The OFFICIAL Gunbuster Thread on Animespot

- GUNBUSTER –








The OFFICIAL Gunbuster Thread on Animespot

AIM FOR THE TOP!

HARD WORK AND GUTS.

Man, is it just me or do I tend to bring up the more older series that no one these days seems to care much about? ;__; At any rate, you can see quite the fan fare that I’m putting into this thread, which coincides with the first ever North American release ON DVD of Gunbuster/Top Wo Nerae by Bandai Visual USA.

GUNBUSTER 1 – To Be Released FEBRUARY 20, 2007

GUNBUSTER 2 – To Be Released SUMMER 2007 (Tentative)

Finally after all these years, since the 1990’s VHS releases by US Renditions, will us North American fans get a good DVD version. I really expect a high standard of polish from Bandai Visual USA – Honneamise, which also did a major overhaul on the Limited Editions of Patlabor 1 & 2.

Onto the actual anime:


“Gunbuster, known in Japan as Aim for the Top! (トップをねらえ! Top O Nerae!?) is a six episode anime OVA series created by Gainax in 1988. It was the directional debut of Hideaki Anno, who is best known for his role as the director of Neon Genesis Evangelion. The title is a parody of the classic tennis anime Aim for the Ace!. A sequel known as Diebuster, or Aim for the Top 2!, with all new characters, was shown in 2004. Bandai Visual USA announced at Anime Expo 2006 that it has acquired the Region One (R1) license for Gunbuster. To date, no English dub of the series has been released, and the series has not been re-released in the U.S. since the initial run of subtitled VHS tapes by U.S. Renditions in the early 1990s and another release in VHS form by Manga Entertainment in the mid to late 1990's. A DVD release by Bandai Visual is set for early 2007.

As for the plot:
In the very near future, a race of huge, insect-like aliens is discovered traveling the galaxy. These aliens, which are known as the Uchuu Kaijuu, or Space Monsters (Note: This name is what they are referred to throughout the series), seem dedicated to the eradication of the human species as the latter takes its first steps away from the solar system, and they are getting closer and closer to Earth. Humanity has responded by developing spacegoing battleships and giant fighting robots. These robots are piloted by the best and brightest of Earth's youth, picked from training schools around the world.
The story begins in the year 2023, not long after the first battles with the aliens, and centers on young Noriko Takaya (タカヤ・ノリコ Takaya Noriko) (voice: Noriko Hidaka). Although Noriko's father was a famous admiral in the space fleet who was killed during one of the first battles of the war, her own talents as a pilot are questionable. Nonetheless, she has entered a training school. Through the series Noriko, joined by the beautiful and talented Kazumi Amano (アマノ・カズミ Amano Kazumi) (voice: Rei Sakuma), will fight to overcome the trauma of war, the doubts of her peers, and her own lack of confidence.”


- Care of Wikipedia

It’s unfortunately that my first exposure to this great OVA series was not until mid 2006 – when I could finally locate a somewhat decent torrent link (which I’ll try to find again and post it here), but Anno’s work does pose some very interesting theories on travel in space, and the whole concept of the space/time continuum. This series does not hold any punches on the technical aspect of how travel is achieved through vast expanses of outer space. I find that, despite this OVA series only being 6 episodes long, one can appreciate the hard work and guts exemplified by Noriko and can create a human attachment in such short time.

Characters

Noriko Takaya:



