Gunbuster
Aim for the Top!
Storyline
In the near future, humanity has taken its first steps towards journeying into the far reaches of the galaxy. Upon doing so they discover a huge race of insectoid aliens known as "Space Monsters." These aliens seem dedicated to the eradication of mankind as they near closer and closer to discovering Earth. In response, humanity develops giant fighting robots piloted by hand-picked youth from around the world. Shortly after the discovery of the aliens, Noriko Takaya, the daughter of a famous deceased space captain, enters a training school despite her questionable talents as a pilot. There, she meets her polar opposite, the beautiful and talented Kazumi Amano, and is unexpectedly made to work together with her as they attempt to overcome the trauma of war as well as their own emotions.
Episodes
Specials
Additional in-universe background short films.
Science Lesson 1 - Ether Space
Oct 07, 1988
Science Lesson 2 - Starbows and the Rip Van Winkle Effect
Oct 07, 1988
Science Lesson 3 - Faster Than Light Travel
Jan 01, 1989
Science Lesson 4 - The Evil Space Monsters
Jan 01, 1989
Science Lesson 4+1 - The History of Spaceships
Sep 18, 1995
Science Lesson Final - The True Sol System
Sep 18, 1995
Good Morning, Okinawa Girls High!
Oct 22, 2004
Cosmic Space Battle
Oct 22, 2004
Sizzler Project
Oct 22, 2004
New Science Lesson 1 - Orbital Elevators and Orbital Ropeways
Feb 24, 2012
New Science Lesson 2 - The Core of the Milky Way and Black Holes
Feb 24, 2012
Aim for the Top 2! Science Lesson 1 - Topless
Jun 22, 2012
Aim for the Top 2! Science Lesson 2 - History of Buster Machines
Jun 22, 2012
Aim for the Top 2! Science Lesson 3 - Cosmic Censorship Hypothesis
Jun 22, 2012
Gunbuster
No overview available for this season.
Shock! Big-Sister and I are Going to be Pilots Together?!
Oct 07, 1988
Noriko Takaya has spent barely had a month at a training school for giant robots. The school announces they are going to select two candidates to go to the Exelion spaceship for the real missions to fight against an invading mech army. One of the choices is obviously the beautiful and leading senior Kazumi Amano, but somehow Noriko is selected for the second spot! The other girls get jealous that Noriko got the spot, suspecting it's because she was the daughter of the Admiral in a previous mission. School rival Reiko Kashihara feels that's totally wrong, and challenges Noriko to a duel.
Daring! The Girl Genius Challenger!!
Oct 07, 1988
Noriko and Kazumi arrive at the space fleet led by the space battleship Exelion. The girls get introduced to a hot shot female fighter named Jung Freud. During one of their mech training sessions, Jung spars with Kazumi, and end up in a part of the station where they discover one of the mechs of their enemy. Later on, Noriko and Kazumi are sent to partake in a special mission to investigate an object traveling at near light speed. With the laws of quantum physics and time dilation, the mission that would normally take just a few minutes will span several months. But they discover the object is the Lexion, the ship that Noriko's dad used to command.
First Love☆First Sortie
Jan 01, 1989
The Exelion prepares to jump through hyperspace. All the girls and guys are confined to their quarters during the mission, but Noriko loses a dare game, and has to wander off in the dark. She is surprised when a person shows up, but it turns out to be a charming guy named Toren Smith, who befriends Noriko. They get into some minor trouble for being out, and as punishment, they have to polish the lenses for the laser cannon array. But then the Exelion gets a surprise fly-by by the enemy. The fleet goes after them for a large battle at Leaf 64. Toren offers to be Noriko's partner for the next battle, since she has fallen out of favor from Kazumi. But trouble arises as they get overwhelmed by the sweeping enemy.
Launch!! The Incomplete Ultimate Weapon!
Jan 01, 1989
The fleet advisor tells Captain that the aliens are going to attack Earth. Coach has been training Noriko, but Jung wants to test Noriko by challenging her to a duel. Noriko is still shaken from the death of her comrade and breaks down when they are outside. As the fleet is preparing to jump back to Earth, hoping to hide their trail in subspace, they are suddenly attacked by the aliens and everyone scrambles for their mechs. Noriko is benched for the battle. Things look bleak as most of the defense forces are wiped out, but Noriko manages to get out of her rut and moves to pilot the force's super prototype mech called Gunbuster.
Please!! Time Enough for Love!
Jul 07, 1989
Kazumi and Noriko return to Earth for their high school graduation. Even though they are still teenagers after all these months in space, the Earth has aged ten years. Noriko meets up with her friend Kimiko, who now has a daughter. The Earth's forces discover that a massive number of alien spaceships are converging into the solar system. Coach has a strategy that involves creating a miniature black hole around Jupiter 2, but he will need Kazumi and Noriko to work together to pilot Gunbuster in order to put his plan into operation. However, Kazumi is having second thoughts as she's fallen in love with Coach and knows of his health situation.
At the End of Eternity...
Jul 07, 1989
Fifteen years later, Kazumi is called to another mission, to detonate a black hole bomb in the enemy's home galaxy. She joins Noriko and Jung as they pilot the Gunbusters to their final destiny that could mean the "extinction or survival of the human race."
Gunbuster 2
No overview available for this season.
Please Let Me Call You Big Sister!
Oct 03, 2004
Nono, a young girl from the country, moves to the big city in order to achieve her dream: becoming a space pilot!
I Don't Want to be Your Big Sister!
Feb 24, 2005
Mars' Space Force isn't happy about space monsters showing up on their doorstep, and they blame the Fraternity.
I Hate the Topless!
Jun 24, 2005
Tycho wrecks her Buster Machine, ruining her chance to reach top. Not to worry--there's another Buster Machine in the works.
Resurrection!! The Legendary Buster Machine!
Oct 28, 2005
Nono's despair grows as her certainty that she'll get a Buster Machine fades.
Mover of Planets
Mar 24, 2006
After the Titan incident, the world has changed. Topless are a disease, and humanity's last hope for salvation is the least likely person in the Sol System.
The Story of Your Life
Aug 25, 2006
With the survival of humanity itself at stake, one desperate plan remains: the sacrifice of the Earth, to strike at the beast! But where is Buster Machine #7?
Series Info
Status
Ended
Seasons
2
Episodes
12
Language
ja