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Aug 20, 2010
If you desire to watch this in any way, you MUST, yes MUST watch Gunbuster first. Diebuster simply will NOT be as enjoyable or as good of a work if the viewer does not have previous experience with Gunbuster. Hence, I'm going to write this review as if the viewer has already viewed the previous OVA (though I won't spoil anything from Gunbuster)
All at once, Diebuster is a sequel, a tribute, a homage, and a celebration. It's obviously a sequel to Gunbuster, but keep in mind that this OVA was animated for the 20th anniversary of Gainax. Hence, it is extremely self-referential in many ways;
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it is a tribute to the original Gunbuster, it contains homages to previous Gainax works like Evangelion and FLCL, and it is a celebration of everything Gainax stands for.
Upon first glance, Diebuster (or Top wo Nerae! 2, but that's just awkward to type) is a sequel in name only. The OVA shares a director with FLCL; the art and animation is obviously more akin to FLCL's stylized visuals than Gunbuster's more realistic take. There is much, much more light-hearted humor thanks to our new protagonist Nono being the cute, ditzy type. You never really get the sense that the two OVAs take place in the same universe until late into the first episode.
Character development is still top-notch, but that largely comes from being very self-referential. Nono and Lal'C's relationship share the same sort of dynamic as Noriko's and Amano's, a deliberate move driven home with Nono's addressing of Lal'C as "Onee-sama". The new protagonists undergo the same sort of problems and interactions as the olds ones, but it never feels rehashed or retreaded. Make no mistake, these are different characters. Some of the minor characters get much screentime as well. For instance, there is an entire episode devoted to Tycho, a relatively minor character.
In an improvement over Gunbuster, Diebuster's plot is very present. Yet, it never feels like it's intruding upon any other areas like character. This is where Diebuster really differentiates itself from Gunbuster; if Gunbuster had a better plot it would distract from the amazing character development that OVA had. Summarizing the plot would be major spoilers but without saying too much, by the fourth episode you will have absolutely no doubt that Diebuster is a true sequel and takes place in the same universe as the original OVA.
Animation and sound are top notch; just what you would expect from modern Gainax. In yet another homage, much of the orchestral score uses motifs from the Gunbuster score. This really helps in establishing the legtimacy of the sequel. As mentioned above, the art is radically different from Gunbuster, but it's not limited to the art; it also extends to the designs as well. This is very jarring at first, especially if you watch it right after viewing Gunbuster. This is even more noticable when certain elements from Gunbuster return; those elements are drawn in the retro 80s style and really stick out. All for the better though, it makes them that much more powerful dramatically.
Many questions that the viewer may have are answered sufficiently well by the fifth episode. However, much like the original, the viewer is not fully satisfied until they've finished the final episode. The plot wraps up very nicely, and by this time, you feel that Diebuster has done a good job with unifiying old and new. But then it gets better. I will not describe the scenes, but you will know them when you see it. All I'm going to say is that it involves shirt ripping. I also won't describe the ending. It really needs to be seen completely unspoiled as it is incredibly important. I will say this: the ending is the one thing that completely unifies Gunbuster and Diebuster into the single, cohesive work.
As such, this is why my review scores were so high. I will reiterate what I said at the beginning; Diebuster MUST be seen after Gunbuster. This wasn't so much a review of Diebuster, but the second half of Top wo Nerae!. It complements the first half, it "recompletes" it so to speak. Rather paradoxically however, it is still unique enough to stand differentiate itself and be regarded as it's own story. Many elements make it unique despite being so closely intertwined with Gunbuster. Those unique elements worked so well, Gainax went and revisted them three years later as a full length series. The result was a little something called Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. I think that speaks volumes.
If you've seen Gunbuster, what are you waiting for? I've been lavishing praise upon it for the past several paragraphs. If you're a mecha, or even just any sort of anime fan, do yourself a favor and watch these two works. You will laugh, you will cry.
Most importantly, you will be given a reminder as to why you love anime.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Aug 20, 2010
I think it was a few year ago that the name Gunbuster was introduced to me. Gurren Lagann had just ended and after finding myself dissatisfied with its ending, I asked some friends for some similar series. One of them mentioned Diebuster, another said that I shouldn't watch it until I had watched Gunbuster. Alas, I never actually bothered to watch any of the other super robot shows they named other than G Gundam. It was at a convention that I was again reminded of this amazing 6 episode OVA that I had neglected to watch. A friend of mine was cosplaying Noriko and after
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asking her about her costume, the discussion turned to Gunbuster, then to her excitedly telling me to go see it. So I did.
