Noriko Takaya

Noriko Takaya
Gunbuster character
Noriko Takaya
Noriko Takaya as she appears in episode 1
First appearanceGunbuster episode 1: "Whoa! Big Sis and I Are Going to Be Pilots Together?!" (1988)
Created byGainax
Designed byHaruhiko Mikimoto[1]: 94 [2]: 32 
Voiced byJapanese
Noriko Hidaka
English
Kiane Chula King[3]
In-universe information
Full nameNoriko Takaya
NicknameDaughter of Defeat (全滅娘, Zenmetsu Musume)[4]
SpeciesHuman
GenderFemale
RelativesYuzo Takaya (father)
NationalityJapanese
BirthdaySeptember 12, 2006[1]: 73 [5]: 66 
Age15[a]
16[b]
26[c]
42[d]
12,285[e]
Eye colorBrown
Hair colorBrown
Height158 cm (5 ft 2 in)[5]: 66 
Blood typeO[5]: 66 

Noriko Takaya (Japanese: タカヤ・ノリコ, Hepburn: Takaya Noriko) is a fictional character from the Gunbuster franchise, created by Gainax. She is the franchise's most developed character and protagonist.[6] In the anime series of the same name, Noriko is the daughter of deceased space captain Yuzo Takaya. When she was young, she wanted to follow her father.[7] Years later, she joins the Okinawa Girls' Space Pilot High School (沖縄女子宇宙高等学校, Okinawa Joshi Uchū Kōtō-Gakkō, lit. "Okinawa Girls' Space High School") to learn to pilot a mecha.[8] She goes with "big sister" (お姉様, Onēsama) Kazumi Amano to space to defend Earth against extraterrestrials[7] known as space monsters (宇宙怪獣, Uchū Kaijū). By the end of the story, she grows to be a master pilot.[9]: 166 

Analysts and critics have described her as appearing cute,[9]: 167 [10]: 238  and praised her character arc for growing from an inexperienced pilot to a master one through hard work and will.[11][12] She has had merchandise released of her,[13] influenced the development of characters such as Shinji Ikari of Neon Genesis Evangelion,[14] and popularized the Gainax Pose (ガイナ立ち, Gaina Dachi), an arm fold, commonly seen in different media.[15]

Conception

In 1987, after Gainax finished working on Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise, it spent more money than it made, as The Wings of Honnêamise was the most expensive anime film at its release, costing ¥800,000,000 to make.[16] Bandai was Gainax's closest partner at the time. The Wings of Honnêamise did not do well at the box office because, according to Saitō and Azuma (2011), Gainax had attempted to pursue making a film in an unbiased manner and left a mecha and a beautiful girl out of creating The Wings of Honnêamise. Consequently, Gainax quickly created an original video animation that included said girl, said mecha, and a space monster.[9]: 167  In an interview with Hideaki Anno shortly after Neon Genesis Evangelion aired, he noted that Gunbuster, being his directorial debut, was an ironic response to the losses from The Wings of Honnêamise, stating, "Right, so [instead] send into space a robot and a half-naked girl."[17] In addition, rare for a mecha anime, the cast is mostly female.[18]

Some staff members, such as director Hideaki Anno and Hiroyuki Yamaga, previously worked on Super Dimension Fortress Macross.[19][20] A character designer for Macross, Haruhiko Mikimoto, would work with Gainax's staff to design the characters for Gunbuster.[13] Gainax staff also took ideas from two influences on Gunbuster, Aim for the Ace![9]: 143–144 [21] and Top Gun.[18] In Aim for the Ace!, Hiromi Oka, the protagonist, looks up to Reika Ryuzaki, a master of tennis and the president of the student club.[22] In Top Gun, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, the protagonist, was born to a naval aviator who died in combat, so he signed up to become a naval aviator.[23] Gainax staff alluded to both of these works.[24] Noriko Hidaka, the Japanese voice actress for Noriko Takaya, notes that the concept of Gunbuster is adding Aim for the Ace! and Top Gun together and halving them.[25] Gunbuster would be the first anime to combine sports drama typically aimed for female audiences with super robot action typically aimed for male audiences.[26]: 48 

Noriko's name comes from an animator named Noriko Takaya [ja],[1]: 73  who was the wife of Shinji Higuchi, one of Gainax's founders.[27] As Shinji Higuchi worked at Gainax, his wife worked at Studio Ghibli.[28] Some of Gainax's staff, such as Hideaki Anno, previously worked on Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind,[29] as did the animator Noriko Takaya.[30]

