Tiger & Bunny

I really hope more people can give this anime a shot. I watched the first three episodes and kept on complaining why there is such a stupid show(Because I am more into serious shows).
But because I got tired of dropping animes so I tried going on, and the more I progress the more I am impressed. The storyline is AWESOME~! Everything is planned pretty carefully and everything mentioned in the show is connected to the story's main plot.
Plus the anime's concept is somehow pretty fresh, our typical superheroes are usually pretty low profile, wearing a mask and stuff and never ever reveal their arrest ... or their names/faces to the public, while this show the heroes are pretty high profile, LOL.
I mentioned this point above but I really still wanna praise the storyline once more. (Thumbs up)
And now that I think back the reason I say the first few episodes are boring is because that the first few episodes are filled with character development, they really explained each heroes, which makes sense =)

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 like ... walking 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.

A Japanese take on Western superheroes’ daily routines in the format of Big Brother. Earn points to ascend a league table by keeping peace, outdo other heroes to top the chart and be crowned The King of Heroes; or get left behind, lose sponsorship and retire early. All captured on live TV. I found it funny, engaging and nostalgic.

When you have two well-known shounen seiyuu in Ichigo from Bleach and Sanji from One Piece, you would expect a good deal of action sequences for them to roar. Tiger & Bunny does not disappoint. From the director who brought us The Big O and the studio ... that produced Accel World, Tiger & Bunny, a 2011 release, had MCs in the form of the perfect in-between of mecha and remote controlled robots, men in power suits, Iron Man style.

Story
In a city with multiple Statue of Liberty lookalikes, some humans were mutated to have supernatural abilities and became known as NEXT. While some use their powers to rob banks and sneak into the VIP section of live concerts, others got themselves a job as superheroes working for their respective companies. Superheroes are used as billboards to promote their sponsors, their activities are directed by the boss and their morals are tested on the job. Would you catch a criminal on escape to earn 200 points or would you save the victim but earn 100 points? Would you team up with another hero and share the glory or would you sabotage them to move above them in the points system?
A protagonist without a school uniform, a man we could all look up to and sympathise with. Kotetsu is an irresponsible single parent who enjoys dressing up and running around the city to entertain the cameras. He is a hero but his daughter doesn’t know it. As someone who has been in the business for too long, instead of leading the line and setting a positive example, Kotetsu, Aka Wild Tiger, often messes-up his criminal chases and embarrasses himself in front of millions of viewers, live. A goof, who genuinely believed keeping peace could make a living, is the most enthusiastic hero. Refuses to be wavered or side-tracked by the higher-ups of the brands he advertises all over his suit, is on a mission to get his daughter to call him cool. Degraded to near bottom of the league ranking, he is presented a chance to make a comeback by teaming up with Barnaby, a much younger and more attractive individual who appeared to be much more mature and intelligent.

Character Development
Most heroes have decent character backstories and progression throughout the 25 episodes. Everyone have their own reasons to participate in HeroTV and their ideals sometimes clash. The main duo’s partnership was particularly shaky at the start, where neither liked his partner and constantly bad-mouthing each other; but as the episodes count grew so did their relationship. Working together to catch criminals and climbing up the league table, they began to trust one another, become a real team and even formed link-up special moves.
Some characters had single episodes dedicated to them revealing the reasons for why they fight. To help the viewer feel attached to them, even their private lives were on exhibition, from their part time jobs to how often they walk their dogs.
The character interactions are often amusing due to the mixture of personalities around the room. But when in action, there are serious tests of friendship, beliefs and doubts. Expect many cheesy scenarios and scripts because of some stereotypical character designs, making their character developments and their reactions anticipatable.

Women
Blue Rose is a sexy teenage superhero and she knows it; she wears high heels and reads books like "100 ways to make a single father fall for you”. As for a mature woman, HeroTV’s boss lady is smart and spicy.

Aesthetics
The cityscape looks stunning. The lights are in tens of thousands; combined with the structures living in it, from bridges to statues, make the city look like a very lively place. The art in other areas are also first class; backgrounds are fitting of the Western style and are smooth around the edges. Drawings on costumes and their designs are very vibrantly coloured and appear to shine. Haters of CGI might not like the visuals of some heroes because Fire Emblem and Rock Bison, to name a few, are CGI when in suits. Despite some flaws in frame rate distortion, the CGI are just so detailed they will be your eye-candy; the costumes wrinkle with many lines and the shadows move like water.
When the occasion rises, a hair-lifter soundtrack plays. There are two opening and ending themes; personally, I preferred OP 2.


