Gunbuster (Video 1988)
"Top wo Nerae!" (original title)

A young pilot, daughter of a deceased space captain, is selected to pilot a colossal robot as the key point of Earth's defence in a space war.

Director:

Hideaki Anno

Writers:

Hideaki Anno, Toshio Okada,

Stars:

Noriko Hidaka, Rei Sakuma, Norio Wakamoto

Cast

Credited cast:
Noriko Hidaka	...	Noriko Takaya (voice)
Rei Sakuma	...	Kazumi 'One-sama' Amano (voice)
Norio Wakamoto	...	Kôichirô 'Coach' Ôhta (voice)
Maria Kawamura	...	Jung Freud (voice)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Yuriko Fuchizaki	...	Kimiko Higuchi / Takami Akai (voice)
Masako Katsuki	...	Reiko Kashiwara (voice)
Kazuki Yao	...	Smith Toren (voice)
Tamio Ôki	...	Tatsumi Tashiro (Captain of Excelion) (voice)

Storyline

In the future, Earth is under attack by gigantic aliens. Noriko Takaya, daughter of a famous captain in the battle against the aliens, enlists in the military to combat the aliens, but must struggle with her memories, the pressures of training, the ridicule of her classmates, and herself to make herself ready to be a mech pilot. She is eventually partnered up with her rival/idol, and given control of one of two Gunbuster mechs, Earth's most powerful weapon to combat the aliens. With the fate of the earth in her hands, Noriko flies off to meet her destiny...

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Plot Keywords:

space | robot | space war | training | anime | 

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Genres:

Animation | Action | Drama | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

Gainax Net [jp]

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

7 October 1988 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Gunbuster

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bandai Visual Company, Gainax, Victor Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min 30 min (6 episodes)

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Animator Yoshiyuki Sadamoto was the animator responsible for giving Noriko her distinctive "bouncing bustline".

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Quotes

Jung Freud: The moon is great, you're weightless! On Earth, your bra's too tight, your shoulders are in knots, and soon your boobs sag.

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Connections

References Blade Runner (1982)

User Reviews

HeaVy aNiMe, SCi-Fi SPaCe oPeRa***6/10***

This anime is typical of the style used in many cheesy 80's production due to the upheaval in the economy at the time, but dawns on the hard working, yet peanut paid animators.

With most Space anime, there is only one goal is foccuss-- to engage the enemy in combat noisily, and take 'em down with an outrageously rapid feat of lighting shows. I've forgotten the story, but it revolves around the human race pitted against an alien invasion fleet in some 300 years hence, using the latest and greatest in combat technolodgy to tear then up good.

The story is moderate, and not at all garbage, but at times the fragile,sentimental side of things can really get under your skin...like when the girls are continously sobbing in their cheesy, skimpy spandex costumes. The best bits are the action sequences though.

The character design isn't that hot, but the mecha sequences are something else; with fluent, well drawn, carefully painted cels. The organic alien design is also unique as well, despite they're mostly slowly progressing cardboard cutouts. In the later part of the series, the colour is dropped to black and white for some unknown reason, maiking the 'watchability' of the anime go from strength to strength, but consistantly holding a drab atomsphere.

You have to give the studio credit for the epic, thought-provoking,and highly origional ending though. One solid fact I can hold about this show is that the exeptional quality of the animation is always consistant. A good watch ***6/10***