Immediately, the Gainax "touch" struck me. Many of the established Gainax tropes were here, everything from boob-bouncing, the heavy fanservice and deep character development. What seemed to be missing was a well-developed plot. Aliens want to kill us, we build robots and ships to fight them. Almost the entirety of the plot can be summarized in that sentence. Case in point, Noriko, our protagonist, lost her father to the aliens but this is never a major plot point and only serves as a springboard for more of her character development. The characters keep the ball rolling, and boy does that ball roll. The characters are immediately endearing; you feel their pain, their inner conflicts and you can relate to their tragedies. Best of all, you can sense certain nuances and subtleties in their interactions. A good three out of six episodes is spent carefully crafting these characters, the heavy action does not enter the picture until well after the middle of the fourth episode. This never tries your patience however; the pacing could have been better but the characters are so interesting that you are compelled to watch. Hence, more character driven scenes only really come off as deliberate, never boring or slow.
When the action finally does hit though, it hits hard. The action is pure super robot, the design of the titular mecha evoking designs like Mazinger or Gaiking. Animation-wise, this is pure 80s anime bliss. Bright colors punctuate the zeerust designs of the spaceships and the alien designs follow the Giger-esque trends of the time. You'll also be treated to some of the best shirt-ripping (yep, an excuse for more tits), attack screaming, hot-blooded mecha action around. It is during these scenes that Gurren Lagann's homages become readily apparent. Tropes include the classic arms folded badass pose and the impassioned "get a hold of yourself" speeches.
When the OVA finally winds down in the sixth episode, the action and drama have been blended and meshed nearly perfectly. This is the episode that feels the most like Hideki Anno's other works, namely Evangelion in some parts. The final episode is deliberately monochrome in order to emphasize the drama. It works incredibly well, especially in concert with the now legendary ending. Admittedly, the first few episodes could feel tedious to some, but it is absolutely worth sticking around until the final episode simply because the ending is so incredibly well done. It's almost safe to say that the reason this OVA is so fondly remembered is because of the sheer emotional impact of those final scenes. If you are in any way a mecha, sci-fi or Gainax fan, you must watch this OVA. For good reason, it is widely considered a classic and I'm kicking myself over not experiencing it earlier.
After finishing episode six, I felt that on it's own merits Gunbuster is a near-perfect OVA. However, Gunbuster does have a sequel: Diebuster, released in 2004. I almost felt as if a newer, modern sequel would never do this classic justice nor would it complement it.
I was wrong. Really wrong.
On to Diebuster...
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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May 10, 2009
The final installment of the Mobile Suit Gundam movie trilogy is a masterpiece. Watching this film, it is incredibly difficult to believe that the movie is a compilation of over 20 TV episodes as the pacing, plot, art and character development are all outstanding. If any of the three movies in the trilogy have any rewatch value or are strong enough to stand on their own, this one is it.
Let's begin with the story. The Newtype concept comes full circle in this installment, embodied by a love triangle between Amuro, Char and Lalah Sune. The relationship transcends relatively simple romance and enters the realm
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of spirituality. Amuro's identity as a Newtype propels Lalah into becoming the most important person in Amuro's life, a relationship that is somehow believably intrinsic despite being slightly rushed. Newtypes in later series are synonymous with super-skilled ace pilots (a fact that Gundam Unicorn bluntly points out) This doesn't feel like the case in this movie; true understanding and love at first sight were Tomino's original vision of the Newtype concept and it really shows.
As a result of accepting his new identity as a Newtype and his relationship with Lalah, the rivalry between himself and Char becomes a deeply personal feud leading to many interesting confrontations. Char's identity is also finally revealed as is Sayla's, allowing justification for his actions and neatly concluding the movie. Without giving away too much, Char's identity is also closely linked to the Zabi family who have a much larger role and presence in this film and give a greater insight into the inner demons of the Zeon rulers.
The characters become fully developed and mature in this film, their identities solidifying and defining their further appearances in the franchise. Amuro's journey is complete. He is now a noble soldier bound by his duty to protect those he loves, a stark contrast to his former angst-ridden self. Though all of the White Base crew is combat-hardened, they are undoubtedly family and the audience always hopes that the final, dangerous confrontations with Zeon won't claim any lives, not only because such a death would be tragic for the audience but also for the other characters. The character development is just that good; you really feel for them.
This constant danger that the characters are placed into creates a very effective sense of dread, keeping the suspense tight and making the action that much more enjoyable. And there's plenty of action. From the famous confrontation between the Gundam and 9 enemy Rick Dom suits, to the gigantic scale of the space battles, the action only abates during critical scenes of character development, finally concluding in the epic Battle of A Baoa Qu.
After all is said and done, one can only sit back, exhale and exclaim "wow!" as the credits roll and the fantastically 80s kitsch track "Megurai" sung by Daisuke Inoue plays. This film has solidified in my mind why the original series is so revered in its home country, to the point of becoming part of the national consciousness. An impressive trilogy to say the least, any Gundam fans who have not experienced the original series or the Universal Century should do what I did and witness this amazing trilogy, especially this powerful work of art that is the final installment. And as a self-referential sign of things to come, the credits conclude with a wonderfully cryptic sentence appearing in English which I will quote:
And now... in anticipation of your insight into the future.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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May 10, 2009
The next stop on my tour of the Universal Century. Upping that ante from the previous movie, there really isn't much to say about it other than the fact that the movie is a middle chapter to larger story. This one contains more action, character development and finally some plot, something I felt was sorely missing from the previous movie.