Tiger & Bunny is PG-13, so don’t expect blood drips. Even in the direst of situations, our heroes will have plenty of time to pose together, sometimes back-to-back. Tiger can at times move fast enough to dodge bullets like in The Matrix, but at times cannot out-run a normal human. Foreshadow are carefully stationed in each episode; you could argue they are too well done and had become overly clear, but I think the conventional characters are mostly to blame. The series has a slow start but picks up its pace quite fast and continues to accelerate. With the rapid increase in storytelling, many questions arose and some were left answered. Tiger & Bunny would have gained more fans if it answered those questions and gave insight to the characters it didn’t.

No one can say the setting was easy to direct. Like most anime taking on the Western style, if Tiger & Bunny is average or below, it would be regarded as shambolic; to go straight into anime as an original story without pre-made manga was brave. The concept of having Heroes to participate in a reality TV show was done in SpiderMan. But the formulae the director has copied were winning recipes that couldn't go wrong in a series about superheroes; they are mostly well built-up and executed to provide much entertainment; the Dragon Ball Z style tournament was a great example. To have real-life companies sponsoring the anime was intelligent in both increasing the series budget but also helped us immerse with its world.
Tiger & Bunny ended like a true superhero series. Crimes never cease and heroes never rest, I wouldn’t mind a sequel. Each hero had their own past and secrets to motivate what they do but it never overshadows their roles. Unlike The Dark Knight, the superheroes here, especially, our protagonist, exhibited everything good about superheroes. Watching this anime was very nostalgic, it reminded me of my childhood, spending my weekends with Totally Spies and Power Rangers, and the reason why I equipped myself with capes and plastic swords. Not turned into war weapons, sought after by every country, Tiger & Bunny made me believe in heroes again.
The director looks up to superheroes, too, and I can relate to that. These 25 episodes made me feel good and warmed my heart. Forget all the other superhero series and movies; I want my kids to watch Tiger & Bunny.


(Thanks to Vis4Vanity for recommending this series)

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 other ... protagonists.
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.

Very enjoyable Sunrise production, this was a total sleeper hit for me since i hadn't even heard about it before i saw it.

I don usually like mixing 3D with 2D but this is one exeption besides the 3D i minor, but still the 3D animation is mixed into the regular animation almost seemlessly and is one of the best I've ever seen so far!

The Story is original and funny, character design i excellent and it has a good soundtrack, this is definitely one of the best shows airing right now even tho it doesn't say much this is definitely something worth checking out!

It's been a while since I last saw an anime that I couldn't stop watching and yet never wanted to end, and Tiger & Bunny just made me feel very conflicted in that sense. The show is, simply put, absolutely amazing.

From the stunning animation and graphics and the fast-paced and polished plot, this anime is everything that I have been missing since Cowboy Bebop. I love how the series seems episodic at first glance, but eventually everything falls into place so smoothly and perfectly with one barely noticing. Very few details that were given attention were insignificant, showing how much attention was ... given to the story.

More than the story, however, I fell in love with this anime because of the characters. And what brilliantly imagined and lifelike characters they are. Without going into extended, horribly long-winded exposition, we get to see deep into every character's essence -- even the ones in secondary roles! Everyone is so consistent and well-defined, they just seem incredibly real and relatable. I like that 1/2 of the titular pair was an older guy, not quite the epitome of cool, silly, middle-aged, and with a child -- a perfect foil to Barnaby, who was basically Batman. I also expected the heroes to have more of an active rivalry going on and was pleasantly surprised to find that while they did like getting points, it was a priority below saving people and working as a team.

My attachment to these awesome characters is actually the reason why I couldn't stop watching -- I just had to find out how they'd get out of their last predicament every time. Even though I had been accidentally spoiled about certain events (including the ending), I still felt anxious and excited at all the appropriate times BECAUSE I empathized with the characters so much.

In terms of sound, the anime has lovely music and sound effects. Everything is timed perfectly, and the score is just amazing, always enhancing the overall atmosphere.

I'm not sure I can ever adequately rave about this anime -- I'm trying way too hard to be coherent right now when all I want to do is squee and flail and sob over Tiger and Bunny and Blue Rose and EVERYBODY. Especially Sky High. Boy, do I love Sky High's character. This series is funny, heartwarming, maybe not particularly insightful, but still with a kind of depth by way of its utter humanity. Which is kind of funny, being a series about superhumans.

All in all, worth watching. Again and again.

