Viral
Voiced by: Nobuyuki Hiyama (Japanese), Sam Riegel (English)
Personal Gunmen:
- Enki
- Enkidu
- Enkidudu
- Tengen Toppa Enkidurga (movie only)
Viral (ヴィラル, Viraru?) is a member of the Human Eradication Army, who regards Kamina as a strong rival since losing his Enki's helmet to the newly created Gurren Lagann. Though being among the more humanoid of the Beastmen, his DNA contains aspects of tiger shark genetics. He is extremely loyal to Lordgenome and the four supreme generals, and he does his best to serve them. He has a personal Gunmen called Enki while under General Thymilph, which mainly utilizes swords and a powerful head-mounted laser (Named in the manga as the Enki Sun Attack). After Kamina's death, he continues to fight Gurren Lagann to regain his honor, thinking that Kamina is still alive. However, upon learning the truth, a shocked Viral focuses his frustrations on Simon before refusing to kill him on Cytomander's orders when he holds Yoko hostage. Brought before Lordgenome, Viral learns the truth of the Beastmens' lifespans before receiving the gift of immortality. Though he believed it was so he can kill Simon with no fear of death and his new Gunmen Enkidudu, Lordgenome reveals that the immortality was to ensure that he had an eternal witness of the Spiral King's power. But Lordgenome dies in the battle and an astonished Viral disappears as Dekabutsu collapses around him.
Years later, having protected some humans who wished to remain underground, Viral resurfaces and causes an uproar with Enkidudu, calling Simon out to fight him. He is later taken into custody by the Grapeals, placed in the same prison Simon later ends up as a scapegoat for the Anti-Spirals' appearance. Becoming a reformed villain of sorts, Viral pilots Gurren during the battle against the Anti-Spirals and seemingly gains his own Spiral Energy from being exposed to Simon's, seen in his Core Drill in the series and Tengen Toppa Enkidurga in the movie. It is also shown that his deepest desire is to get married and have children, but cannot do so as Beastmen lack the spiral energy necessary for reproduction. In the epilogue, he becomes the captain of the Super Galaxy Dai-Gurren and an emissary for Earth.
Original choice for English voice actor Vic Mignogna
Read more about this topic: List Of Gurren Lagann Characters