Noriko Takaya is blessed with the voice of Noriko Hidaka. Noriko Hidaka portrays Noriko from the age of eight through adolescence. When portraying the eight year old Noriko her voice takes on a childish quality that would make you think that you really were listening to an eight year old child and not the accomplished voice actress Noriko Hidaka. However, it is when she plays the older Noriko that the true extent of her talent becomes clear. Noriko Hidaka is able to portray the greatest range of emotions of any voice actress I have ever heard. From the deepest of sorrow to the height of elation Noriko Hidaka captures the essence of what her character is feeling with skill that most voice actresses only dream of.
Noriko Takaya is a freshman at the Okinawa Space High School For Girls and the daughter of a famous space captain. She is often teased because of her famous father, the other students think she is being pampered by the school because of her fathers fame. Noriko tries not to let the ridicule of her classmates get to her but she is still a young and sensitive girl who is hurt by the cruelty of others. When she is selected to accompany Kazumi Amano, the schools star pupil, in joining the space force she begins to feel inadequate and comes to believe that coach Ota only piked her because he himself is a survivor of the destruction of Norikos fathers ship the Lukshion. Noriko is a complex person who is forced to deal with responsibility far beyond the scope of what a fifteen year old girl should have to deal with. But throughout it all her spirit remains undiminished. In fact her love for her `big sister', Kazumi, and for her friends becomes her one of her greatest strengths which allows her to deal with everything that happens in her life and even become a source of strength for her "big sister" when she needs her most. Noriko Takaya is a passionate young girl with a great inner strength that can overcome even the most tragic of hardships.

Kazumi Amano:



Rei Sakuma turns in a magnificent performance as Kazumi Amano. Coming into her own in the latter episodes of Gunbuster, Rei Sakuma's moving performances as Kazumi Amano mark her as a voice actress of the highest calibre. She is able to bring such passion to the character of Kazumi that you can not help but be moved by her performance. Rei Sakuma portrays Kazumi both as a mature girl in her senior year of high school and as an adult some ten years older than her younger self. The change between the two performances is subtle and appropriate to the character. She is able to create the feeling that you are seeing the same character affected somewhat by age but still deep down the same girl you saw before. Such skill is a pleasure to listen to. Kazumi Amano is a senior in the Okinawa Space High School For Girls. Referred to by most of the other classwomen as onesama, meaning big sister, she is the schools star pupil and an inspiration to all of its students. She forms a friendship with Noriko Takaya when they are both selected to join the space force. As the series progresses Kazumi falls in love with coach Ota, the person in charge of training pilots for the Gunbuster.

Jung Freud:



Maria Kawamura lends her voice to the fiery tempered red-head Jung Freud. A young female pilot form the Soviet Union, Jung Freud becomes a close friend of both Noriko and Kazumi although she is jealous of Kazumi as she also is infatuated with coach Ota. Maria Kawamura does an excellent job portraying the flamboyant and short tempered Jung Freud. Jung is not however always as self confident as she often appears to be. Deep down she cares a lot for her friends and would rather die than part with them. In fact she nearly does die because she is forced to leave Kazumi and Noriko behind during the final battle with the aliens. Only after Noriko and Kazumi convince her that it is better to live so that tomorrow will come than to die simply because she will never see them again that Jung relents.

Coach Ota:



Norio Wakamoto provides the voice for the rather domineering figure of coach Ota. A survivor of the tragedy of the Lukshion coach Ota has been placed in charge of the Gunbuster project. It is his responsibility to find pilots for the invincible machine weapon Gunbuster. Emotion seldom is allowed to creep into coach Ota's thinking lest it cloud his judgement, With such a massive responsibility on his shoulders coach Ota is often abrupt and to the point in his dealings. However, there is a human side to coach Ota as well, despite the lengths that he goes to cover it up. This comes through occasionally as he shows pity on Noriko or live for Kazumi. Not until he feels the earth is truly safe is he able to open himself up to the emotions he feels for Kazumi.

Kimiko:



A friend of Noriko and fellow classmate Kimiko remains on the earth throughout the entire course of Gunbuster. She is one of the only characters that is not affected by the change in time that occurs due to space travel. She truly lives in the same time throughout her life. She is able to meet Noriko once after Noriko goes off to join the space force but at the time Noriko is still young while Kimiko is in her late twenties. Kimiko is never able to see Noriko again after that but her daughter who is ironically Norikos age is able to send a message to Noriko asking her to come back while she is still alive.

