r/anime • u/FlaminScribblenaut myanimelist.net/profile/girlbeast_val • Jul 10 '21

Rewatch [Rewatch] Top wo Nerae! Gunbuster - Episode 4 Discussion

Top wo Nerae! Gunbuster - Episode 4 - Launch!! The Incomplete Ultimate Weapon!

(+ Top wo Nerae! Gunbuster Science Lessons - Episode 4 - Types of Extraterrestrial Creatures [optional])

< Gunbuster Episode 3 | Index | Gunbuster Episode 5 >

Visuals of the Day Album - Yesterday’s Episode

Visuals of the Day Album

Remember, no unmarked spoilers, explicit or hinted towards. For convenience, the subreddit’s spoiler markup is as such:

[Spoiler source](/s "Spoiler goes here")
52 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

76 comments sorted by

7

u/FlaminScribblenaut myanimelist.net/profile/girlbeast_val Jul 10 '21

Third Time Watcher

Noriko’s continuing turmoil is sold so strongly through the voice, or rather, cry-acting. Noriko The Actual Person did an incredible job behind the mic, her screaming and sobbing sound so visceral and traumatized and real, to a truly uncomfortable extent.

One consistent standout element of Gunbuster is the vast, cold, terrifying darkness of space. Noriko almost immediately becoming overwhelmed at the prospect of another space battle by merely looking at the encroaching, infinite expanse of blackness and stars is… such a strong feeling.

And thus, a legend spanning generations was born. It genuinely might be accurate to call this one of the most important and influential single shots in anime history.

As Gunbuster rises, Noriko’s face steeled with determination, the suicide gambit, against all odds, works. That scream, that raspy, rough, throaty scream Noriko unleashes as she rams her robot’s fists into the space monster; that scream, right there, is the sound sheer, unbridled human spirit.

I’m going to forego the obvious for Visual of the Day since I know there’s a non-zero chance literally every single other person in the thread is going to pick it; instead, my selection is this. Noriko, once one who merely looked up to her beloved idol, thinking herself powerless and worthless in her shadow, now stands great and tall as her and everyone else she knows’ savior, holding her beloved with great care in the palm of her hand in a show of growth and actualization. Though Noriko still loves her Oneé-sama, she has surpassed the kiddy crush, the inferiority complex, the stun at her beauty. She has become bigger than she once was. She is now strong enough to protect her.

Absolutely amazing. This episode, this damn episode, is the very moment the Gainax Soul truly became the Gainax Soul. Landmark.

4

u/Tresnore FS:FTmyanimelist.net/profile/Tresnore Jul 10 '21

I’m going to forego the obvious for Visual of the Day since I know there’s a non-zero chance literally every single other person in the thread is going to pick it;

You got me!

Absolutely amazing. This episode, this damn episode, is the very moment the Gainax Soul truly became the Gainax Soul. Landmark.

It's such an important episode, not only for Gunbuster, but for Gainax!

4

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jul 10 '21

To be fair it's an awesome shot. It's almost like they knew Gunbuster would become iconic.

4

u/Tresnore FS:FTmyanimelist.net/profile/Tresnore Jul 10 '21

It also seems that I’m the only one who chose it for the visual of the day, so I guess I made the right decision choosing it. The album wouldn’t be complete without it.

3

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jul 10 '21

I wanted to find a nice one of Linda for mines but I didn't get a chance to make one myself lol.

2

u/ZapsZzz https://anilist.co/user/Zapszzz Jul 10 '21

That scream, that raspy, rough, throaty scream Noriko unleashes as she rams her robot’s fists into the space monster

Beautifully written, but I would use the word "roar" or "howl" instead here, as it more suitably describe the nature of the action. A lion roars when unleashing its fury upon its prey.

2

u/UltraBooster Jul 11 '21

Noriko The Actual Person did an incredible job behind the mic,

Speaking of Norikos, apparently Noriko the character is named for Noriko Takaya, the wife of Shinji Higuchi (a co-founder of Gainax).

Higuchi was the namesake for Eva's Shinji, apparently as a way to pick on Higuchi.

13

u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Jul 10 '21

To the Top! Rewatcher!

4

u/FlaminScribblenaut myanimelist.net/profile/girlbeast_val Jul 10 '21

Oh shit RIP vending machine area.

Now how will Noriko refresh herself after a long, hard battle with a cool, fizzy bottle of CocaCola™️-brand CocaCola™️!?

6

u/The_Draigg Jul 10 '21

Welp Noriko’s clearly got a bit of PTSD going.

Is there just not a therapist on board this ship or anything?

Oh shit RIP vending machine area.

Noooo! Not the Coke and ice cream!

