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ANIME SERIES: GUNBUSTER 2 Vol. 2

RELEASED BY: Bandai Visual (HONNEAMISE)

CATALOG#: BUDH0106

DVD INFORMATION: 58 minutes + 23 minutes, 16:9 LB, Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0, English Subtitles

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Who will pilot the new Quatre-Vingt-Dix? The Buster Machines are ready to fight the horde of space monsters!

The elite Topless make their rendezvous as the order is given to launch a major operation to stope the horde of Space Monsters known as the Jupiter Express.

Tycho, who lost her Buster Machine in her last battle, sees a rival in Nono for the pilot seat of the newly constructed Quatre-Vingt-Dix.

Then the two of them meet some children who say they have “a favor to ask a Topless”…

Welcome to “Gunbuster 2″ vol. 2 (OAV episodes 3 and 4) featuring the android Nono who wants to become a Gunbuster pilot, Lal’C (her onesama) and the Topless crew.

In episode 3 titled “I Hate the Topless”, we get to learn more about the character Tycho. A Topless who is a member of the Mars Meganebula Base. In a way, Tycho is a reminiscent character of the original Gunbuster series of Jeung Freud, the Russian pilot who was rivals with Amano Kazumi.

In this case, the rivalry is between Tycho and Lal’C and Tycho is always competitive against her but yet always loses to her. In episode 3, her passion of being a rival leads to her Buster Machine “Soixante-Six” being destroyed by the space monsters.

But it’s announced that a new Buster Machine has been made and is available (note: it was learned in the last volume that a Buster Machine has not been made in decades because of the high cost to produce them). And Nono has her eyes in finally getting a Buster Machine for herself, that is until, Tycho has her eyes set on the same Buster Machine.

The episode is primarily an episode focused on Tycho’s character and why she has grown to be a person that is somewhat bitter and why she hates being a Topless.

You also get to meet more of the Topless pilots but most of all, how some of them despise Nono because she is an android. A lot of them feel she’s an idiot.

But you also get to know more about the Serpentine Twins, two mysterious twins who dream of becoming eternal Topless. They are working on a secret excavation project which they hope will bring them closer to their dream.

In episode 4 titled “Resurrection!! The Legendary Buster Machine!”, “Gunbuster 2″ is taken to overdrive and packed with action as the Serpentine Twins excavation to resurrect the “Sirius Buster Machine” is underway and their dream of becoming eternal Topless may be coming true. That is until what is discovered becomes a shocker and leads to a tragic battle which includes all Gunbuster Machines.

In this awesome episode, we get to see a major development with Nono as her dream to become a Buster pilot may come true.

I really don’t want to reveal so much but after watching this volume, I was wanting more! It was great to see somewhat of a homage to the Jeung/Kazumi rival of the original series in episode 3 of “Gunbuster 2″ between Tycho and Lal’C but most of all, to see how action-packed and tragic things get with episode 4. I was amazed by the animation, the battles and impressed with the overall storyline.

So, not wanting to spoil it for anyone, all I can say is that “Gunbuster Vol. 2″ is just awesome.

Animation and sound is top notch as the previous volume. Again, there is no English dubbing but the overall voice talent in this series is done very well. Audio is presented in Digital 5.1 and 2.0. The Digital 5.1 really sounded quite cool on my surround sound as it’s used quite a bit, especially in episode 4.

As for the animation, animation is done very well in this volume and is presented in 16:9LB.

As for special features, again we are blessed with a 23 minute “DIEBUSTER TV” episode with an interview with screeplay writer Enokido Yoji.

Again, similar to the last volume, I was very hypnotized by this latest episode of “DIEBUSTER TV” as we got to learn more about the creation of “Gunbuster 2″ and what went on the mind of Enokido when writing the screen play. Again, another special feature that enhances your overall feeling of the anime series. So, very grateful this was included in this second volume.

Also, included in this volume, like the previous is the 20-page DVD insert booklet which features cast information on Tycho and the Topless pilots and their Buster Machines.

Also, somewhat of a science lesson is the inclusion of “Brainless World’s Basic Knowledge” which is a primer to various technical things featured in OAV episodes 3 and 4 such as what a “Red Milky Way”, “Expiration” of a Topless, “Exotic Maneuver”, “Clefshin Luminescence” and other scientfic terms are all about. There are about four pages filled with terminology which will make the science buffs grin.

Also included is the “Buster Machine Development History”. This one I found very intriguing because there is not much record on Buster Machines previous to #10 (Dix-Neuf) which is piloted by Lal’C.

But overall, a very good information source on Buster Machines from #10 all the way up to 90’s which include the new Buster Machine unveiled in episode 3.

Also, similar to the last DVD insert booklet is the inclusion of more science lessons and interviews with Tycho voice actress Sawashiro Miyuki and voice actor for Nicola, Iwata Mitsuo.

