History Anime / GunBuster

See also ''Manga/GetterRobo'' and ''Manga/AimForTheAce'' (the primary inspirations for ''[=GunBuster=]''), the Anime/DaiconIIIAndIV opening (where Noriko's character design is partially borrowed from), ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' and ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' (Gainax's later super robot productions that echo a number of ''[=GunBuster=]'''s themes), and ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam0080WarInThePocket'' (a much different six episode mecha OVA also written by Hiroyuki Yamaga, roughly concurrently with ''[=GunBuster=]'').

What starts as a {{fanservice}}-laden, tongue-in-cheek [[AffectionateParody soft parody]] of super robot anime, ''Film/TopGun,'' and ''Manga/AimForTheAce'' takes a gradual turn into themes of coping with loss, returning to a world that's no longer what you remember it as, and Noriko [[CharacterDevelopment struggling to grow]] as she deals with her crushing anxiety... in between all the uproarious [[CallingYourAttacks battle screams]] and beautiful, over-the-top battle sequences against eldritch space monsters.

See also ''Manga/GetterRobo'' and ''Manga/AimForTheAce'' (the primary inspirations for ''[=GunBuster=]''), ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' and ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' (Gainax's later super robot productions that echo a number of ''[=GunBuster=]'''s themes), and ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam0080WarInThePocket'' (a much different six episode mecha OVA also written by Hiroyuki Yamaga, roughly concurrently with ''[=GunBuster=]'').

* AndKnowingIsHalfTheBattle: The science lessons for each episode.

* {{Ascended Fan|boy}}girl: Noriko's subtly implied to be one in the series proper, what with the posters for ''Anime/SpaceBattleshipYamato'' and ''Anime/TheCastleOfCagliostro'' on her wall; in the science bonus shorts, her otakuness is played up for comedy.

-->'''''HOOMING! REEIIIZZAAAAA!'''''[[note]]Homing Laser[[/note]]

* BookEnds: The flashback that opens the second episode has Admiral Takaya open a holographic photograph of his daughter, lamenting he won't be able to return for her eighth birthday. In the final episode, [[spoiler:Noriko receives a similar photograph of her best friend's grown-up daughter, the same age as Noriko herself due to the effects of time dilation. The realization of how much of her own life has passed her by is enough to make Noriko burst into tears]].

** [[spoiler: The Space Monsters are finally defeated for good when humanity replicates this with an even ''larger'' black hole created by crushing ''Jupiter'', which they lose thousands of ''Exelion''-sized ships defending and which ultimately only works when Noriko and Kazumi Ota nee Amano plunge into the black hole's heart and activate it manually with one of Gunbuster's two core reactors, dooming them to never see their loved ones again. [[note]] [[BittersweetEnding Though they do survive and make it back to Earth 12 millennia later]] [[/note]].]]
* CallingYourAttacks: Yes, it's mentioned elsewhere, but it needs its own entry, seeing how often Noriko does it.
** [[EnergyWeapon BUSTAAH BEAAAMU!]]
** [[MacrossMissileMassacre BUSTAAH MISSILE!!]]
** [[ShockAndAwe DOUBLE BUSTAH COLLIDER!!]]
--> And of course...
** [[Franchise/KamenRider SUPAAH! INAZUMA!! KIIICK!!!]]
* CapedMecha (Bustaa Shieldo!)
* CasualDangerDialogue: When the Gunbuster is about to get crushed between two... big... alien things in Episode 5 and the Buster Beam just bounces off the hulls of each inflicting no damage, Noriko's and Kazumi's response is basically along the lines of "Hm? Oh, that's neat. Not too shabby, giant alien things. 'Course, we're still ten zillion times more badass than you. Gonna crush you now, mkay?"

* CreatorProvincialism: The setting is not only in Japan, the '''whole world''' is effectively under [[JapanTakesOverTheWorld Japanese cultural, economic and political dominance]].

* DivingKick: '''SUPER, INAZUMA, KICK!!!!!!'''

* FingerFirearms / HandBlast: "BUSTEEEERRRR MISSILE!!!"

* GenreShift: From sports anime spoof to ''Film/TopGun'' to ''The Forever War''.

* LovecraftLite: [[spoiler:The Space Monsters are frightfully powerful and alien creatures that are speculated to be "antibodies" of the universe itself, which regards humanity as a disease to wipe out. They reproduce by laying eggs ''in stars'' and can shrug off the elimination of a fleet the size of Neptune's orbit.]] Despite all this and the desperate measures humanity is led to to keep them at bay, [[spoiler:humanity does manage to succeed at defeating the monsters (at least temporarily)]], so the story still comes down favorably on humanity's side.* MacrossMissileMassacre: (BUSTAAAA MISSAIRU!)

