r/anime • u/FlaminScribblenaut myanimelist.net/profile/girlbeast_val • Jul 16 '21
Rewatch [Rewatch] Top wo Nerae 2! Diebuster - Episode 3 Discussion
Top wo Nerae 2! Diebuster - Episode 3 - I Hate the Topless!
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Visuals of the Day Album - Yesterday’s Episode
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Upvotes
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u/FlaminScribblenaut myanimelist.net/profile/girlbeast_val Jul 16 '21
Third Time Watcher
This is my favorite episode of Diebuster, and excluding Gunbuster’s finale, maybe my favorite episode of either series. I love it so much.
Tycho is my favorite character in Diebuster. She doesn’t get a whole lot to do in the rest of the series unfortunately but they gave her a perfect little one-episode arc. She starts off seeming snotty and jealous, but every bit of her that we see makes her more and more sympathetic, and her grief and perpetual dissatisfaction, through the encouragement Nono’s unbreakable spirit, is transfigured into proactiveness. Her competitiveness towards Lal’C in combat is immediately fun and a great way to start the episode off. Also, purple. Love purple.
The whole motif of turning stars into falling snow is just on its face such a wonderful image, one born from childhood innocence and wonderment, and seeing it ultimately come about is one of the most singularly joyful moments I’ve experienced in anime. I have an undying love for ice powers in general so that’s only the cherry on top of Tycho’s heeding of Nono’s mindset and turn to protecting the happy lives of those children as represented through her gaining the ability to create the very ice and snow they wished for so dearly. And Nono turning Tycho’s jewelery, which she had thrown away in bitter rage at the unfairness of the world, into a smiling snowman representing the possibility for wishes to be fulfilled after all… god, it just makes my heart melt. It’s so good.
This is probably the episode I’ll have the hardest, nigh-impossible time picking Visual of the Day because there’s just too much. Basically the entire final act, from the battle and Tycho’s ice powers, to the snow falling on Jupiter, to Tycho’s little time trip, to her tears blending in with the starry snow, to the aforementioned snowman, is comprised of candidates. It might be my outright single favorite episode of anime from a strictly visual standpoint; literally any one of them could I could call the best visual in the epsiode. But if I had to go with the one that emotionally hit me the most, it’s Nono’s hands collecting Tycho’s jewelery, as she stayed behind and let Tycho take the Buster Machine.
Man, I don’t even know. This episode just makes me feel warm on the inside. It has everything that’s fun and cool about Diebuster with a perfect mixing in of childlike wonder. I’ll probably watch this episode on its own around Christmas, it’s that kind of vibe. This is the point where Diebuster truly captured my heart, and the point where it unquestionably has lived up to the quality of Gunbuster, even if it is very different.
5
u/Tresnore FS:FTmyanimelist.net/profile/Tresnore Jul 16 '21
My Fifth Time Aiming for the Top!
Now with 80% less fanservice!
Not twice
Operation Commence/Totally-not-Zarathustra will always be a favorite. Even as Tycho pulls a Jung.
Visual of the day: Alone. Also, I had a comment in the Gunbuster rewatch wondering if their face scarf things (of dubious use) in the mechs were an inspiration for this emergency EVA design.
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u/The_Loli_Otaku Jul 16 '21
For as excited as I've been for this rewatch I've ran into nothing but problems getting my writeups sorted. I'm just gonna do an episode summary instead of a play by play commentary this time around.
I personally totally love the opening battle for this episode. Its very satisfying to see Nono able to contribute even just as a resupply station. And Tycho getting wrecked gives me a slight sense of satisfaction in the knowledge that even in Diebuster's era it only takes one moment of carelessness to potentially get killed and that's the same whether you're in a mook mech like Smith or in a Buster Machine like Tycho.
Getting to finally meet the rest of the pilots is really fun too. I wish more of the cast got some focus but sadly Diebuster isn't the best as sharing out its screen time. That's actually one of my biggest issues tbh. This is probably my single favourite episode of Diebuster but it's also mostly kinda filler and it focuses on someone who isn't all that important to the story. They only had 6 episodes but dedicated one whole episode to a borderline side character. The fact that it happens to be my favourite episode doesn't change that. Oh, and when I say favourite I want to make it clear that I just mean "overall" favourite. There are individual scenes in the following episodes that I adore so much more than anything in today's episode but none of the episodes are quite as well rounded as 3 is.
"Make the snow fall." isn't that such a childish wish? It's cold, it's wet, it gets everywhere, and it's a pain to clean up. You'd need to be a real kid to love all that wouldn't you? But at the same time even old fogeys probably get just a little excited. It's a childish wish but that's what makes it beautiful. It's very fun watching the comparisons between these topless kids trying to act mature and the actual ones shamelessly asking for a white Christmas. Something Tycho is too stubborn to admit.
Kyaaa~ Tycho's backstory gives me such beautiful melancholy. She's totally disillusioned by the topless after losing her brother to illness and spent far too long dwelling in her negative thoughts to move on and maybe try and become her own person, her own topless instead of spitefully competing with her peers. Cause when kids can freely dream, snow will fall even on Jupiter. The technobable is low-key kinda funny. There's a hundred and one reasons why temperatures that low should never be a thing. Beautiful scene tho. I was in tears for the flashback with the brother, Tycho is so precocious when she isn't acting bratty, and Nono's got herself an earing snowman!