Noriko Takaya is voiced by Noriko Hidaka in the original Japanese version, the film Gunbuster vs. Diebuster, and video games.[31] Kiane Chula King voiced her in the English dub.[32]

Appearances

Gunbuster

Noriko is the protagonist of this series and the daughter of space pilot and captain of the Luxion Yuzo Takaya. In 2015, Yuzo Takaya died in space.[33] Coming from Osaka,[34] Noriko would later join the Okinawa Girls' Space Pilot High School to become a mecha pilot. In the beginning of the anime, she is a close friend of Kimiko Higuchi. She starts training to be a mecha pilot by jumping rope. Shortly after she finishes jumping rope, Kazumi Amano appears, and Noriko becomes enamored with her. Kazumi gives Noriko a yellow headband. Then, Coach Koichiro Ohta tells the students piloting mecha to start their training. Noriko tries to pilot her mecha, bearing the name RX-7 Nausicaä (ナウシカ, Naushika),[5]: 74  but does so in a clumsy manner. Later, an announcement that Kazumi and Noriko are selected to go into space appears on a noticeboard. Because of the announcement, Reiko Kashiwara and her allies start to bully Noriko by vandalizing the notice, vandalizing her RX-7 mecha unit, and placing a tack on her mecha seat. Noriko cries and approaches Ohta. Ohta tells her to train more, and she does. One night, Reiko and Noriko have a mecha duel. Initially, the students thought Reiko would win, but Noriko performs an Inazuma Kick (イナズマキック, Inazuma Kikku, lit. "Lightning Kick") on Reiko's mecha. Reiko acknowledges her defeat. Ohta, Kazumi, and Noriko later board a jet to go into space.[1]: 3-27 [4][35]

As they watch from the jet, they see a Soviet mecha and work being done on the Exelion [ja]. They later meet the pilot of the Soviet mecha, whose name is Jung Freud. As Kazumi and Jung challenge each other, Noriko looks for them. Kazumi, Noriko, and Jung bathe together. After their bath, Kazumi, Noriko, and Ohta fly to the Luxion. Knowing that her father, Yuzo Takaya, was on the Luxion, Noriko goes in the Luxion and tries to look for her father, only to find out he is gone. Noriko saddens. Ohta finds her and goes back with Kazumi to the Exelion, to find that it finished. At the Exelion opening ceremony, Noriko cries and runs out of the room where the ceremony is being held.[1]: 28-45 [33]

Noriko overhears Kazumi and Ohta's conversation about her, when Kazumi claimed that Noriko is a liability. Noriko goes into the Exelion's mecha storage and finds a boy named Smith Toren. Later on, they begin to love each other. Much to Noriko's dismay, Smith Toren disappeared in space.[5]: 10-29 [36] The Exelion goes further in space to find space monsters and Captain Tatsumi Tashiro sends mecha out, but Noriko cries in a room as the battle goes on. Then she changes her mind to not cry and to fight with her own strength. She then pilots an unfinished Gunbuster and fights the space monsters, stopping the space monsters from further attacking the Exelion.[5]: 32–55 [37]

Noriko, Kazumi, and Ohta return to Earth in 2032. Noriko and Kazumi graduate from the Okinawa Girls' Space Pilot High School and pass by Kimiko, who is now an adult with a child. Later, Noriko sees Kazumi and Ohta, now married, fighting with each other. Noriko goes to a beach to sunbathe and to talk with Jung. As Noriko takes a bath, she contemplates her recent experiences with Kimiko, Kazumi, and Ohta. Noriko and Kazumi later pilot Buster Machine 1 and Buster Machine 2, respectively. They fly the Buster Machines into space with the Exelion. As they pass Jupiter2 (雷王星, Raiōsei, lit."Lightning King Planet"), they find space monsters. Because time is moving quickly for Noriko and Kazumi, Kazumi cries at the thought of losing Ohta. Noriko snaps Kazumi out of crying and backing out, and they combine their Buster Machines into Gunbuster. After working together to defeat the space monsters, they return to Earth, and Kazumi cries as she finds Ohta alive. Noriko tries not to cry, so she runs out.[38][35]

In 2048, Noriko, Kazumi, and Jung are on the Eltreum [ja]. They see Buster Machine 3, a black hole bomb with Jupiter condensed in it. They are sent to take care of Buster Machine 3. Buster Machine 3 sets off, Gunbuster flies out quickly, and Noriko and Kazumi find themselves above Earth on July 6, 14,292. They are pleased to see the "WELCOME HOMƎ!" (オカエリナサイ, Okaerinasai)[f] message on the Earth. Noriko and Kazumi leave Gunbuster to arrive on Earth.[39][35]

Science Lessons

Noriko Takaya, right, as she appears in the first Gunbuster Science Lesson.