The main subject of discussion here would be character development. Even relatively minor characters like Matilda and Kai get some, further reinforcing them as believable human beings. Of note is Amuro's development. Previously, we saw him as a reluctant teenager drawn into a mess he
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had no escape from. Coming to accept his new responsibility, we interestingly see him develop ego issues. However, by far the most interesting character development is that of the enemy. Tomino's sombre vision of war calls for a fair depiction of both sides of the conflict. We are reminded through characters like Ramba Ral and Miharu that both sides involve people with much to lose and suffer. This is also emphasized by several tragic character deaths on the side of the protagonists.
Plotwise, this movie was much more interesting than the previous. The Newtype concept is expanded through discussions among the characters, fully coming to head in the final movie. Though only through a rather short confrontation, the true identity of Sayla is hinted at and also is finally revealed in the last chapter.
I really don't have much to say. Overall, the movie rightly feels like a middle chapter with the movie beginning with action and ending with action, setting up for the space conflicts to follow.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Apr 29, 2009
The Gundam franchise holds a very special place in my life. Going back to my first exposure to it, my 11 year-old self was rather indignant that this new "Gundamn Wing" show was going to be replacing my favorite cartoon Dragonball Z. I now know that my local network was simply attempting to introduce a new, more serious anime and using the DBZ timeslot was a perfect test-drive. And I was hooked. A serious story, political drama, and giant robots, what wasn't there to love? As I put more research into this strange new series, I learned of course that it was only a small
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part of a much much larger franchise which consisted of alternate universes and of course, the Universal Century. Of course, I did watch other Gundam shows in between, namely SEED, SEED Destiny and 00. However, nearly all Gundam fans kept recommending me to go back to one series of shows I've missed...
Finding myself with plenty of free time and in need of much relaxation after a hard semester, my summer this year will consist of me watching every single UC series, OVA and movie (well, maybe except G-Savior) Beginning my arduous task was this movie, which was recommended to me over the TV series. I was expecting something a little more light-hearted during the opening minutes as I had watched the OP for the original series on Youtube (KIDOU SENSHIIII GUNDAMUUUUU) No, it was during those opening minutes that I realized the Universal Century was something entirely different from the alternate universes I was familiar with. It was a rather awkward situation for someone who was used to the slickly animated AU shows to be so disturbed by relatively crude images of colonies falling. Yoshiyuki Tomino's vision was simply uncompromising.
A couple of very common criticisms of later Gundam shows are awkward characterization and slapdash plot, two criticisms which cannot be leveled at this movie. Amuro's characterization is rather realistic, showing plausible battle fatigue and interpersonal tension. From the get go, the viewer is drawn into the mysterious relationship between Char and Sayla. Captain Bright establishes a commanding presence on screen, just as he should. The great extent at which we sympathize with the characters and believe in them really lie on the shoulders of the seiyuus whose performances result in very believable overall characterization.
As mentioned above, the plot cannot be criticized, mainly because there really isn't one. The movie is simply a series of battles, albeit entertaining ones. A situation is established, and the characters are thrown into it. Rinse, repeat. Glimmerings of underlying story do shine through, namely Char's. The famous SIEG ZEON speech gives a good impression of the inner workings of the enemy who up until that point were simply cannon fodder.
Visually, the movie shows all of the hallmarks of 70s anime, a bit of a negative. Bright, pastel colors punctuate every scene. Explosions are eye-assaulting fireworks shows. Uniforms resemble those of the super robot animes that Tomino fought so hard to differentiate from (this probably stems from executive meddling) Everyone wears ridiculous looking tights for some reason. However, it is because the designs are so eye-catching that they stick in the mind. Having 30 years to get to know their beloved characters, everyone in Japan will know who Amuro Ray, Sayla Mass or Kai Shiden is, what they look like, how they act. Even more iconic than the characters are the mecha. I remember first seeing the Zaku model kits, thinking "what a weird design" Placed within the context of the UC, they are excellent designs and do what they were intended to do: evoke totalitarian militarism. The titular mecha is by today's standards bare-bones, but it's presence on screen is always attention grabbing through it's actions and it's color scheme. To sum up, every character and mecha is distinctive.
In conclusion, the first movie gave me an incredible first impression. Hitting hard in the opening minutes, the movie carries action and character development consistently all the way through. Though marred by some questionable art choices, this is overshadowed by how distinctive each and every design is. A great way to start, but I just wished there was more of a plot.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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