Light Novel Adaptation Studio NUT
Streaming on Crunchyroll

Premise

The arrival of Kaiju-esque creatures have led to the formation of “pest control” companies that deal with them with specialized robots. However, the technology is rudimentary, the robots themselves being a couple steps above modern day construction equipment. With neither the technology or resources, can our heroes save the day while staying on budget?

Gee’s verdict: Solid Foundation

The most appealing thing about Bullbuster is how much it reminds me of 1999 mecha anime Dai-Guard, which had a similar premise. Delightfully skewering typical mecha tropes, Dai-Guard was a comedic love letter to mecha anime that recognized that yes, it’s all quite silly if you really think about it, but isn’t that why we love it? Bullbuster seems to be taking a spiritually similar approach, with a monster fighting mecha anime that’s as much about the bureaucratic red tape and budgetary woes that would arise from such a premise as it is about the actual robots. The mechs themselves (designed by legendary mecha artist Junji Okubo) reflect this sensibility, being maybe slightly more advanced than your average piece of construction equipment. The titular Bullbuster is impressive in this context because its ability to walk on two legs already puts it ahead of anything else in the show. There’s a bit of Godzilla: Singular Point in the DNA of Bullbuster as well. The Kaiju aren’t that impressive but when the robots the heroes are piloting are such pieces of shit, you can’t help but cheer when the underdog manages to clinch it. This is all to say Bullbuster makes a pretty good first impression as both workplace comedy and lighthearted interpretation of mecha. It remains to be seen if that’s enough to sustain a full length TV anime, but for now I’m sold.

Iro’s verdict: Start-Up with Potential

While watching Bullbuster, I couldn’t help but remember Dai-Guard, the other mecha show all about the mecha being an expensive business venture with a bunch of red tape to deal with (though certainly other shows like Patlabor have plenty of “workplace comedy” DNA). The exciting launch sequence is cut short because the accountant hasn’t gotten all the forms signed, the bright-eyed new pilot has a notebook full of new logo designs to increase engagement, and the thing that makes the eponymous Bullbuster cool and special is that it’s bipedal rather than on treads or wheels. I’m not sure this show is going to break any new ground or even really surprise me in any meaningful way, but it’s a premise that I’m guaranteed to have at least a bit of fun with. “For fans of the genre”, right?

Artemis’ verdict: Down-to-Earth Mecha Shenanigans

So far, this is easily the best anime to have premiered this season for me. It’s one of those shows where the end credits roll and you look at your watch (or phone, or bottom right of your computer monitor) in disbelief, thinking that only two minutes passed by when it was actually the full 20-odd. I suspect the all-adult cast and workplace-centric storyline will appeal to a lot of viewers besides myself, especially as it goes for a very grounded, down-to-earth tone that’s slightly reminiscent of other more mature, practical workplace anime – think Planetes or Patlabor. I’m not saying Bullbuster is quite on par with those shows (especially Planetes, which is truly a work of art in my books), but that’s the kind of energy it’s channeling, and I’m here for it. I especially enjoyed the older characters, like HR guy Kataoka and resident muscle-man Ginnosuke (got a lot of Sig Curtis vibes from the latter) – some really great portrayals there that are both a lot of fun yet still feel entirely realistic. Bottom line, this is a very solid start, and I look forward to seeing where the show takes things from here.