Tiger & Bunny – 01-02
You’re not allowed to complain about Dr.Pepper anymore
I had originally written off T&B to just be a boring show I’d never even try to watch, let alone write a first impression for. Amazingly enough it became my 2nd favourite spring show after 2 episodes. In other “amazing” news, no one was really as eager as I was to blog about it so I switched from a horrible fate of blogging Toriko to writing about something I really like! Alright, now that I’m suddenly covering this, let’s recap what’s been going down!
Episode 1 has a bunch of superheroes hard at work to catch some criminals while they’re being…filmed? In this world, superheroes are mutants with odd powers who have to make a living like the rest of us. Thanks to their sponsors, they get paid in return for looking cool on Hero TV and sporting their logo. Each hero earns style points for doing certain things until one hero wins. Kotetsu or “Wild Tiger” is more concerned with saving civilians, often costing his company more than he earns. As shown by the subway track he twists into a pretzel, meanwhile the criminal is caught by some hotshot in a tin can.
At the announcement ceremony of the best hero (hint: Kotetsu doesn’t win), they introduce who the new hero that appeared was, but they actually show his real identity. Gasp! Kotetsu is pissed so he leaves early. Things don’t get better, they get worse. Kotetsu ends up getting transferred to a new company as their superhero billboard, but he has to work with a partner now and wear a new suit. He heads out with his new robo suit to where a giant statue is parading about only to run into his new sidekick..
Episode 2. Kotetsu has no choice but to play the Robin to Barnaby’s Batman. He gets a way better suit and it’s the only way he’s gonna make a living to provide for himself and his kid. Their opponent is a living statue and things are off to a great start. Kotetsu and Barnaby throw aside any attempts for teamwork and try to take down the statue on their own. It results in Kotetsu and Barnaby being wound together by Kotetsu’s zipline and forever flooding the Tiger & Bunny tag on pixiv with BL. I didn’t even notice until I went to check out fanart…ANYWAYS, the statue stops a few metres short of pummeling them into a fine paste.
Poor Kotetsu can’t tell his daughter that he’s a hero, so he can’t explain that he has to miss her skating competition to fight a giant statue. Are you kidding? I would tell my kid right away. They’d look at me like I was their GOD. No disobedience or anything AND I wouldn’t have to feel bad about missing their stupid skating thing while I fight a gargantuan statue. Speaking of which, Kotetsu and Barnaby’s second encounter with a giant moving piece of rock doesn’t go much better, as they just end up stuck in the statue’s fists.
Sooooo…nice weather we’re having, huh?
Kotetsu uses his super powers to break out of the grip and follow the kid who is making all of these sculptures come to life. Except he’s not allowed to hurt the precious monuments. Derp. The kid is now riding some crazy lion which climbs all the way up to where Kotetsu’s daughter is having her competition. Kotetsu tries to save her daughter from falling rubble, and doesn’t quite make it in time…But Barnaby does.
Kotetsu manages to convince the kid that he’s not an unlovable dork…or rather, he’s an unlovable dork but he’s not alone! He hands himself over to the police, but the damage has been done – the building is ready to topple over and destroy the city. All the heroes try to hold it up, but the building is just too heavy and Kotetsu is nearing his 5 minute limit. Kotetsu shouts to the kid to save them so he controls a giant statue and saves everyone. Wow, talk about overpowered.
Kid, why haven’t you taken over the world yet?
Hero TV Unaired Scenes:
Hahaha, you cannot hurt me as long as I have bulletproof manboobs!
“When flipped over, Wild Tiger inflicts 500 points of damage to your opponent’s life points with his old man cane…”
It’s too heavy…cannot support….for much longer…boobs…too heavy…*bra collapses*
Caramell Dansen~
End Thoughts: Superheroes. We’re all sick of it. Revolving a show around special powers without bringing anything compelling to the table just doesn’t cut it, because we’ve seen super-powered humans fight each other time and time again. Tiger & Bunny is not just about superheroes. It is about the corrupt world where the only way superheroes can make a living from SAVING THE CITY is becoming a walking advertisement for their sponsors. They’re not rich, they’re just popular models who risk their lives and try to look good while doing it. This essentially strips away the “heroes stand for justice” image shown in most shows and replaces it with “heroes stand for fame and money.” A superhero is just another occupation, there’s nothing noble about it.
