Gunbuster: Difference between revisions

| caption = Official [[Blu-ray]] cover from [[Discotek Media]] featuring Kazumi (left), Noriko (middle), and Jung (right).

| episode_list = #ReleaseEpisodes

In 2015, a space expedition fleet led by Admiral Yuzo Takaya is destroyed by {{nihongo|space monsters|宇宙怪獣|Uchū Kaijū}}. Six years later, Takaya's daughter Noriko enlists in the Space Academy in [[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]]. She is suddenly selected with senior student Kazumi Amano to represent Japan in an upcoming space expedition. When it is known across the academy that she is the daughter of Yuzo, and that Coach Koichiro Ohta was one of the survivors of the 2015 space attack, Noriko is subjected to bullying and harassment. Ohta, however, believes Noriko has the same potential as Kazumi, and through {{nihongo|"hard work and guts"|努力と根性|Doryoku to konjō}}, she strives to become the best Machine Weapon pilot and take control of the experimental giant robot Gunbuster to help Earth win the war against the space monsters.

:Originally from [[Osaka]], Noriko enlists in the space academy in [[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]] to follow the footsteps of her father Yuzo. Because Yuzo was the captain of the ''Luxion'' fleet that was attacked by the space monsters in 2015, Noriko has been nicknamed the {{nihongo|"Daughter of Defeat"|全滅娘|Zenmetsu Musume}} by other students at the space academy who accuse her of [[nepotism]]. She is further subjected to bullying when Koichiro "Coach" Ohta selects her with senior student Kazumi Amano to represent Japan as part of the Top Squadron program. When Ohta convinces her that she has the same potential as Kazumi, Noriko undergoes intense training to improve her piloting skills and prove her peers wrong before venturing to space with Kazumi. Noriko was named after the wife of Gainax storyboard artist [[Shinji Higuchi]].

:The Machine Weapon coach of the Okinawa Girls' Academy and head of the Gunbuster development program. Ohta was a survivor of the space monsters' attack on the ''Luxion'' fleet in 2015, having lost sight on his right eye and sustaining injuries on his right leg that require him to use a cane. He is always seen wearing [[aviator sunglasses]] to conceal the scar across his right eye. Because Captain Yuzo Takaya helped him escape during the attack, Ohta selects Noriko and trains her as a debt of honor to the captain. Ohta was named after manga artist {{nihongo|Nao Minda|眠田 直|Minda Nao}}, whose real name wasis Kōichirō Ōta. The cane Ohta uses is an homage to [[Ultraseven (character)#Dan Moroboshi|Dan Moroboshi]], based on his appearance in the 1974 TV series ''[[Ultraman Leo]]''.

:Noriko's father and Admiral of the ship {{nihongo|''Luxion''|るくしおん|Rukushion}}. He was killed when the space monsters attacked his fleet nearat the [[CygnusPerseus (constellation)|Cygnus constellationArm]] in 2015.

In 2011, Bandai Visual announcedreleased a [[Blu-ray]] releaseset of the OVA series with extras.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-08-04/aim-for-the-top-gunbuster-bd-box-to-add-new-footage |title=Aim for the Top! Gunbuster BD Box to Add New Footage (Updated) - News |publisher=Anime News Network |access-date=2014-08-24}}</ref> The Blu-ray setIt was released in Japan on 24 February 2012, in regular and complete limited edition sets.<ref>{{cite web|last=Luster|first=Joseph|title=Japanese Gunbuster Blu-ray Gets Boatload of Extras|url=http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2011/08/04/japanese-gunbuster-blu-ray-gets-boatload-of-extras|publisher=Crunchyroll|access-date=2 June 2012}}</ref> Both sets feature the newly re-recorded 5.1 audio (that was used for the theatrical compilation), along with the original 2.0 mix, remastered video, a brand new short, audio commentary, video shorts, and a 16-page booklet. The complete edition also included a bonus disc, full of production materials, never before seen video footage and a 100-page booklet.