Smith Torren:



An RX-7 pilot from the United States Smith Torren meets Noriko Takaya while the two of them are wandering the corridors of the space cruiser Excellion. It seems they have both gone out on a dare issued by their respective squadrons. Each of them must leave a marker in the mech bay and return to their quarters undetected. However, coach Ota notices the pair roaming the corridors, which are supposed to be cleared during warp, and they end up spending the next morning cleaning the lenses of the Excellion's lasers. Smith Torrens name is actually a tip of the hat to veteran translator Torren Smith. Smith Torren is a likeable sort of fellow, personable and a bit arrogant. He and Takaya become friends during the Excellion's voyage to intercept the alien menace.

Torrents (Will be updated)

- GUNBUSTER 2 – DIEBUSTER -

Diebuster, known in Japan as Aim for the Top 2! (トップをねらえ 2! Top o Nerae 2!?) is a six episode anime OVA series created by Gainax in 2004.
The first episode was aired on October 3, 2004, while the final episode was released on August 14, 2006. A movie, officially titled Top o Nerae 2! & Top o Nerae! Gattai Gekijouban retelling/recapping the end of the first Gunbuster OVA and the finale of Diebuster. It was scheduled to air on October 1, 2006 at the Tokyo Anime Center's 3D Akiba theatre.
Also called Gunbuster 2 by some Western fans, it is the direct sequel to Gunbuster, but is animated in a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio, rather than the 4:3 aspect ratio of Gunbuster. It has been licensed for American release by Bandai. Additionally a manga adaptation of the series is available in Japan.
Top wo Nerae 2! Diebuster follows the story of Nono, a country girl who dreams of becoming a space pilot (or to be more precise, a 'Nonoriri,' an idealized version of what she thinks a space pilot should be like) who, due to a chance encounter with an actual space pilot finds herself becoming part of the elite Fraternity. Made up of teenaged pilots called Topless, and armed with quasi-humanoid weapons called Buster Machines, the Fraternity's mission is to protect the people of the Solar System from attack by swarms of uchuu kaijuu (literally, space monsters).
The series namely revolves around Nono's quest to become a Nonoriri, her relationship with Lark Melk Marre, the first Topless she meets whom she immediately idolizes (to the point of 'ironically' calling her onee-sama, or big sister), and the hard work she believes she has to do to be 'worthy' of Lark's attention. It also explores her interactions with the rest of the Idols, her efforts to fit in and, ultimately, the truth to her forgotten past.

Characters

[PICTURES TO BE UPLOADED SOON ENOUGH! PLEASE BE PATIENT!] DONE FOR THE MOST PART!

Nono (Seiyū - Fukui Yukari)



Hailing from a rural community in the Martian countryside, Nono is a simple and clumsy girl with a big dream: she wants to be a space pilot. And not just any space pilot, but a 'Nonoriri', which (in her mind anyway) is the pinnacle of what a space pilot can become. Of course, dreaming of being a pilot and actually becoming one are two entirely different things, as she soon finds out upon reaching the city. Even after landing a somewhat dead-end job as a waitress in one of the city's bars, Nono stubbornly holds on to her ideals, despite the chiding of her boss and the bar's regular patrons. Her persistence pays off, however, when she encounters a real space pilot in the person of Lark Melk Marre, member of the elite Fraternity and current pilot of Buster Machine Dix Neuf. It is through Lark (whom she impulsively dubs her onee-san, or big sister) that Nono finally finds the means to make her dreams a reality.

Possessing a bubbly personality and a near-endless supply of optimism, Nono seems to be a normal, if clumsy, country girl. However, Nono is anything but normal; in fact, she isn't even human, but an android, who can't quite remember the reason why she was built (though much of her past is revealed later in the series). She idolizes Lark, despite the fact that the latter seems to regard her with mild annoyance, and will do anything to please her.

