Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Image Entertainment
EAN: 0858604001042
Format: Box set
Item Dimensions: Array
Label: Image Entertainment
Languages: Array
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
MPN: BUDH0104DVD
Number Of Items: 3
Publisher: Image Entertainment
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2007-02-20
Running Time: 190
Studio: Image Entertainment
Theatrical Release Date: 1988

The directorial debut of acclaimed creator Hideaki Anno, GUNBUSTER is a legendary anime fan favorite that casts pretty girls and giant robots into a moving epic of interstellar naval war. Newly translated and re-mastered in HD 24P format, Gunbuster has never before been available on DVD in North America...until now! 2015: Earth's first faster-than-light ship, the Luxion, is lost, attacked by unidentified space monsters in the Perseus Arm. Six years later, Noriko Takaya, daughter of the Luxion's commander, enters the Okinawa Girls' Space Pilot High School, vowing to be a pilot and follow her father's trail to the stars. But is she prepared for the intense training to become a member of the elite Top Squadron? Noriko's fight has just begun and the fate of all humanity depends on her meeting the challenge!
The OAV Gunbuster (a.k.a. "Aim for the Top") proved so popular it spawned a manga series, the sequel Diebuster (2004) and a theatrical feature (2006). When she was a child, Noriko Takaya's father was killed in humanity's first encounter with aliens from the core of the galaxy. Her desire to follow him into space leads Noriko to the Okinawa Girls' Space Pilot High School, where she meets her future partner Kazumi Amano and Coach Koichiro Ohta. Noriko displays little aptitude for steering mecha, but Ohta sees the potential beneath the maladroit exterior. Soon Noriko is in space, piloting the experimental robot-suit Gunbuster and fighting aliens who look like the monsters in Gahan Wilson cartoons. Gunbuster plays like a mixture of Patlabor, Star Wars, and Robotech, with a generous helping of fan service nudity. In the intervening years, Noriko's mixture of weepy ineptitude and I'll-do-my-best fire has become an anime archetype. And there's simply too much story for a six-part OAV: characters appear and disappear with little effect.

Gunbuster has received a great deal of attention because it marked the first commercial success from the fledgling Gainax studio and the directorial debut of Neon Genesis Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno. It's hard to see much foreshadowing of Anno's later brilliance, except for the dramatic use of a black and white palate and still artwork in the last episode, set 12,000 years in the future. Spreading six episodes with minimal extras over three discs seems chintzy, as the material could easily fit on two or even one. (Rated 16 and older: violence, nudity, minor risqué humor) --Charles Solomon

Customer Rating:
Summary: A highly recommended mecha classic!
Comment: The directorial debut of acclaimed director Hideaki Anno, Gunbuster is a legendary anime fan favorite that casts pretty girls and giant robots into a moving epic of insterstellar naval war. Newly translated and re-mastered in HD 24P format, Gunbuster has never before been available on DVD in North America...until now!

2015: Earth's first faster-than-light ship, the Luxion, is lost, attacked by unidentified space monsters in the Perseus Arm. Six years later, Noriko Takaya, daughter of the Luxion's commander, enters the Okinawa girls' Space Pilot High School, vowing to be a pilot and follow her father's trail to the stars. But is she prepared for the intense training to become a member of the elite Top Squadron? Noriko's fight has just begun-and the fate of all humanity depends on her meeting the challenge!

It's hard to believe that it's been nearly 20 years when I first discovered "Gunbuster", the awesome mecha anime that has won the hearts for anime fans since its first release back in 1988.

The year was 1992 and I discovered this awesome series through an anime club meeting and I was just enamored by the series so much that I purchased the English subtitled VHS videos which contained two episodes for like $35 through Books Nippan. In fact, when the VHS was re-released in 1996 by another company, I had to buy that because the video tapes have been viewed too many times and started to lose its quality.

It's really interesting how many people I converted to anime fans through letting them borrow my video tapes. "Gunbuster" is one of the few rare series you will find where each episode is well written, gripping and you just can't stop after one episode. You just want to watch the whole series completely throughout.

What I really enjoyed is how the OAV series fluctuated between parodying other anime but also its attention to light speed travel, black holes and warp factor.

Of course, back in the 90's, not only did you have a knock out punch with beautiful animation, a well written storyline but you also had the top voice actresses from a popular anime series that was so big among American anime fans at that time. You had Hidaka Noriko as the main character Takaya Noriko (note: Hidaka is known for the voice talent of Akane from "Ranma 1/2), Sakuma Rei as Amano Kazumi (note: Sakuma was the voice talent of "Ranma 1/2 character Shampoo) and then you had the "Active Heart" theme song by then-pop idol Sakai Noriko.