''Gunbuster: The Movie'' was released on Blu-ray in the U.S. by Honneamise.<ref>{{cite news|title=''Gunbuster vs. Diebuster'' Licensed by Bandai Visual USA|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-05-26/gunbuster-vs-diebuster-licensed-by-bandai-visual-usa|work=[[Anime News Network]]|date= 2007-05-26|access-date=2007-05-30}}</ref> It was initially released on DVD as the box set ''Gunbuster vs. Diebuster: Aim for the Top! The GATTAI!! Movie''. A [[High-definition video|high-definition]] Blu-ray version was released in November 2008 by [[Bandai Entertainment]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Bandai Schedules Blu-ray ''Freedom'', ''Gunbuster/Diebuster'' Movie|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-07-04/bandai-schedules-blu-ray-freedom-gunbuster/diebuster-movie|work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=2008-07-04|access-date=2008-09-16}}</ref> (following the liquidation of Bandai Visual USA<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-05-23/bandai-visual-usa-to-be-liquidated-by-september|title=Bandai Visual USA to be Liquidated by September|work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=2008-05-23|access-date=2008-09-16}}</ref> and Bandai Entertainment's acquisition of the Honneamise label<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-07-01/bandai-entertainment-reveals-honneamise-lineup|title=Bandai Entertainment Reveals Honneamise Lineup|work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=2008-07-01|access-date=2008-09-16}}</ref>). [[Section23 Films#Maiden Japan|Maiden Japan]] later licensed ''Gunbuster: The Movie'' on Blu-ray and DVD on 17 May 17 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/releases.php?id=31111 |title=Gunbuster the Movie (Sub.Blu-ray-A, Maiden Japan) |website=[[Anime News Network]] |access-date=2023-12-10}}</ref> It was re-released by [[Sentai Filmworks]] on 13 September 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/releases.php?id=43598 |title=Gunbuster the Movie (Sub.Blu-ray-A, Sentai Filmworks) |website=[[Anime News Network]] |access-date=2023-12-10}}</ref>

On 7 August 2021, it was announced at [[Otakon]] that [[Discotek Media]] will releasereleased ''Gunbuster'' on Blu-ray on 30 May 2023, with a dub produced by Sound Cadence Studios, marking the first time the OVA series was dubbed in English.<ref>{{cite news|title='Discotek Licenses Gunbuster, Girly Air Force, Tomorrow's Joe 2: The Movie|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-08-07/discotek-licenses-gunbuster-girly-air-force-tomorrow-joe-2-the-movie/.175930|work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=2021-08-07|access-date=2021-08-07}}</ref> The Blu-ray was initially scheduled for release on 25 April 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gunbuster is up to pre-order! |url=https://twitter.com/discotekmedia/status/1615815782252019712 |author=[[Discotek Media]] |publisher=[[Twitter|X]] |access-date=2023-01-24 |language=en}}</ref> However, it was pushed back to 30 May.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A small delay! |url=https://twitter.com/discotekmedia/status/1633905909943635968 |author=[[Discotek Media]] |publisher=[[Twitter|X]] |access-date=2023-04-24 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/releases.php?id=46145 |title=Gunbuster - The Complete OVA Series (Blu-ray-A) |website=[[Anime News Network]] |access-date=2023-12-10}}</ref>

''Gunbuster: The Movie'' was released on Blu-ray by [[Beez Entertainment]] in the UK in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mania.com/beez-talks-bluray_article_85721.html|title=Beez Talks Blu-ray|work=Mania|date=2008-07-07|access-date=2008-09-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217200729/http://www.mania.com/beez-talks-bluray_article_85721.html|archive-date=2008-12-17|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 28 August 2023, [[Anime Limited]] released the OVA series on Blu-ray in August 2023 in two editions: standard Blu-ray and Collector's Edition; the latter includes a 48-page art book and a double-sided A3 poster. The Blu-ray does not includeincludes Discotek Media's English dub.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.alltheanime.com/products/gunbuster-complete-ova-collection-blu-ray |title=Gunbuster Complete OVA Collection - Blu-ray |publisher=[[Anime Limited]] |access-date=2023-12-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.alltheanime.com/products/gunbuster-collectors-edition |title=Gunbuster Complete OVA Collection - Blu-ray Collector's Edition |publisher=[[Anime Limited]] |access-date=2023-12-12}}</ref>

| ShortSummary = In 2021, freshman student Noriko Takaya is paired with star athlete Kazumi Amano to represent Japan in an upcoming space expedition. Because her father was killed during a space monster attack in space in 2015, as well as the fact that Coach Ohta was one of the surviving crew members during the incident, Noriko is subjected to bullying and harassment by other students. Ohta convinces Noriko that she has the same potential as Kazumi and subjects her to intense training for weeks. Furious over Ohta's decision, senior student Reiko Kashiwara challenges Noriko to a Machine Weapon duel. Despite doubting herself at first, Noriko uses her instincts to defeat Kashiwara. The next day, Noriko, Kazumi, and Ohta fly off to the ''Silver Star'' orbital base.

| ShortSummary = Upon discovering that Noriko has been spending her extra time training with Ohta, Jung challenges her to a duel, but before they can begin, Noriko breaks down when the sight of space reminds her of Smith's death. On their way back to Earth, the ''Exelion'' fleet is suddenly attacked in the middle of warp by the space monsters, forcing the fleet to exitreveal warpthe nearlocation of the Solar System upon warping out. Surrounded and outnumbered by the space monsters, Tashiro orders the ''Exelion'' to perform a [[kamikaze]] run on the enemy flagship, but Noriko launches in the uncompleted Gunbuster to deal with the alien threat. After saving Kazumi and Jung, Noriko single-handedly stops and destroys the flagship, prompting the space monsters to retreat back to their home world and allowing the ''Exelion'' to return to Earth.