I know that there are people who may have only seen the first episode or two of “Gunbuster 2″ but all I can say is watch it from beginning to the end, you won’t be disappointed. If you are a fan of the original “Gunbuster”, I can’t say how important it is to watch “Gunbuster 2″ and see how it ties into the original.

As for the DVD, I found the beauty of “Gunbuster 2″ through the DVD series. From the “DIEBUSTER TV” featurette and the 20-page booklet, you gain such an appreciation of what director Tsurumaki and screenplay writer Enokido were planning for the overall series and made me love it even more.

That is one thing that I love about the release of DVD’s of how a featurette (or director’s commentary) can really be the ultimate eye opener of a series and literally boost your appreciation for it. The inclusion of “DIEBUSTER TV” and the 20-page booklet was a great addition and I’m very thankful for Bandai Visual to include that.

All in all, a beautiful anime and things just continue to get better with this second volume and the fourth episode alone really changes the dynamics of the series. Wow!

This volume was great but what Gainax has planned for the final two episodes will definitely bring things to full circle for fans of the original “Gunbuster” series and this new series but for this volume alone, I’m still saying… “Wow!”

“Gunbuster 2″… Check it out!

Tags: Bandai Visual, Diebuster, Gunbuster 2

ANIME SERIES: GUNBUSTER 2 Vol. 1

RELEASED BY: Bandai Visual (HONNEAMISE)

CATALOG#: BUDH0105

DVD INFORMATION: 54 minutes + 30 minutes, 16:9 LB, Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0, English Subtitles

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

A young girl named Nono has left her home behind, to come alone to the big city. She has a grand dream of becoming a space pilot. But reality is harsh, and she spends every day instead at the diner near the spaceport where she lives and works. The one day, while being harassed by one of the regular customers, a real-life “Topless” pilot named Lal’C comes to her aid.

Nono, who is deeply impressed, starts on her own accord to call Lal’C “One-sama,” and volunteers herself by saying “I want to become a space pilot like you”.

The original “Gunbuster” series ranks as one of my favorite anime OAV series of all time.

So, when it was announced that a second Gunbuster would be released in Japan (known as “Top o Nerae 2 -Diebuster”), fans went crazy.

With a contest where artists and fans could submit to have their own creations used for the series and just the buzz surrounding the new anime OAV series added to the much deserved hype.

Where the original “Gunbuster” OAV series had Anno Hideaki directing, the new series would feature “FLCL’s” Tsurumaki Kazuya as the original planner and director, Enokido Yoji writing the screenplay and character designs by Sadamoto Yoshiyuki. So, that alone had people guessing how three of the people behind “FLCL” would do in creating “Gunbuster 2″ would definitely be interesting.

For episode 1, we are introduced to Nono and Lal’C. Lal’C is part of the group know as the “topless” who are Gunbuster pilots and members of the Anti-Space Monster Interception Squad of the Fraternity. For Nono, she wants to be like the historic pilot known as Nono-Riri. And her first meeting with a “topless” has made her want to become a Gunbuster pilot even more. But what was revealed is that Nono is not your average type of person. She is a robot that happens to have some special abilities.  You also start to realize that the space monsters are still there and ruthless than before.

For episode 2, the story continues as Nono meets the other topless and calls Lal’C her “One-sama”. Something that Lal’C does not want to be. But of course, Nono is determined to stick it out with hard work and guts and to do what it will take to become a Gunbuster pilot.

During my first viewing of “Gunbuster 2″, I wasn’t sure where the story was going to go. Because, truthfully, to come up with something of a sequel or a storyline after a series that was so successful and well loved, that’s really hard to follow up.

With “Gunbuster”, part of the allure was to watch Noriko prove to herself and to the other pilots that she deserves to be a pilot and with each episode, it was well-written, well-animated and had that special feel good feeling of watching someone looked as an underdog persevere and prove people wrong by her sheer determination.

Not only that, the original series was also an interesting parody that is filled with so much pop-culture and anime reference that made it fun for the viewers.

For “Gunbuster 2″, again… A very hard act for director Tsurumaki to follow and this is what made me appreciate this DVD so much more was the inclusion of a segment called “DIEBUSTER TV”.

“DIEBUSTER TV” is one of the special features included on this DVD that features an interview with the voice actress of Nono (Fukui Yukari) but also an interview with director Tsurumaki Kazuya.

You learned that by working on “Gunbuster 2″, because of his work on “Nadia: Secret of the Blue Water”, “Neon Genesis Evangelion” and “FLCL”, how things were impacted from episode to episode.

By working with screenwriter Enokido and character designer Sadamoto and Buster Machine designer Izuna Yoshitsune, they were able to create a new atmosphere, a new storyline that would continue to show someone who still is determined to become a pilot and be somewhat better, to still continue to have the “One-sama” but most of all, to do something different and for people to look at it differently and not compare it to the original.