The series would feature a lot of references and then at the end of each episode, fans were treated with "Science Lesson" episodes featuring chibi versions of the characters featuring even more references.

But as much as the anime references to other anime and scientists, "Gunbuster" also worked as a fun parody with its use of the title "Gunbuster! Top o Nerae" (Aim for the Top) which is a parody of the anime and manga tennis series "Ace wo Nerae!" and the hugely popular Western film "Top Gun".

Of course we know that director Hideaki Anno went on to be known for his creation of "Neon Genesis Evangelion" and the "Science Lessons" director Tsurumaki Kazuya went on to direct "FLCL" and "Gunbuster 2.

Here we are 20 years since the original OAV's were released in Japan, six episodes all on DVD featuring Noriko as she pushes herself to become a formidable pilot, watching her as the weak girl who would cry a lot but push herself and train herself to become one of the best pilots from the squadron.

There is so much to love about the anime, not just about the oh-so-good feeling of an underdog showing everyone that she can do it and accomplish things and prove them wrong but also how science is used in this series. Each time they go light speed into space, each minute that goes by, three months has gone by in Earth.

So, what could be complex is actually well written and explained in the anime series as each time Noriko arrives back to Earth, her schoolmates are much older than her and have children.

I guess you can say that with each episode, you get much more than what you would expect. That's how I felt about "Gunbuster". Fulfilled, excited about the next episode and wanting more.

Also, for the guys wanting a little "H", "Gunbuster" does have it's share of nudity scenes.

As for the DVD, inside the box, you will find a folding case with three DVD's featuring artwork of the cast of "Gunbuster" and the "Gunbuster" mech itself.

Also included is a booklet featuring character information, "Gunbuster" Gainax behind-the-scenes information plus information on each episode

The episodes are presented in its full aspect ratio with the final episode being black and white and letterboxed. The animation looks awesome even for it being 20-years-old, I really enjoyed how this anime was remastered.

The sound is offered in Linear PCM 2.0 which is a higher bit rate for audio.

There is no English dub, all vocals are Japanese and for subtitles, you can choose to have it on or off or on with the signs translated as well.

The menus are clean with selections of each episode (two episodes per disc) and the Science Lesson Chapters.

As for extra features, there are a few.

Disc 1 features "Good Morning OGH!" which was the promotional trailer produced back in July 1988. This is featured in 2ch, 5.1ch and 5.1ch (dialogue off). There is a quic intro explanation how the trailers were saved on to a VHS tape to a super hi-8 tape and thus the quality is not great. But you start to see how the quality between the DVD versus a promo tape are.

Disc 2 features "Cosmic Battle Space" in 2ch or 5.1ch which features another perspective (from episode 4) of the fight between the squadron and the alien monsters.

Disc 3 features the "Sizzler Project" in 2ch or 5.1ch. This is a promotional trailer produced in 1989 and actually features character Jung Freud learning about the new Gunbuster mechas being created. This was very interesting to see and similar to the first promotional trailer.

"Gunbuster" has remained one of my top 3 anime that I will forever treasure in my heart. It's a series that shows guts, determination, happiness, sadness. It's literally an emotional rollercoaster that has made me smile, cry...

It's well written, features really awesome scenes and interaction between the characters. Well-acted, well-animated and just one of those rare treasures that have come along that you just don't see as much these days from a lot of anime.

Especially with a storyline managed to be complete in six episodes, I'm impressed.

I know that there is a region 0 disc that was released with a fourth disc that featured a rough episode five and unmatted episode six with a few other features but sure, as much as it would have been nice to have that in the US release, I'm not actually losing sleep over it either.

For a great price, you get all six episodes on DVD. For the boxset is the price I paid for one VHS back then. And I know for dub fans who don't like to read subtitles, it's going to be hard to recommend it to you to begin with.

But if you want quality anime that still looks very cool now as it did 20 years ago and also to watch one of the best, well written sci-fi/mecha anime OAV series ever released, then definitely check out "GUNBUSTER".

