In Stern Bild City, those with special abilities are called NEXT, and can use their powers for good or bad. A unique organized group of NEXT appear regularly on Hero TV, where they chase down evildoers to bring limelight to their sponsors and earn Hero Points in the hopes of becoming the next King of Heroes.
Kotetsu T. Kaburagi, known as "Wild Tiger," is a veteran hero whose performance has been dwindling as of late, partially due to his inability to cooperate with other heroes. After a disappointing season in which most of the other heroes far outperformed Tiger, he is paired up with a brand new hero who identifies himself by his real name—Barnaby Brooks Jr.
Barnaby, nicknamed "Bunny" by his frivolous new partner, quickly makes it clear that the two could not be more different. Though they mix as well as oil and water, Tiger and Bunny must learn to work together, both for the sake of their careers and to face the looming threats within Stern Bild.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
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Archaeon
Superheroes have long been a staple of popular culture, especially in the West, and over the years characters like Superman, Batman, Spiderman, and even The Hulk have become household names. With their popularity at an all-time high thanks to video game tie-ins and movie adaptations, it's only natural that pretenders to the thrones that Marvel and DC sit upon should crawl out of the woodwork. The most obvious attempts to capitalise on the success of these comic-book creations have come from television and cinema, but while shows like "Heroes", "Chronicle" and "Misfits" have found a degree of success, the majority of attempts to reinvent, reboot orrevamp the superhero genre have ended in ignominy.
Which is where Tiger & Bunny swagger onto the stage.
Set in Sternbild City (a fictional version of New York), the story begins 45 years after super-powered humans known as NEXT first began to appear. In the decades that followed, individuals with superhuman abilities took on the roles of heroes and villains, and over time the constant to and fro between both sides became a form of entertainment. Fast forward to NC 1978, where the forces for good have their own specialised broadcast - "Hero TV", corporate sponsorships, and a chance to accrue points in order to win the coveted title of "King of Heroes".
Every day brings new challenges for these intrepid do-gooders, but Sternbild City has been built upon many secrets, and when Barnaby Brooks Jr. takes his place amongst those who stand for truth and justice, the shadows of the past begin to move once more.
At first glance Tiger & Bunny may seem like nothing more than a super-powered "buddy" show, and to a certain degree that's a fair assessment. The plot is relatively straightforward (but also rather predictable), and although there are several elements that add a veneer of complexity, none of these affect the pacing or progression of the storyline - mainly because it has been split into two major chapters. This has the effect of setting a "deadline" for the conclusion of certain arcs, which in turn adds a brevity to the narrative that prevents the atmosphere becoming stale.
Unfortunately some viewers may find themselves annoyed by the fact that certain episodes appear to deviate from the main plot by focusing on one or more of the supporting characters. Now while this usually a valid complaint, these "fillers" often serve as a platform to introduce themes, characters or events that may have a lasting effect on the story proper. In addition to this, the episodes in question have very little impact on the flow of the narrative, and in a very real sense this show is a good example of how "fillers" can add to the whole story.
When it comes to the visuals, Tiger & Bunny certainly looks the part, but it's not without its flaws. The artwork is of a good standard, with a nice variety of character designs, settings, and outlandish costumes that uphold the reputation of superheroes everywhere. The series is well animated for the most part, and while there are the usual (and very minor), anime-related problems when it comes to wardrobes, one particular issue continues to crop up throughout the show.
Technology has progressed to the point where computer generated imagery can often be blended with more traditional animation to good effect, but for some reason Sunrise has decided to be a little more ostentatious in its approach - which has led to a few complications. The main problem lies in the movement of the heroes after they don their costumes, and in several action sequences the studio's attempts to exaggerate the actions of the characters can make the entire scene look more than a little ... odd.
That said, many viewers may forgive the slightly weird feeling they get from the CG, but only because the overall look is decidedly refreshing and the show makes very good use of some rather nice visual effects.
Tiger & Bunny features two opening sequences, both of which introduce the main heroes (with particular attention paid to their sponsors), alongside a few short scenes that display their powers. The only real difference between the two OP's are the songs attached to them - "Orion o Nazoru" by Unison Square Garden (a rather upbeat rock song), and "Missing Link" by Novels (a surprisingly bittersweet rock ballad). The series also features two closing sequence, the first of which is a fairly simple affair that focuses on the characters of Kaburagi Koutetsu and Barnaby Brooks Jr. while "Hoshi no Sumika" by Aobozu plays out. The second ED is much more in keeping with the great traditions of the anime industry as it uses still images of the characters alongside some fairly basic visual effects - all to the J-Pop stylings of Tamaki's "Mind Game"
When it comes to background music it seems like Tiger & Bunny is on firmer ground, and much of the soundtrack is littered with anthems that echo of heroism, action, and good old comic-book cheese. In addition to this there are a wide range of well defined audio effects, and overall the series is remarkably balanced in terms of its choreography.
As one might expect from a superhero tale, the dialogue is awash wish one-liners, catchphrases and other sentences that tend come out of the mouths of costumed vigilantes. That said, the script is surprising in both its intelligence and humour, and although there's the ever-present shadow of cheese, it's not enough to deter the voice actors from delivering some fine performances. Hirata Hiraoki and Morita Masakazu are in good form as the laconic veteran Kaburagi Koutetsu (a.k.a. Wild Tiger), and the fiery young Barnaby Brooks Jr., but while the two have a good on-screen rapport, the cornerstone of the dialogue is the camaraderie between the heroes as a group.
One of the nice things about Tiger & Bunny is that the characters represent a wide range of ages and backgrounds, and although the majority of them are adults, the show also tries to offer some insight into the personalities of the more prominent teenaged heroes. Koutetsu is a particularly interesting individual - a widowed father who rarely sees his ten-year old daughter (who lives with her grandmother), because of his "work", and this lays a very strong and unusual (for anime that is), foundation for development. A big plus is that rather than travel down the Ikari Gendou route towards a "bad end", the writers have decided to adopt an approach that's more akin to "Lethal Weapon", with Koutetsu in the role of the aging veteran.
On the other hand, Barnaby Brooks Jr. is Batman.
No, seriously.
The problem is that where Barnaby is concerned, nobody has tried to think outside of the box (as they do with Koutetsu), and it's for this reason that his background is one of the biggest stereotypes in the world of superheroes. Because of his origins, many of the changes in his personality over the course of the series can feel derived, and this is especially true where his relationship with Koutetsu is concerned. Thankfully the show has a pretty good set of supporting characters, and unlike many other anime, the series uses the relationships between the majority of the characters rather well.
If one compares Tiger & Bunny to its Western counterparts then it manages to hold its own, but only just as the weight of the superhero genre in America and Europe is enough to crush almost any challenger. That said, the series is a refreshing change from the shounen fare that's being served these days, and one of the most laudable aspects is that Sunrise haven't been afraid to take inspiration from Western media.
Which brings up one small but important point.
The majority of popular heroes were created decades ago, and since then there have been many attempts to update them so that they always appear to be in keeping with modern trends and tastes. Unfortunately these changes are only skin-deep, and aside from recent titles like "Heroes", "Misfits", "Kick Ass", "Chronicle" and "Super", the majority of Western tales don't really serve as a good reflection of modern times, even if their core message remains valid. It's in this particular area where Tiger & Bunny stands above many other stories, mainly because of its focus on "reality TV", celebrity culture and corporate sponsorship. In a very real sense the anime highlights a direction that has been blatantly ignored, and while the whole concept may seem alien to diehard fans of Western comic-books, the simple fact is that modern superhero stories tend to follow the same formula that has been the mainstay of the industry for decades.
Overall, Tiger & Bunny is an enjoyable take on the genre that blends several old ideas and puts them in a setting that, while futuristic, is more a reflection of modern society than many people might initially believe. The mixture of super-powered shenanigans, comedy and drama is very much in keeping with the best traditions of action movies everywhere, and in all honesty that's probably the best way to approach the series.
But that doesn't automatically make it no-brain entertainment.
