Noriko Takaya is the daughter of the famous spaceship commander Yuzo Takaya. Since her childhood Noriko would like to follow her father's steps... Unfortunately, admiral Takaya died during a battle against alien forces when Noriko was still a young girl. At the age of 16, Noriko decides to attend the Okynawa High School for girls willing to become pilots but she is not so good with the control of the robots... [Kazumi](https://anilist.co/character/3884/Amano-Kazumi)'s suggestions turn out to be very useful to make Noriko trust her own abilities and possibilities. In spite of that many other girls are more capable than Noriko, but when the names of the two girls going to space are announced, she and Kazumi are the ones selected. She has much untapped power, very high potential, and coach Ota knows that... Noriko will be the one in charge of piloting the Gunbuster!  

Usually calm, sweet tempered and often insecure, Noriko turns to a real fury when she's fighting with the Gunbuster: in the key moments of the adventure she always knows what to do, she becomes self confident and very determined in achieving her goals. A real leader.

In the very near future, a race of huge, insect like aliens is discovered traveling the galaxy. These aliens seem dedicated to the eradication of the human species as it takes its first steps away from the solar system, and they are getting closer and closer to Earth. Humanity has responded by developing spacegoing battleships and giant fighting robots. These robots are piloted by the best and brightest of Earth's youth, picked from training schools around the world. 
The story begins in the year 2023, not long after the first battles with the aliens, and centers on young Noriko Takaya. Although Noriko's father was a famous Captain in the space fleet who was killed during one of the first battles of the war, her own talents as a pilot are questionable. Nonetheless, she has entered a training school. Through the series Noriko, joined by the beautiful and talented Kazumi Amano, will fight to overcome the trauma of war, the doubts of her peers, and her own lack of confidence. 
(Source: AniDB)

__Birth Name:__ Noriko Nagai (永井範子)
__Height:__ 157 cm

[Website](https://norikohidaka.com/) | [Twitter](https://twitter.com/nonko_hidaka531) | [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/nonko_hidaka531/) | [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAKD48ecL5cR87BWPze34HQ)

A Japanese actress, voice actress, singer and narrator. She played Minami Asakura in Touch, Akane Tendo in Ranma ½, Satsuki Kusakabe in My Neighbor Totoro, Near in Death Note, Seta Sōjirō in Rurouni Kenshin, Jean Roque Raltique in Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water and Kikyo in Inuyasha. She is also the dub actress for Jayma Mays in the American TV series Glee, as well as in The Smurfs film series. 

__Non-Anime Roles:__

- Mysterious Voice - Metaphor: ReFantazio (VG)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/KianeChulaKing)

This double feature comprises of Gunbuster and Die Buster (aka Gunbuster 2) condensed them into a single theatrical release told in two parts with a musical intermission in between. The first part, Gunbuster the Movie, condenses the six episodes of the original OVA into a 95-minute moviefeaturing a new 5.1 audio remix and a redub by the original Japanese cast. The second part, Die Buster the Movie, mixes large chunks of the second OVA series with a few altered or newly-animated scenes to create a truncated take on Nono's story. 
(Source: Anime News Network)

The science lessons are short "omake" bonus features originally present on the first two volumes. Each short lasts around two minutes, and stars super deformed versions of Noriko, Kazumi and the Coach explaining the various scientific aspects of the series. 
(Source: Wikipedia)

Comic Gunbuster is a compilation of short stories involving the main characters from "Aim for the Top" which take place during the time of the first OVA. Some of the stories include Kazumi Amano's marriage to Coach Ota and Noriko and Jung playing golf on the Moon. 
(Source: Anime News Network)

Extra science lessons included with the Gunbuster Blu-ray Box Complete Edition. These explain how the space ropeway works, and time dilation from near-lightspeed travel.

2 extra omake Science Lesson specials released on the LD-BOX set. Includes: Chapter 4+1 and Final Chapter.