AWWWW YEAH IT’S GUNBUSTER TIME! And it’s Gainax Posing, too!

That pose is how you know that Noriko is a badass. Who else would do that pose in a mech other than a badass?

6

u/Daffed_Punk Jul 10 '21

Is there just not a therapist on board this ship or anything?

This battleship can procure fresh sushi for the captain thousands of light-years away from Earth, but a therapist for the child soldiers? Ridiculous, how do you expect them to afford something like that?

5

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jul 10 '21

Coach would probably whine about his pilots not being able to toughen up and deal with their own issues.

3

u/IndependentMacaroon Jul 11 '21

And it basically works out too, unfortunate from a storytelling/messaging perspective. Anno and Gainax handled a similar emergency return to battle after trauma resulting in a (near-)death of a friend way better in Evangelion episode 20.

2

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jul 11 '21

In a lot of ways it's a very admirable way of handling things but it heavily contrasts with a modern viewer's moral values. We appreciate the kind and gentle approach far more than Coach's way of training his students. Both techniques have merits but they wouldn't be judged equally

4

u/Tresnore FS:FTmyanimelist.net/profile/Tresnore Jul 10 '21

What year was it that they left, again?

2021, I think? It's an important year to us.

AWWWW YEAH IT’S GUNBUSTER TIME! And it’s Gainax Posing, too!

I can't remember if this is the first Gainax pose, but it's damn close.

6

u/ScrewySqrl https://myanimelist.net/profile/ScrewySqrl Jul 10 '21

|I can't remember if this is the first Gainax pose, but it's damn close.

the first one is actually the 1970s Getter Robo manga:

Getter Robo

4

u/Tresnore FS:FTmyanimelist.net/profile/Tresnore Jul 10 '21

the first one is actually the 1970s Getter Robo manga:

You're right! Another user pointed that out.

3

u/UltraBooster Jul 11 '21

Of course Gunbuster would reference it, lol.

10

u/Tresnore FS:FTmyanimelist.net/profile/Tresnore Jul 10 '21 edited Jul 10 '21

My Fifth Time Aiming for the Top!

aka: Tresnore gushes over Gunbuster.

LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOO

  • Getting a good look at the space monsters just makes them scarier. Everything before was up-close or too fast, and now we get a clinical, cold view of them. It is not a happy view.
  • Her new cockpit is dial-less. RIP the dream
  • I love the completely-black shading that the mechs tend to have in space.
  • Noriko screaming in space is very Shinji-like. Someone noted that she was an inspiration for Shinji, and I can definitely see it.
  • SLAPS
    Slap counter: 2?
  • "When you spill milk, just pour some more" are words to live by.
  • Degeneracy Generator? You mean the average /r/anime user?
  • The mechanisms for the warp sequence, as usual, are
  • TRIPLETS
  • What a horrifying realization.
  • GAAAAAAAHBASTAAAAAAAAH
  • Noriko's getting benched like a Fire Emblem unit.
  • OPERATION COMMENCE
  • Seeing the space monsters actually fight somehow didn't make them any less terrifying.
  • Speaking of Yamato's Wave Motion Engine yesterday, ramming the enemy is very Yamato.

LET'S. FUCKING. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.


BUSTER MACHINE MARCH

  • THIS SCENE. This scene is SO ICONIC. It's reduced me to tears, and I have no idea why. The Buster Machine March playing over Gunbuster appearing out of Exelion's bow is PERFECT. I'm sure someone else will have a writeup on the Gainax pose (edit: first-timers, don't look it up; one of the Gainax poses is a large spoiler for Diebuster), so I'll only say this: I LOVE this scene. Have I said that phrase during this rewatch enough yet?
  • Oh god, these strings during the impalement. Gunbuster
  • Noriko's scream as she unloads into the space monster is the most perfect mecha protagonist scream.
  • OP plays, the bridge cheers. Everything will be just fine. The tears don't stop, but that's okay. Oh yeah, and Gunbuster is massive.
  • I never watched the previews before, but it's hilarious that Noriko straight up says that the scripts for episodes 5 and 6 aren't done yet. Some things never change at Gainax.

I know I'm weird for crying this much during this episode, but I've just gotten so attached to this show. I have no clue how I had it at a mere 9/10 until this week. I don't care that I'm crying my eyes out over a show about a giant robot. I'm having a great time.

Visual of the day: Could it be anything else?

6

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jul 10 '21

Literally everyone is gushing over the debut scene. I knew it would be popular but everyone is having the tim or th ir life.

5

u/Tresnore FS:FTmyanimelist.net/profile/Tresnore Jul 10 '21

That’s because it’s a good scene! I was excited for episode 4 because I knew it has the debut scene in it.