IceAndCream
Before it came out, I saw the title and a poster art, and I figured it would be Playboy-esque. Or about Mafia. Then on a fansub site, I saw it tagged as a shounen mecha with action and comedy. Now I was confused. But whichever it was (about Mafia or mecha) it wasn't gonna be good. Then I saw that episode 1 was on Hulu. HULU? Was this legitimacy? OK, so I watched it. It was not what I was expecting. It's not about Mafia or mecha. It's about SUPERHEROES! Why couldn't somebody just comeout and say so? But mind you, this isn't like the other Japanese superhero animes that are re-makes revolving around American-made characters. This ain't Wolverine or Iron Man, folks. No, this is good stuff. GOOOOOOD. Just count how many times I use "awesome" and "cool" in this review.
Here we have bright and saturated visuals, comedy, some pretty sweet action sequences, loveable characters, and enough drama and melodrama to keep a sieve full. And an interesting twist on athlete sponsorship.
SYNOPSIS:
This is Stern Bild, the bright city of the (American) future, where citizens are kept safe by the troop of the city's resident heroes. But these heroes aren't freelancers or government employees. No, they're privately sponsored. After all, it takes big bucks to get those suits done at the dry cleaners. But that sponsorship doesn't just mean they get corporate logos slapped all over them like a biker or racecar. No, they have to let camera crews follow them around, to broadcast their feats in reality-TV style.
Our main character is one of these heroes, Kotetsu, whose hero name is Wild Tiger. Back in the day, he was cool. But now he's older, and has lost his shine. And his tween daughter thinks he's an absolute dweeb.
When his current hero company goes under, he gets transferred to another, where they aren't too thrilled about having an old has-been hero. So they make the unusual decision to partner him up with another hero, and sell them to audiences as a team. They pick one that has the exact same superpower as Wild Tiger. And it happens that this guy's everything that Kotetsu is not: fresh, new, young, arrogant, no sense of humor, dutiful to the sponsors, and he uses his real name for his hero work. Everyone knows that heroes are supposed to have a secret identity! Young upstart.
So Kotetsu's partnership with Barnaby Brooks Jr. gets off to a rough beginning. And it stays that way for a loooooong time, while Kotetsu keeps trying to loosen "Bunny-chan" up. (Yes, Barnaby is the 'Bunny' in Tiger & Bunny.) But Bunny isn't a hero just to do good. He has a specific goal in mind, and he won't let Kotetsu's goofiness distract him.
It turns out they will both need to learn a lot about each other to get this partnership to work.
MOST EVERYTHING ELSE:
I tried a few minutes of some of the animes based on Marvel characters. I didn't like them. And judging by their low MAL ratings, most other people don't either. But this is an original story. Fresher, brighter, and with no comic book (or manga) to compare it to. But you can still see classic superhero roots, in the villains particularly. They're generally very flashy, unlike real criminals. And hey, we even get a mad scientist.
Even though Tiger and Bunny are our main characters, there is a whole cast of heroes that they work alongside: ice-caster Blue Rose (who has a crush on Tiger), the fire-shooting Fire Emblem, wind-warping Sky-High, hunky Rock Bison, tomboyish Dragon Kid, and Japanophile Origami.
And there's non-hero characters. Kotetsu's daughter Kaede, his mom, his former boss Ben. His suit-maker, Saito, with the quiet voice (he gets his own subtitles, since apparently Tiger is the only one who can hear him). Agnes, the producer of HERO-TV, the reality show that follows the heroes around. Legend, the hero that saved Kotetsu as a kid, and encouraged him to become a hero himself. The rogue Lunatic, dispenser of vigilante justice, who I think most people wanted to get more screentime. (I wanted to see more of him too; after all, he's the only guy whose suit had bell-bottoms. BELL-BOTTOMS.)
It has a couple of story arcs. Some are as short as one episode, and give us a close-up look at the life of one of the heroes in the story. Other arcs span several episodes, as our heroes battle the villain of the moment. But there are clues scattered throughout the series that are used later.
The action scenes are generally pretty cool. There isn't one every episode, but when they come, they are, like, AWESOME!!!!
There's comedy aplenty, of the light kind.
But what's at the core of the show is DRAMA. Lots of it. If the scene involving the little boy and the trading cards doesn't impact you some way, then you should just stop watching, because that's the melodramatic slant in this show. There's the drama of a dad trying to get his kid to say he's cool. Promising to meet with her, but then having to break his promise because he has been called to an assignment. There's the drama of a man whose goal is to take revenge for his parents who were murdered. You almost wonder if Barnaby suffers from depression, since he keeps getting bogged down in melodramatic angst, and takes it out on anybody who tries to get close to him. And the one who tries to do that is our very own Kotetsu. Barnaby is in serious need of some professional counseling.
Incidentally, there is a bit racial variety. Which is unusual for anime, but was probably obligatory since the story is set, after all, in a place much like the United States. We have a couple of black characters: The mayor of Stern Bild (à la Obama, I'm sure); Ben, who is Kotetsu's former boss and current mentor; and Fire Emblem (a lot of viewers chew out his character because he is the cliché gay character you see a lot in anime; oh well, the makers are still Japanese after all). And Kotetsu and his family, and Saito are Asian...or more specifically, Japanese. No other kinds of Asians around apparently. And all the other characters are probably white.
The animation is very awesome. The setting is often the sparky-lit city at night. Outlining is done in brown instead of the usual black, so the everything looks "warm" and alive. Action scenes are done well. And there's lots of CGI. Which makes some purists mad. The suits are where you see it most. Some people squawk at this, which isn't fair, because it's usually done pretty well, especially for the chunky suits that Tiger and Barnaby wear. The only place where it doesn't work very well is Fire Emblem's skin-tight suit. Though his cape with the creeping-flames pattern is cool. I'd want one of those myself.
Style. There's lots of style. There's something about this that almost says "superheroes are a fashion statement." Well, that and the fact that Tiger and Bunny almost ALWAYS wear the same clothes. It's just begging for people to cosplay them. And the music seems to fit in with the style. The music is cool. Awesomely awesome. It varies from jazz to opera and places in-between. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the Pixar movie "The Incredibles." Something about that retro-esque heroes-in-real-life feels very similar to this.
MAKE SURE to watch after the ED in each episode. Often, there's a little bit of extra story at the end before the previews roll. And by then you might as well watch the previews too, since they're usually narrated by either Tiger or Barnany, and begin with him saying "Hi, I'm Tiger, the member of Tiger and Bunny who wears a beard!" or something else idiotic. Also, the episode titles are all in English, and based off some proverb. Tiger doesn't even try to say the next episode title, but Barnaby does, and sound pretty horrible. Some people said it was worth it to watch each episode just to hear Barnaby's Engrish at the end.
Some viewers felt that the final arc in the series was a bit lame. I wouldn't say it was terrible, but it definitely did go for the cliche situations of "superhero meets the big boss" and more. Not necessarily bad, but it raised the bar pretty high for itself by then. But fans are waiting to see if there will be a second season….
WHAT IT'S NOT:
It's not primarily action. We don't get a full-blown action sequence every episode.
It's not primarily comedy, unless you want to laugh at Barnaby's childish attitude, or Kotetsu's blunders. Which ARE funny.
There's very little ecchi. Unless you count Blue Rose's costume.
There's little romance. Blue Rose obviously has a thing for Kotetsu, even though he's a generation older than herself. (It's OK Blue Rose, I sorta do too.) Yaoi fans may be disappointed that nothing goes on between our two main characters. (Though that hasn't prevented scores of Yaoi doujinshi from being made.)
It's also not hugely….intelligent. I have to say this for people who are expecting an amazingly intricate and solid plot. While the story overall is good and throws a few cureveballs, there are some mental goofs. But that is all forgiven because the drama is SOOOO feel-good, and the characters are so loveable.
CONCLUSION:
I can say I'm very happy to see this show as popular as it is. I wrote a review after seeing episode 4, when the show's MAL rating was below 7. Now it's above 8. I'm happy it's getting love.
Unlike most shounen series which are primarily about an action or suspense-driven story, Tiger and Bunny's partnership, or attempt at a partnership, is the main draw. You care about them, and the other characters. You REALLY CARE. You might even say this is meddling in seinen territory. Which is probably why this attracts viewers from all sorts of demographics. If you like drama, and a little action, comedy, nice music and animation, and an interesting setting, please, please give this a try. But beware. You might just get hooked.
qtblader
[Insert obligatory pretentious quote here] #3deep5me I have been told that I recommend this anime a bit too much. That's because it's so underrated. Every time i tell someone to watch it, they give me shit like "I don't watch mech" or "Looks gay" IT IS NOT FUCKING MECH. Learn to read the damn tags. As for the gay part, people can ship whichever characters they want, doesn't make it canon. As long as you avoid the doujins, you're good. Unless of course you like that kind of stuff, which is perfectly fine. I do admit the banner doesn't look too appealing. Trust me, the anime looks much better.Story-
Anime about people with special abilities are far from rare. But they are rarely done well. Tiger & Bunny is about people with special abilities called NEXT. Some of these NEXT are chosen by sponsors to be superheroes. These superheroes are in a competition on live TV. Hero TV is the most popular show on TV. The hero with the most point at the end of the season is crowned as the 'King of Heroes'
I found the idea of commercialised superheroes to be really fresh.
