Gunbuster vs Diebuster: Aim for the Top! The GATTAI!! Movie (トップをねらえ！＆トップをねらえ２！合体劇場版!!, Top o Nerae! & Top o Nerae 2! Gattai Gekijōban!!) is a 2006 film compilation series containing two films produced by Gainax; Gunbuster the Movie (トップをねらえ！, Top no Nerae!) and Diebuster the Movie (トップをねらえ２！, Top no Nerae 2!).
The films are directed by Hideaki Anno (Gunbuster) and Kazuya Tsurumaki (Diebuster), written by Toshio Okada (Gunbuster) and Yoji Enokido (Diebuster), with character designs by Haruhiko Mikimoto (Gunbuster) and Yoshiyuki Sadamoto (Diebuster) and music composed by Kōhei Tanaka. Both films were released as a double-feature theatrically in Japan in October 2006.
Brief Unboxing Redux Note:
I first received Gunbuster vs Diebuster: Aim for the Top! The GATTAI!! Movie back in March 2014 by ordering one of the last copies available through Rightstuf which was also one of my first orders with the retailer. It was unboxed over on my Normanic Vault blog via Blogger and had updated photos over time. This post here is a remaster, but mostly a remake (or redux no pun intended) & revisit with better photos, updated information and any added extras. Enjoy!
Background:
Gunbuster the Movie:
“As humanity sets out for distant space, a squadron of Machine Weapons is created to combat the onrushing opposition of the Space Monsters! To avenger her father’s death and to win victory for all mankind, Noriko Takaya, scouted for her potential, joins her “One-sama,” Kazumi Amano, aiming to become an elite pilot – a “Top”!”Diebuster the Movie:
Plot Synopsis via Bandai Visual USA, December 2008.
“In a future where the Space Monsters resume their invasion of the Sol System, the abilities of the young men and women known as the Topless, and their Buster Machines, are mankind’s final line of defense! One day, runaway girl Nono sets out for the capital to become a space pilot, and meets the fighter ace Lal’C …neither realizing that the future of humanity rests on the both of them!”
The Gunbuster OVAs are one of the most beloved sci-fi mecha within the anime community, and eventually studio Gainax decided to produce a second series set within the same universe called Gunbuster 2: Diebuster, which was directed by FLCL director Kazuya Tsurumaki, taking over from Hideaki Anno who directed the first series.
Not long after the second series was released, Gainax then announced a theatrical film compilation for both films called Gunbuster vs Diebuster: Aim for the Top! The GATTAI!! Movie which featured 5.1 audio and re-recorded lines for Gunbuster. While the Gunbuster OVAs were the more preferred way to watch the anime, my first interaction was through this film collection and I enjoyed what was in store for both titles. Each is different in various ways but overall it was entertaining.
Gunbuster vs Diebuster: Aim for the Top! The GATTAI!! Movie was brought over to the United States by Bandai Visual and Honneamise in 2008 and released in a limited edition Blu-ray Disc Box replica of the Japanese release. The UK & France also had access to the films from Bandai Entertainment’s European branch Beez Entertainment, hence why the BBFC logos were on the discs. Eventually the licence did expire when Bandai Entertainment went under which brought Bandai Visual and Beez Entertainment with them. Gunbuster the Movie was eventually rescued by Sentai Filmworks & Maiden Japan whilst Diebuster the Movie is currently unlicensed.
Limited Edition Contents:
In a rather rare move, Bandai Visual USA are basically bringing over the Japanese Blu-ray DIsc Box release for Gunbuster vs Diebuster: Aim for the Top! The GATTAI!! Movie and adding English & French support & translations to the discs and packaging. So in a sense, this is technically a Japanese import but tweaked for the western market.
The limited edition contains a rigid box housing three Amaray cases; one for each film and another for the additional bonus features. Inside the Amaray cases for the films is a booklet that’s entirely in Japanese but there’s also a fold-out poster that includes the translations in English & French.
The limited edition Blu-ray box set retailed for $79.98 SRP. I ordered my copy in Rightstuf at $67.49 plus $13.50 shipping back in February 2014, which was about £35-40 at the time. It was one of the last copies available and since then, has been out of print.
Physical Contents:
- Rigid Box with Amaray packaging and clean artwork
- Info sheet for specification
- 8-page Gunbuster the Movie Japanese booklet (with a separate fold-out poster with translations)
- 8-page Diebuster the Movie Japanese booklet (with a separate fold-out poster with translations)
- Bonus Blu-ray disc with on-disc extras.
On-Disc Contents:
Distributor: Bandai Visual USA
Released: 9th December 2008
The limited edition release for Gunbuster vs Diebuster: Aim for the Top! The GATTAI!! Movie contains Gunbuster the Movie and Diebuster the Movie on a Blu-ray disc each, plus an additional Blu-ray disc dedicated to on-disc bonus features. The encode and authoring were produced by Bandai Visual & Honneamise.
Upon loading the disc, you are greeted with a language selection menu with the choice to start with either Japanese, English or French. Selecting either language will immediately start the film but you can use the pop-up menu to adjust the audio and subtitles. Diebuster the Movie will also start with a five minute intermission before the film begins.
The audio options include Japanese with English and French subtitles. The white subtitles are unlockable during playback, and the regions are accessible to Blu-ray players set to A, B & C.
Also included in the bonus disc are WEBメッセージキャンペーン! (Internet Message Campaigns) which are a series of audio clips with no subtitles that can be played on the main menu (no video scene whatsoever). This can only be accessed by selecting Japanese at the start of the main menu.
Blu-ray Specs:
| Languages | Japanese |
| Audio | Gunbuster the Movie & Diebuster the Movie: Japanese Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Japanese Linear PCM 2.0 Bonus Disc: Japanese Linear PCM 2.0 |
| Video | Gunbuster the Movie: 1080p High Definition Native format 1.33:1 (1.78:1 for specific scenes) aspect ratio Diebuster the Movie: 1080p High Definition Native format 1.78:1 aspect ratio Bonus Disc: 1080i High Definition Native format 1.33:1 & 1.78:1 aspect ratio |
| Region | A B C |
| Subtitles | English |
| Locked Subtitles | No |
| Discs | 3 BD-50s |
Blu-ray On-Disc Extra Features:
Disc 3: Aim for the Top! The GATTAI!! Movie Bonus Disc
- “WELCOME BACK” after 18 years The GATTAI!! Movie – Stage Appearance by Cast and Staff
- GUNBUSTER: Interview on Re-recording Session
- From DIEBUSTER to The GATTAI!! Movie
- The GATTAI!! Movie Trailer
- WEBメッセージキャンペーン! (Internet Message Campaign) (only accessible via Japanese menu, not subtitled)
Unboxing Photos:
Final Notes:
Gunbuster vs Diebuster: Aim for the Top! The GATTAI!! Movie was licensed by Bandai Visual USA and is no longer available to order in retailers. Gunbuster the Movie is available for purchase through Sentai Filmworks in retailers like Amazon US, Rightstuf and United Publications.
(Disclaimer: Amazon links are also included when available. They are affiliated so if you decide to order them, I’ll earn a small percentage if they ship which will help me with any hauls or small bills.)
The Normanic Vault 
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