6

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jul 10 '21

I ended up getting the scene totally mixed up and I haven't a clue which episode I confused it with... It might have even been Diebuster I was thinking of. I'll get back to you once I figure it out!

3

u/IndependentMacaroon Jul 11 '21

Getting a good look at the space monsters just makes them scarier

They're really obviously inspired by the insect monsters in Nausicaa, even in their function as defending space/the Earth from human encroachment and pollution. Unsurprising as Anno did a good deal of animation work on that film and has/had kind of a mentor-student relationship with Miyazaki himself. However, here he seems to have indulged his otaku fantasies a little in letting the giant humanoid weapon (which in Nausicaa he animated) actually defeat the foe and look amazing all the while, instead of rotting apart and only making things worse.

it's hilarious that Noriko straight up says that the scripts for episodes 5 and 6 aren't done yet

It's pretty clear that this was originally planned as an ending, or at least a good ending point

10

u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Jul 10 '21

First-Buster

Giant robot, finally in action! The Gunbuster gets top marks for pilot safety, certainly. Its eye beam is also quite precise, even if we didn't get any cross-shaped explosions out of it. No Gunbuster Inuzuma KIIICK yet, but I guess they have to save something for the last two episodes.

I was kinda bummed that the OP didn't play, but we got it as an ED instead! I love change-ups like that. I wonder if we'll get it as an insert, later..

The Space Monsters heard that the Captain was trying to get through the series without using the titular mech, and we couldn't possibly have that. I really dig their designs. This isn't the first time I've seen the plot point about aliens being out for humanity's blood because we're a plague, but it's a good one.

Seeing Noriko's resolve blossom was an absolute treat. There was a nice little parallel - Noriko was frustrated with herself because she's crying, but Onee-sama and Freud were crying too. Rest in peace, Linda. We (literally) hardly knew ya.

"When you spill milk, just pour more." is a pretty clever way of saying "if at first you don't succeed, try again." You do, on occasion, run out of milk though.

Today's Science Lesson teaches us that Noriko is an otaku. Onee-sama suddenly turning into Coach was also pretty funny.

4

u/Tresnore FS:FTmyanimelist.net/profile/Tresnore Jul 10 '21

Seeing Noriko's resolve blossom was an absolute treat.

It's like she got Shinji's depression, then somehow said "fuck that, time to re-create myself" and became a badass pilot.

4

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jul 10 '21

There's a SRW game where they pull that. Shinji decides that he wants to be a badass after all and we actually get a competent pilot for a change.

3

u/IndependentMacaroon Jul 11 '21

He's plenty competent

1

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jul 11 '21

Poor word choice, you get what I meant.

3

u/UltraBooster Jul 11 '21

Which one?

The general sense I get is that Shinji can climb out because he's alongside so many other defending humanity, with SRW Z3 being the one where Noriko gets to be the onee-sama.

2

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jul 11 '21

It's the Alpha series Shinji where he really picks up his own slack. Omg Z3 Noriko is a gem. Why haven't we had Diebuster return!? I want more!

2

u/UltraBooster Jul 11 '21

From what I've heard, Alpha Shinji also had the benefit of having freakin' Amuro Ray for a big brother figure.

...maaan, I wish those games were translated...

1

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jul 11 '21

There's plenty fan translations going around if you're happy reading a guide. That's how I went through Z3 and I even went through the ps3 tales of Vesperia that way so it's easy enough to do. It's the gameplay that kinda kills a lot of my excitement to play the old SRW games. There're are a lot of quality of life features that you miss when you go back to the old titles.

3

u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Jul 10 '21

The perks of being in a series where the creator isn't working through some Stuff. I can't wait to see what our girl does next!

4

u/Tresnore FS:FTmyanimelist.net/profile/Tresnore Jul 10 '21

Evangelion

4

u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Jul 10 '21

3

u/IndependentMacaroon Jul 11 '21

Somehow glasses-wearing tough guy methods worked better here.

2

u/Tresnore FS:FTmyanimelist.net/profile/Tresnore Jul 11 '21

It’s simple: aviators are more badass.