Lark Melk Marre (Seiyū - Sakamoto Maaya)



The current holder of the top kill score among Topless pilots, Lark, along with fellow pilots Nichola and Chikko, is part of the so-called 'Idol' group (pilots with exceptionally high kill rates). She is also the current pilot of Buster Machine Dix Neuf, the oldest buster machine still in operation. Nicknamed 'princess' by her teammates, Lark is outwardly cool and self-confident -- traits that draw Nono's admiration for her, much to her initial annoyance. It is Lark who helps induct Nono (with some indirect assistance from Nichola) into the Fraternity as an 'auxiliary member', despite the fact that Nono manifests none of the traits associated with being a Topless.
While initially bothered by Nono's hero-worship of her, Lark gradually gets used to her company, to the point where she can talk about things she wouldn't normally tell anyone. She senses some potential in Nono, and admires the girl's never-give-up attitude a little (though she might act otherwise), but doubts if guts and perseverance alone can make the girl's dreams come true.

Nichola (Seiyū - Iwata Mitsuo)



The only male member of the 'Idol' team, Nichola is the pilot of Buster Machine Vingt Sept and, before Lark's inclusion into the ranks of the Topless, was considered one of the most powerful Topless of his generation. He is Lark's inspiration (in as much as Lark is Nono's inspiration), and seems to have a relationship with her, though it is debatable whether it is of a romantic nature or not. He is interested in Nono and sees potential in her to be a Buster Machine pilot, despite the fact that Nono has never manifested any kind of Topless reaction (something that, according to their minder Casio, may not be possible in artificial beings), and secretly helps Nono join the Fraternity under the premise of being an 'auxiliary' member.
Considered 'old' among the current Topless (as he is nearing late adolescence), Nichola is already having a hard time manifesting the Exotic Maneuvers needed to power his machine. As such, he seems to secretly be seeking a way to extend his 'tenure' as a Topless, to the point of joining the Serpentine Twin's inner circle and acting as their watcher over Nono's activities.

Chikko (Seiyū - Sawashiro Miyuki)



The final member of the 'Idol' team, Chikko is brash, impulsive, and utterly determined (at least in the beginning) to best Lark's longstanding kill record, seeing it as a chance to wipe the normally smug look off the face of the teacher's pet(another of Lark's nicknames among the members of the Fraternity). She has a low opinion of Topless in general (despite the fact that she's a Topless herself) due to an event in her childhood where -- in spite of her powers -- she was unable to cure the illness of a close friend, and is annoyed by Nono's constant attempts to prove herself worthy to become a Buster Machine pilot. Ironically, it is Nono who later helps her change her way of thinking for the better. While it isn't outwardly implied, the two become friends, though not on the same level as Nono and Lark.
Initially Chikko pilots the Buster Machine Soixante-Six, but it is destroyed when (against her initial orders) she uses it to impulsively attack the Jupiter Express (a massive swarm of space monsters that roamed the space between Jupiter and Saturn). After a period of self-doubt, she is able to awaken Buster Machine Quatre-Vingt-Dix, and it remains her machine for the rest of the series.

Casio (Seiyū - Yamazaki Takumi)



The only adult member of the 'Idol' team, Casio is their guardian, technician, and confidant rolled into one. A former Topless himself (he was a pilot of Dix Neuf before Lark joined the Fraternity), Casio possesses an intimate understanding of the workings of the Buster Machines, as well as the people forced to pilot them. That is part of why he was one of the first to express his doubts on Nichola's assertion that Nono had the potential to become a pilot. Despite his initial misgivings, however, he joins Lark in welcoming Nono into their 'team'.
Despite being a lech and a joker, Casio can be surprisingly serious when the situation merits it. He secretly yearns to pilot a Buster Machine again, but is resigned to the fact that he can only be near them, due to his advanced age. He is aware of the shady activities of the Serpentine Twins, but not the exact details of their little 'project.'

You may notice a change in the spelling of the names for most of the cast of Diebuster, as the names in the portraits are what Bandai Visual USA seems to be going with, but I've provided both version of the names for sake of reference.

Episodes

1. Please Let Me Call You Big Sister! (お姉さまと呼ばせてください！)
2. Don't call me Big Sis! (お姉さまなんかになりたくない)
3. I hate Topless! (トップレスなんて大嫌い)
4. Resurrection! The Legendary Buster Machine! (復活! 伝説のバスターマシン!)
5. They who move the Stars (星を動かすもの)
6. The Story of Your Life.

