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Maiden Japan to Release Gunbuster: The Movie Anime on Blu-ray, DVD in May (Update)

North American anime distributor Section23 Films announced on Thursday that the Maiden Japan label will release the Gunbuster (Top o Nerae! Gunbuster) anime compilation film. Maiden Japan will release the film on DVD and Blu-ray on May 17, and include the Japanese commentary track along with cast and crew interviews.

Maiden Japan describes the film:

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.

The release recompiles the six episodes of Hideaki Anno's 1988 Gunbuster original video anime (OVA) series. US Renditions and Manga Entertainment released the series on videotape, and Bandai Visual USA released the series on DVD in 2007. It received a sequel OVA in 2004 titled Diebuster (Top o Nerae 2!). Both OVA series were compiled into a single film in Gunbuster vs Diebuster Aim for the Top! The GATTAI!! Movie in 2006.

Thanks to Rukiia for the news tip

Update: Clarification added: Maiden Japan will release the Gunbuster: The Movie that was first released as part of the Gunbuster vs Diebuster Aim for the Top! The GATTAI!! Movie double feature.