Gunbuster takes viewers on an emotional roller coaster as the protagonist, Noriko Takaya, loses friends in the war against an alien force. The series' finale is particularly heartbreaking, as Noriko and her friend Amano sacrifice themselves to save Earth, only to be flung 12,000 years into a cold, uninhabited future. The emotional impact of this bittersweet conclusion, where despair turns to tears of joy, is a powerful and unforgettable moment.