>>23502152
>Gunbuster itself doesn't rise above mediocrity. I tried rewatching it the other day and the first episode is god awful.

Not only that. Aim for the ace both the original 26 episodes & sequel OVA has FAR superior quality of emotional writing than anything in gunbuster. Including character arcs of self doubt due to losing someone you deeply care about (Munakata). Noriko's sad moments felt hollow & melodramatic in comparison. Besides 6 of episodes of story is expected to have truncated pacing & unconvincing "sad" scenes.