Gunbuster: Aim For The Top! |
 | Summary:Timeless 'coming-of-age" sci-fi follows an unfledged pilot holding the imperative antithesis of intergalactic affray. Remains a classic amongst fans of bellwether underdog stories eminent for ground-breaking effects/drama. |
| Title Aka: | Gunbuster: Top O Nerae! |
| Company/Distributors: | Gainax;Manga Entertianment |
| Year: | 1988 |
| Length: | 6 Episode Series |
| Rating: |  |
| Genres: | Science Fiction, Drama, Classic |
| Format: | OAV Series |
| Content Level: |
|
| Comments: |
|
|
Synopsis:
In a profoundly engaging sci-fi epic created by "Gainax's" own artisitic pallet of fine animators, there arises great and fantastical feats of endless imagination. Several films and television series which challenge the mind, the technical beauty of animation; as well as the ardent thoughtfulness of wonderfully crafted masterworks of storytelling onto film. Such great works as "The Wings Of Honneamise" and the famed and enigmatic "Evangelion" was created by Japan icon "Hideaki Anno". But one of Anno's most overlooked, distinguished and masterful works is one brought forth through cunning narration and exeptional character depth. A story which reaches peeks of these many aspects so faultlessly, it almost makes you wonder how they even came to execute it at the company's current commericial standpoint. Gainax's first feature OAV series as well as Anno's was an epic science fiction tragedy told like a vintage romance. Though the fact that a series so masterfully revolved around these aspects of undertone never really reaches it in any distinct sense, is indeed in itself a marvel to behold. But sometimes the most cunning and successful of heros are not always the ones you find in store-shelf counter comic books, or in the popular idealism of the typical hero. Anime in it's popular history have always contained it's share of unconventionality in the heroine image. Heros were usually cyborgs, young children or women; drifting away from the typical "Superman-ish" comic realization. We see this a lot in Japanese animation, heros that arise of the most unlikely kind. It is a kind profound in it's little way, engulfing itself into a storyline so comprised of a film medium's cultural aspects. When "Gainax's" "The Wings Of Honneamise" failed to reach a wide audience in Japan, one of the film's own animators "Anno" decided to create a sci-fi epic for himself. One of the most peculiar kind, it is one which would center around a young girl. A story which was originally meant to be a parody of sci-fi t.v. shows, would soon become one of the most groundbreaking, timeless and classic anime endeavors ever created.
Review:
"Gunbuster: Top O Nerae!" or "Gunbuster: Aim For The Top!" is a story of discovery, self redemption and rising to the challenge of war; though it may not appear so considering a mere first impression. But it is a story so engaging where you'd least expect it to be. Amidst the There is no doubt in my mind, or arguably any in the most ardent of anime fans that "Gunbuster" is the definitive classic coming-of-age sci-fi epic. It is a story wonderfully told all the way down to it's cunning character narrations and breakthrough technical style. One which has become the idealistic vision of anime's own signature science fiction stories. Director "Hideaki Anno" is at the top of his artistic form, in producing a storyline done in the correct commercial aspects of film making. For this reason alone I feel Gunbuster to be a milestone in Japanese animation film making. Anno single-handedly created a fantastic artistic rendering of sci-fi at a time when Gainax could have met ends meat with their own production company. It was the first successful OAV of Gainax in a long time outside Anno's own "Evangelion" (Which would come years later). Like that series it is one containing young idealistic heros and heroines, gigantic mecha action and cunning designs. But what makes Gunbuster different in every respect is it's mere outlook on profound storytelling and brilliant direction. It's one wonderfully crafted around a profound character narration of a most peculiar young heroine. Noriko Takaya is a friendly, feisty yet highly determined young mecha-pilot whom feels she is destined to avenge her father. She meets many comrads who would aid her amidst deadly battle, but it would soon take her own will to conquer the odds. At first glance it's a conventional story you'd expect in the mecha anime realm, but it's one very different indeed. Gentle in it's approach, yet never failing to deliver a punch with it's fantastic techincal designs and stylized action/drama. One of a kind so unpredictable and beautifully rendered in animation, and it couldn't exist any other way. Gunbuster is also not only epic war/sci-fi, but containes a highly light-hearted premise in it's own way; right down to the characters extremely appealing personalities and near-reminiscent heart-warming feel. It's dramatically dark period appears all too effective for these remarkable and original characters, whom the audience follows closely from the very beginning. Never ever driven from the plot or the aspects themselves, but instead Gunbuster's storyline depends upon it's character depth; something which makes the techincal beauty of the series even more profound and enjoyable. At a certain standpoint aspects such as these seem a bit dated at most containing the 70s-vintage sci-fi styles, nonetheless this is a highly groundbreaking idealization of the future. Though it may not contain the most fluid animation in the world, it's a brilliant vision told through profound character depth, one groundbreaking in animation. I've never seen anything like "Gunbuster", like "Cowboy Bebop" it's a story totally original; despite it's mere conventional feel as a sci-fi redemption tale featuring a young heroine. Sometimes the most great of stories are some of the certain kind which you sneer at in the beginning idealization, I have to admit I didn't expect much from a series like "Gunbuster". But it's one drenched into it's own unique and great quality, things I look for in OAV series are a great sense of pacing and character realization. Gunbuster does both marvelousely and faultlessly, as only "Anno" could do it. Another thing to note closely about Gunbuster is it's unorthadox instances of camera work and animation, often done to stilled shots and backgrounds; and even some B&W cinematography executed over some action footage. The aspects which had not usually been seen in anime until it was releases. Gunbuster in itself is both a technical groundbreaker in animation visual effects as well as storytelling; something which makes it a definitive masterwork of "Anno" and the anime realm. Timeless, classic,...Breathtaking. Well, at least I feel that way. See for yourself and maybee give it a try; at least if your a Gainax fan at any rate. |
clash of intergalactic war, there arose legions of insect-like aliens ploting to destory the entire galaxy. When the father of young "Noriko Takaya" is killed on a space mission to wipe them out, she seeks out to avenge her father and conquer the war which treatens mankind. Admiral Yuzo had always been an inspiration for a spirited Noriko, but it would not be an easy task at hand considering she is only a young girl; whom is not trained in the chaos of battle. Noriko joins Okinawa Training School for girls to learn how to be a pilot in war, which is a lot to ask for those too young to even discover what it means for them to fight. Noriko is different from the others in that she may be too ambitious for her own good. While at training Noriko idolizes a beautiful and talented "Kazumi Amano", the very best of the young girl pilots. Noriko is trained by the "Lt. Cochiro Ota", who believes in Noriko's self-made determination to fight. Noriko and Amano are soon off to go to war and do battle in the midst of space. But she soon learns that the hero she wanted so much to be might not have been like she imagined. Noriko must soon discover herself to conquer her fears, to discover her ambitions; as well as the courage to tackle the odds in "Anno's" own fully realized coming-of-age space saga.