What is more important, the competition or people's lives?
The story explores the main duo. It highlights the contrast in their views of justice and what it means to be a superhero. Another notable character is a vigilante, Lunatic, who believes that all criminals must die. He also happens to be my favourite character, his backstory was really touching. I actually gave a shit about him, and I'm a sociopath.
It's no just a mindless action, comedy though. It does make you think a bit. Since I didn't open with a real quote, here you go-
"The justice you speak of is truly weak and frail."
Art-
The character designs are unique and I quite like them. The costumes/suits are all very different.
The visuals are stunning, even Redline pales in comparison. There's just a slight problem when the characters are in their costumes, the CGI is a bit jerky and looks weird. But this isn't a major problem and is only noticeable in a few scenes. Other than that Eyegasm.
Sound:
The two openings were very different from each other, but both were excellent. Orion wo nazoru is a cheerful song while Missing Link is a more emotional. The first ending was decent and the second was even better.
The voice actors did a brilliant job, especially Hirata Hiroaki.
I also checked out the english dub, but I wasn't too impressed. I didn't think Yuri Lowenthal was able to pull off Bunny's character very well.
So I recommend sticking to the sub.
The OST is absolutely brilliant.
Characters-
This is one of the major strengths of Tiger & Bunny.
Each and every character is well written. We are shown the backstory of all relevant characters. There is a considerable amount of development in most characters. The supporting characters especially standout.
Tiger is a 40 year old man, with a teenage daughter. This is one of the things which sets Tiger & Bunny apart. The main character isn't a perfect teenager. He has several existing problems. Including his relationship with his daughter.
Bunny is a cliched character. But that's one of the reason he stands out. cause he's the only one like that.
Lunatic is my waifu.
Enjoyment-
Well we all love superhero movies and we all love anime. Why wouldn't we love this.
The show really has something for everyone. Even a tad bit of fanservice, which you won't specifically notice unless you want to. It's pretty funny. And was a fun ride altogether.
Overall-
It's a 10/10 Masterpiece you will love it.
Now stop reading this shit and go watch it.
Fear_the_Reefer
Up in the sky, look! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s... Billboard Man! Fighting crime, defending the innocent, an whoring himself out like it’s his first night in Hollywood! It’s the distant future for us, and a bizarre mutation has started to occur among our population. Human beings with superhuman powers are popping up everywhere, and we’ve taken to calling them Nexts... Presumably because ‘mutants’ was taken. We initially rejected these outcasts, until they decided to don costumes and assume the role of superheroes, defending the very people who judged them on live, national TV! Unfortunately forthe widowered single father Kotetsu Kaburagi, the human genome isn’t the only thing that’s been evolving. In the decades since Hero TV was established, he finds that he’s become irrelevant, with younger and more capable fighters joining to overshadow him. His rank is low amongst his co-workers, nobody ever buys his merchandise, and to make matters worse, a new superhero named Barnaby Brooks has thrown his hat into the ring, sporting the exact same power that Kotetsu has... And to keep himself from getting fired, he has to take up a new mantle as this rookie’s partner!
At first glance, Tiger and Bunny seems to have one of the most tired premises in recent anime history... That is to say, a large cast of both heroes and villains who’ve mysteriously developed their own unique powers. Just off the top of my head, I can name several titles with that exact same premise... Darker than Black, the Index Franchise, Canaan, S-CRY-ED, Speed Grapher, and Getbackers, to name a few. And that view point isn’t completely unfair, since the array of powers it features is probably the least imaginative in the bunch.
But where Tiger and Bunny differs from these other shows is in it’s core concept, which is essentially an amusing combination of X-Men and Nascar. The heroes are sponsored and basically controlled by wealthy real-life corporations, who tell them how to act and dress while decorating their costume with different logos. They advertise these logos by competing on Hero TV, earning points based on just how successful their defense of the city was that season. I can honestly say I’ve never seen an idea even close to that one in my entire life.
The animation was produced by a company named Sunrise, a prolific animation studio with a lot of very impressive previous work under their belt. They’re known by fans as Sunrise Smooth, a reference to the fluidity of most of their efforts. Unfortunately, the same can’t really be said for Tiger and Bunny. It uses both 3D and 2D style animation, but it doesn’t blend them... The 3D is used in action scenes, or just whenever the heroes are in costume, and the 2D is used practically everywhere else.
The 3D animation is actually very impressive, and yes, very smooth. It turns just about every action scene into a pulse pounding, exciting thrill ride that it should be. Unfortunately, the 3D is still in effect when our heroes are wearing their costumes outside of action, as well... Whether they’re giving an interview, lounging around the company gym, or just interacting with one another, and at times, this can sometimes look really... Really... Awkward. It’s mostly due to the fact that with so much money going into the 3D animation, the regular animation obviously took a huge budget cut. With this side of the coin, we get some of the cheapest looking animation I’ve ever encountered, from hideous walk cycles to the heavy abuse of key frames. Seeing that in the background, the three dimensional characters look out of place to an almost creepy degree.
The artwork, however, almost completely makes up for it. This show is set in a fictional American city, and as such, the art and character designs have a very surprising western aesthetic to them. Aside from a few wide-eyed children, the characters almost always look more like American comic book characters than anime characters. I’m serious, too... Virtually every single frame of this show looks like it could have been taken directly from a Marvel or DC comic book, which is a touch that makes the sometimes stiff animation a lot more palatable. The backgrounds, too, are highly detailed, and the bustling metropolis known as Stern Bild looks like a dead ringer for a futuristic New York City. The architecture of this setting is beautiful and imaginative, even if some of the structures look entirely implausible in design.
The characters inhabiting this city, much like they would be in real life, are racially diverse, forming a shockingly progressive melting pot with nary a stereotype in sight. Normally, if I were watching an anime that featured White, Black, Hispanic, Russian, Japanese and especially Chinese characters, I would be on the edge of my seat waiting for something offensive to happen. But aside from a few exaggerated physical traits... Nope! Every character’s given a proportionate amount of respect, with their ethnic backgrounds never even slightly becoming an issue in the story.
Well, that is, except for the gay character. Granted, he’s cool and likeable, and I appreciate that they made him the only hero rich enough to own his own sponsor company, but the homophobia in his design is still pretty blatant. He talks in a throaty, effeminate falsetto and flirts with pretty much every other male character in the show... Especially Kotetsu, who already has the barely clad Blue Rose inexplicably pining for him. If you were to create a sliding scale that ranked all of the LGBT characters in anime history in terms of how offensive they were, he’d be somewhere close to the crossdresser from the Battle Royal manga. It’s a disappointing step backward for a series that’s otherwise been able to take two giant steps forward against the abundant racial homogeny of the anime medium.
Ironically, though, if this show were ever adapted into live action, there’s no doubt in my mind that every single character would be Japanese.
As for the other characters? Well, the main focus of the series is on the ups and downs of Kotetsu and Barnaby’s partnership, so several of the main characters got the short end of the screen time stick. Characters like Dragon Kid and Origami Cyclone are barely featured outside of having an episode each to themselves, and Rock Bison doesn’t even really get that much. Fire Emblem, Blue Rose and Sky High get a bit more than that, but they all still play supporting roles to our two mains and their families.
Thankfully, it wasn’t for nothing... The titular characters are fleshed out, interesting, and very well developed. Kotetsu, or Wild Tiger as he’s publicly known, is very thoroughly portrayed as the aging veteran trying his damnedest to keep up with new ideas and techniques while still holding on to his more traditional values by the skin of his teeth. As altruistic as he may be, he’s a very flawed character, who refuses to let anybody ever worry about him... This stubborn attitude causes strain in both his professional and personal life, as he has a lot of trouble connecting not only with his partner but also with his ten year old daughter. Despite his insistence that saving people is more important than earning points or selling merchandise, he still clearly cares about his placement in the rankings. This could make a lot of leading men unlikeable, but in Tiger’s case, it just serves to make him more sympathetic.
