If you are a comic book reader you know that a huge
portion of the stories out there revolve around Superheroes. Unfortunately a lot of the more popular
stories out there in comic books just aren’t that great. It feel like the writers and artists in the
larger publishers out there just stopped caring about the stories and have
focused on shock factor through killing primary characters or getting as many
alternate versions of the same titles out there as they can. I have felt this frustrations lately with
Marvel and their multiple publications of the X-Men (once a favorite, now
hardly a shadow of its former greatness), Avengers, and the seventy-five teams
that Spider-Man is now a part of. The
characters are still the beloved ones I grew up with in the 90’s and early
2000’s, but recently I have been extremely dissatisfied with their treatment of
the characters, stories, and company overall. DC had the right idea in realigning the universe, unfortunately I never
really got into DC, so to me that huge event didn’t really concern me too much
(however I’m thinking of diving in…Batwoman here I come!) So I have been desperately looking for a
superhero story that satisfies my hunger for great characters, unforgettable
story lines, and villains that you can understand, but still hate. I never thought that my desires would be met
by an Anime that pokes fun at the superhero genre while paying homage to it at
the same time. If you haven’t taken the
time to catch Tiger & Bunny and are a superhero fan like I am…SHAME ON
YOU! Let me introduce you to one of the
best animes AND best superhero stories I have come across since Marvel
introduced “The Age of Apocalypse”.
The year is “NC 1978” (NC = New Calendar) in
Sternbild City (a re-imagined version of New York). The city is a hyper technological megalopolis
that thrives on business, money and power. However crime in Sternbild is a huge problem; terrorists, robbers, and
psychopaths are using that technology to their advantage taking what they can
from the innocent citizens. Luckily
several years prior to the main story, groups of super powered people began
manifesting a wide array of powers, they were named NEXT. Many of these people used their powers to
help protect the city and help the people. As the popularity of superheroes soared, companies decided to jump on
the band wagon and sponsor the heroes that were fighting for justice, having
the hero sport the company’s name on their costume (some include Bandai and
Pepsi). Before too long, a TV company
also entered the picture and created a TV reality show called, “Hero TV” that
follows the heroes as they fight to stop the criminals that plague the
city. Depending on how many people each
hero saved, if they caught the criminals, the style in which they use their
powers and other factors, they are awarded points. Unfortunately, “Hero TV” cares more about the
ratings than actual human lives. At the
end of each season they are ranked, and the hero with the most points is
crowned the “King of Heroes”. However,
just like any good super hero drama, some NEXT believe that they are the next
step in human evolution and are fighting to destroy “normal” humans. This is the essence of “Tiger & Bunny”.
Just like any superhero drama it is the heroes
themselves that drive the story. We
relate to heroes like the X-Men, Batman, and Spider-Man because under their
spandex costumes they are real people with real problems that face real losses
after they fight Magneto or the Joker. The characters of Tiger & Bunny are no different. Like many superheroes the heroes in T&B
choose to keep their identities a secret for their and their family’s safety. The “Hero TV’ line-up consists of:
 |
| "Wild Tiger" |
Kotetsu Kaburagi/Wild Tiger
– He is the most veteran hero of the group, and the main character of the
series. He is the oldest and is
constantly referred to as “Old Man” or “Grandpa” by the younger heroes. He has a deep seeded feeling of justice and,
against the TV Company’s desires, prioritizes human lives over ratings. After his sponsor goes out of business, he is
forced to join another company willing to sponsor him…but only if he teams up
with Barnaby Brooks, Jr. (Bunny). Kotetsu is able to increase his physical attributes hundredfold, known
as the “hundred Power”.
Barnaby Brooks, Jr./Bunny
– He is the newest addition to “Hero TV” and is a break out success after he
singlehandedly apprehends some criminals in the first episode. He is the only hero who chooses to reveal his
real identity. Barnaby, much like the TV
Company, only cares about earning points and getting good ratings. He is forced to partner up with Kotetsu, and
because of their opposing views of being a hero they are constantly
arguing. However there are other reasons
he decided to become a hero, and although he doesn’t let it show, he is
suffering and searching for answers about his past. He shares the same powers as Kotetsu, hence
their partnering up.
 |
| "Blue Rose" |
Karina Lyle/Blue Rose
– A teenaged piano prodigy who only agreed to become a hero so she could be a
pop-music idol. She is the second most
popular of the heroes, and is not afraid to remind everyone else about that
fact. Although she has a cold exterior
she is actually a very fragile and internally conflicted girl. She has the power to produce ice which she
uses to freeze villains and propel her by making an ice slide (Much like
Ice-Man from the X-Men).
