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- Most of the character dynamics, the basic plot and the sports theme of the first episode are lifted from tennis anime Ace Wo Nerae. Coach in particular is an Expy of Coach Munakata.
- The title itself is a combination of Ace Wo Nerae and Top Gun, two major influences on the plot.
- Noriko has, amongst other things, a Space Battleship Yamato poster in her room. Hideaki Anno himself was a huge Yamato fan as a kid.
- Gunbuster's design is a combination of a Zaku, Ideon and Getter Dragon.
- The Super Inazuma Kick is a Rider Kick.
- Gunbuster's homing missiles have the same design and firing point (fingers) as Giant Robo's missiles.
- Its forehead beam, ship combination and tomahawks (which didn't make the cut, but can still be seen in its Transformation Sequence) belong to Getter Dragon.
- Likewise, Gunbuster's first launch is adapted from the pivotal battle of Getter Robo G, where the machine rises out the ocean, arms folded, and decimates the enemy's forces.
- The final scene also homages Musashi ripping the reactor from his machine's chest at the end of Getter Robo.
- Gunbuster is also shown launching missiles/lasers from all over its body in an identical fashion to Ideon.
- Although never used in the show, an official card game showed Gunbuster using the Choudenji Yo-Yo and Choudenji Spin from Combattler V.
- Hideaki Anno gave Gunbuster a single eye because he thought it was unique. However, he later decided it was a mistake because it didn't keep the robot recognizable when in shadows. This is why EVA-01 was drawn with two glowing, white eyes on a gloomy purple body.
- No Dub For You: In English, the series was available subtitled-only until 2023, when Discotek Media released the series on Blu-ray with a dub. Still applies in other languages, as there has yet to be a dub in any language other than English.