole Creation (Connected the universe to life and when his power gets out of control, galaxies and then black holes will form, and then everything will return to void), Regeneration (Low), Forcefield Creation (Can create a spiral power forcefield), Enhanced Senses, Flight, Spaceflight, Fusionism (Can combine with any mecha assimilated by Lagann), Self-Sustenance (Type 1. Should be capable of fighting in space like other Team Dai-Gurren gunmen)

Superhuman Physical Characteristics, Physical Combat, Acrobatics, Piloting, Will Empowerment, Supernatural Willpower, Skilled Marksman, Spiral Power, Reactive Evolution (Spiral Power is effectively the power of evolution itself, whether biological or cosmic. As a Spiral being is pushed further to their limits and retains their fighting spirit, they will inevitably grow increasingly stronger, and more capable of handling the threat before them. As someone who has integrated an ever-expanding Multiverse, he becomes far more powerful than himself, from moments ago, by merely existing), Technology Manipulation (Can control Tengen Toppa Lagann via Spiral Power), Genius Intelligence, Forcefield Creation (Can create a spiral power forcefield), Invulnerability via Probability Manipulation, Enhanced Senses (Can see Antispiral; a being stated to be invisible), Extrasensory Perception (Could perceive Antispiral who exists on a higher plane of existence), Weapon Creation, Reality Warping, Creation, Quantum Manipulation, Physics Manipulation, Matter Manipulation, Transmutation, Size Manipulation, Biological Manipulation (Capable of creating and changing his mecha with just thought), Probability Manipulation, Space-Time Manipulation, Teleportation, Dimensional Travel (Was able to travel to Anti-Spiral's stronghold), Durability Negation via Probability Manipulation (Can negate the probability of an opponent successfully blocking an attack), Incorporeality, Abstract Existence (Type 1), Self-Sustenance (Types 1, 2 & 3), Regeneration (Low-Godly. His body had become a materialized thought, and can reform his body with just thought), Immortality (Type 3), Higher-Dimensional Manipulation, Fusionism, Higher-Dimensional Existence, Acausality (Types 2 & 4. Merged every version of himself upon integrating the Multiverse as a part of him. Stated to have broken through cause, effect and fate. It is said, that even when trapped, their feelings open the gate, and they will decide their own fate), Non-Physical Interaction (Can physically affect abstract beings and mecha), Absorption (Absorbed the drill which Lordgenome created after converting the Infinity Big Bang Storm), Power Bestowal (Gave the members of Team Dai-Gurren the power to resist the Multiverse Labyrinth), Resistance to Spatial Manipulation, Time Manipulation (Upon absorbing the Multiverse Labyrinth, his power has been stated to transcend space and time itself), Absorption (Can indefinitely increase his spiral energy with sheer willpower), Electricity Manipulation (Could handle the electrical attack from the Kuu-Mugann), Gravity Manipulation, Radiation Manipulation (Much more powerful than the space gunmen, who could fight for lengthy periods of time within the ultra-dense space), Mind Manipulation (Managed to escape the Multiverse Labyrinth)

Same as before, Natural Weaponry (Can use and create drills from its body), Flight, Spaceflight, Shapeshifting, Body Control, Portal Creation via powerscaling (Scales to TTGL, which created a space-time fold just from its battle with Granzeboma), Large Size (Type 7)

Superhuman Physical Characteristics, Physical Combat (Skilled enough to fight evenly with Antispiral hand-to-hand), Acrobatics, Piloting, Will Empowerment, Supernatural Willpower, Weapon Mastery, Spiral Power, Reactive Evolution (Spiral Power is effectively the power of evolution itself, whether biological or cosmic. As a Spiral being is pushed further to their limits and retains their fighting spirit, they will inevitably grow increasingly stronger, and more capable of handling the threat before them. As someone who has integrated an ever-expanding Multiverse, he becomes far more powerful than himself, from moments ago, by merely existing), Technology Manipulation (Can control any mecha via Spiral Power), Forcefield Creation (Can create a spiral power forcefield), Invulnerability via Probability Manipulation, Enhanced Senses (Can see Antispiral; a being stated to be invisible), Extrasensory Perception (Could perceive Antispiral who exists on a higher plane of existence), Flight, Spaceflight, Natural Weaponry, Weapon Creation, Transmutation, Blood Manipulation, Fusionism (Created a drill from his blood, which was fused to his arm and was fully functional), Reality Warping, Creation, Quantum Manipulation, Physics Manipulation, Matter Manipulation, Size Manipulation, Biological Manipulation (Capable of creating and changing his mecha with just thought), Probability Manipulation, Space-Time Manipulation, Teleportation, Dimensional Travel, Portal Creation via powerscaling (Scales to TTGL, which created a space-time fold just from its battle with Granzeboma), Durability Negation via Probability Manipulation (Can negate the probability of an opponent successfully blocking an attack), Incorporeality, Abstract Existence (Type 1), Self-Sustenance (Types 1, 2 & 3), Regeneration (Low-Godly. His body had become a materialized thought, and can reform his body with just thought), Immortality (Type 3), Higher-Dimensional Manipulation, Higher-Dimensional Existence, Acausality (Types 2 & higher degree of type 4. Merged every version of himself upon integrating the Multiverse as a part of him. Deleted causality and transcends acausality 4's Cause-effect relationship), Non-Physical Interaction (Can physically affect abstract beings and mecha), Absorption (Absorbed the drill which Lordgenome created after converting the Infinity Big Bang Storm), Gravity Manipulation, Radiation Manipulation, Power Mimicry via powerscaling (Scales to Antispiral who can replicate the abilities of their opponents, in their own fashion), Resurrection (Implied to be able to resurrect the dead, but does not want to use this power), Regeneration Negation (Low-Godly. Prevented Antispiral from regenerating), Genius Intelligence, likely Nigh-Omniscience