I highly recommend the "Gunbuster" anime DVD box set. You won't regret it.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: fantasmic
Comment: what started out as a parody quickly turned into a true anime classic. great story telling, great animation, great conclusion, great series, nuff said.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Legendary anime
Comment: Gunbuster (Aim for the Top!) is a masterpiece in Japanese animation. Created by the famous anime studio GAINAX, Gunbuster starts off as seemingly light girls' high school drama and unfolds across space and time into an epic galaxy-spanning space opera. It follows the adventures of Noriko Takaya, a student at the Okinawa Space Force Girls' High School, as she pursues the ambition of becoming a pilot in space like her late father. Along the way she will meet the inspiring and preternaturally gifted Kazumi Amano (a.k.a. Onee-sama) and a tough coach who is willing to train her to her fullest potential. She will face bitter rivals on the ground, horrifying enemies out in space, and heartbreaking separation from the ones she loves as she strives for a position in the elite "Top Squadron" and eligibility to pilot the amazing super-weapon, Gunbuster.

Gunbuster was mode "for otaku, by otaku" and even as it builds to an epic climax it drops references left and right to everything from sports anime to the science fiction works of Robert Heinlein and Isaac Asimov. Playing "spot the reference" will be fun and rewarding if you're in on the joke but if not the magnificent story and sterling art design will still carry you away. The characters were designed by Macross designer Haruhiko Mikimoto and are more fluidly and emotionally animated than you will see in a lot of anime today.

This DVD release from Bandai Visual comes loaded with extra features like the famous "science lessons" (all of them including the ones from the LD release) and some never-before-seen footage which shows a different perspective on the Gunbuster saga. My biggest complaint is that it has some nasty cover art that looks like it was done by a fan artist plucked fresh from Deviant Art and commissioned to do the job. It's not as bad as the Captain N cover art but it doesn't do justice to the wonderful characters. Thankfully, this is counterbalanced by a wonderful booklet inside which contains loads of original design art, character descriptions, and information about the production itself.

If you are a true anime fan and not just a Narutard you really owe it to yourself to own or at least watch this incredible release.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: This is one of the classic titles who appreciates story behind the mechas
Comment: Finally on DVD, my wish has came true after 15+ years! I have exposed to animes in the early 90's and this is one of the titles it will be in my heart. Why? The storyline is very deep and the development of the characters are very well done. There are couple areas that got me teary eyed as well. Everything is hand drawned and detailed when computer use was not involved. I would recommend to anyone who really to see some classic animes, this is one of them. Keep in mind this is suited for 16+yrs due to graphical violence and some nudity. This is maybe the only chance ever existed on DVD.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Hideaki Anno, you've got a knack for endings that trouble me.
Comment: Okay, let me start by saying that I am a mecha fan. If it has giant robots in it, then I'm going to watch it, and I'm probably going to enjoy it regardless of the plot issues involved.

With that out of the way, let's go on with the review (CONTAINS SPOILERS). This title is, according to every other otaku I know, the keystone in any mecha collection. I may differ on that opinion, but it is still a great series that may confuse some people at first. The suits are impressive, and the battle sequences are something that can't be missed, but keep in mind that the first four episodes are more or less a subtle parody of the genre to which it belongs. You want sexy pilots in futuristic Japanese high school tennis uniforms, you got it. You want training regimes that consist of piloting a robot through standard gym class workouts like pushups and jumping jacks, you got it. You want an incomplete superweapon laying waste to alien scum, you got it. You want a series that shifts from subtle parody to hardcore s-f for its last two episodes, you got it.

The last two episodes are where this series shines, and also where it falters. The final battle against the alien armada that numbers in the billions is something to behold, with weapons that would put any other mecha series to shame. The problem is, along with two artistic choices that place one epic battle in the form of pencil drawings that run like a slide show and have the entire last episode in black and white (animated in shades of grey, not just filmed in B&W, that part is kinda cool), the whole series relies heavily on the concept of time dialation in relation to near-lightspeed travel. The end result is a tear-jerker of an ending with a premise that left me scratching my head: The Gunbuster and its two pilots return from the final battle in what seems like no time to us and them, but according to normal space-time they've been gone from Earth for a while. Something on the order of 12,000 years. I won't mention what happens after that, but it was reassuring and a little bothersome to someone like me who likes a slightly more logical ending, not an ending that is played up for dramatic effect.

All in all, though, I highly recommend this title to any anime fan that likes giant robots, epic space battles, a little emotion, or are a fan of Hideaki Anno (You know, the guy who gave us that mindf--k of a series "Evangelion"). Despite an odd but satisfying ending, I dare you not to find something to like about Gunbuster. Oh, dub purists be warned: THIS DVD SET IS SUBTITLED ONLY. NO ENGLISH DUB AT ALL.

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