Anime Reviews (The ’80s): GUNBUSTER: The Movie (1988/2006)

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“Gunbuster” received a film adaption but that means a trimming of scenes from the OAV series to make an animated film.  But you get the original cast who re-recorded for the theatrical version and new music included as well.  Definitely worth watching but it doesn’t replace the awesome, original OVA series!

Click here to purchase “Gunbuster: The Movie” on Amazon

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DVD TITLE: GUNBUSTER The Movie

DURATION: 95 minutes

BLU-RAY INFO: 1080p High Definition, Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Commentary is in DTS-HD MAster Audio 2.0, English Subtitles

COMPANY: Sentai Filmworks

RELEASE DATE: September 13, 2022

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There are monsters between the stars, alien nightmares determined to destroy the human race. Noriko Takaya was only a child when her father sacrificed his life to temporarily stop the alien’s advance. Now she’s training to pilot a giant robot. She’s not very good, however. Not until her coach suggests modeling herself after the schools best pilot, Kazumi Amano. Mastering the skills to reach the top transforms Noriko into both a rival and partner for Kazumi, who secretly loves their Coach, and a third fiery female joins the rivalry in the form of Soviet pilot Jung Freud. But their real adversary is time, as the faster-than-light travel required steals years on Earth for hours spent in flight. And that means that, even if they survive, the loved ones that Noriko, Kazumi, and Jung travel into space to defend may already have died before they return. Get ready for a major landmark in the history of animation as Studio Gainax, character designer Haruhiko Mikimoto (MACROSS), and director Hideaki Anno (EVANGELION) unleash the feature film version of GUNBUSTER!

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I loved the original 1988 “Gunbuster” OVA series so much.

And with a “Gunbuster 2” (Top o Nerae! 2 aka Diebuster) OVA series, it was decided in 2006, to condense both OVA series and release two animated films titled as “GUNBUSTER vs DIEBUSTER – THE GATTAI!! MOVIE – AIM FOR THE TOP!”.

While I know that animated films based on series (especially long series), have been made before.  I was a bit protect and also a bit skeptical because there is so much storyline and character development in the original OVA series, to try and make movies out of these series, something has to suffer right?

Well, part of the exciting experiences of being a “Gunbuster” fan was the realization that the original voice actors were going to re-record their lines, there would be new sound effects and a 5.1 digital audio track.

Sentai Filmworks is now re-releasing the original 2006 “Gunbuster” animated film once again (the last time was in 2016).  Featured on Blu-ray and coming with the Japanese commentary plus staff and cast interviews.

“Top o Nerae” (Aim for the Top Gunbuster) or “Gunbuster” was the directorial debut of acclaimed director Anno Hideaki (creator of “Neon Genesis Evangelion”), Gunbuster is a legendary anime fan favorite that casts pretty girls and giant robots into a moving epic of insterstellar naval war.

2015: Earth’s first faster-than-light ship, the Luxion, is lost, attacked by unidentified space monsters in the Perseus Arm. Six years later, Takaya Noriko, 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 is 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 each challenge!

The film features parts of the six OAV’s spliced together in one film. You lose a lot of the character development and the challenges that made the OAV really special. So, the things that you may have enjoyed from OAV episodes 1-3 which feature the struggles and challenges Noriko had to overcome, these are the segments that are cut the most and only a few parts are featured in the film.

But despite the cuts, the film manages to take the essential parts from the series and in all sense and purpose, the main focus and storyline of Takaya Noriko as a beginner and then training to become a talented pilot which are vital parts of the series and is featured.

And again, it’s understandable because it is a film and the cuts were necessary, otherwise if we didn’t want to watch it with the cuts, you can always forego film and focus on the OAV series.

If anything, the fourth and the fifth final OAV from “Gunbuster” is probably the only part from the series that doesn’t receive that many cuts or any cuts at all.

As mentioned before, with a new digital 5.1 track, that would mean that the film would have to be recreated audio-wise. Bringing back the original actors for voice work and adding more special effects.

The audio is indeed clearer and truthfully, I did not notice much of a difference between Hidaka Noriko’s voice work of the main character Noriko but those who have seen the film have said her voicework is much more polished.

As for the Blu-ray release, it features high quality video and audio encoding on Blu-ray.  Unfortunately, for those who prefer an English dub soundtrack, do know that there is no English dub.

As for video and audio quality, the colors are quite vibrant. Sound very clear and good use of audio direction coming from the speakers.

For those wondering if the should watch the animated film or the OVA series.

My feeling on this is that, personally, I would go nuts if I was a “Gunbuster” fan and knew that despite the cuts made to the OVA series in order make a feature animated film.

But I do like the fact that you get the original cast from the first OAV series (which was created back in 1988) and having them redub the vocals. That’s pretty cool!

As for special features, a Japanese commentary and the Staff & Cast Interviews are  included.

Of course, if you truly want to enjoy the series thoroughly, I highly recommend trying to get your hands on the original OVA series.

But if you have no interest in checking out the OVA series and just want to watch a mecha animated film of a girl’s journey to become the top pilot and become humanity’s hope with the mecha,”Gunbuster”, then “GUNBUSTER: The Movie” is worth checking out!

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Click here to purchase “Gunbuster: The Movie” on Amazon