Keith Goodman/Sky High
– He is the current “King of Heroes”. He
is highly enthusiastic, optimistic, and extremely dramatic. He can fly with the use of a rocket pack and
is able to control the wind.
Nathan Seymour/Fire Emblem
– A flamboyantly gay hero who uses a highly maneuverable race car to get
around. He is highly skilled at controlling
his powers, able to produce fire and manipulate it into shapes and forms that
can chase after the criminal he is pursuing. He is constantly hitting on the male characters in the show and
referring to himself as “one of the girls”.
 |
| "Dragon Kid" |
Huang Pao-Lin/Dragon Kid
– She is a young tomboy who lives on her own in Sternbild. She is equipped with a long staff and is
proficient in Kung Fu. Her powers enable
her to generate strong electricity through her body.
Antonio Lopez/Rock Bison
– He is Kotetsu’s best friend and constant companion. His powers render him invulnerable to any
harm while activated.
Ivan Karelin/Origami Cyclone
– He is constantly ranking last in the competition as his sole desire is to be
featured in shots and pictures with his many advertisements on his costume to
please the companies sponsoring him. Aside from being proficient in ninjitsu, he is able to shape shift into
anyone and several inanimate objects.
 |
| "Origami Cyclone" |
As a whole several of the powers that the characters
possess are re-hashes of heroes we have seen before – Strong-Guy, Mystique,
Human Torch, Superman – but it is how the characters interact with each other
in the field, with their families, and in hilarious scenes in the “Hero Gym”
that make them stand apart. What I love
about them is their powers are just another portion to the person underneath. Each of the heroes have demons that they are
fighting with through the series. It
isn’t just the heroes that make the series great either. The series heavily relies on the supporting
cast of characters to bring depth that otherwise couldn’t have happened. Despite being an animation I felt like the
characters were real enough that I connected with all of them for different
reasons, even the villains. This feat is
hard to accomplish in 30 minute episodes, but they pull it off.
Tiger & Bunny is a series that melds the best
things about the superhero genre that I have loved since I was a kid. There isn’t a character that I didn’t like in
the story. Don’t get me wrong I
definitely have my favorites (Tiger and Origami Cyclone) but I like some of
these characters more than the heroes I grew up with. The series is only 25 episodes, and it uses
each of those episodes to push the story forward and into places you never
thought it would go. The scripting by
Masafumi Nishida, and directing by Keiichi Sato are what made this series the
shining gem that it is. Each episode is
filled with revelations and excitement that I haven’t felt from a super hero
comic series in quite some time. Unfortunately the series ends on somewhat of cliffhanger. Luckily though, two films are being produced,
the first being released in September 2012. There is also a second season that is going to be produced, but no word
on when.
 |
| "Fire Emblem" |
For anyone who is frustrated with the modern day
superhero and the stories that are being pumped out of the big names in the
industry, this is something you need to check out. Tiger & Bunny takes a leap of faith into
a market that is so saturated with superheroes and their related media that it
is so easy to conform to the mold that already exists. This series is so drastically different in
key points, but similar enough to make it feel comfortable that I found it easy
to become quickly obsessed with it. Also
much like other superhero stories, it deals with hard topics like abandonment,
suicide, love, sexual orientation, murder, and domestic violence with grace and
integrity. The excellent blend of super
powers, drama, comedy, action, and flawless animation make this series easily
one of, if not the best superhero story out there right now. It is available on Hulu, Viz Media, and Anime
News Network for viewing. It is also
going to be available on DVD and Blu-Ray in North America, but there is no
release date as of this article. I
definitely recommend making this one of your must see titles! Once you start, you won’t stop, and you will
beg for more Tiger & Bunny!
10/10
By Justin Hopper
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