Gunbuster 2 1

October 13, 2004

Title: Please let me call you Onee-sama!
Fansubbed by: Lunar Anime

In the future, space pilots use mecha to fight extraterrestrial monsters.

The country maid Nono desperately wants to be a space pilot too,

. . . but her dreams are crushed by the squadron chief.

The End

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RATING: B

At first glance, it's easy to assume that Gunbuster 2 is just another Stellvia/Twin Spica clone, starring a woebegone girl and her quest to go to outer space. Quite to the contrary, this title is devilishly shallow, providing a sort of obscene thrill ride with plenty of action, mecha, and humor for good measure.

While this title clearly has strong plot elements (see Kabitzin's review), the real strength of the show lies in its snarky 'comedy-of-errors' sort of feel. As a case in point, it's great to finally see the producers forego the traditional angst-laden child protagonist for our heroine Nono, who is both pathologically upbeat and slightly dotty, given her tendency to refer to herself in the third person. This sense of whimsy isn't limited just to the characters, but manifests itself in the art style, mecha design, and voice acting. If anything, it's downright fun to watch this series, complete with its bumbling heroes, dastardly villains, and over-the-top action scenes.

When all is said and done, it's easy to recognize Gunbuster 2 as a true spiritual successor to its original 1989 predecessor. Although it's easy to get caught up in the vogue of complex plots, brutal training arcs, and anxiety-ridden heroes, sometimes it's just good to step back and check out some old-school mindless hilarity.

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