TV-Series
Description
Grande Vontade do Universo is a cosmic entity that appears in the anime adaptation of Excel Saga, taking the form of a small, circular galaxy with two arm-like appendages on each side. This being serves as a narrative device of immense power, frequently intervening to restore order when the chaotic events of the series threaten to break the bounds of its own reality. Unlike many characters who drive the plot through their actions, Grande Vontade do Universo acts as a cosmic reset button, primarily manifesting to resurrect characters who have met an untimely demise. The most notable example of this occurs in the first episode, when the protagonist Excel is killed, only to be brought back to life and given a new purpose by this entity, allowing her to join the organisation ACROSS.
In terms of personality and motivation, Grande Vontade do Universo operates less as a character with defined emotions and more as an impersonal force of cosmic maintenance. However, a significant departure from this role occurs when it becomes romantically infatuated with a human character named Pedro, with whom it eventually has a daughter called Pequena Vontade, a being identical in appearance to its mother but of minuscule dimensions. This relationship represents the entity's most direct and personal interaction with the mortal world, suggesting a capacity for connection that goes beyond its usual function. Unlike many other beings in the series who have clear goals of world domination or survival, the primary motivation of Grande Vontade do Universo appears to be the preservation of narrative and structural stability, intervening only when the situation has escalated beyond normal means of resolution.
The role of Grande Vontade do Universo within the story is fundamentally that of a deus ex machina, a force that can arbitrarily alter the status quo to allow the story to continue. Its ability to bring the dead back to life is its most prominent and frequently used power, effectively negating permanent consequences for key characters and allowing the series to maintain its rapid-fire, absurdist comedy without being bound by logic or mortality. This ability is central to the show's structure, as the high mortality rate of the cast is rendered irrelevant by this entity's willingness to reverse death. Beyond resurrection, it also possesses the broader power to reorganise situations that have become too disordered, effectively rewriting reality to suit the needs of the narrative.
Regarding its relationships, the most significant bond formed by Grande Vontade do Universo is with Pedro, a human character, and their daughter. This relationship is unique, as it represents the only time the entity steps down from its cosmic role to engage in a personal, familial connection. The existence of Pequena Vontade further emphasises this personal stake, creating a family unit that stands apart from the rest of the chaotic cast. There is no indication that this entity has any comparable relationship with other characters, including those it has resurrected like Excel, treating its interventions for them as functional acts rather than personal favours. The character does not appear in the original manga by Kōshi Rikudō, being an addition exclusive to the anime series.
In terms of personality and motivation, Grande Vontade do Universo operates less as a character with defined emotions and more as an impersonal force of cosmic maintenance. However, a significant departure from this role occurs when it becomes romantically infatuated with a human character named Pedro, with whom it eventually has a daughter called Pequena Vontade, a being identical in appearance to its mother but of minuscule dimensions. This relationship represents the entity's most direct and personal interaction with the mortal world, suggesting a capacity for connection that goes beyond its usual function. Unlike many other beings in the series who have clear goals of world domination or survival, the primary motivation of Grande Vontade do Universo appears to be the preservation of narrative and structural stability, intervening only when the situation has escalated beyond normal means of resolution.
The role of Grande Vontade do Universo within the story is fundamentally that of a deus ex machina, a force that can arbitrarily alter the status quo to allow the story to continue. Its ability to bring the dead back to life is its most prominent and frequently used power, effectively negating permanent consequences for key characters and allowing the series to maintain its rapid-fire, absurdist comedy without being bound by logic or mortality. This ability is central to the show's structure, as the high mortality rate of the cast is rendered irrelevant by this entity's willingness to reverse death. Beyond resurrection, it also possesses the broader power to reorganise situations that have become too disordered, effectively rewriting reality to suit the needs of the narrative.
Regarding its relationships, the most significant bond formed by Grande Vontade do Universo is with Pedro, a human character, and their daughter. This relationship is unique, as it represents the only time the entity steps down from its cosmic role to engage in a personal, familial connection. The existence of Pequena Vontade further emphasises this personal stake, creating a family unit that stands apart from the rest of the chaotic cast. There is no indication that this entity has any comparable relationship with other characters, including those it has resurrected like Excel, treating its interventions for them as functional acts rather than personal favours. The character does not appear in the original manga by Kōshi Rikudō, being an addition exclusive to the anime series.