Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
Sp1cyCrab
I don't understand who is the target audience of Gunbuster.
It pretends to be a Real Robot show with down to Earth characters and lots of pseudo science. Then you see that pilots in space don't wear any kind of a space suit. Then a secondary character dies within the same episode he is introduced in, and MC decides that she is now a hot blooded Super Robot protagonist. The titular Gunbuster appears that towers over normal mech and it has a completely different control scheme ala G Gundam. A lot of yelling happens, some monsters die, credits roll.
Gunbuster's key issue is its protagonist Noriko. She is as an epitome of an ordinary japanese girl but she wants to go to space because of her dead father. She is somewhat of a girl failure but she is encouraged by the mentor character to work h…
Read at the sourceCiaran_Zagami
I cannot think of a single nice thing to say about Gunbuster.
The action scenes are flat, boring and predictable. Gunbuster does some flashy thing, several billion enemies die. There's no weight or risk. The characters are dull. All the protagonist does is cry, promise to stop crying, then cry some more because having actual character development is hard. I could maybe say something nice about the animation, but what's the point in blowing your budget on giant killer mechas if their just going to do the same stuff as a generic shonen? Just scream, fling some laser beams from its fingers and yell attack names.
It really doesn't feel like a story made from passion, more like it's just collecting cliches and plot points.
Read at the sourcektulu007
Gunbuster was a Gainax OVA released in the late 80s. That's right, the same studio behind Evangelion, Gurren Lagann & Panty and Stocking. So, not a good track record. This was actually one of the early anime I watched way back when I was in my final years of High school. I remember it being kind of "meh" but that was a long time ago and I wasn't nearly as good at thinking about the media I consumed. So, we'll see what happens when I re-watch it.
Story:
Our heroine is Takaya Noriko, a student at a mecha piloting academy. Unfortunately, she's a terrible pilot. Fortunately, one of her dead father's former crew is given the coach position and she's selected to go into space with the actually deserving Amano Kazumi. Hooray for nepotism. This, naturally, puts them in a fighting force against…
Read at the sourceTakaCode
After watching the horrendously bad final 5 episodes of Darling in the Franxx where it ripped off so many elements from many mecha series from the past I decided to go back and re-watch Gunbuster. A series that I use to hate on my first watch back in 2012. However, as time went and I re-watched it over the course of 2016 and onward I started to like and appreciate the series a lot and also no surprise after my latest re-watch of Gunbuter where I finished the final episode a day after the final episode of Darling in the Franxx. I can definitely say this. Gunbuster is a very good and well written OVA series. Sure it has a couple of flaws which I will go ever throughout this but all of them were thankfully minor flaws that didn't ruin the show. Now with that out of the way let's get started.…
Read at the sourceLIQfilms
Let's take a trip back to the 80s. A time of MANLY men doing MANLY things such as Fist of the North Star, space operas in the vein of Legend of the Galactic Heroes, and mecha shows such as Gundam. It was a time where many genres were being shaped and moulded into what we see today, and, of course, by this time, the OVA was gaining large traction and popularity by anime fans and it allowed for plenty of creators to experiment and create their own shows cheaply and efficiently, allowing them to be break into the industry and be recognised by greater talent. Gunbuster is one such example, being that it was industry giant, Hideaki Anno's directorial debut, and still remains one of the greatest OVAs of all time, while also pioneering many of the tropes that we not only saw in later Gainax shows…
Read at the sourceRoarkTenjouin
Well, since my last 3 anime reviews have all been negative, I think I'll write a positive review. And since I'm currently watching Diebuster as of writing this, why not review it's prequel? Since the 2 halves are very different, I'm going to be averaging out the score on most of them.
Story - 7/10 (first half gets a 5/10; second half gets a 9/10)
In a way, Gunbuster is basically half NGE and half Gurren Lagann - in that order. The story is basically what would happen if a female version of Shinji got chosen to pilot a robot to defend humanity, and had to go to a training school - at least, the first half is pretty much like that. Episode 4 comes along, however, and Noriko (our heroine) apparently started reading either FoTNS or JJBA, because she takes not one, not two, but THREE levels in…
Read at the sourceshehrozeameen
This is a 6 episode classic. Nothing less than a classic honestly.
The characters of Norika and Amano really hold this series sincerely, and in my opinion, it has the best 6th episode (albeit with an ending that was a little too gaily for me to swallow, but I'll accept it as being part of the canon and as a part of its overall atmosphere, logical in the emotions being portrayed), and its progression really was good (especially after the middle of episode 1.