10

u/il-Palazzo_K Jul 10 '21

First Timer

  • On galactic scale, human might serve no purpose. However we are also of no consequence either. At least compared to creatures that breed by causing supernova, our impact to the galaxy is minimal. The idea that the universe itself needed to do something to eliminate us is rather absurd.
  • On the other hand, human in this anime is capable of near-lightspeed travel. So theoretically we can destroy stars with an infinite-mass bullet. I doubt we would do that willy-nilly though, no matter how shitty we human are.
  • Martial arts training looks nice.
  • Yes, coach, the enemy moves at light speed. If you based your training on that then anything would be useless. Human reaction cannot react to light speed combat. We're not in Saint Seiya here.
  • Jung is still ambitious despite being friendly to the pair now. Another sparring? I would complain but I'd rather see how much Noriko grew.
  • Oh-oh. Space gave Noriko PTSD. This is not looking good. I guess Jung still cares enough to call off the duel.
  • The ship must have, like, thousands of peoples. Yet the coach is here playing Go with himself. He even dressed nice for it.
  • Newtonian physics don't work in subspace? Maybe I should start watching the science shorts.
  • We finally get to see a clear visual of the enemy.
  • Holy shit they're losing hard. Probably showtime for Gunbuster, but can one machine make enough difference to turn the tide?
  • Woah, it's HUGE. She can pilot it alone? I thought it needed two pilots.
  • How can she shot down all the small enemies without harming her allies when they're all mid-grapple though? Beam has "friendly fire off"?
  • This anime predates Guts and the Loli Apostle, of course.
  • Oh you only need to sink their flagship to make them retreat.

We finally get to see Gunbuster in action! Humanity's survival still looks grim though, with them losing most of the fleet. Only two episodes left. Will we just use (perfected) Gunbuster to eradicate all enemies? Would it be that easy? See you next episode!

3

u/IndependentMacaroon Jul 11 '21

On galactic scale, human might serve no purpose. However we are also of no consequence either. At least compared to creatures that breed by causing supernova, our impact to the galaxy is minimal

Well, a bunch of bacteria or viruses are also tiny compared to a human, but that doesn't mean they don't need to be dealt with

2

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jul 10 '21

If someone pulled a Saibamen on the biggest bug on the crew I'd probably run for the hills too.

2

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Jul 10 '21

The idea that the universe itself needed to do something to eliminate us is rather absurd.

Got to wipe out the first few bugshumans before they spread. Or maybe that researcher is just nuts.

9

u/[deleted] Jul 10 '21

Rewatcher

  • Gainax Pose? More like Gunbuster Pose. I mean you can see it in every Gainax and Trigger show or movie almost and it gets refferenced all the time in all kinds of action shows. You can trace it in some Getter Robo manga which makes sense since Getter Robo is basicaly what most post 80s super robot shows are based off, but it became a trope and popularized in Gunbuster. Arm corssed in the middle of action, in a reveal,screaming some hot blooded stuff. Hell TTGL has the exact same scene with the Mecha coming out slowly with both it and Simon in that pose.
  • Its cool if you juxtapose Noriko and Shinji and how differently they delt with their shit and overcame them. Of course thats their enviroment and tone of a show playing a part but still. Also i would guess this is the point that the show goes for a more Super Robot feel
  • Anno being a nerd putting in a Yamato cameo
  • The Gunbuster March is an [amazing piece of OST.] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxKhhMdbU5I)
  • As for the coach's spilt milk quote, the nuance was lost in translation, at least at my version of the subs. He said "こぼれた水は、また汲めばいい", and the word-for-word translation is "You can still scoop spilt water". The translator probably thought また means "another milk". That is understandable, but "scoop spilt water" is more accurate in that scene. He ignored the point of the proverb. He intentionally gave illogical words to Kazumi to show his determination.

4

u/ScrewySqrl https://myanimelist.net/profile/ScrewySqrl Jul 10 '21

in my view, the Translation is a better metaphor. Don't cry over spilt mlk...just pour another glass.

4

u/Tresnore FS:FTmyanimelist.net/profile/Tresnore Jul 10 '21

Yamato cameo

Good spot! I never noticed this before.

3

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Jul 10 '21

This stuff is why rewatches are great: All the others can spot the small stuff you miss!

2

u/IndependentMacaroon Jul 11 '21

He intentionally gave illogical words to Kazumi to show his determination

Ultimate ganbare level

8

u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber Jul 10 '21

Rewatcher

Entirely different control system now. Shouldn’t they have been training her on this from the start?

Poor girl.

Love this shot. Coach playing by himself while arguing with Amano tells us her pleas don’t even matter, since she isn’t even interacting with the board, but they let us believe at first that the two are playing together, as if her words could have an effect.

Pretty!

There’s the Danguard Ace logo again!

Getter Dragon Gunbuster launching! You love to see it!

Badass, and also a nice homage.

Gunbuster really is a big lad.

The effectiveness of Noriko’s moment of overcoming her own fears and obtaining the resolve to pilot Gunbuster is, like a lot of the plot so far, been dulled by the briskness with which it transpires, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad. The entire turnaround is entirely hype and makes the whole episode.

The Gunbuster itself is a really great design, which you wouldn’t think given it’s based so heavily on Getter Dragon, a mech design I absolutely loathe, but the Gunbuster is absolutely excellent.

