Ask John: Will Gunbuster 2 Get Licensed for American Release?

Question:
With Bandai recently picking up the old Gunbuster license, what are the chances that we’ll see Gunbuster 2 here in the states after it finishes its run in Japan? And is there a hype for this title?

Answer:
To be precise, Bandai Visual hasn’t actually “picked up” the Gunbuster OVA series. Bandai Visual is the original Japanese distributor, and they’ve simply decided to release the series in America themselves. Note that Bandai Visual and America’s Bandai Entertainment are not the same company. So far, Bandai Visual has announced only 3 licenses in America, and put only two titles on American shelves, so there’s very little information and precedent from Bandai Visual in America to speculate about. However, based on the little that is known about them, there may be reason to believe that the company will eventually release the Aim For The Top 2 series in America.

Bandai Visual’s first domestic release was the first Patlabor movie, followed by its sequel, the second Patlabor movie. Bandai Visual may again follow that pattern by first releasing the 1988 Gunbuster series followed by its 2004 sequel series. Bandai Visual has licensed the 2005 Wings of Rean anime series for domestic release, so it’s clear that the company isn’t limiting itself to just vintage titles. Since the Aim For The Top 2 series hasn’t finished its release in Japan yet, it’s possible that Bandai Visual is delaying an announcement about an American release. It’s also possible that the series may be acquired by a competing company, as series split among different American distributors are not uncommon.

I think there is some interest in Aim For The Top 2 among American anime fans, but the anticipation isn’t as great as it is for the original series for two reasons. The original Gunbuster anime series is an acknowledged classic in both Japan and America. (In the August 2006 issue of Japan’s Newtype Magazine, animators Kenji Kamiyama and Seiji Mizushima both include Gunbuster in their personal lists of the ten all time best anime.) The original series has been released in America twice before, so American consumers and fans are familiar with it. On the contrary, Aim For The Top 2 has never been widely available in America, so there’s less awareness of it and therefore less demand for it. Aim For The Top 2 also isn’t quite as good as the original series. While Gunbuster had its slow points, it’s a memorable series with impactful characters and a moving story. Aim For The Top 2 is attractive looking and fun to watch, but it feels much less substantial than the first series. It’s narrative feels less tightly wound, and it feels less incisive into its character’s personalities than the first series. While Gunbuster is a classic, Aim For The Top 2 only reaches “very good.” Considering that the original Gunbuster will finally be coming to American DVD, and Aim For The Top 2 is one of very few Gainax produced series that hasn’t yet been licensed for American release, I think the odds of Aim For The Top 2 eventually getting an American release are virtually a certainty.