Construction wise, its a gem to watch - the emotions felt, the brevity of all the characters and their motivations, the depth of involvement of the story, and the sheer iron will of the people who took part in this clash of heavenly proportions. Its good stuff - the kind which makes you say "Hoorah for being human!" and all that.
An…
Read at the sourceBearDandy
There are many shows in anime that deserve more attention in the medium than they get. There can be many reasons as to why this attention is never obtained: the budget was low, the show came from an unknown studio/director, the animation was off, the show was ahead of its time, and so forth.
Gunbuster is one such series. The directorial debut of Hideaki Anno, Gunbuster is a short 6 episode anime that was highly influential to the industry, presenting new forms of story telling, and a firm grasp of world-building and characterization that propelled the show to new heights. Gunbuster is a show that while considered a classic, is hardly watched by newcomers into anime. That needs to be remedied.
Gunbuster starts off with a bang, going with a blistering pace to introduce the main characters,…
Read at the sourceChickenBlocker
Top wo Nerae or Gunbuster was created by Gainax in 1988 and was Hideaki Anno’s debut production. Though the show is only 6 episodes long it is regarded as a work on par with his much more famed Neon Genesis Evangelion. Top wo Nerae’s title was inspired by both “Aim for the Ace” (Classic tennis anime) and “Top Gun” (Hollywood Film). When watching Gunbuster some aspects of the show can almost immediately be drawn as similar to that of Neon Genesis, such as both protagonists having practically the same character archetype. The art, soundtrack, etc. can also be viewed as similar but that is where the similarities end. One thing that Gunbuster seems to do better than the majority of shows in its respected genre (Mecha) is its implementation of science and how it affects everything in the world.…
Read at the sourceGhadis_God
Gunbuster starts with a fairly simple formula. Monstrous alien life forms are threatening the Earth, a young and inexperienced pilot must rise to the occasion and use a super-powered mecha to lead humanity's counterattack against the enemy and save the planet. The execution of this premise, however, is among the best in the genre, and the seamless way this merely 6-episode OVA covers the main character Noriko's growth from student to hero while escalating both the stakes and scale of her battles is nothing short of masterful storytelling. From schoolyard bullying, to losing loved ones in battle, to shouldering the responsibility of the entire human race, we follow Noriko's development as a character, and the strengthening of her resolve to fight is likely better handled than in any other a…
Read at the sourceNonyflah
First, allow me to put this up front: I am compelled to call this show "Gunbuster". This is how it was titled in North America decades ago and what I watched it under at that time. You can guess that I am a little bit biased toward it, based on those two sentences.
There are flaws in Gunbuster. I've lived with this series for long enough that I'm able to admit that. But the question is whether it's strong enough to overcome these flaws. This is what this review endeavours to determine.
Story:
This is the reason that I love this show. Hideaki Ano chose to use time dilation as a plot device, something that is rarely seen in most science fiction, even in pieces where doing such would make perfect sense. And it is used to full effect, influencing and revealing the motivations and psychology…
Read at the sourceramimanify
The Drama of space.
First off, I tried this based on a review that was comparing it with Neon Genesis Evangelion, or rather be-dwarfing NGE instead when compared with Top wo Nerae
well, I won't judge harshly and I won't take sides, but if you're in for some major heart-wrenching scenes from the world of Anno, Hideaki, then you're in for a treat.
Story:
Coming from the same famed director of NGE, this series comprises heavy emphasis on human relationships in a sci-fi outer space setting, when the world of man is facing total annihilation at the hand of super-insect alien race, man has to invent ways and tools of survival that has never been imagined before, it falls down to a certain youth whose unrelenting will and ever-shining love to those around her becomes her ultimate tool in savin…
Read at the sourceDirtyMidnighter
This is a review of the 1988 OVA series Gunbuster. Be sure to also read my review of Diebuster, the second part of the Aim For The Top! series. I had never seen either before so I decided that watching both, one after the other, would be a great way to witness the progress of Gainax as a studio and perhaps to observe trends in the anime genre at large. After all, Gainax's productions has always had a certain effect on the industry. This is the one that started it all for this studio, so it's importance is inarguable.