His partner, Barnaby Brooks Junior... Or Bunny, as Kotetsu irritatingly came up with... Is in many ways the exact opposite. He’s the newest super hero on the circuit, and he rejects a lot of the older notions to the point that he doesn’t even bother keeping his identity a secret. He fights with his head rather than his heart, preferring logical strategy to Kotetsu’s bold, gallant approach. He’s very direct with people, to the point where he jumps to conclusions at all the worst times. His tragic past is your typical ‘Batman’s parents’ story, but the way it’s portrayed... And the way it shaped his views on justice... is so genuine that you can’t help rooting for him.
They clash a lot in the beginning, working together solely out of the interest of their employment, but as time goes on they do become closer, and they stop having to pretend to be friends. This development is shown very naturally throughout the series, and it doesn’t hurt that it’s portrayed through the outstanding, flawless performances of Wally Wingert and Yuri Lowenthal. The entire dub is very well cast, with nearly all of the actors melting seamlessly and in some cases unrecognizably into their roles, but it’s the main duo by far that takes the cake.
Unfortunately, this is the part where I have to talk about the writing, and it’s not a part that I’m really looking forward to. The story in Tiger and Bunny is fast paced, well executed, and hits all the right notes, with exciting CG battles, edge-of-your-seat suspense, and just enough down time to let us form attachments to almost all of the main characters... Even the ones that don’t get a lot of screen time. However, that story wouldn’t have progressed at all without the help of inexplicably childish behavior, constant coincidences that directly challenge the suspension of disbelief, and foreshadowing so clumsily handled that a lot of the more serious plot twists can be seen coming from a mile away.
There are dozens of conflicts and mysteries that could easily be solved in ways that the viewer will often wind up SHOUTING at the screen, and it almost feels insulting when the answers you come up with are put into play at the last moment for dramatic effect. Yes, timing is important in a story, but even Dora the Explorer doesn’t make the audience shout out obvious answers as often as Tiger and Bunny does. Hell, some of the villains are so obviously villains that they might as well have had the last name Palpatine. Early in the first few episodes, an astute viewer may start wondering things about the nature of Hero TV, ultimately coming to a conclusion that just has to be, and of course winds up being, one of the biggest reveals of the series.
And that’s to say nothing about the lack of originality at play. While the two titular characters and the final villain have some interesting and unique abilities, there doesn’t seem to be an original idea in the bunch. Most of the heroic supporting characters have commonplace powers that manipulate ice, fire, lightning, and wind. There are also powers based on Colossus, Morph, and a lighter version of Rogue from the Xmen. As far as the villains go, you’ll find characters who’re based on Emma Frost(Or more likely the diamond woman from Speed Grapher), Sandman, The Hood, and others. Even when you put Kotetsu and Barnaby’s powers aside, the Iron Man suits they wear are just that... Iron Man suits.
While the vigilante Lunatic may have a somewhat original power, think about this; He’s a judge who experienced emotional trauma as a kid, and grew up believing all evil doers must be killed... And he uses his powers to do just that, murdering the wicked while criticizing those who let them live. He’s basically Teru Mikami, except that he has the long white hair and shady face that have become trademarks of any obvious villain. And by comparison, he’s actually one of the better villains in the series... He’s nowhere near as obvious as the main villain, whose convoluted master plan and backstory turn the entire final story arc into a rat-king sized clusterfuck of plotholes that had me more confused than excited. It’s actually kind of amazing.
Tiger and Bunny was dubbed and released stateside by Viz Media, and is reasonably priced both online and on common store shelves. Two films have also been released in the following years, but in typical anime fashion, they’re just slightly altered retellings of the series. In other words, they’re full fledged cash grabs. I haven’t seen them myself, but apparently the first one is available stateside, undubbed, and also fairly cheap.
For the most part, I really enjoyed it. I connected instantly with Wild Tiger, as his story was undoubtedly and very effectively the heart and soul of the series. It’s a really fun story, with an intriguing idea, great comedy, and it has a highly diverse cast of likeable characters. It’s not very original, but it’s sincere, and it’s clear that some very real heart went into it’s creation. It looks beautiful when it tries, but it doesn’t try often enough. It’s also heavily flawed below the surface, and there’s a lot of points where you have to turn off your brain to fully enjoy it... I don’t like doing that, so there were a lot of times where I just felt alienated from the fun that I should have been having. But to it’s credit, the story is so engrossing that those problems didn’t really bother me as much until my second viewing, and even then, there’s still a lot to love about it. It’s an enthusiastic love letter to American comic book lore, and it damn well feels like it. I give Tiger and Bunny a 7/10.
ggultra2764
I really hate it when a potentially fun premise finds itself eventually getting bogged down by the conventional elements it was seemingly trying to subvert. Tiger and Bunny's premise was unique in the fact you had superheroes on a reality show competing for points and being corporate-sponsored, which had me thinking this series would get its fun off exploiting the premise and poking fun of the absurdities commonplace with superhero formulas when I first heard about it. Instead, it creates plot development out of Kotetsu and Barnaby getting used to each other as a superhero duo when the former's company gets bought out and thetwo running into developments involving a vigilante hero and a crime organization. The series does decently flesh out both characters as the show prominently focuses on both of them and we get to learn what drove both men into becoming heroes. It also introduces some decent ideas explored such as said vigilante hero in the form of Lunatic and the idea of superheroes losing their powers, as what happens to a major character in the second half to Tiger and Bunny.
In terms of visuals, Tiger and Bunny is easily one of the better-looking titles to come out for the year thus far sporting plenty of detail and color to go along with the vast environments shown through the city landscapes of Sternbild City. This same high-quality also went into creating the character designs as the costumes of the heroes are slick to look at, especially the costumes worn by Kotetsu and Barnaby. Action scenes are fluid to look at and get fairly diverse as there are chase scenes by foot and motorcycle, aerial fights and hand-to-hand combat.
However, Tiger and Bunny finds itself getting bogged down quite a bit by its conventional elements which make it almost seem like a cookie-cutter shounen anime. A number of the characters are tacked on with an archetype that has been done to death in typical plot setups such as Kotetsu being the slow-witted and impulsive hero of the series, Fire Emblem your stereotypical gay man and Blue Rose a tsundere. The show also gets into the annoying habit of resorting to contrived plot developments or conveniently ditching certain points of the plot to help advance any major plot developments that the Heroes are caught up in, particularly with its major baddies in both halves of the show. I couldn't help but wonder the number of times the show resorted to deus ex machina just to force the plot into a certain direction without making sense of things, especially when the Heroes were put into situations where they were seemingly on the losing end of fights as they fought against villains who were either too powerful to be defeated easily or developed an elaborate plot that fell apart due to contrived developments. Both major plots had their potential yet the series fails to provide a solid resolution to both because things get too messy and/or cliched in their developments towards the final moments of both arcs.
Overall, Tiger and Bunny had its potential yet fell flat due to it not escaping the more conventional elements that get tossed into its path. While still having some decent ideas it explores and having its moments in developments with Barnaby and Kotetsu, it still made for a fairly mediocre watch for me and I imagine enough folks will be eating up the news of the series having a sequel planned in the works.
dsleech
When I first saw this anime, I thought I wouldn't like it. This isn't the type of art I like and action superheroes are not my thing. That was my initial impression until my friend had highly recommend it. You definitely have to push through the first episode if you do not like episodic battle anime. The story will get better and you will have your darker plot! The art needs getting use to, I guess it is not very traditional. I can't remember the sound but I like the opening. What I love about this story.. ohh the characters. There are so many hidden facets andthe characters are developed quite well (no one dimensional characters here).
This may not be that appealing to people looking for a romantic anime (there isn't much) but if you are looking for x-men themes like superhero woes and supervillains motivations, you won't be disappointed.