T&B is a light-hearted bromance about sponsored superheroes in a glittering, colourful, retro-futuristic setting. I see you turning up your noses and going all “meh” at me. Well, stop right there because if you miss out on this you miss out on one hell of a fun ride, mathematically proven to make you feel good even if you are mighty pissed and have the urge to kick something (I have personally tested this theory so you know it works).

Story:
I could write a whole PhD thesis on how good this show is, in storytelling terms—but instead I’ll be quick. Now, this show is 25 episodes long ... and each and every one of these episodes is 100% story and 0% filler/ random insane bullshit. In fact, it is so continuous it is more like watching a movie. This is a good thing and so rare I actually felt I had discovered a new species in the Amazon River.
Anyhoo, to be more specific…this is a homage to the classic superhero adventures peppered with ample charm and witty lines. It does have its dark moments but it is essentially a light-hearted buddy comedy and to that it sticks. It is designed to make you feel good but is not stupidly naïve and it has its shades of grey. There is a bit of predictability to it but that makes it part of the fun. At a time when shows are saturated with crazy, pointlessly angsty misery or abysmally lazy stupidity this comes as a welcome breather.
I guess the most impressive thing about the show—besides its excellent pacing—is that it uses every element it introduces in a way that makes perfect sense both emotionally and logically. The twists are always foreshadowed and a lot of them are so cleverly done they are sure to take you by surprise.
To be brief, the story is generally made of more awesome than all the kittens you saw on the internetz today, plus a fridge full of chocolate. I’ll give you a minute to wrap your mind around all the awesomeness this represents.

Characters:
No matter how good the story is, if you can't relate to the characters it all amounts to one big Zero. But look at this! Here we got both an excellent story and amazing characters. Oh my stars, was this a fluke or what?
Seriously, I'm giving you one episode and the characters will definitely reel you in. As an extra added bonus the main characters are NOT wimpy/ moe-tard teenagers but adults (didn't that turn your hair white from shock?).
Obviously, the titular characters are the stars of the show. So, we have:
Tiger: the old—but not very successful—veteran of the superhero reality TV shtick. He is such an easy going, kindhearted, honourable, silly and funny guy you will find yourself wanting to be his friend.
Bunny: appears as the talented, know-it-all, new snotty rich brat on the block channelling some heavy Bruce Wayne vibes.
The magic in this recipe is not these two characters per se but the way they interact with each other and the rest of the cast. The conversations and actions feel very natural and it is wonderful to see how the relationship (hey you, get that yaoi out of your head, this ain't that kind of relationship!) dynamics evolve over time and how major and minor events influence it.
Also, speaking of the rest of the cast, it is just brilliant. Each and every character has their own personality and feels delightfully alive. Not once did a character do something out of…well, character. Every little thing they did was justified. And I mean every single one. Trust me, I was keeping score.

Animation:
Bring on the glitter and glitz! There is enough sparkle and colour in here to cure the colour blind.
The animation style is heavily influenced by American mainstream superhero comics but still retains the distinctive anime feel, which amounts to total eye candy. Animation is fluid and quality rarely dips.
The backgrounds are simply amazing in their complexity and consistency. Let your eyeballs roam all over that pretty cityscape.
Lastly, this gets props for the least eye-gouging use of CG I have seen. All scenes that involve the power suits (NOT mecha, I must stress this) the heroes wear are done in CG and for a wonder they actually look good.
Bonus points for the absence of gyrating torpedo boobs! The little fanservice there is goes both ways. Mmm, those boys sure are wearing some tight pants there. Not that I noticed, I wasn’t really looking. Someone told me.

Music:
Cinematic and exuberant would be the words to describe the soundtrack. It is flamboyant and bubbly as well as dark and threatening when the occasion calls for it. Very good work here too.
OP/ED: while the first opening was my favourite by far, the rest of them are equally good. Easy on the ears and easy on the eyes. Lots of colour, lots of happy tunes.

Overview:
Go watch this show. It will give you a boost of optimism and bring a smile to your face. Ignore the offputting title and promotional material. This show focuses on characters, not some stupid mecha battle that lasts ten episodes.

Many of the complaints I hear about this show are because of misconceptions. I do feel that this show was named and advertised incorrectly, and so people think they are getting into something when really, it's completely different.

Tiger & Bunny - the name alone makes people think exactly the opposite of what this show is. People hear the name and immediately think that the show is cutesy animals (along the lines of, say, Hamtaro) or some form of children's show when, really, it isn't. It's adult-oriented action with a touch of comedy on the side between fights and adventures.