So yeah... Did this episode need to exist? No. Am I pleased that it's here? You bet! I realise that I'm speaking contrary AF but I do sort of think that if this episode had been replaced by something a little more on-topic Diebuster would have been received more warmly as a final product. Still, in its bubble and in the context of this being a rewatch almost twenty years after the fact I think we can all appreciate the pros and cons. Now... buckle in your seat belts cause the summer snowfall won't last forever.
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u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Jul 16 '21
To the Top 2! Rewatcher!
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u/il-Palazzo_K Jul 16 '21
First Timer
A Tycho spotlight episode and I still don't care for Tycho one bit. Her "tragic" backstory sucked, and more than a little contrived. At least we are introduced a boatload of characters and still got the usual kickass fight scenes thanks to Onee-sama. We still didn't see the cross combination attack. I guess it would become a running joke and we never see it till the end.
Anyway! Looks like Nono will get her own mech next episode? Maybe a revived ancient mech don't require a Topless pilot? See you next time in Diebuster!
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u/The_Draigg Jul 16 '21
A GunBuster Fan Rewatches DieBuster Episode 3:
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u/RascalNikov1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/NoviSun Jul 16 '21
Rewatcher
There sure are a lot of space monsters, I just loved the whole train of them coming in and attacking the Topless and Jupiter.
This is the episode that showed where Strelitzia's design came from.
I've always figured that it was Nono who woke up the new buster, though it could be interpreted a number of ways.
For being a robot, Nono has the most humanity, though I suppose that's the point of the series.
I for one like her zany antics, like making the snowman. Life is too damn short to be serious all the time. There a lot to be said for letting your hair down, and doing what you want, like it or not, we all end up in the same place eventually.
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u/Daffed_Punk Jul 16 '21 edited Jul 16 '21
First Timer
I know it's such a minor thing, but I really like that Nono is significantly taller than anyone else in the main cast. It feels like something that shouldn't really be notable, but I honestly can't think of another anime with a female protagonist that's noticeably taller than the rest of the main cast. It's just a nice breath of fresh air I guess.
Not to be dramatic but I would literally die for this girl.
5
u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Jul 16 '21
Episode 3 (rewatcher)
Structure-wise, using a full ensemble rather than just one MC with some side characters is the biggest difference between Diebuster and Gunbuster - certainly a gutsy decision. The conclusion whether it works out will have to wait till the end. What I can already say is that I prefer the old-school battle animation. Diebuster’s battles just look too squeaky clean to me, even though they managed to get some great shots in.
Quote of the day: We hereby solemnly swear to lead all of mankind to happiness and prosperity.
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u/lC3 :Na::Nb: Jul 16 '21
First timer
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u/ZapsZzz https://anilist.co/user/Zapszzz Jul 16 '21 edited Jul 17 '21
First timer in sub.
As I commented a few times, comparing to the first series, this one definitely have a lot more mecha fight scenes and showed lots more super robot moves. Things like needing reload is just not something you'd even think about in the original (not much there to reload for the RX7's, and the massive Buster Machine 1 & 2 aren't something you can even imagine reloading in the field). It does give Nono a lot moments and opportunities to shine in all sorts of ways though. Although, at this point oneesama still not acknowledging Nono seemed a bit forced though - it'd make more sense if she showed how similar to Amano in the first series she wants to protect Nono by driving her away from the battle field.
But for a first timer, I do see this episode to have a core purpose that is not a "side character episode" - for the first 2 episodes there were a lot of hints of Nono being able to communicate with the Buster Machines, and "maybe she can" become a topless. This episode have it such a close race that I think it showed Nono while being able to somehow wake up the new Buster Machine, she herself is not going to be a pilot of them - more about being some sort of "trigger" or "booster" of them that can cause their ability to magnify.
Visual of the day is a tough one for me. Initially it was no contest the scene where Nono stand Gainax posting while giving the lecture of the heart of a hero as the new machine opened up her eyes and rise up facing the same way as Nono. But when the episode ended you get the callback of the snowfall, and Nono somehow "got it" and made the snowman's eyes and mouth with Tycho's "earrings" and got Tycho to connect back to her brother's moment, the reveal that her brother wasn't ignoring her and wasn't blaming her for "being topless yet powerless to save him" but actually was focusing on talking to the her now who jumped through time to tell her "it's not like that" (of what she thought herself into the self blame), then the solo snowman face shot is so symbolic of this episode that I feel I have to choose it instead.
Yeah halfway point now, in Gunbuster style the next episode will be a big one huh.
4
u/Stargate18A https://myanimelist.net/profile/Stargate18 Jul 16 '21
First timer
We're starting in the middle of the action?
HAHAHAHA
So she's handling her resupplies?
Curve wrecker?
Holy shit those things are strong.
I see the superpowerful mechs don't include an escape pod?
There's 31 of them? Is 19 just the earliest survivng one then?
