Story - 7/10 (first half gets a 5/10; second half gets a 9/10)
In a way, Gunbuster is basically half NGE and half Gurren Lagann - in that order. The story is basically what would happen if a female version of Shinji got chosen to pilot a robot to defend humanity, and had to go to a training school - at least, the first half is pretty much like that. Episode 4 comes along, however, and Noriko (our heroine) apparently started reading either FoTNS or JJBA, because she takes not one, not two, but THREE levels in badass, and pilots the titular mech to destroy the alien forces that are pursuing the Exelion (the ship that Noriko is stationed on). Afterwards, the story keeps on getting more and more epic - the ending, while bittersweet, is easily one of the best I've seen in an anime.
Art - 9/10 (it's consistent, so I'm giving both halves the same score)
The art has aged BEAUTIFULLY. It's really colorful, very fluid, and pleasant to look at. The animation is almost all I could ask for in an anime from this time period.
Sound - 10/10 (just like the art, it's consistent)
If you can think of a reason why I shouldn't give a perfect score in the sound department to a show which literally has the most hot-blooded J-Pop song ("Fly High") I've ever heard (and probably of all time), I would like to hear it. Oh, and the voice acting is great.
Character - 8/10 (really hard to score each half separately, so I'm giving both halves the same score)
Noriko undergoes HUGE character development. Remember how I said she takes 3 levels in badass in episode 4? If you want a comparison: She starts off basically being the female version of Shinji Ikari. By the time this show is over, she's become a female version of Ayato Kamina - except more hot-blooded. Kazumi is a really nice character - in fact, I'm somewhat convinced that she was an influence on the creation of Misato Katsuragi when NGE was conceived. And in my mind, Coach is the trope codifier for the "grizzled old mentor" in the super robot shows - and he deserves that role.
Enjoyment - 10/10
While RahXephon was what showed me that mecha anime could be really "deep", and what I've seen of Gurren Lagann showed me that mecha anime could be badass (I say "What I've seen" since I haven't finished it yet - but as soon as I finish Diebuster, I'm going to work on correcting that), but Gunbuster showed me that mecha anime could be both.
Overall - 9/10
I wouldn't say "If you're only going to watch one mecha anime in your life, make it this one", but I would say that if you're only going to watch one OVA this year, make it this one. It's just so awesome.
RIYL: Any mecha anime
