Noriko Takaya
main character
OVA
7.7
My TrackerPLANNING
Episode: 0 / 6
My Score:
Anime DetailsFINISHED
Estimated watch time
2h 48m
⚡ 2 days at 5 eps/day
Tags & Tropes
Space94%Female Protagonist91%Military90%War89%Coming of Age88%Super Robot86%Space Opera86%Primarily Female Cast81%Aliens79%Cosmic Horror77%
OVAFINISHED1988 FALL7.7 / 10 AniList score
Gunbuster
トップをねらえ! GunBuster• Top wo Nerae! GunBuster
Synopsis & Story
In the very near future, a race of huge, insect like aliens is discovered traveling the galaxy. These aliens seem dedicated to the eradication of the human species as it takes its first steps away from the solar system, and they are getting closer and closer to Earth. Humanity has responded by developing spacegoing battleships and giant fighting robots. These robots are piloted by the best and brightest of Earth's youth, picked from training schools around the world. The story begins in the year 2023, not long after the first battles with the aliens, and centers on young Noriko Takaya. Although Noriko's father was a famous Captain in the space fleet who was killed during one of the first battles of the war, her own talents as a pilot are questionable. Nonetheless, she has entered a training school. Through the series Noriko, joined by the beautiful and talented Kazumi Amano, will fight to overcome the trauma of war, the doubts of her peers, and her own lack of confidence. (Source: AniDB)
Trailer
Search YouTubeWhere to Watch Officially
Availability, audio and subtitles vary by region and service.
Featured Cast & Voice Actors
Franchise Universe & Related Entries
Aniphoria guide
Gunbuster: should you watch it?
At a glance
Gunbuster has been well received, with an average AniList score of 77/100 — 63% of 17,255 ratings are 8/10 or higher.
It ranks #69 highest-rated anime of all time, and #59 most popular anime of all time on AniList.
Of the 26.7K AniList users who started it, 1.9% dropped it, so it is very rarely abandoned; 23.8K have finished it.
At about 2 h 48 min in total, it is a short commitment — a weekend binge.
Best for viewers who enjoy Action, Drama, Mecha — especially space, female protagonist, military, war.
Where it fits in the series
- Start here. Gunbuster is the first entry in its story.
- Watch next: Gunbuster 2: Diebuster (2004)
- Optional extras: Gunbuster Renewal EX, Aim for the Top! Gunbuster Science Lesson, Top wo Nerae! & Top wo Nerae 2! Gattai Movie!!
Episodes
6 episodes are listed.
Main cast & creators
- Original creator
- Toshio Okada
- Director
- Hideaki Anno
- Character design
- Toshiyuki Kubooka
- Music
- Kouhei Tanaka
Gunbuster FAQ
- How many episodes does Gunbuster have?
- Gunbuster has 6 episodes of about 28 minutes each, roughly 2 h 48 min in total.
- How long does it take to watch Gunbuster?
- About 2 h 48 min back to back. At two episodes a day it takes 3 days; at one hour a day, about 3 days.
- Is Gunbuster finished?
- Yes. Gunbuster has finished airing — the final episode aired July 7, 1989.
- Is there a season 2 of Gunbuster?
- Yes — the story continues in Gunbuster 2: Diebuster (2004).
- Where do I start Gunbuster?
- Start here: Gunbuster is the first entry, followed by Gunbuster 2: Diebuster.
- Is Gunbuster based on a manga?
- No. Gunbuster is an original anime story, not adapted from a manga or novel.
- Who animated Gunbuster?
- Gunbuster was animated by GAINAX and directed by Hideaki Anno.
- Where can I watch Gunbuster?
- Gunbuster is listed on Crunchyroll. Availability varies by region — check the streaming links on this page.