The last time we saw some flavor of the original Gunbuster work was when Maiden Japan brought out the film as separate DVD and Blu-ray editions back in 2016. Back in August 2021, we learned that the original six-episode OVA series is getting a new lease on life with Discotek Media having acquired it with plans for a 2022 release.
At Otakon this past summer, Discotek Media confirmed that the project is still on track for a late 2022 release and that the English dub was produced by Sound Cadence Studios as revealed last year. Now, as they continue to work on it, they’ve revealed more details of what will be included and are showing off the packaging design below.
The new updates include:
- Episode 6 has been remastered to be true widescreen like the movie version. On the original Japanese Blu-ray it was windowboxed.
- We fixed the ending of episode 6! Originally it was not-very-good capture of an analogue master. We completely restored the Japanese text for the credit and recomposisted it over high quality HD creditless ending.
- The not-so-great looking analogue version is an extra though, don’t worry.
- We built the disc so you can switch between the 16:9 and 4:3 versions of episode 6.
Episode 6 has been remastered to be true widescreen, not windowboxed like the JP BD.
Episode 6 end credits, also remastered. The original version is an extra.
Episode 6 (& a small part of episode 4) can be viewed 4:3 instead of 16:9. Both versions are selectable from the menu. pic.twitter.com/ym8aEnPa25— 💿Discotek Media (@discotekmedia) October 25, 2022
Much better watch on a nice big TV now without it being shoved into a small frame. pic.twitter.com/11JPmUEGyt
— 💿Discotek Media (@discotekmedia) October 25, 2022
The 4:3 version is open matte, so if you watch it, you'll get some extra on the top and bottom, but you'll also see some unfinished stuff, since they made it for widescreen. pic.twitter.com/sahG812Dv2
— 💿Discotek Media (@discotekmedia) October 25, 2022
And one more set of images, showing off the wild difference in the new remastered end credits presentation. pic.twitter.com/e5PzX6qz7O
— 💿Discotek Media (@discotekmedia) October 25, 2022
One more look at that Gunbuster cover! pic.twitter.com/IZh0vIw6J0
— 💿Discotek Media (@discotekmedia) October 25, 2022
Marissa Lenti served as the ADR director for it working with writer Natalie Van Sistine. They also revealed the cast with:
- Kiane Chula King as Noriko Takaya
- Melissa Sternenberg as Kazumi Amano
- Bradley Gareth as Koichiro Ohta
- Alexandra Yastishock as Jung Freud
- Bill Jenkins as Tatsumi Tashiro
- Lisa Ortiz as Kimiko Higuchi
- Krystal LaPorte as Reiko Kashiwara
- Ernesto Jason Liebrecht as Smith Toren
- Brett Weaver as Yuzo Takaya
- Cristina Vee as Takami Akai
- Nola Klop as Linda Yamamoto
- Kai Kennedy as Masanori Kikuchi
Plot concept: There are monsters between the stars, alien nightmares determined to destroy the human race. Noriko Takaya was only a child when her father sacrificed his life to temporarily stop the alien’s advance. Now she’s training to pilot a giant robot. She’s not very good, however. Not until her coach suggests modeling herself after the schools best pilot, Kazumi Amano. Mastering the skills to reach the top transforms Noriko into both a rival and partner for Kazumi, who secretly loves their Coach, and a third fiery female joins the rivalry in the form of Soviet pilot Jung Freud. But their real adversary is time, as the faster-than-light travel required steals years on Earth for hours spent in flight. And that means that, even if they survive, the loved ones that Noriko, Kazumi, and Jung travel into space to defend may already have died before they return.
