Kaysow wrote:

BrikHaus81 wrote:I really enjoyed Diebuster. Actually, I liked it more than Gunbuster. The overall storyline seemed more cohesive between episodes and the directing was more focused. At the end, the link to the original, really made it fun.

Is it really at all comparable to Gainax' earlier masterworks? It looks like most of their newer stuff, which have appeared pretty shallow to me...

To me, Diebuster is a great anime because it combines a number of elements: good story, strong characters, meaningful character development, good acting, great animation quality, and cool action sequences. Story wise, it is far from shallow. While the basic plot is nothing new: save the world from aliens, it is executed in a pretty unique (or at least interesting) fashion. The same could be said for Gainax's earlier works, as well. With Diebuster, it is the strong characters that really made this one work. The interaction between Lark and Nono was well-done and believable. The ending was sad but necessary. It was really one of Gainax's better endings, too, because it was satisfying and not a cop-out mind-fuck like they do sometimes.

I also think the directing of Diebuster is better and the story more cohesive than Gunbuster. I think Anno, when he did Gunbuster, wasn't quite sure what he was going for. Gunbuster tried to be a comedy, a drama, and a coming-of-age story all in one. The elements were all there, but were scattered. I don't think Anno really put them together well enough. To me, it seemed forced. Like certain scenes screamed: "THIS IS THE DRAMA SCENE, FEEL SAD NOW!"

Diebuster, though, was directed (by Kazuya Tsurumaki) in a style that is more akin to FLCL, but managed to portray the drama, comedy, and coming-of-age stuff more fluidly, and believably. It had more focus, and seemed to know exactly what sort of story to tell from the very beginning.

Definitely check out Diebuster. It isn't shallow by any means, it is very fun, and you'll be entertained. Plus, there is Groovin' Magic.

Diebuster was a fair-to-good anime sitting squarely in Gunbuster's shadow.

Just finished Diebuster, it was incredible. Unfortunately I wasn't able to watch gunbuster so I guess the ending made to sense to me, the one where the 2 red lights appear in the sky.

Groovin' Magic!!!

TheMessiah wrote:that is one open girl ^_~

Indeed>_> Hoped there was shaving<_<*runs*

Honestly, I'm really torn on Diebuster and Gunbuster as to which I like better.

Gunbuster is early Anno, his commercial directing debut. Talent is there, the man is amazing, but it's not really cohesive. Gunbuster was meant to be 4 episodes. The first 4 eps were written by Toshio Okada. Due to the popularity of Gunbuster, another 2 episodes were approved, these 2 written by Anno himself. Amazing work, but sort of semi tacked on. Anno was still experimenting here, and some of what he tried worked, and some of it failed. He learned from his mistakes and made better work down the road. Not say Gunbuster is not awesome, because it really is.

Diebuster was conceieved to be 6 episodes, and the story holds together better. Kazuya Tsurumaki has several projects under his belt at this point, and therefore a much better idea of what will be successful and what won't be. I'm not saying he's a better director than Anno, I'm saying he has more of an idea of what he's doing than Anno did back in 1988. Diebuster is an amazing work in it's own right. I swear to god, Lal'c's screaming tirade at Nono in ep. 6 brought me to tears. (ok, both Gunbuster and Dibuster brought me to tears multiple times, I'm an emotional person, I admit it).

And obviously, Anno seems to have much faith in Tsurumaki, as he appears to be Anno's right hand man on Rebuild.

slothen wrote:YUNG FREUD? what the hell.....

It's Jung Freud, after Carl Jung, and Sigmund Freud. Anno's really into psychology, remember?

cat42 wrote:

slothen wrote:YUNG FREUD? what the hell.....

It's Jung Freud, after Carl Jung, and Sigmund Freud. Anno's really into psychology, remember?

I can't believe I mispelled it with a "Y." but i picked up on that immediately, my post is sort of a general WTF to Anno's work. The name Jung Freud is just so blatantly lifted I had to rewatch the scene to make sure I wasn't mishearing it.

cat42 wrote:Gunbuster is early Anno, his commercial directing debut. Talent is there, the man is amazing, but it's not really cohesive.[...] sort of semi tacked on. Anno was still experimenting here, and some of what he tried worked, and some of it failed.