Resistance to Spatial Manipulation, Time Manipulation (Upon absorbing the Multiverse Labyrinth, his power has been stated to transcend space and time itself), Absorption (Can indefinitely increase his spiral energy with sheer willpower), Electricity Manipulation (Could handle the electrical attack from the Kuu-Mugann), Gravity Manipulation, Radiation Manipulation (Much more powerful than the space gunmen, who could fight for lengthy periods of time within the ultra-dense space), Mind Manipulation (Managed to escape the Multiverse Labyrinth)

Attack Potency: Unknown; At most Large Town level in Lagann (Damaged Viral's gunman; Enki) | Unknown; At least Multi-Continent level with Core Drill (Blew a hole in Lordgenome's chest), higher in Lagann (Fought on par with Lordgenome who is superior to Lazengann. Superior to Gurren Lagann) | Wall level (Fought on par with Viral who kicked a beastman through a wall in prison), higher with Pistol, At least Multi-Continent level with Core Drill, higher in Lagann | High Complex Multiverse level (Integrated the Multiverse; an 11 dimensional infinite multiverse), higher in Tengen Toppa Lagann (As a Tengen Toppa Gunmen, it should be comparable in power to Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann; a mecha which was created by Simon after integrating the Multiverse, along with being implied to have infinite Spiral Power flowing within it. Created a drill, which could match Granzeboma’s drill) | High Complex Multiverse level (Surprised Antispiral by matching his full power. Fought equally with, and eventually killed Antispiral on foot. Has become significantly more powerful, after he left the universe in Simon’s hands)

Speed: Subsonic (Ran along side Kamina on multiple occasions; being able to keep up with him), with Transonic Reactions (Could react to Kamina's punch); Likely High Hypersonic in Lagann (Likely comparable in speed to Gurren Lagann) | Subsonic, with Transonic Reactions; At least Massively Hypersonic in Lagann (Could keep up in a fight with Lordgenome. Superior to Gurren Lagann) | Subsonic, with Transonic Combat Speed/Reactions (Kept pace in a fight with Viral in prison), Subsonic+ Attack Speed via Pistol, At least Massively Hypersonic+ in Lagann (Comparable in speed to Gurren Lagann) | Subsonic, with Transonic Combat Speed/Reactions (Has not mastered Spiral Power on his own yet, so should therefore be as fast as his previous self); At least Massively FTL+, likely Infinite in Tengen Toppa Lagann (As a part of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, it should be comparable in speed) | At least Massively FTL+, likely Infinite (Kept pace with and eventually defeated Antispiral in hand-to-hand combat), Omnipresence (Their selves spread everywhere and in all times when caught in the multiverse prison)

Lifting Strength: Unknown; At least Class 10 in Lagann (Capable of forcing the cockpit of a gunman open; a feat Viral could execute as well) | Unknown; At least Class 10 in Lagann | Likely Class 10 (Likely comparable to Viral), higher in Lagann | Immeasurable (Should be this powerful, as the Multiverse itself is integrated as a part of his existence), higher in Tengen Toppa Lagann (As a Tengen Toppa Gunmen, it should be comparable in strength to Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann) | Immeasurable (Is now superior to Antispiral, who before was equal to him. Far superior to his previous self after gaining numerous increases in power, and mastering the use of Spiral Power on his own)

Striking Strength: Unknown; At most Large Town level in Lagann | Unknown; At least Multi-Continent level with Core Drill, higher in Lagann | Wall level, higher with Pistol, At least Multi-Continent level with Core Drill, higher in Lagann | High Complex Multiverse level, higher in Tengen Toppa Lagann | High Complex Multiverse level

Durability: Wall level (Could take a full-force punch from Kamina); At most Large Town level in Lagann (Took a kick from Viral's gunman; Enki) | Wall level, likely Multi-Continent level (Took direct punches from Lordgenome, but whether this is an outlier or because of spiral power is unknown); At least Multi-Continent level in Lagann (Took attacks from Lordgenome who is superior to Lazengann) | Wall level; At least Multi-Continent level in Lagann | High Complex Multiverse level (Integrated the Multiverse to his own body), higher in Tengen Toppa Lagann (Was able to withstand the force of the Infinity Big Bang Storm; an attack that was compared to the Big Bang, and was at a greater level of Antispiral's capability than any of its previous attacks) | High Complex Multiverse level (Took blows from Antispiral in a fist fight, and survived the destruction of Antispiral's universe; a complex manifold universe oscillating between the 10 and 11 dimensional membranes, corresponding to a 10 + 1 dimensional reality, and implied to be infinite in size)

