Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily Entertainment GuideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsCannes Film FestivalStar WarsAsian Pacific American Heritage MonthSummer Watch GuideSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Gunbuster

Original title: Top wo Nerae!
  • TV Mini Series
  • 1988–1989
  • PG
  • 30m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
Noriko Hidaka, Maria Kawamura, and Rei Sakuma in Gunbuster (1988)
Gunbuster: The Movie
Play trailer1:25
1 Video
73 Photos
Action EpicAdult AnimationAlien InvasionAnimeMechaSci-Fi EpicSpace Sci-FiActionAnimationDrama

A young pilot, daughter of a deceased space captain, is selected to pilot a gigantic robot as a key point of Earth's defense during a space war.A young pilot, daughter of a deceased space captain, is selected to pilot a gigantic robot as a key point of Earth's defense during a space war.A young pilot, daughter of a deceased space captain, is selected to pilot a gigantic robot as a key point of Earth's defense during a space war.

  • Creator
    • Toshio Okada
  • Stars
    • Noriko Hidaka
    • Rei Sakuma
    • Norio Wakamoto
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.7/10
    2.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Creator
      • Toshio Okada
    • Stars
      • Noriko Hidaka
      • Rei Sakuma
      • Norio Wakamoto
    • 19User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Episodes6

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-ratedSeason

    Videos1

    Gunbuster: The Movie
    Trailer 1:25
    Gunbuster: The Movie

    Photos73

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 65
    View Poster

    Top cast50

    Edit
    Noriko Hidaka
    • Noriko Takaya
    • 1988–1989
    Rei Sakuma
    • Kazumi 'One-sama' Amano
    • 1988–1989
    Norio Wakamoto
    Norio Wakamoto
    • Kôichirô 'Coach' Ôhta
    • 1988–1989
    Maria Kawamura
    • Jung Freud
    • 1988–1989
    Gianni Matragrano
    • Observation Department Head
    • 1988–1989
    Spike Spencer
    Spike Spencer
    • 1988–1989
    Bradley Gareth
    Bradley Gareth
    • Koichiro Ohta
    • 1988–1989
    Alexandra Yastishock
    • Jung Freud
    • 1988–1989
    Melissa Sternenberg
    • Kazumi Amano
    • 1988–1989
    Kiane Chula King
    • Noriko Takaya
    • 1988–1989
    Bill Jenkins
    Bill Jenkins
    • Tatsumi Tashiro
    • 1988–1989
    Tamio Ôki
    • Captain Tatsumi Tashiro
    • 1988–1989
    Ayako Shiraishi
    • Linda Yamamoto…
    • 1988–1989
    Lisa Ortiz
    Lisa Ortiz
    • Kimiko Higuchi
    • 1988–1989
    Masako Katsuki
    Masako Katsuki
    • Kimiko Akai…
    • 1988–1989
    Takkô Ishimori
    • Principal Hiroaki Inoue
    • 1988–1989
    Kyôko Minami
    • Female Top C…
    • 1988–1989
    Ayumi Hashimoto
    • Female Top…
    • 1988–1989
    • Creator
      • Toshio Okada
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews19

    7.72.1K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    9darthnavatar

    Good animation and SF

    I am Japanese anime fun.

    This anime is very old.

    But I think very good animation and SF.
    6Jithindurden

    Should be considered a classic more than its current status

    Almost like a preamble for Neon Genesis Evangelion but without its too philosophical ending and with a bit of silliness. The science fiction in this is extensively researched and mostly works with the existing theories of that time even though certain liberties are taken in including some rejected theories. But it never tries to give much exposition on anything. This highly intelligent side is covered with some sappy and silly stuff too which kind of doesn't make too much sense to me. The time warping is used as the main source for emotional narrative here way before Interstellar. The details of animation and the emotion created by it is the best things about this even with all these other factors.
    7phanthinga

    It could have been better

    Gunbuster a early successful of Gainax studio in the mecha genre that I find myself get suck in the world and the characters when it touch many interesting aspect of travel through time and space and most importantly how people cope with in a world of rapid change.At first I don't find Noriko the main character to be admirable or reliable cause she spent most of her time crying and whining about how people look down on her despite clearly know why.Gunbuster don't deserve to be just a 6 episode OVA so I hope Gainax or Trigger will remake someday
    framer94

    HeaVy aNiMe, SCi-Fi SPaCe oPeRa***6/10***

    This anime is typical of the style used in many cheesy 80's production due to the upheaval in the economy at the time, but dawns on the hard working, yet peanut paid animators.