The way it is advertised is also ... an issue. Even the cover art displays the suits the character's wear as larger than other people when that isn't the case. It shows itself off as a large mecha style anime, when it's not. The only mecha in the show are suits that the characters wear, leaving them regular human sized. Think Ironman, but it's powered by super-human powers instead of technology.

The story line is rough, right now, this early in the series - I do feel it's moving a little slowly, but it's a solid storyline that I am sure will pick up. Lots of hints have been dropped, hinting at future plot devices and I hope to see a lot of these brought back up later in the series (Tiger's relationship with his daughter, Bunny's mysterious group that he hunts, just to name a few).

An issue I see brought up a lot are concerns over product placement. A viewing of the first episode reveals that all of the main characters are literally walking advertisements - they use their powers to help the city they live in, but are still sponsored by corporations and so their costumes and catch phrases are meant to advertise that company. This is usually very light, however - the vast majority of the show, the name of the company is simply plastered on a small part of a character's costume, and only when they are actually fighting. It's very easy to ignore.

Yes, there's product placement, but it really isn't that bad (if you can forgive the extremely blatant Pepsi ad in the intro every episode).

Overall, Tiger & Bunny has been an enjoyable show and there's still a lot more to come (at writing, episode 11 out of 25 just aired), and I'm looking forward to more. It's an interesting show at the very least. It is far from the best, but it's keeping me watching so far.

You know how Kids buy things what looks good and what looks bad. it has nothing to do with the product but if it has flames and a so called epic look? well thats what people have done to this for to long and ill admit i did it too.

Peopel read this and saw it sounds meh nothing special and they look at it with no information of the actual series and think Oh there is a pink mecha and a green mecha. well in fact they are not mechas they are just suits to help the heros. Is this overrated no, is this underrated... ... well to some degree yes. this should be more popular and it should have a great following becuase it is just that good. I will now explain.

Story: 9

its a pretty simple little story, there is a tv program that revolves around heroes. these heroes get points for arrests, saving people, and any other hero deed. But that is not all the story is for everyone reading this. this story includes murder mysteries, love and relationship issues, the values of family and friends and Trust in one another. This story breeds fantastic morals with emotional highs and all time lows with conflict and struggle between heros and villains and even hero between hero. Where this story is so simple its hard to be bad but also hard to be good because its so simple. But this story does wonderful things and will make you feel nostalgic for what ever reason. And for every hero league the is an evil organization called.....well you will have to watch to find out the rest haha.

Art: 9

The art is very good, the suits the heroes wear and they way they move, attack, its just good. the mellow moods and tense battles all have the same effect and same presence. it just works very well with the overall development of the story and the overall super powers, relaxing family moments, and stressful environments.

Sound: 8

As i have said in other reviews sound only really matters when it either doesnt fit with the situation or its so annoying that you cant concentrate. the sound is typically suspenseful when there is a struggle and typically low key when there isnt much going on, be it family times or just the sweet random nothings.

Characters: 10

The character for me are what made this anime. Tiger and Barnaby a.k.a. bunny are the two main characters that revolve the story. Tiger is the veteran and most would say he has lost his touch and is more of a hazard than a help. He upholds the old school superhero mentality and not the new school mind set. He is more concerned about saving other people than racking up points, he even tries to keep his identity a secret as older heros wanted, he is a kind, hardworking, and overall great and trustworthy person and will leave you saying he is the man, he will be on my favorites. Barnaby Brooks Jr is also a main character who is focused on getting points and making his name sell he is also known as bunny. Like every hero story he has a dark past and is trying to solve the mysteries that haunt him in episode 1 as well as the last episode. Tiger and Bunny both share the 100 power and become the first hero team in hero tv history. the rest of the cast is still interesting but not much is really known about them, blue rose is more of a pop start than hero, she then falls in love with a certain hero, origami cyclone is just a side character whos power is interesting and he is often seen in the back ground usually when blue rose arrives. sky high is mr perfect but has his own struggles as you will eventually see. rock bison is tigers long time friend. if you watch and give this a chance you will see the rest of the characters as well as the criminal organization.

Ejnoyment: 10

heroes vs villains with great action, sentimental moments with sure genius and loving sweet moments that will overall move you to the next episode. I Take enjoyment as how much did i like/love it right after watching, and for how long can i remember the characters. both of these are very strong feelings for me and i really enjoyed this XD

Overall: 9

I wont bore you with the same info over and over again, but just to be clear great characters, simple plot, nice overall finish, and heartwarming moments from beginning to end the will make you sympathize with every character, more people should give this a chance and you should watch this you wont regret it.