In the Science Lessons, Noriko, Kazumi, and Ohta appear as chibi versions of themselves discussing the science behind concepts, particularly those involving the speed of light, in Gunbuster.[40] They are more expressive, but slimmer, in later episodes. Noriko's expressions in the Science Lessons are more exaggerated than in the main Gunbuster series, including the appearance of a V-shaped mouth as she appears scared.[41]

Diebuster

In Diebuster, the protagonist, Nono, admires Noriko's legacy and wishes to be like her. Nono refers to Noriko as Nono-Riri (ノノリリ, Nonoriri),[42] because her memory of Noriko is disorderly, so she mutters the syllables of her name.[43] The last episode of Diebuster shows Noriko and Kazumi descending to Earth from the Earth's point of view.[44]

Manga

Bandai came out with two volumes of Comic Gunbuster in 1989[45] and 1991.[46] Both of these volumes show Noriko in various situations, such as chibi and in yonkoma.

Mangaka Kabocha [ja]'s manga adaptation of Gunbuster follows the anime, but differences include Noriko wearing a different outfit as she leaves to go in space and crying in the jet,[47]: 182-193  taking a large amount of food,[48]: 16-18  meeting Smith Toren[48]: 16-19  before the Exelion is finished,[48]: 39  bathing with a fourth bather,[48]: 96-104  and going to a swimming pool with Kazumi and Jung[49]: 79-95  instead of a beach with only Jung.

In other media

Noriko has appeared in other video games, such as video games based on Gunbuster, games in the Super Robot Wars series,[50][51] Neon Genesis Evangelion: Eva and Good Friends,[52] and Neon Genesis Evangelion: Battle Orchestra.[53]

Characterization and Themes

As shown in Gunbuster, Noriko shows traits of rigorous training[54] and striving for excellence through "hard work and guts" (努力と根性, Doryoku to konjō).[55] Although she begins the story as an clumsy adolescent,[56] under the rigorous training of her coach, she becomes a master pilot.[9]: 166  In addition, although she is generally calm, she ruthlessly kills her enemies.[57] Throughout the story, Noriko has moments of doubting herself, but as she becomes a master, she understands her position carries much weight.[6] Cavallaro (2009) notes that Noriko working together with Kazumi and their mecha significantly impacts humanity's future.[58]: 68 

Throughout Gunbuster, Noriko shows admiration for her father and wanting to follow him. Gunbuster begins with a statement by Noriko as a child that her father works in space and she wants to be with her father when she grows up. Then it goes to her teenage self, who says that her father died on December 20, 2015, to space monsters, and that she will go where her father has gone and become a space pilot.[1]: 6 [4] Her admiration and desire to follow her father could be seen as an intimate apocalypse, where losing a family member can happen with an apocalyptic threat. Because of this, by enrolling in the high school, she overcomes grief by following her father's path to defeat the space monsters causing her trauma through "hard work and guts", enthusiasm, and empathy.[59]

As previously mentioned, Noriko strongly admires Kazumi and looks up to her. Noriko remarks on Kazumi's intelligence in operating mecha, but Kazumi said that it was because she worked hard to learn to operate it.[60] Throughout the series, although Kazumi is senior to Noriko, she supports Noriko.[61] Initially, Kazumi was portrayed as elegant, but because of the possibility of losing Ohta, she wanted to back out, causing Noriko to tell her to snap out of this behavior and work together to stop the space monsters.[62] Saitō and Azuma (2011) note that Noriko and Kazumi could be seen as phallic mothers, women who have a sense of authority and perfection.[9]: 166, 220 

Loss and trauma are defining themes in Gunbuster, and they are prominent in Noriko through the loss of her father, [59] traveling at lightspeed and consequently losing touch with the world she knew, and dealing with unresolved trauma. Loss because of traveling at lightspeed causes someone to think of time differently and can become emotionally difficult for the person. Because of time dilation, fighting to protect Earth and then coming back to see it significantly change can seem as though one is not part of the life of a person one cares about.[6] Losing a friend, Kimiko Higuchi, also caused her to focus on mastering piloting Gunbuster and be willing to sacrifice everything for Earth's sake.[63] The themes of loss and trauma also show after detonating the aforementioned bomb, as Noriko and Kazumi have to work together to go in the bomb and set the explosion off. Consequently, this would cause them to travel far in the future and separate them from people they know. When they return to Earth, they wonder if people survived. The loss of Yuzo Takaya, Kazumi's loss of Ohta, and Noriko and Kazumi's thoughts about the Earth after roughly 12,000 years passed are reminiscent of the hibakusha. Hideaki Anno creates a modern picture of a hibakusha, alluding to the victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the context of a remilitarized Japan ready for preventing something similar from happening to them again.[59]

