Hideaki Anno's Gunbuster to Get Remastered Japanese Theatrical Release

Aim for the Top! Gunbuster

Before Evangelion, GAINAX co-founder and master animator Hideaki Anno made his name with a six-episode mecha OVA. That series, the planet-crushing Aim for the Top! Gunbuster, will be coming to Japanese theaters this month fully remastered.

Gunbuster Marked Anno's directorial debut, leading a star-studded cast and crew. It featured character designs by Haruhiko Mikimoto And mechanical design by Kazutaka Miyatake — Both of whom previously worked together on The Super Dimension Fortress Macross. The cast included Noriko Hidaka and Rei Sakuma (Akane and Shampoo in Ranma 1/2, respectively) as mecha pilots Noriko Takaya and Kazumi Amano, and voice acting legend Norio Wakamoto As their mentor, Coach Ohta.

Title robot Gunbuster in action

The series, which took inspiration (and its title) from the sports anime Aim for the Ace! And American action film Top Gun, blends mecha action, hard sci-fi, and romance. It received a limited DVD release in the U.S. in 2008, and a 20th anniversary sequel OVA from Gainax.

Japan's theatrical screening will feature a new master, working from the 2012 Blu-ray remaster released in Japan. High-quality video and 5.1 surround sound will create the ultimate experience for fans.

Kazumi and Noriko

Aim for the Top! Gunbuster will be screened in two segments: Part 1 (episodes 1-4) with a run time of 104 minutes, and Part 2 (episodes 5-6) with a run time of 56 minutes. The "Science Lesson" shorts will not be screened ..

Screenings start in Japan on November 27Cinema attendees will receive a piece of film featuring a scene from episode 1 as a bonus.

Source: Anime! Anime!

Kara Dennison @RubyCosmos

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