I feel like the Aim For the Top! series fits into the category of media in which the original was a cult phenomenon that gained critical appreciation over time, and when the sequel finally came out much later, there was no way it could live up to the unrealistic expectations p…
Read at the sourceParabellum25
I think it was a few year ago that the name Gunbuster was introduced to me. Gurren Lagann had just ended and after finding myself dissatisfied with its ending, I asked some friends for some similar series. One of them mentioned Diebuster, another said that I shouldn't watch it until I had watched Gunbuster. Alas, I never actually bothered to watch any of the other super robot shows they named other than G Gundam. It was at a convention that I was again reminded of this amazing 6 episode OVA that I had neglected to watch. A friend of mine was cosplaying Noriko and after asking her about her costume, the discussion turned to Gunbuster, then to her excitedly telling me to go see it. So I did.
Immediately, the Gainax "touch" struck me. Many of the established Gainax tropes were here, everythi…
Read at the sourceLindle
[Spoiler Warning]
Gunbuster, or Top Wo Nerae! (Aim For The Top, in English), is considered to be the first thing the in/famous studio Gainax put out that is still known of today, and is often credited for putting them on the map. There are many people who consider Gunbuster to be an unprecedented classic, and a shining example of how mecha anime should be done, even 22 years later. And as was the case with another immensely overrated, 6-episode OVA made by Gainax that I shall not name, I'm sure I will hear no end of flak for this review, but let's make this clear right now: Gunbuster is fucking awful.
There is so much wrong with this anime I don't even know where to start. But much like that other OVA series I don't care to mention, I am absolutely dumbfounded by the popularity it comman…
Read at the sourceArchaeon
There is an ongoing controversy about Neon Genesis Evangelion and it's status as an iconic anime. As much as I dislike the main characters, I have to agree that NGE is a classic anime for many reasons. However, many diehard fans of the show become blinded to NGE's superior onee-chan, the show which marked the directorial debut of Hideaki Anno in anime - Top wo Nerae!
In the simplest terms, if Top wo Nerae! didn't exist, the NGE would never have been made. Many of the themes from TwN are key themes of NGE, and although NGE took a more metaphysical route with it's story, Top wo Nerae! remains firmly rooted in a more realistic approach (figuratively speaking that is).
The plot for TwN pays homage to the classic tennis anime Aim for the Ace, something which is clearly reflected in the title.…
Read at the sourceOcelot67
Top wo Nerae!, better known as Gunbuster, is the first notable work put out by Gainax. Directed by Hideaki Anno, who would later go on to head the ground-breaking Neon Genesis Evangelion, Gunbuster clearly exhibits ideas and characterizations similar to those featured prominently in Eva.
The problem is how they are delivered. Noriko, the main protagonist, is hesitant to pilot a mech (and later Gunbuster) due to her father's death in battle against the aliens. Almost every episode involves her bemoaning her losses, yet her despair doesn't give insight to her character as much as it makes her unlikable. Other characters share this flaw, with emotions intended to generate sympathy instead generating annoyance. This leads to a lot of
Gunbuster's saving grace, however, comes in its final two…
Read at the sourcebjtdevera
The Good:
- Plot progression is fast.
- Action scenes are old-fashioned, but still fun to watch.
- Characters are likeable.
The Bad:
- Plot is very simple (which can also be a good thing).
- Can be ridiculous at times.
Conclusion:
This one's a bit over the top, which means if you want to enjoy it, you'll have to put your brain aside. If you just sit back and enjoy the super robot kicks, the laughable drama, the ignorant human-centric logic, and the brief nudity, you'll have a great ride.
Read at the sourceNezerchin
First and foremost, I should mention this is my first review for MAL.
Secondly, I am surprised it took me so long to see this Anime through to completion.
The story itself was well done. While the actual content can be summarized to "Giant Robot destroys an army of aliens," it is multitudes deeper than that. But just as important as the content itself, the pacing to this Anime is wonderful. It zips right along with just about nothing that seems like it could have been omitted, and yet never felt too fast. It was the perfect length to keep myself fully engrossed into the plot. What really made the plot matter was its wonderful depiction of the characters it entangled. They were all well detailed, and I felt no character was robbed of screen-time despite the shows brevity. Again, like the…
Read at the sourcepachu
I watch anime for many many years, i had stages of my life that i watch mostly anime and stages that i pass years without seeing any anime. And someday, when i was searching on the net, i found a recommendation for Gunbuster, Top wo Nerae! (Aim for the top).
It was aired on 1988, but on the first time i saw, i didnt noted, i think it was proposital to have old look style, and only later after seeing the first episode that i got to know that was from 1988. It only has 6 chapters, and in the first chapter, it is kinda cliche-style of the stupid-girl-discover-that-is-very-good-and-bypass-all-difficulties. But when the aliens pop in, and the main characters go to space, everything changes. And based in REAL teories from Einstein and other famous physics, it explains everythings that happen in…
Read at the source