* CosmicHorrorStory: Downplayed. [[spoiler:The Space Monsters are frightfully powerful and alien creatures that are speculated to be "antibodies" of the universe itself, which regards humanity as a disease to wipe out. They reproduce by laying eggs ''in stars'' and can shrug off the elimination of a fleet the size of Neptune's orbit.]] Despite all this and the desperate measures humanity is led to to keep them at bay, [[spoiler:humanity does manage to succeed at defeating the monsters (at least temporarily)]], so the story still comes down favorably on humanity's side.

* MacrossMissileMassacre: (BUSTAAAA MISSAIRU!)

* EternalEnglish: Averted in the final scene. [[spoiler:12,000 years later, "[=WELCOME HOME=]" is written awkwardly in katakana with the last character backwards. The present inhabitants of Earth were clumsily mimicking the pilots' bygone language]].

* RandomlyReversedLetters: In the ending, when [[spoiler: Noriko and Kazumi return to Earth after over 12,000 years, and the Earth lights up into a giant "Welcome Home" sign]], one of the ''katakana'' is reversed.

''Aim for the Top! [=GunBuster=]'' (''トップをねらえ! [=GunBuster=]'' -- ''Top wo Nerae! [=GunBuster=]'') is a [[SuperRobotGenre super robot]] {{OVA}}, released in three VHS tape volumes from October 1988 to July 1989. The directorial debut of one Creator/HideakiAnno and what put Creator/StudioGainax on the map, ''[=GunBuster=]'' is a loving mish-mash of homages towards old school otakudom, a den of gorgeous animation and breathtaking background art, and as much evocative melodrama and emotional catharsis as could be crammed into six episodes. One of the most well-known titles among old school otaku, and a spiritual predecessor to much of Gainax's later work; without ''[=GunBuster=]'', there would probably be no ''[[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Evangelion]]'' or ''[[Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann Gurren Lagann]]''.

The ''Luxion'' fleet has been destroyed by an unknown race of uchuu kaiju (space monsters). Noriko Takaya (Creator/NorikoHidaka), daughter of the admiral of the lost fleet, has enrolled at the Okinawa Girls' Space Pilot High School. Marred by her own self-confidence issues, a distinct lack of talent in machine piloting, and bullying from other students looking down at her as the "Daughter of Defeat," Noriko's hopes for the future seem more than a little forlorn. Yet when the school's two candidates to leave Earth behind to combat the space monsters directly as part of the multinational Top Squadron (and secret "Buster Machine" project) are announced as none other than Noriko herself and OneeSama (big sister) Kazumi Amano (Creator/ReiSakuma), Noriko's own idol, Noriko is forced to contend with her self-doubts under the training of "Coach" Ohta (Creator/NorioWakamoto), who sees something in Noriko that nobody else does. Days of bullying, several speeches, a couple of {{training montage}}s, and one robot duel later, Noriko and Kazumi are shipping out for advanced training in Earth's orbit. Here they find [[TheRival a rival]], genius Soviet pilot Jung Freud (Creator/MariaKawamura), who starts by challenging Kazumi to a duel, then settles into a snippy sort of friendship with the two.

What starts as a {{fanservice}}-laden, tongue-in-cheek [[AffectionateParody soft parody]] of super robot anime, ''Film/TopGun,'' and ''Ace o Nerae!'' (''Manga/AimForTheAce'') takes a gradual turn into themes of coping with loss, returning to a world that's no longer what you remember it as, and Noriko [[CharacterDevelopment struggling to grow]] as she deals with her crushing anxiety... in between all the uproarious [[CallingYourAttacks battle screams]] and beautiful, over-the-top battle sequences against eldritch space monsters.

See also ''Manga/GetterRobo'' and ''Manga/AimForTheAce'' (the primary inspirations for ''[=GunBuster=]''), ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' and ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' (Gainax's later super robot productions that echo a number of ''[=GunBuster=]'''s themes), and ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam0080WarInThePocket'' (a much different six-episode mecha OVA also written by Hiroyuki Yamaga, roughly concurrently with ''[=GunBuster=]'').

See also ''Manga/GetterRobo'' and ''Manga/AimForTheAce'' (the primary inspirations for ''[=GunBuster=]''), ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' and ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' (Gainax's later super robot productions that echo a number of ''[=GunBuster=]'''s themes), and ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam0080WarInThePocket'' (a much different mecha series also written by Hiroyuki Yamaga, roughly concurrently with ''[=GunBuster=]'').

