GRAPEHIPPO NOOO!
New top page image(s) are adorably awesome. This time there's video too!
http://www.gainax.co.jp/img/427_sf100.swf
Hmm, I'm not sure if there were ever any official English names given for the animals besides "pigmole"...I think "grapehippo" is a fanon name? Though that works just fine. Another fanon name I've seen around is "coonbird" for the "Tobitanuki". Honestly, most of the animal names are kind of a mouthful, so maybe as a fandom we could come up with more nicknames for them?
EDIT: Just remembered episode 20 of the US release named some of the animals.
Info from here and Basic Drill.
1) Official name: Tobitanuki
Rough translation: flying raccoon
Official English name: Flying raccoon
Fanon name: Coonbird?
Trivia: Despite appearances, it's a carnivore.
2) Official name: Chibiushinokubi
Rough translation: mini cow's head
Official English name: Pigmy Cowhead
Fanon name: ?
Trivia: Once you peel off the skin from its head, it can be eaten raw. Very delicious. Kamina was eating this in episode 2.
3) Official name: Oikomisagi
Rough translation: herding heron
Official English name: Chasing heron
Fanon name: ?
Trivia: Can run at speeds over 60 km/hour. It has no sense organs, so it uses echolocation, crying "oreoreore" and sensing the rebounding sound waves with its huge tongue.
4) Official name: Nakibashiri
Rough translation: crying runner
Official English name: Warble runner
Fanon name: ?
Trivia: Very fast, some people use it as a mode of transportation. Can be controlled by the part on its rear nicknamed "kengidama." You can adjust speed by how tightly you grasp the kengidama and make it change direction by pulling it left or right. Its "tears" are actually lubricating oil to protect its eyes. The faster it runs, the more it cries. It looks really sad, but that's not actually the case.
5) Official name: Numeribudoukaba
Rough translation: slimy grape hippo
Official English name: Slimy grapehippo
Fanon name: Grapehippo
Trivia: Has a very good scent. If you're not careful, it will bite you. Usually gentle, but if angered, the grapes on its body turn red and start blasting off, the meat inside the grapes turning into an acid strong enough to melt a Gunmen's armor. The birds pecking at the grapes relieves stress. If you see one with very few birds, do not approach.
6) Official name: Sakanadakanandaka
Rough translation: can't tell if it's a fish or what
Official English name: Fishamacallit
Fanon name: ?
Trivia: From the family Nandaka. From the same family is a fish whose body is only bones, called "Yasehosori sakanadakanandaka," which appears in episode 5. The fish flopping around on Dai-Gurren in episode 10 is "Aozameta sakanadakanandaka." According to legend, Sakanadakanandaka's displeased face originates from a troubled father laid off from his job, who jumped into the sea, spreading his grudge...but the truth is unknown.
7) Official name: Shirosunawaniusagi
Rough translation: white sand alligator rabbit
Official English name: White sandcrocrabbit/White sands gator-bunny
Fanon name: ?
Trivia: Very ferocious. According to legend, it was born from the grudge of a rabbit who once tried to cross the sea on the backs of alligators. Just because it has "sand" in its name doesn't mean it only lives in the desert.
http://www.gainax.co.jp/img/427_sf100.swf
Hmm, I'm not sure if there were ever any official English names given for the animals besides "pigmole"...I think "grapehippo" is a fanon name? Though that works just fine. Another fanon name I've seen around is "coonbird" for the "Tobitanuki". Honestly, most of the animal names are kind of a mouthful, so maybe as a fandom we could come up with more nicknames for them?
EDIT: Just remembered episode 20 of the US release named some of the animals.
Info from here and Basic Drill.
1) Official name: Tobitanuki
Rough translation: flying raccoon
Official English name: Flying raccoon
Fanon name: Coonbird?
Trivia: Despite appearances, it's a carnivore.
2) Official name: Chibiushinokubi
Rough translation: mini cow's head
Official English name: Pigmy Cowhead
Fanon name: ?
Trivia: Once you peel off the skin from its head, it can be eaten raw. Very delicious. Kamina was eating this in episode 2.
3) Official name: Oikomisagi
Rough translation: herding heron
Official English name: Chasing heron
Fanon name: ?
Trivia: Can run at speeds over 60 km/hour. It has no sense organs, so it uses echolocation, crying "oreoreore" and sensing the rebounding sound waves with its huge tongue.
4) Official name: Nakibashiri
Rough translation: crying runner
Official English name: Warble runner
Fanon name: ?
Trivia: Very fast, some people use it as a mode of transportation. Can be controlled by the part on its rear nicknamed "kengidama." You can adjust speed by how tightly you grasp the kengidama and make it change direction by pulling it left or right. Its "tears" are actually lubricating oil to protect its eyes. The faster it runs, the more it cries. It looks really sad, but that's not actually the case.
5) Official name: Numeribudoukaba
Rough translation: slimy grape hippo
Official English name: Slimy grapehippo
Fanon name: Grapehippo
Trivia: Has a very good scent. If you're not careful, it will bite you. Usually gentle, but if angered, the grapes on its body turn red and start blasting off, the meat inside the grapes turning into an acid strong enough to melt a Gunmen's armor. The birds pecking at the grapes relieves stress. If you see one with very few birds, do not approach.
6) Official name: Sakanadakanandaka
Rough translation: can't tell if it's a fish or what
Official English name: Fishamacallit
Fanon name: ?
Trivia: From the family Nandaka. From the same family is a fish whose body is only bones, called "Yasehosori sakanadakanandaka," which appears in episode 5. The fish flopping around on Dai-Gurren in episode 10 is "Aozameta sakanadakanandaka." According to legend, Sakanadakanandaka's displeased face originates from a troubled father laid off from his job, who jumped into the sea, spreading his grudge...but the truth is unknown.
7) Official name: Shirosunawaniusagi
Rough translation: white sand alligator rabbit
Official English name: White sandcrocrabbit/White sands gator-bunny
Fanon name: ?
Trivia: Very ferocious. According to legend, it was born from the grudge of a rabbit who once tried to cross the sea on the backs of alligators. Just because it has "sand" in its name doesn't mean it only lives in the desert.