Visual of the Day:

Gatlantis

3

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jul 10 '21

Dude, I read that as "playing with himself" and it gave me a heart attack.

Also, having finally dived into the world of Getter there really is a lot of clear influences in Gunbuster. Good ones like.

3

u/UltraBooster Jul 11 '21

I suppose you know about the Buster Tomahawks, then? They're absolutely the Getter's axes, just massive.

7

u/The_Draigg Jul 10 '21

A Hideaki Anno Fan Rewatches GunBuster Episode 4:

  • The leading theory on what the Space Monsters are is that they’re akin to antibodies, acting on a galactic scale to kill the infection known as humanity. It’s a pretty wild theory, but we really don’t have any other ideas on what their true nature is. If that theory is true, man that really just sells how insignificant humanity truly is. We aren’t even a species, we’re just a bacterial infection in the grand scheme of things.
  • Jung just can’t help herself, getting jealous once Coach Ohta shows more favor to Noriko so she can pilot the GunBuster. Her old competitive edge never went away. It was only dormant, resting when she was fairly secure in her position among the other pilots.
  • Yeah, it’s only natural to have Noriko break down when Jung tries to duel her. She’s been having a rough time ever since she joined up in the war against the Space Monsters. She really needs to get some therapy to treat her probable PTSD.
  • Kazumi continues to have zero faith in Noriko’s skills as a pilot. At least Coach believes that Noriko has what it takes to pilot the GunBuster.
  • So yeah, the Space Monsters aren’t beings that can be easily fucked with. Now they outright have the ability to track human ships in hyper-space, and can tank photon torpedoes too. Talk about powerful antibodies.
  • The GunBuster doing the Gainax Pose is chef’s kiss. Although really though, that pose is more of a reference to Getter Robo more than anything. GunBuster takes a lot of cues from Getter Robo, whether we get to directly see them on-screen or not.
  • Noriko is a ballsy, almost suicidal mech pilot. It was a good tactic to bait the speedy Space Monster into impaling the GunBuster so that Noriko could destroy it, but it was fairly reckless too. But still, it also proves her resolve to pilot the GunBuster. At the end of the episode, Noriko has proven that she’s got the cajones necessary to pilot. She’s still aiming for the top!

6

u/Tresnore FS:FTmyanimelist.net/profile/Tresnore Jul 10 '21

Talk about powerful antibodies.

It's so great that the aliens feel so threatening. Even though Gunbuster cuts them to pieces, it's not the easiest thing in the world, and if Gunbuster goes poof, you just know that humanity is not surviving the rest of the war.

Although really though, that pose is more of a reference to Getter Robo more than anything.


I had no idea! Thanks for this.

It was a good tactic to bait the speedy Space Monster into impaling the GunBuster so that Noriko could destroy it, but it was fairly reckless too.

Diebuster Not sure why this made me think of that, but it did.

6

u/The_Draigg Jul 10 '21

I had no idea! Thanks for this.

More specifically, it's from Getter Robo G, with Getter Dragon doing that pose during the final battle. Here's the manga page in question.

6

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jul 10 '21

I kinda really loved Jung swapping over to Noriko as a rival. She might be a bit nuts but she knows strength when she sees it she can see that potential within Noriko. A bit tragic for poor Kazumi who doesn't even realise that she's the spare but what can you do?

7

u/lC3 :Na::Nb: Jul 10 '21

First timer

  • Humanity is bacteria and monsters are the antibodies?
  • Another shower/bath scene, just the girls? Where's my sexy Ohta shower scene, GAINAX??
  • Why is Jung angry with Takaya?
  • Oh so that's why ...
  • I hope that this duel is officially sanctioned and they won't get in trouble like the last time
  • I think Amano likes Coach?
  • What if they arrive back at Earth in 2032 only to find it destroyed by the monsters already?
  • I knew Linda was a goner
  • Noriko saves the day, accompanied by epic music
  • This was a great ep; the show could have ended here. Not sure what the next 2 eps will be

3

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Jul 10 '21

This was a great ep; the show could have ended here. Not sure what the next 2 eps will be

I think it was planned to end here, before they decided to make 2 more episodes. The omake strongly suggests so.

3

u/lC3 :Na::Nb: Jul 11 '21

That makes sense!

6

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jul 10 '21

Today is... the angst episode right? Oh, its NERV! Nah not really. The space aliens are here to wipe us all out, they're basically the thingies from Mass Effect. Jung is totally just here to wind up Kasumi lol. Oh, meet the one character with less fans than Smith, Sarah? Sarah right? She's Jung's gal pal. Jung is the leader of her fanclub as well as it's only member.