NeverKnowsBest26
Tiger & Bunny is definitely not your average action anime. Actually, it is more akin western superhero comics than to the shounen and seisen that make up most action anime. From the comic-bookish hero costumes to the loose and fun atmosphere, this very much like the Saturday morning cartoons western audiences grew up on... except better. It's a breath of fresh air and welcomed diversity in the world of anime, but more than that, it's a damn fun show. Right from the start, Tiger & Bunny sets itself apart from just about any other show with its 'superheroes meet capitalism' premise. You see, in the cityof Sternbild, being a superhero has become a profitable enterprise. Hero TV, a show that follows heroes as they fight crime, is the most popular thing on television; not only are heroes beacons of justice, they're celebrities, not to mention corporate cash-cows. But all that doesn't matter to Kotetsu T. Kaburagi (a.k.a Wild Tiger), an old-time veteran of Hero TV, he's just in it to be a hero. However, his popularity has dropped, and before he knows it the company he works under goes out of business and he has a new employer. What's more, he is going to be part of Sternbild's first hero duo; partnered up with the arrogant and glory-seeking new hot-shot, Barnaby Brooks. This idea feels fresh, unique, and is brimming with potential.
With this premise, Tiger & Bunny could have focused on capitalistic greed and corruption, but instead opts to be a story about friendship and heroism with a capitalistic backdrop, and this makes it infinitely more inviting. The show is filled with heart-pounding action, colorful characters, and has tongue-in-cheek atmosphere which all make it a roaring good time. Later, some intrigue gets thrown in with the tragedy of Barnaby's past and introduction of the super secretive crime syndicate, Ouroboros. And let's not forget Lunatic, the violent vigilantly who has a very different idea of justice. This all comes together to make Tiger & Bunny's first half a high-spirited superhero romp.
Coming into its second half, Tiger & Bunny shifts gears a bit. The second half has heavier emphasis on drama than the first, as Kotetsu, and later Barnaby, struggle with the life-style they have chosen because of forces beyond their control. Now, you'd think that this shift in dynamic would be cripplingly tone-dissident to the show until that point but surprisingly it isn't. This is in no small part due to the fantastic lead the show has in Kotetsu, and never loses its tongue-in-cheek charm even as it ramps up the drama. Kotetsu character shines here (even more than it already has), and his struggle between life as a hero and life with his daughter aims straight for the viewers' hearts. Barnaby's part is more melodramatic, but at the same time drives the plot forward, keeping the audience wanting to know what's next. The plot thickens with every episode, revealing unsavory truths about Hero TV, but at the same time never really loses its sense of fun, and once the clouds clear, Tiger & Bunny is the awesome superhero romp it always has been.
The shows cast is, for the most part, extremely likable. First and foremost there is Kotetsu, who is one of the most endearing lead characters in recent memory. He's a big goof and makes plenty of mistakes often coming off as an overgrown kid, but at the same time has a strong sense of right and wrong which makes it easy to stand behind him, and is incredibly charming in his own doofy way. His relationship with his daughter, Kaede, also provide the show with its biggest emotional punches. Barnaby is definitely not on the same level as his partner, simply lacking the charisma Kotetsu has, but serves the role as Kotetsu's foil well. All the heroes have their own distinctive traits which make them charming, whether it be Sky High's enthusiasm, Dragon Kid being a bit of a tomboy, or Blue Rose's crush on Kotetsu; they all also share a nice sense of comradery with one another which really makes you care bout them. Then of course, there is the anti-hero vigilante Lunatic and other antagonists like the Social-Darwinist Jake, who just bleed super-villain charisma. Unfortunately, the characters do have their short-comings, as most lack substantial depth which does cause problems for the series.
On the technical-side, Tiger & Bunny looks and sounds great. Character designs are stylish and attractive, especially the superhero costumes, and the city of Sternbild is a booming, well-detailed metropolis. Of special note is the show's use of CG. Now, CG integration is kind of tricky because you want it to pop out, but not feel out of place; this is something that Tiger & Bunny does exceptionally well. The CG is noticeable but not distracting, and feels right at home amongst the vibrant streets of Sternbuild. The music is well composed and really pumps up the excitement. It really gets your blood pumping to hear the music while the heroes zoom around the city or are locked in battle. The show also uses its musical ques well, so you know when Lunatic is going to make an appearance, or when epic heroics are going to ensue.
With all that said, the show is not without some glaring flaws. For one, there is a gigantic number of plot conveniences in the story. Plot points will often be brought up, then pushed aside for a while until the story conveniently uses them to explain or trigger certain events. Many of these are also rather silly. The tongue-in-cheek nature of the show is enough to cover for this and makes it forgivable for the most part, but still the story is hard to take seriously sometimes. Less forgivable is the fact that the show almost solely relies on Kotetsu for emotional impact. Barnaby isn't the most likeable of characters, and some of the dramatic moments of his story feel overwrought. While all the other characters get fleshed out a bit, it isn't enough to make the viewers truly resonate with them emotionally. The only one to really emotionally grab onto is Kotetsu, and while that works just fine for the show, most of the characters feel unfulfilled because of this.
Regardless of what flaws it may have, Tiger & Bunny is well worth checking out. Its a show that constantly tossing up oohs and aahs, and will keep a smile on your face. Deep and thought provoking this is not, but when a show is this fun, being goofy and explosive works just as well.
Reckoner
Coming in as a Western anime fan it is hard to not be skeptical of an anime about superheroes. Considering our own comic book industry and how it contrasts to anime in general, I almost would never consider the possibility of an anime successfully capturing the world of superheroes. Perhaps this is why I consider Tiger & Bunny to be one of the most pleasant surprises I have seen in quite a while. Tiger & Bunny is a story about corporate sponsored superheroes called "Next", essentially mutants like those of X Men, who are constantly filmed on television in Sternbuild City. By engaging in heroic actsthe superheroes are given points in a contest to determine who the "King of Heroes" is, and by doing better in the competition the heroes provide better advertising for their sponsors.
The premise of the story lends itself to an interesting twist on superhero ideals. This is best represented by our two main characters Kotetsu who is known as the superhero Wild Tiger, and Barnaby, who Kotetsu nicknames Bunny. Kotetsu starts out the show as an old and washed up hero who believes in superhero ideals that are considered old fashioned by his peers. He values justice above all else, makes saving people his top priority, and could care less about what the sponsors want.
On the other hand, we have Barnaby, or Bunny, who got into the hero business as an avenger seeking justice for his parents' death. At the start he only really cares about earning points in the hero competition, and doesn't place that much importance on Kotetsu's old fashioned ideas, and does everything to appease all the sponsors. The partnership that Barnaby would form with Kotetsu, Tiger & Bunny, would go on to be the defining relationship of the show. Their clash of ideals would lead both on to balancing each other out, as well as serve as one of the most amusing sources of comedy throughout the entire show's run.
It should be stressed that Tiger & Bunny, while not afraid to get serious at times, is overall a very fun and entertaining story about superheroes. The character interactions and development are often very amusing, and the world is built up magnificently. While also having nice action scenes throughout the story, Tiger & Bunny's greatest strength would definitely have to be its character building. As a great character driven story, the cast ends up being very likable and well made.
Another remarkable aspect of this show is its seamless ability to blend Western superheros into the world of anime. The costume and abilities of Kotetsu as Wild Tiger are all too familiar of more Western heroes, as are the villains like Jake Martinez who capture the Western psychopathic antagonist really well. I give the show a lot of praise because of its ability to connect to me as a Western fan, especially when so many animes are so confined in the Japenese markets.
Overall, the show just manages to be a fun, and adventurous tale. It is one of the least offensive shows out there, and can be recommended to almost anyone. This show is perfect for anyone who gives a damn about superheroes, but is also compelling enough for almost anyone to enjoy. I hope to see more anime like this in the future.
Imai
-Expect the unexpected Surely we have a lot of anime series that gave us excitement on twisting what already is twisted from their stories and I'd say Tiger and Bunny is a one great example of it all. Characters 9/10 Well, I love the characters and though there will always be those common(or usual) traits you'd find similar in other anime series, characters in Tiger and Bunny will surely leave a mark on you specially the two main characters Kotetsu and Barnaby. They may have the cat and dog relationship but they executed their conflicting attitudes in a lighter way that the audience won't find annoying or tiringto see over and over again. The other heroes as well have different behaviors towards each other but when united goes with a nice mix of teasing and fun.
The characters themselves establishes the idea that anyone can be a hero as long as they have the passion to do so and speaking of passion there is also Agnes and his cameraman who will always be passionate on their job of getting higher ratings and is always on the go with adding spice to the anime.
