Gunbuster
1988 • GAINAX
- Format
- OVA
- Aired
- 1988
- Episodes
- 6
- Status
- Finished
- Studio
- GAINAX · Studio Fantasia · Bandai Visual · Victor Entertainment
- Genres
- Action · Drama · Mecha · Science fiction
In the very near future, a race of huge, insect like aliens is discovered traveling the galaxy. These aliens seem dedicated to the eradication of the human species as it 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. Although Noriko's father was a famous Captain 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, will fight to overcome the trauma of war, the doubts of her peers, and her own lack of confidence.
Synopsis from AniList
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Where it came from
Gunbuster, known in Japan as Top o Nerae!, was released in 1988 as a six-episode original video animation produced by Gainax. It served as the directorial debut for Hideaki Anno, who would later achieve global fame with Neon Genesis Evangelion. The series was conceived as a high-concept tribute to space opera and classic robot anime tropes, blending hard science fiction themes with intense emotional melodrama. It emerged during a pivotal moment for the studio as they sought to establish their voice in the burgeoning direct-to-video market.
The production is notable for its ambitious visual style, featuring character designs by Haruhiko Mikimoto and mechanical designs by Kazutaka Miyatake. While the series begins in a traditional mecha format, the final episode is famously rendered in stark black-and-white to emphasize a shift in tone and budget constraints. Upon its release, Gunbuster was highly regarded for its technical innovation and remains a foundational work that signaled the rise of Gainax as a major creative force in the anime industry.
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