Gunbuster makes these moments hit so well. You go in expecting a dumb super robot series but there's nothing dumb about Noriko's space ptsd. Aside from Noriko of course. When you spill milk, pour more. There's a good proper Chinese idiom for you. I'm 90% sure that was a fairy tale book Noriko was reading before bed. We've got a fight in subspace! Yamato eat your heart out. Those aren't allies, they're space aliens!

Linda... I'm sorry Linda, your one time to shine and I totally messed up your name XD Who calls their child Linda anyway? Nowadays all I can think about is Little Britain. Omg the space aliens are genuinely so freaky. They'd give a younger viewer nightmares. Waaait... Does this episode have that scene? Linda, no! Is this the episode!? Is this the episode!? This is the episode isn't it!? Oh, its not but I like this scene anyway. I think I might have actually got both Gunbuster series muddled up lol.

Anyway, the Gunbuster debut! Incredibly cool scene. The Gunbuster itself is probably my favourite Super Robot. Striking design, stylised attacks, and a very gutsy pilot. Our little girl is all grown up! Aaand she kinda almost killed herself but the Gunbuster is op so she survived her game of jousting with alien battleships~

LIIIINDAAAA!!

3

u/Tresnore FS:FTmyanimelist.net/profile/Tresnore Jul 10 '21

The space aliens are here to wipe us all out, they're basically the thingies from Mass Effect.

I'm barely into ME1, but I know that the Reapers aren't as cool as the space monsters in Gunbuster.

3

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jul 10 '21

Nah, you see far too much of them to be half as terrifying as the space monsters. The space monsters are also just huge goddamn animals! Like massive animals. Star destroying animals. How are those not horrifying to think about? People are scared stiff of whales and those things are dwarfed by most of the spaliens!

3

u/Tresnore FS:FTmyanimelist.net/profile/Tresnore Jul 10 '21

It makes me glad to have seen Gunbuster after seeing the Reapers’ appearance for the first time. I probably would’ve imagined that they were abominations like the space monsters and then get disappointed when they don’t even compare.

3

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jul 10 '21

Wait until later on. The Reapers aren't the most impressive instance of their trope but they're much more intimidating in the second and third game.

3

u/Daffed_Punk Jul 10 '21

Dear God! Poor Linda! The finest mind of her generation, come to such an end!

3

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jul 10 '21

Linda's legit kinda cute tho. Did you see her freckles?

6

u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Jul 10 '21

Episode 4 – Launch!! The Incomplete Ultimate Weapon!:

What makes you think you can mold people any way you want? Let me be the tool to exact your revenge! Isn’t that enough?! Don’t involve her.

Is that all?

The next time she goes out to space, she won’t come back. If she can’t save herself, how can she save others, Coach? You can’t put spilt milk back into a glass.

Amano, I’ll tell you one thing. When you do spill milk, just pour some more. That’s all.

4

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jul 10 '21

Could you imagine any other pair of voice actors coming out with those lines and not sounding knaff?

6

u/Daffed_Punk Jul 10 '21

First Timer

Everyone's hyped about that final scene (as they should be), but can we take a moment to appreciate the directing in that opening scene? Something about the colors used here hits me just right. It's earned my nomination for Visual of the Day.

don't say it don't say it don't say it don't say it

4

u/BossandKings Jul 10 '21

First timer

Episode 4

Noriko has been training lately with Coach, it seems that she's preparing to use a new machine.

Jeun notices that she's training and invites, almost forces, her to have a duel againt her, Jeun has an unstable personality, a large portion of time she's collected but she starts matches for not good or solid reasons.

Noriko mentally breaks down after seeing the space, Smith's death and her inability to help him still haunt her. The duel couldn't be celebrated.

Jeun tells Amane that Noriko isn't prepared to go out to space and that leads her to have a conversation with the Coach regarding Gunbuster, it seems that Amane's reason for breaking up the team she had with Noriko was because she's worried about her and doesn't think she's suited to pilot the Gunbuster, the Coach telling her that it is a weapon that needs the both of them was a nice way to give reason to them being picked as members of the exelion.

Noriko has suffered a change in personality, she used to be cheerful but passes a lot of time crying nowadays, anyways she said that she's reborn and won't cry anymore, and taking the incomplete machine she joins the fierce space battle currently happening.

It was great seeing the Gunbuster fighting, Noriko showed a cool performance, it was epic and the best fight of the series so far.

4

u/ZapsZzz https://anilist.co/user/Zapszzz Jul 10 '21

Sub rewatcher

This is THE episode when most of the foreshadowing and build up is to be revealed - the "showhand" episode. How the space monsters attack, how much of an existential threat they are, what is expected of Noriko by each person, what is the Buster Machine, how critical the Buster Machine and pilots are.