Art 9/10
The art is really great, I love how the characters were drawn and it was actually their appearance that made me watch the anime at first thinking, I like the art and how it's mixed with lil 3d effects specially the colors incorporated with the heroes. I totally love Kotetsu and Barnaby's art with AND without their cool suits.
Music 8/10
All the music used(specially ot & et)goes well with the whole series though they are not the kind of OST you'd love putting on your ipod to play again and again, nevertheless, It wasn't so great but not a let down either.
Overall 9/10
I'm not into action genre because I'm an adventure and horror freak watcher and I honestly thought that Tiger and Bunny is a mecha-anime series but thank god I know how to read reviews, synopsis and information that I decided to give it a try. If you're looking for an anime worth the watch and knows how to tickle you here and there while filling you up with tons of action scenes then this series have all the qualities not to be missed out.
Watching the anime didn't disappoint me one bit and I'm totally satisfied to have seen such a great series after a long time. ^__^
Hanaji
In this day and age, I have often resigned myself into thinking that an anime, no matter the explosive and exciting start it has, will always fail to live up with the hype and expectation at the very end due to the virtue of just being an anime, since to a lot of titles(such as Code Geass S2, Guilty Crown, Valverave, etc.), having a trainwreck of a plot has totally become a standard. Rarely does an anime stay solid, explosive and exciting from beginning to end like Tiger & Bunny, and I will go as far as to say that it is one of thebest anime ever made in the last decade.
Story:
Tiger & Bunny is pretty much the usual superhero fare, with the protagonist duo embodying the usual red and blue, on red you have Kaburagi Kotetsu, the hotblooded, naive and passionate hero who tends to be the leap-before-he-looks kind of character, on the other is the cool and calculated Barnaby Brooks, Jr, the type of hero who tends to do his job as a hero as perfectly as possible. It's a dynamic we have seen almost everywhere in the Superhero staple, the twist here is like Captain Amazing in the movie Mystery Men, each superhero has sponsors, and their exploits are televised, and Kaburagi Kotetsu(who is under the name "Wild Tiger", the "Crusher of Justice") has to weigh the choices of whether he should be obeying his sponsors to make rescues and arrests look sensational and flashy or follow his superhero ideals wherein he has to do whatever is necessary to save people. Along with Wild Tiger and Barnaby Brooks Jr., the story also tackles the backstory of other superheroes as well and how their lives are no different from normal people, except for, y'know, them being superheroes.
Art:
The visuals in this anime is delicious to watch, the CGI is amazing, so good to the point that it gives high budget visual anime such as Karas a run for its money. The superhero designs are cool as well. Wild Tiger and Barnaby's outfits look radical, and their tag team sequences never fail to keep my adrenaline running. I wouldn't even complain about their sponsors being in their outfits, it all fits seamlessly. Arguably though, my favorite here in terms of costumes has to be Sky High, his outfit just looks glorious.
Sound:
You may have seen me mention Karas in terms of costumes and CGI earlier, and the influence of Karas can be seen all throughout the entire series, one is featured prominently on the second arc alone. Same goes with the soundtrack, the soundtrack is highly reminiscent to Karas' Soundtrack mainly due to the fact that they employed the same person(Both anime have their soundtracks composed by Yoshihiro Ike) for it, and bloody hell they sure picked the right man for the job. Each track that plays in the series just oozes with badassery and heroism, from Wild Tiger's Power To The Future to Lunatic's Voice of Thanatos, each tracks deliver their theme way too perfectly.
Enjoyment:
What makes Tiger & Bunny unique and fun is that for an anime with a simple premise, it's very well-written and well-executed, to the point that when you do see live ads in the anime, it doesn't feel forced or shoehorned in at all, each thing in the anime is there because the plot needs them to be there, it's not as blatantly offensive as Pizza Hut's portrayal in Code Geass, or Häagen-Dazs in Yuru Yuri and Kara no Kyoukai. The anime is sincere in its attempt to tell an amazing story, lastly, not only is it about superheroes, but it's an anime about friendship and teamwork, and I wouldn't take it any other way.
Overall:
Ten across the board, every anime should be as sincere as Tiger & Bunny. Rating it a nine is a slight disservice. I would gladly add this to my list of reasons as to why anime is worth defending, and I believe that you should do the same.
Do yourself a favor, drop whatever you're doing and watch this show, you won't find something as good as this anytime soon.
maddynamite
Hi, and thanks for taking the time to read my review of Tiger & Bunny! I have come to terms that I am obsessed with this show, and I'd like more people to give it a chance. Story: I'd say the biggest letdown is the story; the main plot has been done before. On the plus side, there is considerable effort put into the side characters' stories that helps add to the overarching plot. Art: Another iffy spot. At times, the art is gorgeous. Other times, the art is very simplistic and "lazy". I think that the CG implemented into the show is a bonus, ratherthan a hindrance. While it is noticeable, it is well-done and very smooth.
Sound: I've watched both the dub and sub, and I love them both. Every character has the perfect voice actor attributed to them. The background music was hit-or-miss. Most of the themes are great, and have a very 40's jazz / golden age feel to them. Akin to the music of Pixar's The Incredibles.
Character: The reason I fell in love with this show. Everything from the designs to the personalities is spot-on. While Kotetsu is my favorite, it is very hard to pick a second favorite, or even least favorite character. Almost every character goes through noticeable development, and they become even more endearing.
Overall: A decent story backed by an incredible cast of characters and diverse themes. The show is equal parts action, drama, emotion (I connected with Kotetsu's storyline a lot) and comedy.
TL;DR 5 words/phrases to desribe Tiger & Bunny
great characters, funny, emotional, good action, hot men :)
dragon97king
Tiger and bunny I remember seeing ads for this show on youtube thinking "Wow this looks like a complete sell out anime" So I never gave it a try till I saw japan rated this anime rank 6th, 2nd and 1st place on all time anime. I was shocked so I turned I on ep 1 expecting to hate it and I ended up watching 14 eps in a single day loving it...... Never judge a book by it's cover Story The story is about heroes saving the day but on a tv show to get points yep every time they save someone orbeat the bad guy they get points the more points they get the more popular they are the better deals they get. The only hero who doesn't care about that though is tiger one of the main characters whose power is "100 times" which makes him stronger for 5 mins and he's been a hero for 10 years. Unfortunately he's one of the least popular heroes so he ends up getting a partner who has the same powers as him.
Art
The is is pretty good but one thing does hold it back is the 3D it looks fine on the heros who wear armor but heros like fire emblem look awful cause he wears normal leather hero costume showing his mouth which confused me cause Dragon Kid and Blue Rose are 2D so it's really odd
Sound
The music and voicing acting are great I think op 1 of the show really has a good song
Character
The characters are developed pretty well and are very likable I wanted to see more every ep with them
Enjoyment
I had a blast watching this and even ended up watching the first and second movie right after I was done the anime
Overall
I really recommend this anime it's fun watch
artist-retired
Imagine a reality show focused around X-Men-este characters saving the day in very corny and cliché ways. Now imagine that idea, but good and is actually very entertaining and has characters you seriously can't help but to cheer on, despite the corniness and clichés. STORY: Saturday morning cartoons about superheroes were awesome, but that's the past and those shows are near dead, but this anime here, this lovingly homage to those flashy costumed hero shows is quite frankly one of not only the best, but one of the most important anime created in 2011, it's one of those kind of anime while it isn't the mostoriginal thing ever, but the execution of its premise is executed hundred percent perfectly you'd look on similar anime and find them mediocre by comparison. Sure the series is heavy on being campy and borderline silly, but it's made that way, and works, it simply works. But there's a under taste of well thought up satire beneath the goofiness along with a future that is surprisingly dark and strongly character driven.
Tiger & Bunny takes your average cliché super hero show and almost turns the genre on its head by including the concept of a reality game like competitive television show with a points system where all of the heroes are sponsored by real life companies (Like Bandai for example) that adds an interesting depth to this series that others fail to achieve, challenging the characters to whether or not to take the call of justice and save the day or work for a superfluous award for popularity and bragging rights. That is where the most important development for the characters lay, and it's incredibly partnered up with two very fascinating main leads, Wild Tiger and Barnaby.