There are ads EVERYWHERE which is brilliant in that it 1. fits with the story and isn’t annoying at all and 2. probably gives Sunrise a TONLOAD of money for having so many sponsors. The ads are an integral part of the story and are there for making a statement as opposed to shameless advertising. It just works. The only thing that’s going to hurt your eyes is the CGI. It’s not bad, it’s just that CGI and anime doesn’t often blend well. It can get a bit distracting at times, but otherwise the animation looks fresh and lively.
So far I’m really liking this show. The lead character is a down-on-his-luck guy who the world sees as being “past his prime” who gets paired up with a young asshole whose only concern is looking cool for the camera. Kotetsu – heck, all the characters – are really endearing and earn my sympathy. (Especially after i realized that Kotetsu is voiced by Hirata Hiroaki, who also voiced Gojyo from Saiyuki and Sanji from One Piece. YES, so suave.) Even the model ice chick has my sympathy for having to spout such terrible catchphrases every time she’s trying to do his job. I can’t imagine trying to fight crime in heels.
The fights are endlessly entertaining since they’re not just battles – they’re televised competitions to see who is the most stylish. That added element is just enough to make any seemingly normal battle into something special. I really hope T&B makes a good use of this set-up and doesn’t just fall into a “baddy of the week” trend. So far there’s ample focus on Tiger in and out of his suit, so I’m not worried just yet. If this isn’t in your list of spring shows you’re watching, I urge you to give it a try. It’s incredibly easy to get into. I’m not saying it’s the deepest show out there, but it has enough layers to make it atypical from the usual straightforward action anime. If you want an almost satirical look at how superheroes would function in a society like ours, Tiger & Bunny is your show. You will fall in love with Kotetsu whether you want to or not!
About Overcooled
A neuroscience graduate, black belt, and all-around nerd. You'll either find me in my lab or curled up in my rilakkuma kigurumi watching anime.
POWUH: Beginner (20-35) with 24 comments
Jeff and Andrian hate that show. SCREW THEM!! I enjoyed it somehow. It’s kinda cool and you brought up two points I already said, but you just put on ink on the Internet:
“There are ads EVERYWHERE which is brilliant in that it 1. fits with the story and isn’t annoying at all and 2. probably gives Sunrise a TONLOAD of money for having so many sponsors.”
So far, I enjoyed it. XD
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
This show needs MORE LOVE. I spazzed out when I realized I could blog this. “AHSJKNDEGD REALLY, NO ONE IS COVERING THIS, GIVE IT TO ME.” XD T&B is awesome thus far!
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 209 comments
Its a interesting concept and it can going down many ways.
Also, since this is Sunrise, do you think there will be a Pizza Hut Hero?
BTW Pepsi Girl is voice by Mugi, how weird is that? 😀
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
They can go almost anywhere from here. Even towards Pizza Hut! It’ll probably be snuck in somewhere as a background ad.
The k-on! girls are just everywhere, aren’t they?
POWUH: Novice (36-50) with 41 comments
ALL HAIL CAPITALISM!
Personally I like this new approach to superheroes. I always thought ideas like righteousness to be lame and love apathetic characters like Izaya and the Mazinkaiser SKL guys (“We fight because we want to. The words ‘Just Cause’ mean nothing to us!”). Welcome to my cynical world 😉
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
It’s a lot more believable that superheroes would just be out for themselves as opposed to risking their hide every day just to feel good about themselves. That’s the way the world really is, afterall~
POWUH: 800-899 and Flying Sage with 856 comments
I really enjoyed episodes 1 & 2. As you say, the ads really help to create the world that the heroes occupy. Kotetsu is odd man out, because he takes his job as a hero seriously. That guy, Origami really impressed me, because he probably has figured out a way to get just enough exposure to avoid being dropped, while generally staying out of harm’s way.