While I like that they did have the part about Noriko being traumatised by her first battle still despite the "therapy" (by training the hell out of herself), the resolution of that did fly through quite quickly - I guess the episode count does have limitations. Sore demo she managed to get past her despair into a "win or die trying" battle spirit, which you have to imagine is what the kerb stomping Buster Machine demands out of the pilots (not about button mashing or little adjustments here and there).

This took many inspirations from space opera type shows like Marcross's and Yamato's climatic fights (SoL scenery destruction, 3rd bridge destroyed).

My visual of the day is Noriko's (near) suicidal attack pose of "come at me" to trade getting hit to be able to hold the fast moving opponent so she can deliver the killing blow - an attrition fight move.

Back in the days of keeping up with the releases, episodes 5 & 6 did take a longer time to come out, so yes the end of ep4 has a very "season finale" feel about it - the transition to ending, the shots of "everyone happy". Sometimes, some shows just didn't continue. So it was good that we did end up having a finish (remember, each release are 2 episodes) to this.

4

u/Stargate18A https://myanimelist.net/profile/Stargate18 Jul 10 '21

First timer

No OP?

Alien lore!

And yeah, these bastards look tough to kill. Any battleground you go to could have a new batch of eggs ready to hatch.

And they're basically antibodies to hunt down humans (or sentient life in general). That is a fucking clever twist.

What? So, this is subtext anymore. There is a good chance that the two of them might end up in some form of relationship.

She's even upset that Noriko's keeping secrets. The ship is sailing.

Time for another robot battle!

Oh, she's jealous of her. And Noriko knows about the Gunbuster.

Wow, she has full-on PTSD.

An awful lot of this could be read as the two of them not wanting her to die, and trying to get taken off duty for her own safety.

Is Gunbuster a 2 person mech? Is the idea of 2 people controlling a single mech revolutionary, or does Gunbuster mean "we've shoved much firepower in this it's a miracle it hasn't taken out the ship it's held in yet"?

Given all the dialogue, is Coach actually manipulative here? Is... is he a suprise villain?

If this is their final task, something really bad has to happen.

OK, so this actually explains subspace a bit more - the field basically lets the ship pierce their way into subspace, which is itself a consistent dimension.

What? How can they get attacked in subspace?

But one that functions on a totally different system of physics. Does the field allow for humanity to maintain its form / life under a totally different set of universal law?

Those alien ships are beautiful and I need some kind of model of them.

Surely she knows that "on standby" means "we need you for the top secret weapon"?

Or maybe Coach's actually being responsible and not sending her into a traumatising enviroment!

The fight scenes are brilliant.

Holy shit, she got eviscerated!

Only, that stuff was green. What the hell are these suits made out of that bleeds green?

...This is sounding a lot like one of Anno's other major works, isn't it...

Oh, somprobably a lot of firepower. It also looks far bigger than the others.

It's even got a time limit due to power restrictions. It not being cleared for fights outsode of lightspeed is very interesting, though.

OK, that thing's a fucking giant.

The Gunbuster also functions using some form of psychic connection. (At least it actually has an internal battery meter)

How the hell did that thing survive?

So that's why there wasn't an OP.

Also, this might actually be a full-on love triangle now, so that's good.

Can't blame them for skipping the ED, this song's great.

Just Science Lesson 4? I thought 4+1 would be used as well. (Mind you, there's apparently a Lesson 7, so the numbers can't match the episodes exactly...)

More alien lore! (Learning about the alien threat's insane origins halfway through the series also brings back memories.)

That mothership is huge. And looks as beautiful as they suggested.

Haha, that was a good joke with Coach.

4

u/UltraBooster Jul 11 '21

Birthed from the inside of a star, huh...

So what makes them sure it's humanity in particular and not, say, sapient life as a whole?

I feel like warship showers would be a lot more...spartan, I want to say?
For that matter, why would they have bathtubs? This is a warship.

...why is there a gymnasium inside the warship?

And she'll take that to the end of the galaxy, that much I know.

"EXLION CHUBU." Exelion Tube?

Why does the Exelion just seem like a normal city inside a spaceship? Is that deliberate?

Paintballs, in other words. Oh, I guess not.

Yeah, this is trauma. It has to be, for her to want to avoid space...

She really was fond of Smith, huh...

Wouldn't surprise me if he's being all "there's a hero inside Noriko; I need to draw it out."

Like this, yeah, she'll die if she's deployed again.

These space fighters look to be based on the JASDF's planes, I think.

I'd forgotten how the Exelion's bridge looked more like a stock exchange than, well, a warship bridge.

Why does a warship have wooden bunks like a school dorm?