    With most Space anime, there is only one goal is foccuss-- to engage the enemy in combat noisily, and take 'em down with an outrageously rapid feat of lighting shows. I've forgotten the story, but it revolves around the human race pitted against an alien invasion fleet in some 300 years hence, using the latest and greatest in combat technolodgy to tear then up good.

    The story is moderate, and not at all garbage, but at times the fragile,sentimental side of things can really get under your skin...like when the girls are continously sobbing in their cheesy, skimpy spandex costumes. The best bits are the action sequences though.

    The character design isn't that hot, but the mecha sequences are something else; with fluent, well drawn, carefully painted cels. The organic alien design is also unique as well, despite they're mostly slowly progressing cardboard cutouts. In the later part of the series, the colour is dropped to black and white for some unknown reason, maiking the 'watchability' of the anime go from strength to strength, but consistantly holding a drab atomsphere.

    You have to give the studio credit for the epic, thought-provoking,and highly origional ending though. One solid fact I can hold about this show is that the exeptional quality of the animation is always consistant. A good watch ***6/10***
    8ExpNoob19

    If Interstellar was an anime (Sort of)

    For a six episode miniseries Gunbuster (1988) is somehow able to cover all of the narrative requirements of a full length anime series. As Hideaki Anno's directorial debut some of the concepts and ideas he is well known for are explored here, though not to the same degree and scale of his more well known show "Neon Genesis Evangelion". Most of the focus of the show is placed on the continuation of the overall plot with a fair amount of time focused on the development and inner thoughts of the main character Noriko. The story is mainly focused on the idea of how light-speed travel distorts time, and based on that the show is able to deliver some memorable and emotional moments typically not found in series' of this short length. Some complaints I have with this show is how the first episode is painfully 80's (if that makes sense) and tonally doesn't transition well into the rest of the series. Another thing I didn't like is how the first instance of nudity felt very undeserved and inserted in for the sake of appealing to an older audience. Gunbuster is still however a great anime that should be used as a reference for future miniseries'.

    More like this

    Gunbuster 2: Diebuster
    6.8
    Gunbuster 2: Diebuster
    Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise
    7.2
    Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise
    Gunbuster: The Movie
    7.4
    Gunbuster: The Movie
    Bubblegum Crisis
    7.3
    Bubblegum Crisis
    Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water
    7.7
    Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water
    Super Dimension Fortress Macross
    8.5
    Super Dimension Fortress Macross
    Mobile Suit Gundam
    7.9
    Mobile Suit Gundam
    Re: Cutie Honey
    7.3
    Re: Cutie Honey
    Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn
    7.6
    Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn
    Megazone 23
    6.6
    Megazone 23
    Riding Bean
    6.7
    Riding Bean
    Giant Robo
    7.9
    Giant Robo

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Animator Yoshiyuki Sadamoto was the animator responsible for giving Noriko her distinctive "bouncing bustline".
    • Quotes

      Jung Freud: The moon is great, you're weightless! On Earth, your bra's too tight, your shoulders are in knots, and soon your boobs sag.

    • Alternate versions
      Due to music which intentionally resembled that from Chariots of Fire, the score for the training montage was replaced on the US R1 dvd version of the film.
    • Connections
      Edited into Gunbuster: The Movie (2006)

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ15

    • How many seasons does Gunbuster have?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 7, 1988 (Japan)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Official site
      • Gainax Net (Japan)
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • GunBuster
    • Production companies
      • Bandai Visual Company
      • Gainax
      • Studio Fantasia
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      30 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Noriko Hidaka, Maria Kawamura, and Rei Sakuma in Gunbuster (1988)
    Top Gap
    What is the French language plot outline for Gunbuster (1988)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit pageAdd episode

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.