This show still has a lot of potential. If they manage to make it even better, by (for example) having some really cool interactions between the heroes, this show can be a serious contender as one of the best shows of this season.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Kotetsu will probably be the only one to actually try and save people for something other than bonus points. Poor guy is the only real hero and no one likes him. Origami Cyclone is adorable in his background appearances..that’s..one method to stay in the game, I guess. XD
So far T&B is equally interesting when the characters are in their suits as when they’re just walking about everyday life dealing with the corporations. Both sides are equally interesting, and I hope they keep up those non-hero sections too because it’s quite the elegant touch.
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
ohmyfukinggod now that i see their faces properly i can totally see myself fangirling over these two hugging each other
and, I HATE DR. PEPPER
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Can you believe I didn’t see this pairing on my first watch? I was like “WHAT ARE YOU GUYS TALKING ABOUT?” and then pixiv happened.
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
Lulz, didn’t I poke you during recording? These two are now officially shipped. xD
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Yeah, I was completely in the denial phase during the recording! After some research I finally accepted them as a pairing (initially couldn’t get over Kotetsu being an old guy and Barnaby’s asshole personality to ship him with ANYONE, but then I saw this and everything was okay)
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 99 comments
It’s such a fun show, isn’t it? 😀 Much better than Toriko anyway which also looks like it might drag on forever.
Oh and good point about the superhero secret thing. I’m also a little confused as to why Kotetsu has to lie to his daughter. Extra drama, I’m guessing.
“I can’t imagine trying to fight crime in heels.”
I don’t know how she does it. Personally, not a fan of heels. They make me feel ridiculously short. xD
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Wayyy better than Toriko. Who knows how long they’ll keep that going.
I think he doesn’t want her to worry about him risking his life. If that’s the only reason, it’s a stupid reason. Obviously identities don’t matter if Barnaby is parading about with his face exposed =.=
I hate whoever invented heels, walking in them is a nightmare and girls are practically required to wear them to look fancy/professional. UGH. Also, tall people like me will make you feel even smaller I guess haha
POWUH: Occasional (51-75) with 70 comments
King of Thorn used the same CGI, but it looks better here (MADHOUSE!)
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Wayyy better than King of Thorn’s CGI. Go Sunrise, go!
POWUH: Occasional (51-75) with 58 comments
I only watched the first episode because I read a negative review about it on another site and it sounded interesting. I hate Superheroes and I LOVE THIS SHOW! It’s hilarious!
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
You read a bad review and wanted to watch it? Oh, YOU~. Good thing you took a chance though, it was worth it for “Bunny ja nai, Barnaby desu~” right? XD
POWUH: Occasional (51-75) with 58 comments
Yeah, the reviewer’s reasons why it was awful made me really curious. 😀
POWUH: Novice (36-50) with 36 comments
Yay~~! T&B! I’ve only seen the first episode so far and adore it. lol I think it’s one of those series I gotta watch weekly, like with Level E and Star Driver (even tho I still haven’t watched the last episodes yet). I really wasn’t expecting it to be sooo wow~ Can’t wait to show my boyfriend, to see if he’s interested in it.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
I hate marathoning things, I like watching shows weekly in little doses. Hopefully you can rope in your boyfriend to watch it with you XD
POWUH: Novice (36-50) with 36 comments
I’m gonna try! He hasn’t watched anything from this Spring season yet and I’ve decided to check out at least an episode from each series. XD Whichever ones we like, we’ll probably continue watching separately or together.
POWUH: 600-699 and Wingman with 655 comments
LOVE the show, its like Zombies from last season to me because I wasn’t expecting it to be good, but turns out to be damn funny XD looking forwards to it
POWUH: iLurker with 1 comments
[…] “Superheroes. We’re all sick of it. Revolving a show around special powers without bringing anything compelling to the table just doesn’t cut it, because we’ve seen super-powered humans fight each other time and time again. Tiger & Bunny is not just about superheroes. It is about the corrupt world where the only way superheroes can make a living from SAVING THE CITY is becoming a walking advertisement for their sponsors.” – Metanorn […]