* CoolBigSis: Kazumi is the very model.

** Not the creators themselves, but the studio. If you look closely, you see a Gainax billboard in the background of the Japan Air Lines shuttle launch scene.
** There is a training ship from which they use two boosters to accelerate two machines up to sub-lightspeed to investigate the ruins of the Luxion, and the names of the staff are actually Gainax staff member names!

** ConservationOfNinjutsu

* DeliberatelyMonochrome: Episode six, to emphasize the serious drama.
** Especially notable in that it was animated in monochrome on ''color film'', which cost the studio a bundle.
* DistantFinale: WAY distant.

* DrillSergeantNasty: "Coach" Ohta.
* EarthShatteringKaboom: ''Jupiter'' Shattering.
* [[EternalEnglish Eternal Japanese]]: Averted in the final scene. [[spoiler:12000 years later, "[=WELCOME HOME=]" is written awkwardly in katakana with the last character backwards. The present inhabitants of Earth were clumsily mimicking the pilots' bygone language]].

* FailedFutureForecast: All this future tech and there's still a Soviet Union around!!
* {{Fanservice}}: By modern standards, ''Gunbuster'' contains a strong amount of {{Fanservice}}. The bath scene in Episode Two is particularly notable.
* FinalSolution: It has been speculated that the space monsters are the galaxy's antibodies, and they're out to cleanse it of the human disease. And seeing this as the case, humanity must annihilate the alien threat for them to live on.

* FoeTossingCharge ([[CallingYourAttacks "Super..." "...Inazuma..."]] '''[[CallingYourAttacks "...KIIIIIIICK!"]]''')
* FreezeFrameBonus: Besides the infamous case of Noriko's pubes, carefully watching the Gunbuster's TransformationSequence very briefly shows a battle-axe and [[BatterUp a baseball bat]] stored in its shoulder. If you've ever wondered why, of Gunbuster's massive AllThereInTheManual arsenal of weapons, the Buster Homerun and Buster Tomahawk are the ones that keep showing up in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'', ''that'''s the reason.
** In episode 5 if you look closely at the scene of the Eltreum being constructed in Earth's orbit, it's parts are stored on gigantic sprues, as if it were a plastic model kit being built.
* FullFrontalAssault: Without any censorship!
* FuroScene: In ''Gunbuster'' episode #2, completely uncensored!

* GodzillaThreshold: It's us or them, so why not destroy the core of the galaxy? Luckily, there is {{No Endor Holocaust}}.

* [[HesBack She's Back]]: When Kazumi [[HeroicBSOD breaks down in episode 5]], Noriko gives her a short speech that falls somewhere in-between WhatTheHellHero and GetAHoldOfYourselfMan. After a moment, her eyes take on a [[TranquilFury steely gaze]] and she says, [[HellYesMoment Noriko... let's combine!]] Cue CurbStompBattle.

* HomingLasers: The TropeNamer for it!
* GuiltFreeExterminationWar: The space monsters are seen as the galaxy's "immune system" that in turn sees humanity as a disease that must be wiped out. And with that knowledge, the humans know that there is [[FinalSolution no other choice but to wipe out the aliens for them to survive]]. However, it is averted in Episode 6 where there is a discussion of whether or not humanity is right in taking these steps. It's ultimately hand-waved given that humanity's only options are to either survive at any cost, or very certainly die off.

* IneffectualLoner: Jung Freud.

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Jung.
* LargeHam: Coach Ohta in the science lessons.
** As expected of [[Creator/NorioWakamoto who's voicing him.]]

* BadassArmFold: Most prominently during the climactic battle sequence of episode five, signifying Noriko's confidence and [[TookALevelInBadass completed character arc]] since her victory in the previous episode. It's been homaged many times since, to the point the exact stance itself -- back straight, legs akimbo, head held high -- is often referred to as the "''[=GunBuster=]'' pose" by anime fans.

* {{Expy}}: The Space Monsters get one in the form of [[VideoGame/AsurasWrath The Gohma]].
** In 2007, Noriko and Kazumi would get their own in the form of Simon The Digger and Kamina respectively. Yes, The Simon The Digger and The Kamina from ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann''.

* {{Homage}}: Dozens, maybe hundreds. Including many shows and stories long forgotten.