Finally, somebody who agrees with me! I was getting a little worried there for a minute. This is exactly the point I was trying to make. I think that because Anno is acclaimed and because Gunbuster is a classic, people have a lot of nostalgia for this work and have trouble viewing it objectively. To reiterate, both are awesome, but Diebuster was just put together more skillfully.

Tokpile Quohog wrote:Groovin' Magic!!!

Keep on singin' it and someday you'll be a Nonoriri, too

Gunbuster was meant to be 4 episodes. The first 4 eps were written by Toshio Okada. Due to the popularity of Gunbuster, another 2 episodes were approved, these 2 written by Anno himself.

Huh. That explains the sudden change in tone. It's one of my favorite animes ever for those brilliant final 2 episodes, though.

So I've finished watching gunbuster and it was pretty cool, the ending was confusing.


Whats the premise of Diebuster?

slothen wrote:Whats the premise of Diebuster?

Meanwhile, back in the solar system...

oh.. durr. 15000 years. Kay.

BrikHaus81 wrote:

Kaysow wrote:Is it really at all comparable to Gainax' earlier masterworks? It looks like most of their newer stuff, which have appeared pretty shallow to me...

Definitely check out Diebuster. It isn't shallow by any means, it is very fun, and you'll be entertained. Plus, there is Groovin' Magic.

I guess I will be watching it then. But first, I'll need to find someplace where the new Gunbuster DVD isn't so damned expensive.
Actually, I borrowed the tapes from a priest I know maybe 7-8 years ago, and I liked it, but can't really remember much. Except the timetravelling-part being depressive.

Fun Fact: Jung Freud's VA Asuka's (sometimes batshit crazy) Mama Kyoko. :shock:

I've only seen the first 2(?) episodes of Gunbuster, haven't seen any of Diebuster yet. I'll probably watch it through the magic of the internet sometime this week, then chime in with my thoughts. It seems cool so far, though it sucks that piece of music (Noriko's training scene in episode 1) had to be changed to something else. Was it really the Chariots of Fire theme or just a parody of it??


From what I've seen though, seeing "2015 AD" and "tsukubu..." made me smile. Nice how Anno carried those over into Eva.

Sailor Star Dust wrote:(Noriko's training scene in episode 1) had to be changed to something else. Was it really the Chariots of Fire theme or just a parody of it??

It's not Chariots of Fire, but its a song that sounds very familiar. Because of that they changed it for the US DVD release, fearing a potential lawsuit. I personally have trouble believing some major studio is even aware this song exists, or would even go through the hassle of suing Gainax over such an old anime.

From what I've seen though, seeing "2015 AD" and "tsukubu..." made me smile. Nice how Anno carried those over into Eva.

Don't you mean tsuzuku?

I don't think in 'Aim for the Top 2! DieBuster' as a real sequel, although it was a sequel. For me is more a tribute to GAINAX "old school" works, including 'Aim for the Top! Gunbuster'.

Hideaki Anno's work from Kazuya Tsurumaki's vision. After all, Anno was Tsurumaki's mentor.

The project to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of GAINAX took it own way in order to express, with less experimental narrative, the same values of the original 'Gunbuster'.

Both series are great, different perspectives.

So Diebuster is what happens durring the 12k years that Noriko and One-Sama are gone, right? Sounds mildly interesting...is it licensed?

Towards the end of that interval.

Licensed by Bandai a couple of months ago
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-01-30/anime-la-bandai-visual-report

Rahaquiel-2D1S wrote:So Diebuster is what happens durring the 12k years that Noriko and One-Sama are gone, right? Sounds mildly interesting...is it licensed?

I wouldn't try to think of it as "this is what happens while Noriko and Oneesama are gone." It really tells it's own, independent story with a few nods here and there to the original. And I believe it was licensed by Bandai Visual USA and given an outrageous sticker price. I think I'll wait for the seven disc box set (if it ever comes out) of Gunbuster, Diebuster, and the Gunbuster vs. Diebuster movie before I spend any cash on it.

BrikHaus81 wrote: Gunbuster vs. Diebuster movie before I spend any cash on it.

Do you have any info on the movie? Just what the hell is it?

It's a compilation film of the 2 of them. That is all I know.