Damn I wish more people talked about this show. Y'know, I remember hearing from a friend that the creator fought to have our main character be a thirtysomething man rather than another goddamn high schooler, and I'm kinda wondering if that would have in fact made a difference. This show doesn't really stick to the anime cliches. Frankly, if you told me this was written and animated in like France or Canada or something I'd probably nod my head and say "yeah, that sounds about right." And that's why I love this show so much. It's not an anime, it's a goddamn story.

Let's talk ... visuals. This is a show that blends CGI with flat animation, and I have not seen it done better than here. It flat out works. Also, the animation uses red lines instead of black so it blends with the 3D better. It's a bit jarring at first, but you get used to it. Now that we've addressed the elephant in the room, this show is gorgeous. I don't throw 10s around willy-nilly, but Tiger and Bunny earned it. It takes place in a city covered in dazzling lights, it simulates news footage expertly, and the characters look anime-esque while being part of the show's own art style. The lighting is good, the angles are good, it's just a good looking show in general.

The characters are all fantastic too. Our two totally hetero leads play off each other well. Sure, their relationship is a bit cliche, one's a strict by the books cop who uses new tech, one's a free spirit who does what he thinks is right, but it goes deeper than that. I won't spoil much, but both their personalities were influenced by... important people, in one way or another. The side characters are all great too, you get a feeling they're real people and not just cardboard cutout cliches. I really enjoyed the time spent in the superhero workout room, it felt like I was really chilling out with complex, normal people. Well, sorta normal.

The story is by far the best part. I'm afraid I can't get into much detail, but there's conspiracies, moral ambiguity, and some interesting reveals. The setting is honestly pretty well thought out too- a world where there are superheroes, but they're all sponsored by companies like race car drivers, and the whole heroing is used for reality TV, only it's actually real. (sick burn, bruh). Kinda like Futurama- taking something otherworldy and wish-fufilly and throwing some harsh realities at it. Like Futurama, what you end up with is something smart, interesting, and entertaining.

I had such a ridiculously good time watching Tiger and Bunny, is it the deepest of anime? No, of course not, it's not trying to be, and that's a very relaxing thing.

I first watched Tiger and Bunny after finishing watching both Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, and then Neon Genesis Evangelion, and after what was essentially a marathon of Gainax shows, I found this to be the coolest cooldown anime I could have possibly asked for.

All the characters are strikingly memorable, and the animation is ridiculously good. It doesn't require an overtly cute style to endear characters to me, they're able to do ... that through means like breaking stylistically and generally making the characters seem sympathetic.

Sure, some of it is subject to classic cliches, but there's no reason that should make it any worse, because the rest of it is so original, it raises questions of justice but doesn't let those questions get in the way of it generally being a fun anime to watch, not that focusing on questions of morality ruin an anime, it simply lets itself flow.

It should also be said that you could think Kotetsu T. Kaburagi is the worst thing to ever exist before watching Tiger and Bunny, and after be willing to slit your own throat just to keep him still in print and tv.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

Okay in my reviews i am going to tell my opinion on three things: plot, characters and overall. I may write some additional note if something was particularly good or not (like art or the characters voice).
I am going to try to be impartial, even if i like the anime a lot or i dislike it and put things in the right setting (i can't expect a deep plot for an harem)

REVIEW
What's wrong with the name? When i read this title i thought it was on a stupid comical duo with a slice of life plot but a friend of mine said "watch ... it! you are not going to regret it!"; i listened him and i don't regret it.

Plot - 9
Abosolutely Great: A cool shounen with a deep plot and a bit of comedy: the perfect mix for my tastes! The setting is a metropolis where heroes with different kinds of power fight the criminal, sometimes criminal even with superpowers like them. Fights aside they are not machine so plot will show you how they start being hero and WHY THEY FIGHT. Some things are pretty clichè keeping the plot from getting a 10.

Characters - 8
The show it's pretty much focused on tiger, all the other characters (barnaby included), sometimes will looks just "backgrounds" chars and they will do nothing in particular that we'll make you remember them (i mean things like "wow xxx said that cool thing" or "xxx was totally cool"), that's my opinion. So hey, why 8 to characters then? Because even if they "lack" a true personality they are well made: they have their own beliefs , their own goal and their own way to do their job so they are fine while tiger is so far one of the best deep characters ever seen so far: if you like heroes, you are going to like him!