* RammingAlwaysWorks: Inverted [[spoiler:In Episode 4 the Excelion fleet is nearly destroyed. Capitain Tashiro decides as a last ditch resort to ram the Excelion into the enemy flag ship. When the Buster Machine is finally activated Noriko is castigated that it isn't complete. She responds that she'll ram it if she has to. In the end the enemy flag ship ends up ramming Noriko and is destroyed as Noriko has it where she wants it]].

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Captain Tashiro. Strict, but level-headed and caring towards those under his command. He frequently shows his more casual and friendly side when interacting with other characters, like informing the crew of Exelion in episode 4 that they'll be passing right by the Halley's Comet upon exiting warp (knowing how much the cadets will be excited to hear the news) and having lunch with Jung and Noriko in episode 6 while briefing them on the mission status. While willing to sacrifice himself and others if it means protecting humankind from Space Monsters, he will refuse to do it if he feels there might be another way, as he tries to talk Noriko and Kazumi out of their intent to [[spoiler:manually activate Black Hole Bomb, knowing that by doing so they're sentencing themselves to death or centuries-long voyage home.]]

The ''Luxion'' fleet has been destroyed by an unknown race of uchuu kaiju (space monsters). Noriko Takaya (Creator/NorikoHidaka), daughter of the admiral of the lost fleet, has enrolled at the Okinawa Girls' Space Pilot High School. Marred by her own self-confidence issues, a distinct lack of talent in machine piloting, and bullying from other students looking down at her as the "Daughter of Defeat," Noriko's hopes for the future seem more than a little forlorn. Yet when the two candidates to leave Earth behind to combat the space monsters directly as part of the multinational Top Squadron (and secret "Buster Machine" project) are announced as none other than Noriko herself and OneeSama (big sister) Kazumi Amano (Creator/ReiSakuma), Noriko's own idol, Noriko is forced to contend with her self-doubts under the training of "Coach" Ohta (Creator/NorioWakamoto), who sees something in Noriko that nobody else does. Days of bullying, several speeches, a couple of {{training montage}}s, and one robot duel later, Noriko and Kazumi are shipping out for advanced training in Earth's orbit. Here they find [[TheRival a rival]], genius Soviet pilot Jung Freud (Creator/MariaKawamura), who starts by challenging Kazumi to a duel, then settles into a snippy sort of friendship with the two.

* {{Ascended Fan|boy}}girl: Noriko's subtly implied to be one in the series proper; in the science bonus shorts, it's played up for comedy. [[note]] She's basically the runner-up poster girl for this, second only to Ryusei Date from ''VideoGame/ShinSuperRobotWars''. This makes for some amusing conversation when they meet in VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAlpha.[[/note]]
** There are some not-quite-so-subtle hints, like the poster for ''Anime/SpaceBattleshipYamato'' and ''Anime/TheCastleOfCagliostro'' on her wall.
* AtrociousArthropods: The Uchuu Kaiju, or Space Monsters, are a race of InsectoidAliens bent on eradicating humanity.
* AuthorAppeal: We have a character named Jung Freud. And you say the director went through therapy? Who'd have thunk it?
* BadassAdorable: Noriko.

* [[BathroomStallOfOverheardInsults Battle Mecha of Overheard Insults]], or rather a harsh critique by Kazumi of Noriko.
* BeamSpam: HOOMING! REEIIIZZAAAAA![[note]]Homing Laser[[/note]]
* BittersweetEnding: On the one hand, [[spoiler:the fact that TWELVE THOUSAND YEARS have passed means that all of their loved ones are no longer around, and they'll have to acclimatise to a radically different society.]] On the other hand, [[spoiler:the fact that they are recognized after all these years, humanity still remembers their sacrifice and welcomes them back, makes some viewers baww like a baby.]]
* BookEnds: The flashback that opens the second episode has Admiral Takaya open a holographic photograph of his daughter, lamenting he won't be able to return for her eighth birthday. In the final episode, [[spoiler:Noriko receives a similar photograph of her best friend's grown-up daughter, the same age as Noriko herself due to the effects of time dilation. The realization of how much of her and Kimiko's life has passed her by is enough to make Noriko burst into tears]].
* {{Bowdlerized}}: The original Japanese videotape release is notorious for showing Noriko's pubic hair in a bath scene, subsequently [[{{Pun}} trimmed]] in future releases by cutting out a few frames.
* BreakTheCutie: Poor Noriko pretty much goes through hell and back directly due to her insecurity and codependency issues before finally shaping up and becoming a HotBlooded badass. Kazumi doesn't exactly get off easy in Episode 5, either.