Tiger is one of the most realistically relatable character in anime I've personally ever seen, a single man in his thirties (Not a god damn teenager for once!) with a daughter with realistic problems such as putting his job as a hero (This show let's me say that being a superhero is job, like an office job even, if that's not unique, I wouldn't know what it would be) on a higher ground then his family, which isn't an easy decision to do, but with his dream that is important to himself he does what he has to do to achieve it despite that he comes off as, in the start of the show, a washed up has-been, the old fogey pass his prime who just can't keep up with the more popular heroes because he doesn't care for the points or for that matter what his TV directors tell him to do because all he wants to do is save the day, or for that matter get his merchandise based on him to even get looked at on the shelves, is forced to join up with the popular new comer, Barnaby, who even has the same powers as Tiger for the world's (Of this anime) first superhero team.
Opposite of Tiger, Barnaby is driven by revenge (Hold your moans and groans for a sec) to be become a superhero, he doesn't care for Tiger's old fashioned way of thinking what superheroes should be, he's out there to make himself as popular as possible, getting the points, all for the sake of his revenge, which quite frankly, is similar to popular anime. Barnaby comes off arrogant and somewhat cold, but he Tiger have an incredible chemistry that alone is entertaining to watch as they bicker and argue (Which has most of the show's comedy come forth) and their ideals clash despite that they are partners. As the show progresses, they become more understanding of each other, while they both gain equally outstanding character growth and development, yes, a revenge based character development that actually has favorable outcomes. You want to know why? Because the target(s) of revenge are developed adequately enough to be easily hated by both Barnaby and you the viewer, I guarantee that.
Not only the characters Tiger and Barnaby are fleshed out to extraordinary lengths, but even the other heroes too, heck even the villains (Of course not to the point where Tiger and Barnaby are fleshed out, I mean they're the main characters, it's understandable they get the spotlight, if a series main cast has no priority development, you simply failed at making a show). Other Heroes include, Blue Rose the series, unfortunately, the real commercialized character (Pepsi anyone? No? I don't want one either) and main female character of the other heroes, she is pretty much that teenager the usual shonen action show would start with, SkyHigh, your typical boy scout of a man, who represents the typical hero of any superhero show, Origami Cyclone, the background character, literally the background character, Fire Emblem, the painfully stereotypical homosexual man with real fire power, Dragon Kid the tomboy little girl with kung fu skills paired with electricity powers, and Rock Bison, the least shown character in the series. Each of the other heroes do get their little background episode with brief development (With Blue Rose getting the most attention out of all of them) but are hardly deeper characters than respective character archetype, but along with the heroes, there's even a vigilante criminal killer, Lunatic, who even gets his own episode that completely rocks the world of Tiger&Bunny to its core, after kicking off the series surprisingly much darker tone later on than what the early episodes about friendship and whatnot was going about with.
But it's each characters individual quirk that get fan reaction such as "We want to see more of so-and-so" is what makes these characters special to the series in their own right.
While plot threads like Barnaby's revenge takes many twists and turns and Tiger's later on problems with his powers keep you on the edge of your seat with baited breath for happens next, Tiger&Bunny may come off as too cheesy, or too silly at times for some people, but it's that cheesiness and throwbacks to superhero shows with a satirical twist is what can keep viewers returning for more, and it helps that the core characters are interesting with satisfying developments.
ANIMATION: As great as the story this is, the animation is a bit iffy relaying on mostly CG animation (Similar but fortunately done better than that Gonzo is known for) is by Sunrises least talented animation crew, but this show is one of those kind of shows where it could only take off from the ground through endorsements from other companies, not just Sunrise.
During the CG scenes, the models look great, and the action scenes are well animated but the anime still falls into the category of "3d on 2d" so it looks awkward most of the time. While the 2d animation is fine, not terribly great, but fine either way. Character designs however, look great, very diverse, and very creative.
SOUND: As for the audio department, the background music sounds exactly like your average super hero show, which works perfectly for this series. The theme music however, is a bit bland, though as a bias opinion I like Unison Square Garden and their music is good enough to me. Voice acting is good and is probably the performance that stands out is definitely Tiger's, from bickering with Barnaby to just simple dialogue, he's a treat to listen to. No English dub has yet to emerge, but a show like this will definitely benefit from one.
OVERALL:
The Good:
+ Perfectly executed theme with a fun and exciting story to boot.
+ Great lead characters, Tiger is one of the best leads in an action anime I've seen in a good while.
+ Good humor and character interaction.
+ Legitimately love to hate villains.
+ Decent animation, with some of the best uses of 3d animation in 2d settings.
The Mixed:
+/- Side characters are likable / despite that they are stereotypes.
The Bad:
- Not enough attention to the rest of the cast.
- Might come off as too campy for some.
Why is this anime one of the most important anime of 2011? Because it has the potential to bring fans into anime with power equal to what Cowboy Bebop and Fullmetal Alchemist had, and is hopefully the first step of anime in general to finally move forward from the current and shameful trends of the anime of today.
DarkRyter
This show is a gem. Right off the bat, it hits the viewer with an interesting premise and runs with it, showing off a great case of characters and cool Sunrise style animation. It seems specially geared for western tastes, with its caped crusader superheroes and golden age comic book style plots. Though the larger arcs are somewhat lacking, this flaw is minor compared the excitement of the individual episodes. Definitely one of the best shows of the Spring and Summer 2011 season.
sweeny
I wasn't going to watch this show. Nothing about the preview appealed to me in the slightest. Over the top action heros? Fighting in suits? Boring. The funny thing is, that statement is absolutey correct, and absolutely false. Yes! it is over the top action heros fighting in suits. But it isn't boring in the slightest. From the first episode I was hooked. And the reason --> Kotetsu - Wild Tiger, the main character of the show. Kotetsu is thick, honest, well meaning, and one of the most endearing characters I have come across in recent times! From the start, you find yourself totally onhis side. As others have mentioned, it is wonderful having a character who is not child/teenaged. Kotetsu is in his 30s, a dad to a 9 year old, has a kind of sensible head on his shoulders, and a penchant for destroying buildings.
The other superhaeros (which the exception of Bunny) play much smaller roles, but are still given their own story arcs. And, these were enjoyable too! I have noticed in some other shows where minor characters get their moment to shine the story is weaker, but these still ran along at a cracking pace, progressed the main story AND gave the viewer insight into the smaller ones.
Unusually for me - I loved the end. I absolutely loved it! It has set it up perfectly for a second season (which I would welcome with open arms) but the if there wasn't one, I would be perfectly happy with it as is.
So, to summarise: charming characters, cracking pace, loads of humour, and lots of fun. I definitely reccomend Tiger and Bunny.
MegaArmaldo
Sadly to say, this anime is not all that it's cracked up to be. When I first learned there was a super hero anime, I figured it might be worth a watch. I was wrong for a multitude of reasons. First reason: The ENTIRE story is predictable. Not a single good twist was dropped on me. It's a typical revenge story/slice of "super hero" life with some comedy mixed in. None of the episodes really left me wanting to watch more. Second reason: Few of the characters actually left a lasting impression. Instead, there was some character development every few episodes for one character or anotherin particular, but nothing was too relevant to the plot when it did so. Instead, Tiger and Bunny (obviously) go through the most development, and slowly grow more and more boring.
Third reason: Action. In an anime about super heroes, you'd expect there to be more fighting, right? Well, not with this. Very few episodes actually had a memorable fight scene to draw in the viewer! Instead, everything (or most everything) was fixed after maybe 5-10 minutes max.
Fourth reason: The ending was sub-par. About half way through the series, some events happen and the story takes a shift in the wrong direction, which leads to the bad plot. It's a typical "happy ending" in a sense, but really leaves a couple strings untied. I feel that with 25 episodes, they they really could have done better.
magiciansmalice
I think it's safe to say that I think Tiger and Bunny is one of the best anime shows I have ever seen. Tiger and Bunny, I believe, is a homage to American pop culture: pop stars, superheroes--heck, even Sternbild city is modeled after New York! Usually, things like this aren't really pulled off quite well--they come off sloppy, they come off cheap, their creators appear like they're trying a little too hard to squeeze references everywhere--but Tiger and Bunny pulls it off beautifully. They manage to give enough nods and winks to American culture, yet still makes everything seem unique and seamlessly done. The designs areoriginal, and I really like them! It's really interesting to see the characters in their day-to-day lives, and as superheroes; I love how the design and the art still reflects who they really are (the diversity in their body types, their body language, et cetera) yet seems to conceal their identity as well if you don't know who their alter egos are.