Notes - There are minor flaws, both in the plot and the action. Example of this are: while jumping and run out of power tiger he fell down (if my physics' knowledge is not wrong the duration of the jump depends just from the might of starting jump might (the vector)) and some almost impossible coincidence happen to make the plot more interesting

Overall - 9
Nice show and if you like action and a good plot you MUST ABSOLUTELY SEE IT. I just saw it the 2 time and i really like it; it made me remind why i am still helping people :)

Superheroes in general has got the impressive resume nowadays, starting from animated and live-action shows and comics like Superman, Batman, Justice League, Wonder Woman, The Flash and now today, they are part of the every medium, such as movies where many of the all-time highest grossing movies happen to involve superheroes including this one (well, two) movie(s) in 2012 that happened to earn $1 billion worldwide and it really has an appeal out in the western world so how will anime be able to do that subject well? Well, let’s just see right here right now.

Sternbild City is home to people called "Next," who use ... their special abilities to protect the people as superheroes. These heroes solve cases and save lives so they can wear sponsor logos or acquire "hero points." Their activities are documented on the popular program "Hero TV," which picks the "King of Heroes" in a yearly ranking. The veteran hero Wild Tiger has always preferred to work alone, but now he's been assigned the rookie Barnaby Brooks Jr., who has a different perspective on being a superhero.

The thing with Tiger and Bunny is that it has the elements of a buddy cop show but takes out the cop element and put in superheroes with the added-in element of reality TV, which I was okay with (considering my disdain for reality TV) and it was an execution in that it succeeded for me. I dug the premise of reality TV superheroes although I get some problems including why there is product placements posted on their costume but that’s for them to get some publicity and of course to make some money, as some aspect turned more into business than just doing it because it’s the right thing to do.

For characters, Kotetsu T. Kaburagi aka Wild Tiger is the old-school veteran superhero, who of course is eventually way past his prime and is losing popularity to the other growing heroes and I definitely saw Tiger as that guy who knows his stuff about being a superhero and can be noble about it but unfortunately, Tiger has this problem of trying to be a father but fails to do it whenever it involves his daughter Kaede and him failing to do with fatherly duty. Barnaby Brooks aka Bunny is the new shot rookie partner for Tiger and basically, he’s Tony Stark and Bruce Wayne combined but Bunny can be a bit arrogant and a bit of a diva to the point where I don’t give a fuck about him but thankfully, he was as unbearable as that TV producer Agnes, who was a major bitch especially when it involves the heroes saving people’s lives and use their advantage for ratings and I wish I can talk about the other heroes but they weren’t covered with much character development such as Blue Rose, Sky High, Dragon Kid, Fire Emblem, Rock Bison & Origami Cyclone. I would have loved to watch more of their stories and they do get an episode centered on each of them but only one episode but I hope that someday someone in Sunrise thought about expanding more of those characters.

And speaking of Sunrise, they were the ones who were in charge of the animation and it is very impressive in my eyes. The CG didn’t feel too clunky at a few times but it can stand out on some times. Character designs are good as well and the art style has the futuristic but modern feel to it. The opening and ending songs were really a delight to listen to and it definitely fits the tone of the series. I can’t say which one I liked more but that means that I couldn’t find a thing wrong with that factor.

For the dub by Viz Media & Studiopolis, which aired on Neon Alley, Wally Wingert as the voice of Tiger felt a little too young for somebody that was a veteran but it didn’t exactly bother me as his performance was decent and Yuri Lowenthal as Barnaby Brooks did have the sound of a young guy fitted into the right area though. Other performances including from Patrick Seitz, Laura Bailey, Kari Wahlgren, Stephanie Sheh & Steven Blum as one of the major villains in the show were spot-on and impressive as well.

FINAL VERDICT: For what is it, I can easily say that this show is worth checking out and may be even worth buying in stores. I think this could be one of those anime that can attract a lot of the western audience and can have a good time watching it. I solely recommend this series to anyone, especially people who are getting into anime.

When I'd first read the summary of this anime, I wasn't entirely keen on watching it, just thought I'd get around to it someday. I was just assuming that it was like any other show aimed at boys, full of action and cool superpowers. Usually I don't go for that stuff.

However! I was really surprised at the way it turned out. Five minutes into the first episode, I was hooked. The action isn't overbearing, the characters and story are interesting and you can't help but speculate on some things. The character designs and animation remind me of older anime in a good way. Even ... without a manga, even with only 2 out of 26 episodes watched, I can tell I'm going to love this show more and more.

I hope it gets the recognition it deserves! :)

Tiger and Bunny begins with an interesting premise. The idea of fitting superhero stereotypes reminiscent of the Western comic books into the framework of a reality TV show was a good idea. Tiger and Bunny ultimately works as an anime, but it does fall flat in some parts.