From why he made Nono to be a klutz to the use of gags in the first episode, it was because of his previous works and wanting to achieve something different.  Instead of explaining a back story or slowly explaining “why” for each character, to go with the flow of the storyline and the viewer will start to  learn more and more as the story develops.

So, in this series, Gunbusters are not just machines that are piloted by humans. They are machines that now have their own artificial intelligence and react to only certain types of “topless” (pilots).

To make things even more interest, the pilots of the Gunbuster machines are typically young teens who lose their “topless” ability when they turn 20.

And that is where things get a little technical. Where the first series goes into light speed travel and warping and utilizes science and technology, “Gunbuster” didn’t go to technology crazy in the science lessons but the new sequel does introduce you to new things.

The DVD comes with a 20-page booklet with character information, staff interviews with voice actress Fukui Yukari (who plays Nono) talking about her meeting with Gunbuster voice actress of Noriko (Hidaka Noriko) and her emotions when she watched the original “Gunbuster”.  Also, included is a staff interview with director Tsurumaki and you learn things from this interview as well of why he didn’t want the series to be so serious and how too many animators want to create realism because of a drama but since his work on “Evangelion”, he has been trying to get away from that and making the character more “manga-ified” than realistic.  And also his explanation of how though it is a sequel, at the same time it’s not.  But most of all, trying to create a series where the fans of the original will come to appreciate the series after watching it completely.

The booklet also features an interview with screenplay writer Enokido Yoji.  I found it very interesting that when taking on the project as screenwriter, how he was a fan of the original “Gunbuster” and wanted to be loyal but also making sure it’s independent work and thus the English title for “Gunbuster 2″ is “Diebuster”.  And the concept of the “topless”, having their abilities when they are young was written in the viewpoint of today’s youth.  A lot of the things happen when you are younger, live in a fun world and demonstrate a lot of power.  But when one is about to lose that power, it becomes scary.

And once you get to see the mindset of Tsurumaki and Enokido, you start to open your eyes and get a better sense of understanding why things are the way they are and I started to appreciate “Gunbuster 2″ even more.

Although “Gunbuster 2″ does not include the science lessons that the original OAV had, the booklet accompanying the DVD does include the science lessons which go into detail of what a “topless” and “Buster Machine” is.  This is important because you start to learn that Lal’C’s Buster Machine, Dix-Neuf is the oldest functioning Buster Machine and was used in previous war against the space monsters.  Also, learning that because of the cost and materials to create Buster Machines, there have not been any created in decades (during Nono’s time period) and no machines are available at present.  Only those that the Fraternity manages.

The animation is nice and crisp and if you like the animation to “FLCL”, then you would like the animation to “Gunbuster 2″.  I do love the character designs and emotion from the original series much more but again, after watching the DVD featurette of why Tsurumaki didn’t want things to look so realistic, I can see his point of view an enjoying the series after knowing that and looking at this independently outside of the original “Gunbuster” OAV series.  Also, the video is presented in 16:9LB.

The sound ala Dolby Digital 5.1 was pretty cool.  Good use of the rear speakers and overall expected nothing less from a series created in 2003.  As for voice acting, Japanese voice acting was very well done on the series but similar to most Bandai Visual releases, there is no English dubbing.

As for special features, extra features include the textless ending and the awesome “DIEBUSTER TV”.

I know that there are people who may have only seen the first episode or two of “Gunbuster 2″ but all I can say is watch it from beginning to the end, you won’t be disappointed.  If you are a fan of the original “Gunbuster”, I can’t say how important it is to watch “Gunbuster 2″ and see how it ties into the original.

As for the DVD, I found the beauty of “Gunbuster 2″ through the DVD series.  From the “DIEBUSTER TV” featurette and the 20-page booklet, you gain such an appreciation of what Tsurumaki and Enokido were planning for the overall series and made me love it even more.

That is one thing that I love about the release of DVD’s of how a featurette (or director’s commentary) can really be the ultimate eye opener of a series and literally boost your appreciation for it.  The inclusion of “DIEBUSTER TV” and the 20-page booklet was a great addition and I’m very thankful for Bandai Visual to include that.

All in all, a beautiful anime and the starting point for the series as it establishes character development for Nono and Lal’C, although not as serious or Noriko “Hard Work and Guts” style as the original “Gunbuster” OAV anime series, I still found the first two episodes enjoyable.  But definitely building up for big things to come.

And for a “Gunbuster” Gainax episode, not only do you get your mecha, the humor, your science and technology plus a little fan service in between , you also will get an all out, exciting, action-packed sequel that I definitely recommend getting.

Gunbuster 2… Check it out!

Tags: Bandai Visual, Diebuster, Gunbuster 2, Top o Nerae 2, Tsurumaki Kazuya