Stamina: Superhuman (Has enough energy to dig through holes day after day, and is somewhat capable of fighting on an empty stomach) | Superhuman (Fought Lordgenome and used a large amount of Spiral Power within the fight, and even when heavily injured continued to fight) | Superhuman (Overcame the draining of spiral energy from the Death Spiral Machine via increasing his power, the entire time in the ultra-dense space. Has absorbed the matter of the ultra-dense space, which was being converted into Spiral Energy), likely Limitless (Stated that his power is limitless as long as he doesn't give in) | Infinite (Capable of powering Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, which was implied to have infinite Spiral Power flowing throughout the body) | Infinite (Gained a massive increase in Spiral Power, and is far superior compared to his previous self)

Range: Standard Melee Range, higher in Lagann, Extended Melee Range via Natural Weaponry | Standard Melee Range, higher in Lagann, Extended Melee Range via Natural Weaponry | Standard Melee Range, Hundreds of Meters via Pistol, Standard Melee Range in Lagann, Extended Melee Range via Natural Weaponry | High Complex Multiversal | High Complex Multiversal

Standard Equipment: Core Drill

• Optional Equipment: Gurren Lagann | Same as before | Same as before, Pistol, Arc-Gurren Lagann, Super Galaxy Gurren Lagann | Same as before, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, Super Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann | None

Intelligence: Genius in Creating Plans (Can come up with strategies in the heat of battle. Made a plan to sneak up on Viral, and managed to damage his gunman; a plan created and executed before Viral could fire Enki's laser. Thought of how to make Dai-Gunzan fall in a hole, just from looking at the ground once. Came up with a plan to get past the Mugann, and sneak attack the upper-class Mugann), Gifted in Leadership Skills and Piloting (Stated by Kittan to have become a first-rate commander, and has only been so for a short period of time), Above Average in Combat (Was skilled enough to fight hand-to-hand with Viral; a trained soldier), Average Otherwise | Genius, likely Nigh-Omniscient (Surpassed Antispiral via his own evolution)

Weaknesses: Gets scared, which causes him to be unable to fight and think straight (this weakness present through episodes 1-3). Can let anger get in the way of thinking and using spiral power (this weakness is present through episodes 9 and 10). He cannot utilize spiral power without the will to live. Is concerned about others well being | Same as before | Same as before. His hot-blooded nature can make him careless, and rush in to battle | Same as before, except his hot-blooded nature making him careless, and rushing into battle | Same as before. Greatly opposes resurrecting the dead

Notable Attacks/Techniques:

• Lagann Impact: Lagann impacts the opponent with its drill either from its forehead, or its feet
• Gunman Integration: Can combine with any gunman; using its drill to assimilate from on top of their heads

Trivia

• Etymology: Simon's name originates from the Japanese word 下 (shimo), meaning "under." The Japanese pronunciation of his name reflects this origin.
• Relationship with Nia: While their romantic relationship isn't fully detailed in the series, Gainax Studios confirmed that "seven years is a long time" and that "during the seven-year timeskip, Simon and Nia did what had to be done," implying they were sexually intimate.
• Prologue Appearance: Simon is the space captain shown in the opening prologue of the series' first episode. Although absent in the anime afterward, he appears as an antagonist in the drama CD Otoko no Jouken, where he goes by the name Simon Avant.
• Nicknames:
  • The prologue Simon is nicknamed "Garlock" by English-speaking fans. "Gar" means "manly," and "-lock" references Captain Harlock from Space Pirate Captain Harlock. His outfit and the sound of clanking chains were nods to this classic character.
  • In Japan, this version of Simon is called "Avant" by fans.
  • The Simon from the space arc is referred to as "Starlock" by fans, referencing his goggles transforming into star-shaped sunglasses. Japanese fans call this version "Cosmo."
• Narration: Simon narrates the episode previews for episodes 22 to 26. His quotes are used as the titles for the episodes he narrates, styled in a paintbrush-like font.
• Cooking: Simon and Boota (along with Kamina, as per Otoko no Jouken and Gurren Gakuen Hen) are among the few who can handle and enjoy Nia's cooking.
• Epilogue Spiral Eye: In the epilogue, Simon's left eye is shown with a Spiral pattern, similar to Lordgenome's. This suggests his dormant Spiral activity may have slowly risen to uncontrollable levels, possibly granting him extended longevity. Lordgenome lived for about 1,000 years before his death, hinting that Simon might share this potential.
• Parents' Names: According to the novelization, Simon's parents were officially named Takshim (タキシム) and Sheeta (シータ).