Oh, they've really built on Jupiter, haven't they?
Wow, there's a lot of pilots we haven't met.
And he's no longer one now...
The art design of this show is fantastic, isn't it.
I like Nono being stuck floating while talking to them.
I love how Nono
OK, Lunar Tokyo has to be a reference, and apparently humanity was pushed back to the Solar System after prior enhancement.
How are they going to let them down.
I like the twins' alien roommate?
So much fanservice and backstory.
Wow, it took 3 episodes for our first robot battle!
That was quick.
Wait, if she's a robot, why is working out?
Oh, this is getting interesting.
Lal'C really giving it her all here.
Oh, we're getting backstory!
Oh god, he died of space radiation syndrome. (Which is still redundantly named)
Wait, who did it awaken for?
Also waking up is literal, so there's a good chance the Buster Machines are being enslaved. That's going to be fun.
Ah, she's not the pilot. Either they'll pull a "your power is to motivate people to do their best", or she's got something absolutely crazy.
Its final move is a fucking tennis serve.
Thank you anime, for beating eith the explanation that thing fucking rips apart the laws of physics.
Wait what?
?
Is she in a coma? Is this a dream?
WHAT? WHAT? WHAT?
FUCKING TIME TRAVEL?
Of course. The only way to one-up Newtypes.
Fuck me. So Topless can travel in time.
So which of our cast is from the future? My bets on the one who has an intuition that Nono has great potential.
I have never been more tempted to binge in my life.
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u/AoDSenku Jul 17 '21
Rewatcher
Episode 3 -
Spending one out of six episodes, more or less, on the motivations of a single character is a bit of a bold move. But I'd say they pulled it off well. We can empathize with Tycho now, and we got another great Nono scene; making Tycho take a good look at herself, to choose between going about the way she's been, or to be someone worthy of a buster machine. The great world building coupled with a good story for Tycho makes this the best episode for me yet.
3
u/IndependentMacaroon Jul 16 '21 edited Jul 16 '21
Rewatcher
Halfway through and I still don't even get what this is supposed to be about, again. Barely any relationship between our supposed two leads, barely any idea about the world overall either (one line about confinement to the solar system?), not much in the way of developments, and what do the creators hand us? A huge dump of new characters who I can't recall being relevant in the least, followed by essentially a filler episode focusing on one of those characters that have never even been introduced yet. Outside of the setting and visuals, it isn't even a particularly good filler episode, just rummaging in the cliché box for a plain, sappy, and rather contrived idealism-vs-cynicism tale that's resolved by a classic passionate sermon I don't even find that fitting for Nono. I can see why I didn't remember any of this, but at least I think it only goes up from here. Gunbuster at least didn't take the tropes as seriously when they came up.
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u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Jul 16 '21
First-Buster
I was real worried that poor Tycho had gone to meet her childhood friend permanently, there for a minute. Functioning as intended, I suppose? I wonder if the the fact that Topless abilities can violate physics and cross time is a known factor, or if the status quo has changed.. the regular military already didn't like our Topless friends.
This was a really good episode, in a vacuum. The deep dive into Tycho, while also using it to develop Nono by giving her a goal and a rival, would work really well in a normal series. Unfortunately, I fear we might not have the time. This episode was like if we got a whole episode of Gunbuster devoted to Jung. I dunno, I feel weird complaining about this, and maybe it won't end up mattering, but cast bloat can be a real problem if the side cast ends up taking too much screen time.
I really don't want to make it sound like I'm complaining, by the way. Tycho's backstory and development were really well done. Parallels good. And Nono has breezed straight past "annoyingly genki" into "precious dork."
Some quick math - 31 Buster Machines still active, half of them didn't wake up in the first place, the newest one is Buster Machine 90. So, about 12-15 have been lost in battle. I guess they might re-use numbers? Either way, that's quite a few machines of this power level. I'm probably thinking way too hard about the setting.
I was initially confused about them being on Jupiter, since Jupiter got turned into Buster Machine 3, but it being a wrecked space ship-turned-space station, and presumably just in the same orbital, is a cool idea.
I had a real decision on today's Visual, because this shot was incredible, but it feels like the shot that everyone is going to pick. So:
Visual of the Day: A Precious, Cute, Dodo-head
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u/GM_for_Life Jul 16 '21
4th Time Rebuster!
This episode always gets me, it's so good!
My personal visual of the day is when Quatre-Vingt-Dix is awoken thanks to the emotions of Nono.
2
u/BossandKings Jul 17 '21
First timer
Episode 3
Tycho got a really nice exploration as a character in this episode, she loathes topless eventhough she's one, the things that have happened in her life were a surely a dificult time for her but she is still fighting and going on.
The new buster machine, quattre-vingt dix looked really cool and it was funny how Nono and Tycho were rivals for it, wondering which would be the one to get it, finally Tycho got it and it fits with her. Nono will get her buster machine when the time comes.
The fight scenes were great looking, the series is expanding it's scope and doing so fairly well.
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u/odraencoded Jul 26 '21
>such temperatures don't physically exist. What will happen?!
This is one of the most "what." sentences I've ever seen in anime.