Top wo Nerae Gunbuster | Anime Review | Pinnedupink.com

Top wo Nerae! Gunbuster

Mecha in space is a combination used in many anime titles over the decades, each taking its own unique path. It's a given that such series features a good amount of Action, not to mention Sci-Fi and Shounen aspects. Hit or miss, it largely depends on the viewer, and most of the audiences for these series are Mecha fans. Some titles appeal to overall anime fans as well, and the reasons for this take many forms.

“Top wo Nerae! Gunbuster” is an anime featuring the genres of Action, Comedy, Drama, Mecha, Military, Sci-Fi, Shounen, and Space. It is also known as “Gunbuster,” “Top wo Nerae!”, “Aim for the Top!” and Diebuster 1. It is a six-episode OVA anime series that aired from the 7th of October 1988 until the 7th of July 1989. It was produced by Studio Fantasia and Tohokushinsha Film Corporation, licensed by Bandai Visual USA, and brought to life by Studio Gainax. The primary staff behind it included Watanabe Shigeru (Producer), Masuo Shouichi (Episode Director and Key Animation), Anno Hideaki (Director, Storyboard, Screenplay, and Key Animation) and Yamaga Hiroyuki (Script). The series is rated R+ for its Mild Nudity, being better suited for mature audiences.

Gunbuster is an Original series. It is adapted from the ”Comic Gunbuster” (Comic Gunbuster Special Edition) Manga which spans two volumes, published from August 1989 until May 1991. It is also adapted from the “Top wo Nerae! Next Generation: Hakkutsu Senkan-hen” single Manga serialized by Cyber Comics.

A sequel series named “Top wo Nerae 2! Diebuster” was released as a six-episode OVA series in October 2004. Additionally, an Alternative version was released by the title “Top wo Nerae! & Top wo Nerae 2! Gattai Movie!!”, a two-part movie on the 1st of October 2006. Two Special series were released as Summaries: “Top wo Nerae! Kagaku Kouza”, a six-episode Special series in October 1988, and “Kaette Kita Top wo Nerae! Kagaku Kouza”, a two-episode Special series in February 2012. A side story was also released by the title “Top wo Nerae! Gunbuster Specials” (Gunbuster Renewal EX), a three-episode Special series from the 25th of November 2000 until the 25th of March 2001.

The story of Gunbuster is set in a near fictional future, where humanity has already taken its very first steps into journeying within the far-off reaches of their galaxy itself. But by venturing into such uncharted confines of space, they must be prepared for the worst. As such, they stumble upon the discovery of a vast race of insectoid aliens, who come to be referred to as "Space Monsters."

These aliens are nothing short of hostile, as they seem to be dedicated to the very eradication of humanity. Each day, they creep closer and closer to discovering Earth and what will follow is imminent danger for humanity. Society never goes down without a fight; thus, they respond to the hostility in kind by developing giant fighting robots, Mechas, to be piloted by carefully-picked young men and women from around the globe.

The discovery of the Aliens itself was huge, and it triggered many events on Earth. Shortly afterward, Protagonist Noriko Takaya, who happens to be the daughter of a very famous but deceased space captain, enters a Special Military Training School. Unfortunately, though, despite her lineage, she has very questionable talents and skills as a pilot. In this fateful school, she meets her absolute polar opposite, Kazumi Amano, Who is very beautiful and talented as a Pilot. The two are unexpectedly made to work together, which makes the path before them a difficult one. The two heroines must now do their utmost to overcome their respective traumas of war while also overcoming their own complicated emotions.

The story of Gunbuster is overall done decently well. From hindsight, it can be summarized as “Giant Robots destroying armies of a hostile Alien race,” but in reality, the anime delves much deeper than that. It is a straightforward story, showcasing how humanity will utilize every tool at their disposal to win, even while they are getting cornered and Earth’s future has never looked grimmer.

While this core concept retains itself throughout the series, the pacing has been handled quite adeptly. The plot manages to flow smoothly, with all the important events covered and excluding any unnecessary content. It stays relevant and fitting without feeling rushed. The length will also be a treat for viewers who dislike lengthy anime.

The Characters of Gunbuster are one of its strongest points. The story amazingly depicted all the characters entangled in it. All of them had their own unique details, and while more screen time could have served them better, the producers did the characters justice within the limited time span.

Each character feels relevant; even the most insignificant ones make a comeback and prove their worthiness to the story by being good drives for the central characters, who must perform their duties at all costs. Noriko is a relatable protagonist, and her character development is praiseworthy. All the other characters lack this level of development, not surprising considering the length of this series, but they all adequately fulfill their roles. The character relationships between the leading trio were handled very well, consistently.

For an 80’s series, the Art and Animation of Gunbuster are outstanding while retaining the Studio’s unique style no less. They take a remarkable turn in the final episode, which is excellent overall while being memorable and dramatic. The action scenes are impressive even by modern anime standards. The character designs suit the 80’s while also being unique for each character. In this department, the series will catch viewers off guard once or twice within its short runtime.

The Sounds and Music of Gunbuster range from decent to good. The sound quality is good but is somewhat imbalanced with the OSTs at times. The Opening theme is "Active Heart" by Noriko Sakai and the Ending themes are “Try Again" by Noriko Sakai, "Active Heart" by Noriko Sakai and "Toki no Kawa wo Koete..." by Kohei Tanaka. All of these are good, especially the Opening, which is very catchy. The OSTs fit the series perfectly, and the sound effects are overall good. The Voice Actors deserve praise for outstanding performance as well, as they portrayed so much emotion.

Overall, Gunbuster is a great Mecha anime series. The central story concept is an overused trope in anime, but Gunbuster is unique in portraying the lengths humanity will go to survive. It also clearly illustrates the training young people go through before piloting a Mecha, something which is overlooked in most other Mecha anime. On these grounds, Gunbuster is a recommended short series! If you are interested in the genres or the premise, do not hesitate to give it a go, it’s only six episodes long.