The art is the main thing which will grab your attention. This anime uses a mixture of 2D and 3D art in a way that I haven't seen done before to this level of quality. The 3D is mainly used for the characters and generally doesn't clash with the rest of art because of the stylistic way ... it's produced. It was a little distracting at first because I'm not used to seeing a character move so much, but this is generally forgotten as the art is so different to most animes that a few flaws can be forgiven.

The sound is pretty great all around really. Watching Tiger punch a super villian in the face to the sound of a sweet guitar rift and some strings was always good. The music was a bit overpowering during the action scenes, I guess to give a feeling of epicness to them, but the score just ends up feeling cluttered and indecipherable in some parts. The sound design is generally excellent other than that though.

The characters play off all of the archetypes you can think of. You have Kotetsu, the aging hero with good morals battling against not only his enemies but also against his age and the world surrounding him. He's the classic underdog. Barnaby Junior is Batman, Kriem is Harley Quinn, Jake is Magneto etc. The characters, aside from Batman, are all generally written really well, and this is really the highlight of the series. The supporting cast of heroes are all great. Kotetsu, the main character, generally the steals the show, but episodes are devoted to the support cast and this is in my opinion the highlight of the show. However, the rest of the plot is devoted to Barnaby's sob story and the crime syndicate named "Ouraboras". Herein lies the main problem of Tiger and Bunny.

It gets quite heavily bogged down in the plot, and honestly the series could do without half of it and it would work a lot better as a whole. It got to a point near the end that I was kind of wishing for one of the happy go lucky episodes from the beginning of the series. By the end of the series I was tired of the cliched plot elements. There comes a twist in the story which you'll get way before the show seems to expect you to. They make it out to be some big reveal, but it's not.

The final blow in the story came for me during the last two episodes. Now, I'm going to spoil something that happens so if you're really concious about it, stop reading it now. It won't effect your enjoyment at all. Kotetsu dies, only... he doesn't die. We get the very familiar death scene where Barnaby holds Kotetsu in his arms while he dies. But then the next episode, Kotetsu suddenly gets up and finishes the fight. There was no attempts at pacing this well, no build up or tension, no epic moment. It's as if they got a memo from the marketing department telling them that they have to keep everyone alive for the movies that have now been announced. I knew Kotetsu wasn't going to die because I'd seen the pages on here about the movies, but I at least expected a little more to what should have been the climactic battle of the story. I could go on all day about the way the story fails in terms of pacing, originality and plot, but I'll let you all decide that for yourselves.

So that's Tiger and Bunny, a generally excellent anime that is let down by the lack of a decent story.

I only recently created an account on this site (as I realized it was useful in organizing anime I plan on watching), but after finishing this anime just today I felt I had to write a review for something so wonderful.

I love this anime and will probably hold it close to my heart for a very long time. The characters are so well written and the way the anime portrays them makes them even realer. The side characters don't even seem like side characters and the ones I had bad impressions of at first I found myself loving by the end of the story. Fire ... Emblem's battle with accepting himself and his nonbinary gender (being neither girl nor guy) was so great and it wasn't even a necessity but they animated it and put it in the anime anyways.

I found every character likable, but most surprisingly of all I loved the main character Kotetsu. He is a single dad with a young daughter who he cares deeply about. His character is optimistic but not to the point of being obnoxious or ignorant of realistic expectations, which is what made him so great. None of those edgy dark teenagers with a broken past, here is Kotetsu, a middle aged man with a really positive outlook on life, even when everyone tries to push him down.

Barnaby, our deuteragonist is my favorite character of the series by far (I can't help but love the pretty boys). His background and story help develop his character and explain his reasoning for his assholery in the beginning of the show. He's had a bad life man.

Even though I know it's probably for the sake of setting (very American-esque) I love the racial diversity within the cast and the people in the background. Kotetsu our main is obviously Japanese, Barnaby I'm not so sure but he might be British, Fire Emblem is black, Rock Bison is Latino, Blue Rose is white (not sure of ethnicity), Dragon Kid is Chinese, Sky High is your typical white American dude, and Origami Cyclone is Russian. This is the main cast of heroes but racial and ethnic diversity is present throughout the series with background characters and side characters.

If you read my profile you can see I'm a gay squid on the lookout for gay anime, and seeing as there are so many fan works of Kotetsu and Barnaby together I just had to watch it myself to see what all the fuss was about. I came for the gay but I also ended up falling in love with the story and nearly everyone in the anime.