| ShortSummary = Upon their return to Earth in 2032, Noriko and Kazumi formally graduate from high school, and the Top Squadron is disbanded. When it is discovered that the space monsters are assembling a massive army outside the Solar System, Ohta sends Noriko and Kazumi to escort the decommissioned ''Exelion'' to the center of the space monsters' gathering and detonate its degeneracy generatorreactor. While on route to the target, Kazumi suddenly breaks down, as Ohta has been diagnosed with space radiation syndrome and has less than six months to live. Noriko convinces her to continue the fight, as that is what their coach wants, and they combine their ships to form Gunbuster to protect the ''Exelion'' from oncoming attacks. Upon reaching the target, they retreat before the ''Exelion'' explodes, creating a [[black hole]] that takes out the entire space monster army and parts of the Solar System. Gunbuster returns to Earth more than six months later, and Kazumi discovers that Ohta is still alive.

| ShortSummary = It is the year 2048. After marrying Ohta and settling with him until his death, Kazumi warps to Sagittarius A* to rendezvous with the ''Eltreum'' fleet to deliver Buster Machine No. 3, which is the planet [[Jupiter]] compressed into a giant bomb powerful enough to wipe out the space monsters' star system. The fleet and Gunbuster protect the bomb from massive waves of space monster fleets for 22 minutes until the spaceattack monsters halt their attackstops. The bomb is activated, but fails to detonate, as heavy damages during the battle have reduced its energy output to 98%. Noriko and Kazumi dive into the depths of the bomb and use Gunbuster's main degeneracy generatorreactor to trigger its detonation. The ''Eltreum'' fleet warps back to Earth, leaving Gunbuster behind as it tries to outrun the bomb's massive explosion. TwelveWhile thousanda yearsseverely later,damaged NorikoGunbuster andescapes Kazumithe returnblack hole, it returns to the Solar System in the year 14,292. TheyNoriko and Kazumi see that the Earth is dark, fearing that human civilization has long gone, but a massive light pattern suddenly appears on the planet saying: {{nihongo|"WELCOME HOMƎ!"|オカエリナサイ|Okaerinasai}}.{{Efn|name=okaerinasai|The final [[katakana]] "イ" is reversed, which indicates the current civilization was mimicking the bygone language.}}. Noriko bids farewell to Gunbuster as she and Kazumi eject and fall back into Earth.

In 1989, Bandai published {{nihongo|''Comic Gunbuster''|コミックガンバスター|Komikku Ganbasutā}}, an anthology manga featuring side stories of the OVA's characters. The manga ran for two volumes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%82%B3%E3%83%9F%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%82%AC%E3%83%B3%E3%83%90%E3%82%B9%E3%82%BF%E3%83%BC-%E3%82%A2%E3%83%B3%E3%82%BD%E3%83%AD%E3%82%B8%E3%83%BC/dp/4891890312book |title=コミックガンバスター Comic – August 1, 1989 |publisherid=[[Amazon (company){{ASIN|Amazon]] 4891890312|access-datecountry=2024-01-19jp}} }}</ref>

In 2010, [[Kadokawa Shoten]] published a new manga adaptation of ''Gunbuster'', with artwork by Kabocha. The manga ran for five volumes, with the final volume released in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/201103000713/ |title=トップをねらえ！　（１） ！（１）|publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]] |access-date=2024-01-19}}</ref><ref name="Kabocha"/>

In the mid-1990s, [[Kaiyodo]], in association with [[Xebec (studio)|Xebec]], released a [[Polyvinyl chloride|PVC]] figure of Gunbuster. Though limited in posability, the figure featured an extra set of arms and hands, as well as the weapons Buster Tomahawk and Buster Home Run from the radio dramas. In 2005, Kaiyodo released a newer figure sculpted by Katsuhisa Yamaguchi (of [[Revoltech]] fame). Though shorter than the original, this newer figure was more detailed and poseable than its predecessor.<ref name="Gunbuster toys">{{cite web |url=http://www.toponeraegunbuster.com/Gunbuster-Toys.html|title=Gunbuster Toys, Trading Cards and Clothing |authorfirst=Carl E. |last=Lindblom Jr. |work=toponeraegunbuster.com |access-date=5 May 2015}}</ref> A newer version of Gunbuster was released in the Revoltech line as Figure #101 in 2011. Once again sculpted by Yamaguchi, it is capable of transforming into both Buster Machines, and has parts to replicate tearing out the power generator core.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectiondx.com/news_item/121410/revoltech_gunbuster |title=Revoltech Gunbuster |author=CollectionDX |access-date=2013-03-13}}</ref>

* [http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/Entry/top_o_nerae "Top o Nerae"] — ''[[The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction]]''

[[Category:DiscotekFilms Mediaset in 2015]]

[[Category:Films set in 20232021]]