A while ago, OGT recommended Gunbuster and its sequel to me as gateway shows into the super robot genre. I still have yet to really delve into the genre, but the Top wo Nerae! OVAs are now among my favorite science fiction anime, generally speaking.

Only video can convey these scenes adequately. Honestly, I cannot for the life of me choose between them, so you’re getting both. I’ll let you decide which is better. These are from the fourth episodes of their respective series, which have a lot in common — most notably the ability to blow your mind in four minutes or less.

Now, I’m not enough of a mecha fan to say that this is what mecha is all about. But I will say that this is what I look for in a mecha show — that is, equal parts over-the-top awesome and inspiring, with a little thought-provoking thrown in to keep things interesting. Gunbuster and Diebuster deliver that much and more, and the thematic interplay between them is another added bonus. Things like this remind us that we always need a little epic win in our lives, that we should go about our business with guts and effort and buster machines in our hearts, because there isn’t anything that can’t be done in a magnificent way.

I mean, maybe I’m the only one who gets that music that plays when Gunbuster emerges, arms crossed, stuck in my head when I’m pounding out an essay at the last minute, or on my way to do a presentation or an interview, or washing dishes. But I doubt it.

[Read the next moment here]