The characters are wonderful! We have a single dad--Kotetsu--who's quite the idealist, and who seems too old-school yet is ready to fight for his beliefs; the blonde Barnaby, Kotetsu's new partner, who has different layers to him (he appears to be quite the charmer at first, with all his winks and hair-flips, then seems to be quite pretentious off-screen)--if you've finished the series, and you've actually seen Barnaby's backstory and seen him at his rawest, most vulnerable, you'd understand; there's also Kaede, Kotetsu's hot-blooded and talented daughter, who seems to have some kind of daddy issues; Nathan Seymour, who, in fact, is one of my favorites (Nathan's definitely queer, and it's really nice and refreshing to see LGBT POC representation!) and loads, loads more.
Now comes the plot. Ah, yes, the plot...at first, everything seems light-hearted, but don't let that fool you. I won't give you spoilers, but the show manages to keep its humorous tone yet brings darker, edgier things to the palate, causing drama and so on and so forth. It's also quite interesting to see the various things that happen to Barnaby and Kotetsu that leads to their relationship developing from irritated, to indifferent, until finally we see that they're best friends. (Don't even talk to me about what happens in the latter parts of the episodes; I was an emotional wreck during that part...)
TL;DR: Tiger and Bunny is fantastic and wonderfully written and original. It's one of my favorite anime shows. I may be biased but please give it a go; it's not one of your average, fanservice-y anime/manga and it actually has a lot of depth and uniqueness to it!
weeaboogers
Tiger and Bunny is an awesome take on the superhero genre that fosters a lot of warmth in it's characters and setting. It's nice to see actual adults running around saving people, especially when they're as lovable as all these guys. The whole 'young cocky newbie and seasoned old vet' partner trope is one as old as time but Tiger and Bunny pull it off nicely. Mainly because, I think, their personalities clash with each other so much that it's funny to see. Kotetsu is a flawed (in a good way) main character that is refreshingly different and isn't over-powered like so many otherprotagonists.
The animation is okay, some weird CG bits here and there but I think the world building definitely makes up for it.
Likes; the story, the characters, the setting, the overall vibe of the show
Dislikes; the animation for this series (it does get better in the second movie) and the lack of a season 2
Definitely give this a watch.
PirateKingz
My initial expectations of Tiger & Bunny were skeptical at best - a show about mascot superheroes plastered with corporate logos brings to mind some dubious product placement anime. Or even worse, the cutesy title could've foreshadowed some hybrid ecchi fest involving bestiality. Luckily, T&B isn't as shallow as it might suggest; instead, it's an unabashed parody that celebrates its superhero roots as well as deconstructs them. In the corporatized world of Sternbild City, commercialism is king; heroes not only fight crime, but they also play up for TV ratings, their CEO's expectations, and "profit-points". With the companies calling the shots, these superheroes seem more likewalking ads for Pepsi, Amazon, and Bandai rather than selfless Samaritans. Only 30-some-year-old Kotetsu Kaburagi, aka "Wild Tiger", remains the old-school hero who puts peace above profits. As a man "past his prime" (and with a daughter back home), Kotetsu must adapt to the changing times where heroism has become a commodity; all the while, a younger, savvier crime fighter named Barnaby steals the limelight.
Despite the cynical twist in its premise, T&B is an action-comedy first and foremost; the show playfully pokes fun at itself at every turn. The first arc of T&B is your typical buddy-cop show starring the eponymous duo, Kotetsu ("Tiger") and Barnaby ("Bunny"). As expected, the old lion veteran get paired up with the naïve, reckless rookie. There's a clash between ideologies, the odd couple fights, and hilarity ensues. The situational comedic timing in T&B is brilliant, and several scenes made me genuinely "lol". Comic book fans may savor the subtle nods to X-Men, Batman, the Joker and Harley Quinn. Due to its tongue-in-cheek attitude, the anime's first half feels more like a spoof of Marvel comic duos rather than a serious critique on heroism.
Although T&B executes its comedic bits fantastically, the same isn't always true for its drama. The show gradually evolves from the buddy cop antics of the first arc into more serious plot developments and characterization. Barnaby's tragic past involving his dead parents, already an unoriginal angle, comes off angsty and cliché. Kotetsu's conflicts are rarer and more compelling; not only does he face competition from a younger breed of heroes, but he also struggles to be a decent (albeit absent) father. The tension between the two partners in crime becomes a litmus test of trust while a darker, sinister plot brews just beneath the surface.
All too often, the show lapses into contrived situations in order to get viewers emotionally invested. Barnaby just happens to fly in at the right moment to save his falling partner; a miraculous typhoon creates the perfect rescue mission and the duo (surprise!) share the exact same powers. The show is full of convenient coincidences that just deflate the drama and dispel any sort of tension. As such, even though T&B has some genuinely funny and exciting moments, it also has some eye-rolling ones.
Despite the sloppy (and at times illogical) writing, I nevertheless found the show wholly entertaining. Sunrise succeeds in executing the anime well enough to keep it fun, despite its narrative laziness. In the end, I didn't cringe from the cheesiness so much as I enjoyed the show as earnest entertainment. Due to the excellent direction and pacing, T&B manages to juggle action, drama and comedy with great ease.
Sunrise's superheroes look like they were cut straight out of a Western comic book – and that's a good thing. Character designs are refreshingly crisp and colorful; each one is distinctive and bursting with personality. There's also a nice contrast between the heroes' flashy, sponsor-splashed costumes and their unassuming day clothes.
The actual animation is somewhat of a mixed bag; occasionally, the quality drops due to some sloppily drawn stills. I'm not a fan of the CGI transformation sequences, and the clunky costumed fights don't exactly thrill. T&B is packed with these action scenes, but where it lacks in style it redeems itself in fluidity; motions and movements are quite natural throughout.
T&B's soundtrack is smartly placed; slice-of-life portions are accompanied by rustic, bluesy guitars while drama scenes are suitably orchestral. During crime busting sequences, there's a jazzy, heart-pumping theme reminiscent of James Bond or The Incredibles. Newsflash jingles act as constant reminders that we're literally watching a show within a show, and Hero TV buzzes like a proper media microcosm. Although not download-worthy, T&B's score always answers its call of duty.
Shounen fans may recognize Barnaby's seiyuu (Masakazu Morita) as Bleach's Ichigo and Kotetsu's (Hiroaki Hirata) as Sanji from One Piece. In T&B, these two perform flawlessly, playing off each other with hilarious repartee. Even tense, dramatic scenes are well-acted and naturally convincing. Rounded out with a solid cast ensemble, voice acting in this series is stellar.
As expected, Tiger & Bunny's main duo drive the machinery of the plot. The dynamic between the heroes creates the perfect double act; Kotetsu endears himself as the dorky "funny man", whereas Barnaby is the naturally stoic "straight man". Their banter translates into comedic gold, but the show elegantly breaks down this stereotype as the two grow to trust one another. Kotetsu, in particular, is an extremely likable character; he's a washed-up ojisan whom everyone mocks, but his confidence and selflessness make him genuinely sympathetic and easy to root for.
The colorful side cast of superheroes adds an extra layer of perspective; minor characters are given spotlight episodes revealing the person behind the persona. How he/she became a hero and what motivates him/her are explored, forming a group of charismatic, lovable personalities. From the oblivious "King of Heroes", Sky High, to the "Dragon Kid" Pao-lin, T&B sports a lively, affectionate cast of characters. My only gripe is that Rock Bison and Fire Emblem didn't get enough attention while the Blue Rose episodes were by far the weakest; the skimpily clad superheroine seems more like fanservice fodder rather than a fleshed out character.
Alas, T&B's villains are mere caricatures in comparison to their heroic counterparts. The plot begins with a rogue-of-the-week format that fails to develop the bad guys beyond your average thug. The morally warped Lunatic is a disappointing vigilante whose twisted sense of justice feels like a cheap imitation of Light Yagami. Although Jake Martinez is a crafty opponent, his character is stereotypically evil and frankly unmemorable. Not until the final act of the series does a worthy villain emerge.
Still, T&B doesn't quite escape the pitfalls of predictability or the bland, uninspiring villains throughout the show. Although it's by no means perfect, Tiger & Bunny offers a brilliant twist on the classic superhero genre while remaining faithful to the charm of its conventions.