Noriko also shows behaviors of an otaku, as Gainax was founded by animators who enjoyed anime and became professionals. Eng (2012) notes that Gunbuster could have been the earliest anime to demonstrate otaku behavior, as Kazumi teases Noriko "about her knowledge of anime and science fiction." This anime was also one of the first anime released in the United States to keep its Japanese-language track,[64]: 88  as an English dub would not be released until 2022.[65] Western viewers would learn about the word otaku through this anime.[66] In the main Gunbuster series, Noriko's otaku behavior is hinted at, but the Science Lessons episodes show her otaku behavior more clearly.[8] For example, in one later Science Lessons episode, Noriko is shown to be a fan of Sailor Moon.[67] The Film Comic books published by Bandai in 1988 and 1989 describe Noriko's hobbies as building plastic models[1]: 73  and watching past anime and television shows with special effects.[5]: 66  Examples of these anime include Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Space Battleship Yamato, and My Neighbor Totoro. In addition to the aforementioned anime, she is also shown to have a poster for Television, a poster for The War in Space, and a Van Halen calendar. Eikman (2006) notes that Noriko contradicts typical otaku behavior by talking with people who do not show traits of an otaku.[34]

Cultural impact

Noriko Takaya contributed to the phenomenon about paring a giant robot with a beautiful girl. Toshio Okada, the writer of Gunbuster,[1]: 94 [5]: 94  noted that such a pairing is necessary for success.[9]: 130–131 [68]: 127, 134 [69][70] She would also contribute to the genealogy of a trope known as the "beautiful fighting girl" and lay the foundation for characterization in the 1990s and moe.[9]: 166–167  In addition, Erhard (2024) notes that Noriko is one of the most merciless female characters with one of the highest kill counts for such a character, because of her determination in battle.[57]

Noriko Hidaka, the actress for Noriko Takaya, enjoyed playing her role.

Noriko Hidaka remarked that when she played as Noriko Takaya, she felt that there were many times where she lost trust in herself and filled in serious scenes, and that she did not dream that Gunbuster would be her first most important work. She thought that the first episode felt light and fun, five episodes progressed amazingly, and the last episode would change her state of mind. Overall, she felt heavily stimulated by and enjoyed playing Noriko Takaya.[25]

Noriko Takaya is remembered for popularizing the Gainax Pose, an arm fold. Covill (2023) notes that when Noriko crosses her arms, she plans to cause her enemy significant trouble. The Gainax Pose is typically made at a turning point in an anime that needs compelling visual effects and will.[14] It is also typically done with a scowl or authoritative look and significantly sets the scene.[15] Later series, such as Diebuster, Gurren Lagann, Kill la Kill, and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, would use this pose,[14] as would other media.[15]

Noriko's character has influenced later characters, including Shinji Ikari of Neon Genesis Evangelion and Simon of Gurren Lagann.[71] Noriko's early portrayal in Gunbuster influenced Shinji's portrayals in Neon Genesis Evangelion, as her character arc in the first four episodes shows that her failures and losses compound when she has to deal with larger threats.[72] Noriko's moments of self-doubt and anxiety would contribute to the development of Shinji.[14] In Gurren Lagann, as Noriko grew in Gunbuster, Simon grows under the training of Kamina, who behaves similarly to Ohta, and becomes a powerful pilot.[73]

Noriko has had merchandise of her released since Gunbuster was released. General Products was selling Noriko HG and Noriko EX figures as of April 1990.[2]: 32  She also had keyrings, art prints, and a photographic bromide with her and three other characters.[13] In 2004, Kotobukiya Co., Ltd. [ja] released a 1/6 scale PVC figure of Noriko.[74][75][76] In 2006, Kaiyodo released a 22 cm (8+1⁄2 in) tall figure of her.[77][78] In 2012, CM's Corporation [ja] released a 20 cm (8 in) tall Gutto-Kuru figure of her.[79] In June 2024, Good Smile Company released a Nendoroid of her sculpted by Udono Kazuyoshi.[80]

Notes

  1. ^ Gunbuster episodes 1 and 2.
  2. ^ Gunbuster episodes 2–4.
  3. ^ Gunbuster episode 5, due to time dilation.
  4. ^ Beginning of Gunbuster episode 6, due to time dilation.
  5. ^ End of Gunbuster episode 6, due to time dilation.
  6. ^ The final katakana "イ" is reversed.

References

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