Opening Theme & Ending Theme
• "Grooving Magic", by ROUND TABLE feat. Nino
• "Stardust Tears", by ACKO

Torrents (Will be updated)

So please share your thoughts on both Gunbuster 1 and 2! =)

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How ya doing, buddy?

My compliments on a well-done thread.

I first got interested in Gunbuster thanks to 4chan, actually. People were talking about highly emotional endings or scenes, and Gunbuster came up quite a few times. I figured I'd give it a shot and grabbed the first series.

Wooow. Older animation certainly has a level of quality and detail missing in more modern works. I don't think I've ever seen any other series that tried to be as accurate with their science as this one (the short science lesson clips are a testament to that). That the series pays so much attention to the scientific details actually becomes a central part of the plot, what with the effects of prolonged travel at light speed. The character development was quite superb, and the conclusion truly touching.

After finishing that, I went and got Gunbuster 2 in a hurry. Nono's definitely got to be one of the coolest robots around! The plot kind of confused me for a while since I wasn't quite sure of the connection to the first series, but the final episode made it all worth it. Pretty good for something that started as a parody!

The music's also very appropiately epic. Must look into acquiring that...

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Bandai Visual USA messed up the DVD of Gunbuster. They changed the music in Noriko's training scene in episode one, most likely because they thought the music was too similar to Vangelis' theme from "Chariots of Fire" and everyone knows that everyone gets sued for everything in the US...

Still it's incredibly stupid given that every other release across the entire world has had the music intact, including the two previous US releases.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Pyocola, if you check Bandai Visual USA's website, the change was made with original creators' consent:

Quote:

*Note on Music Change on Episode 1(Disc 1):
The original producers of “Gunbuster” decided to change less than two minutes of music in the first episode. This change was made by the producers with the full consent of the director and composer. (Feb 1, 2007)

Anyway, this is excellent news. Gunbuster is one of the great classics.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Gunbuster is the last and final word on super robot anime. Nothing has ever been this good. Nothing ever will be this good. I've had a copy for years, but only a download. I'm so glad to finally add the DVDs to my collection this month.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Easy

Pyocola, if you check Bandai Visual USA's website, the change was made with original creators' consent:

I know but it doesn't really help much, and the initial decision to do it is still as puzzling and I'm sure the consent was little more than "Yeah sure, whatever, I'm busy now GTFO." :/

I'll probably grab the Region 3 box at some point instead, and use some timed scripts with it.

Most amazing jew boots

Originally Posted by Pyocola

I know but it doesn't really help much, and the initial decision to do it is still as puzzling and I'm sure the consent was little more than "Yeah sure, whatever, I'm busy now GTFO." :/

I'll probably grab the Region 3 box at some point instead, and use some timed scripts with it.

Or you could just grab one of the Gunbuster Renewal torrents that is as high quality as any DVD. I'm buying the new boxset for something to put on my shelf. I plan to continue watching the R2 DVD rips.

FELIPE NO

I wanted to buy it to have a legit version and to watch, but I don't want to support the kind of changes made to the R1 (or what forced the changes to be made) so then the R3 is the only legit option left (R2 is out of print by now.)

I don't particularly like DVD-rips either, at least not of older shows, as they usually filter out too much of the grain and detail to increase the compression efficiency.

On a more positive note, I wonder what kind of price point we'll be looking at for Gunbuster 2. It won't be dubbed so it should probably be cheaper than regular discs, though I personally don't quite understand why they don't just release it all in one go. Dubbing is usually what takes so much time and with that obstacle gone...

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Is the music the only change (that one scene)? I've been hearing nothing but good about this "classic", so I'm probably going to buy it.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I believe it is the only deliberate change. However there have been reports that the quality of the audio track for the first episode is noticeably worse than what it should be (and what the rest is), most likely due to sloppy editing of the soundtrack when they replaced the music.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

The music is the only change I've heard about. This set is based on the remastered edition available from Japan, so the quality should be the best available.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.