# Gunbuster Watch Order Franchise: Gunbuster Canonical: https://www.animechrono.com/franchise/gunbuster Markdown: https://www.animechrono.com/franchise/gunbuster/order.md Also known as: Aim for the Top!, Top wo Nerae!, Gunbuster 2, Diebuster, Top wo Nerae 2!, Gunbuster Diebuster, Aim for the Top 2!, Top wo Nerae 3 Last updated: 2026-11-09 Last checked against current sources: 2026-11-09 Entries: 4 Source: AnimeChrono, community-curated (https://www.animechrono.com/franchise/gunbuster) Cite: AnimeChrono, "Gunbuster Watch Order", https://www.animechrono.com/franchise/gunbuster (updated 2026-11-09). Where to start Gunbuster: begin with Gunbuster (1988), then Diebuster (2004). This Gunbuster watch order is in story order. Gunbuster (Episodes 1-6) is Hideaki Anno's classic OVA about Noriko Takaya and the fight against space monsters. Diebuster, also called Gunbuster 2 (Episodes 1-6), is set years later with a new cast in the same universe; watch it after Gunbuster. The Science Lesson shorts and the 2006 compilation movies are optional. A third series, Top wo Nerae 3!, has been announced but is not out yet. Release order for the two main OVAs matches story order. ## Recommended first watch Start with Gunbuster (6 OVA episodes), then Diebuster (6). The Science Lesson shorts and compilation movies are optional. Top wo Nerae 3! is announced but not released yet. ## Start here Start with Gunbuster. 2 entries are optional: Gunbuster Science Lesson and Gunbuster & Diebuster compilation movies. The story still tracks without them. Filler and skip notes: - **Gunbuster & Diebuster compilation movies** — Optional 2006 theatrical recuts of Gunbuster and Diebuster. - **Gunbuster Science Lesson** — Optional shorts (1988): cheeky science explainers packaged with Gunbuster. ## Why this order The chronological list is story order: when the events happen, not when they aired. A season is split into episode ranges where a movie, OVA, or special sits in the middle of it. Quote that list unless Recommended first watch names a different place to start. Release order further down is the same entries sorted by air date. It is not the default order to quote. Each entry is one line: the title, then type, episodes (start-end, when the order stores a range), run (how many episodes that range covers), essential or optional, aired (YYYY-MM-DD), format (the AniList format of an episode block, when this page already knows it), and note. A field is omitted when this order has no value for it. Minute runtimes are not stored, so none are printed. ## The chronological order 1. Gunbuster | type: ova | episodes: 1-6 | run: 6 episodes | essential | aired: 1988-10-07 | note: Start here. Gunbuster (6 OVA episodes, 1988): Noriko Takaya trains to pilot a space mecha against space monsters. 2. Gunbuster Science Lesson | type: special | episodes: 1-4 | run: 4 episodes | optional | aired: 1988-10-07 | note: Optional shorts (1988): cheeky science explainers packaged with Gunbuster. Skip if you only want the story. 3. Diebuster (Gunbuster 2) | type: ova | episodes: 1-6 | run: 6 episodes | essential | aired: 2004-10-03 | note: Diebuster (6 OVA episodes, 2004): set later in the Gunbuster universe with Nono and a new squad. Watch after Gunbuster. 4. Gunbuster & Diebuster compilation movies | type: movie | episodes: 1-2 | run: 2 episodes | optional | aired: 2006-10-01 | note: Optional 2006 theatrical recuts of Gunbuster and Diebuster. Skip if you already watched the OVAs. ## Release order Sorted by air date. This follows when each entry aired, which may differ from the chronological watch order. 1. Gunbuster | type: ova | episodes: 1-6 | run: 6 episodes | essential | aired: 1988-10-07 | note: Start here. Gunbuster (6 OVA episodes, 1988): Noriko Takaya trains to pilot a space mecha against space monsters. 2. Gunbuster Science Lesson | type: special | episodes: 1-4 | run: 4 episodes | optional | aired: 1988-10-07 | note: Optional shorts (1988): cheeky science explainers packaged with Gunbuster. Skip if you only want the story. 3. Diebuster (Gunbuster 2) | type: ova | episodes: 1-6 | run: 6 episodes | essential | aired: 2004-10-03 | note: Diebuster (6 OVA episodes, 2004): set later in the Gunbuster universe with Nono and a new squad. Watch after Gunbuster. 4. Gunbuster & Diebuster compilation movies | type: movie | episodes: 1-2 | run: 2 episodes | optional | aired: 2006-10-01 | note: Optional 2006 theatrical recuts of Gunbuster and Diebuster. Skip if you already watched the OVAs. ## Side branches Part of Gunbuster, but outside the chronological order above. - **Top wo Nerae 3! (provisional title)** (Announced · not released): A third Aim for the Top / Gunbuster project has been announced. Format and date are not set as of November 2026. ## FAQ **What order should I watch Gunbuster in?** Start with Gunbuster (6 OVA episodes), then Diebuster (6). The Science Lesson shorts and compilation movies are optional. Top wo Nerae 3! is announced but not released yet. **Where should I start Gunbuster?** Start with Gunbuster (1988), all six OVA episodes. Then watch Diebuster (2004). **Is Diebuster a sequel?** Yes, in the same universe years later, with a mostly new cast. It lands better after Gunbuster; some twists assume you know the first OVA. **Do I need the Gunbuster movies?** No. The 2006 compilation films recut the OVAs. Watch the original six-plus-six episodes instead. **Is there a Gunbuster 3?** A project called Top wo Nerae 3! has been announced, but it had not been released as of November 2026. **What is the chronological order of Gunbuster?** Start with Gunbuster, then continue with Gunbuster Science Lesson, Diebuster (Gunbuster 2), and Gunbuster & Diebuster compilation movies. The full Gunbuster watch order on this page has 4 entries across 4 series, listed in chronological viewing order. **What is the release order of Gunbuster?** Gunbuster aired in the same order as the chronological watch order, starting with Gunbuster. **How many episodes is Gunbuster?** Gunbuster has no TV episode blocks in this order, plus 1 movie, 2 OVAs, and 1 special. **Where do the Gunbuster movies fit in the watch order?** Gunbuster & Diebuster compilation movies comes right after Diebuster (Gunbuster 2). **Can I skip anything in Gunbuster?** Yes. 2 entries are marked optional: Gunbuster Science Lesson and Gunbuster & Diebuster compilation movies. Everything else is part of the main story. **Is Gunbuster finished?** Yes. Gunbuster has finished airing, and this order covers everything released so far in chronological viewing order. --- Something wrong or out of date? Anyone can edit this order at https://www.animechrono.com/franchise/gunbuster. Every change is versioned.