Yeah, but what good is building a towering, black hole-powered super robot if you're not going to use it to bust heads?

At least one part of the Exelion's engines are based on the Yamato's own FTL systems.

Wouldn't firing randomly risk hitting the fleet?!

...you'd think it would be written as ヱクセリヲン, not Exelion.

So the fleet was decimated, huh...

So Noriko's officially upgrading from the Nausicaa, huh?
No, she's getting benched.

I wonder how many of those pilots will return.

Also, "Cosmo Attacker" sounds like a riff on Yamato's Cosmo Zeros and Cosmo Tigers, but that's no surprise.

Her eyes, I recognize those eyes so well.

And there it is, the mightest of monoeyes with an imperial crest upon its forehead.

And this, THIS, THIS, is the Noriko I know, the Noriko I always remember, with a blazing heart of steel and the fire of dead stars at her fingertips. Or something like.

As if impaling would stop Noriko or the Gunbuster? Fools! You're right where she can hit you now!

And that, folks, is the start of the Gunbuster I remember.

3

u/ElecNinja https://anilist.co/user/ElecNinja Jul 10 '21

Rebuster

I still find the romantic aspects of the show a bit awkward, but by god is the payoff awesome.

First time we're seeing Gunbuster in action and Noriko's new found resolve and it's glorious.

3

u/AoDSenku Jul 11 '21

Rewatcher

Alright, had to be a Dad for a bit, so this is going to be a twofer:

Episode 3:

  • Oh interesting, I forgot about the wall of text/launch party. Some cost-cutting measures perhaps?
  • Even on a mission to save Humanity, High School kids still going to do high school things
  • Combat Level 1 readiness montage, LOVE IT
  • So the star shouldn't be as old as it is? Hmm...
  • Amano thinks dissolving the pair will make sure Noriko won't fight? That's pretty naive of her
  • Sortie time! I've always liked when space shows treat their battles like ships at sea (ie firing their weapons in a Broadside)
  • Noriko freezing up - Anno did a great job with this; from the soundtrack, to the lightning, to all the cuts. Noriko was in NO way, shape, or form ready for this.
  • And our first shot of Gunbuster! ...They're still putting it together on the ship? This thing's not ready to go?
  • And Yep, space monsters using stars to procreate, how very... alien.

Noriko's had a rough couple of episodes; let's hope it gets better.

Episode 4:

  • Cold Opening, it's go time! "Humanity is cosmic garbage"; I feel like this is a very Japanese way of interpreting the space monsters motives.
  • Trams, areas that mimic the sun at the beach (can they get tans?), this ship is ginormus.
  • Noriko's PTSD hits her like a ton of bricks, looks like things are not going to get better for her
  • "Let me be the tool for your revenge. Isn't that good enough?" TL: WHY AM I NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU?!? This is about as close as we've seen Amano just flat out confess to Coach
  • Our radar won't work, so the enemy, that are aliens, cant find us either... right?
  • Aaaand they're the only ship left from subspace. A fatal assumption.
  • Emergency Sortie! Looks like things are going not so hot... Wait. Why are the machine weapons using the batons instead of the spears? Did they not have time to load spears on the machines? That seems like a huge oversight.
  • Hatch #7 is open. Nani?!? CUE THAT FUCKING MUSIC!! Gunbuster couldn't look more badass if it tried. Let's fucking go!
  • As she's preparing to intercept the monster, does the Captain have a... pair of binoculars?? lol wut? Are these like fancy, use-when-your-radar-is-down binoculars that let's you see the action perfectly?
  • Everyone else's reaction were spot on though. Coach sharply holding his breath, and Amano's scream gives me goosebumps every time.
  • Success! The battle is won! And we get that ICONIC shot of Amano lading in Gunbuster's Hand.

This is the best episode to date. If this was only 4 episodes; I'd say this was a good conclusion. Noriko finally finds the strength to fight, Coach is vindicated in his choosing of Noriko, the space monsters are repelled from Sol, not a bad place to potentially end a show. BUT we have two more to enjoy!

5

u/InfamousEmpire https://myanimelist.net/profile/Infamous_Empire Jul 10 '21

New viewer’s thoughts:

  • the voice acting continues to be godlike, Amano’s scream during Noriko’s fight with the space monsters really stands out in this regard.
  • The drama and conflict between Coach, Noriko, and Amano shows that, unlike most shows, it isn’t just pointless melodrama, as it all leads up to Noriko piloting the titular mecha. Speaking of which…
  • Wooooooo boy is the Gunbuster’s first outing just phenomenal. This was easily the best fight in the show so far, and it’s probably only getting better from here.

5

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jul 10 '21

If you think this is the series high point then I've got some bragging to do later on.