Ok this is not a freakin mecha ok? People really otta try it out , its exceptionally REALLY good. I try writing reviews for good things. But a few, this one is really well done.

Story: 10
Ok you may think this is the basic kinda hero story but really it's not. It's different. Focused on an older male for once than the usual young teenager in middle school or high school. The story is in a way, a bunch of smaller stories that lead to the actual big plot, which you'll understand if you watch the show. Which I recommend.

Art: 9
The art, at first i wasn't ... so fixed on cuz it seemed abit..old for the time it was being produced, which at the time of this review wasn't too long ago. But really it just helps with the character emotions, and the color is really well done, the backgrounds aren't overlly boring and drab their actually designed, you can tell. Nothing should really bug you about it.

Sound: 9
The openings and endings are good though to me they sound abit the same *sweatdrop* referring more to the 2 openings , the background *ost* music is good it doesn't bore anyone and it fits to the storyline, characters mood, and the setting of the time. It can be abit catchy.

Character: 10
The characters are all really different and they don't really mash, except maybe a few times. I liked most of them apart from the two girl hero's , other girl characters are fine as they should be. The males are good looking and the main main guy actually has personality which is ALWAYS a good thing in making good main leads.

Enjoyment: 10
This series had me waiting on edge every weekend to watch the new episode it was so good. So well done. You will find yourself wanting more of the series when it ends. You may even be shocked to the end. You will find urself going 'YES' at the outcomes of the final episode. So really. Watch it. I dare you. Go on. Just go. Turn it on. :I....

Overall : 10
Like i said, watch it

Tiger and Bunny turned out to be quite a fun series, surprisingly so when you consider how it has some heavily commercialized overtones to it. Sunrise decided to try experimenting here, and plastered real-life company logos on the characters in this series, which initially sounded like a bad move. However, this series turned out to have a rather solid main cast, and although the plot got cheesy and stale at times, it’s the charming characters that kept this series fun to watch. Aside from that, the extra money from the advertising is probably the reason why the production quality was solid throughout the series, and ... it seems that this series was popular enough to leave an open-ended conclusion (and leave the potential for a season two).

That being said, the story itself is rather simple when you break things down; there are guys that have superpowers, and they use them to fight evil. Only, the twist is that these heroes are sponsored by corporations, and their heroic exploits are followed on TV. It’s an interesting, light satire of modern day society, where everything is commercialized in some way or form.

Nevertheless, the heroes themselves were quite charming. To be more specific, “superheroes” are portrayed as very human figures, where each balance their crime-fighting duties with their own simple little problems. Common problems such as dealing with love, single parenthood, grieving for a lost friend, and paying the bills, are all part of the cast here, and makes them rather easy to relate to. On top of that, the gradual buildup of the chemistry between the awkward main cast eventually leads up to a rather close group of “hero” friends that help each other in their times of need, where they all work together to get things done. The flawed characters, and how they try to make up for their flaws by depending on their close friends, makes for a very endearing cast, especially when you consider everybody’s individual personalities. From the goofy Kotetsu to the stoic Barnaby, from the love-struck Blue rose to the hot-headed Bison, all of the heroes mesh together well to create a rather competent cast.

Unfortunately, while the cast itself is a joy to watch, I can’t say the same for the plot. The best way to describe the plot would be that it is “very convenient and chessy”. There are many individual arcs where the heroes solve smaller crimes, which are meant to highlight some of the unique character traits to the cast (or just show everybody goofing off in some way or form, lol). Many of these arcs, while they were silly fun, were also very cliche at times. The cliche-ness did make for some great character development, and added to the charm of the cast. Therefore, I could mostly look over the cheesiness.

However, it’s really the big main arcs where the story ends up very flawed. The main arcs are very dramatic, and makes for a compelling watch. And yet, at the same time, there are just so many convenient and coincidental factors that unfold during critical moments in these arcs. That in itself is lazy writing on Sunrise’s part, and while the arcs were captivating, at the same time they have quite a few areas they could’ve significantly improved in. Sometimes the arcs would get too trite and corny, which at times would detract from the viewing experience.

In the end, Tiger and Bunny is really a showcase for it’s stellar cast, where watching the bumbling journey of Wild Tiger and Barnaby proved to be the star attraction to this show. The real charm factor to this series are the characters, and their interactions throughout all 25 episodes. I know for a fact that I followed this series until the end because of the cast, such as the rather idealistic yet clumsy Kotetsu, the stubborn and hot-headed Barnaby, the naive yet earnest Kaede, and the rest of the cast. The plot here might not be the best out there, but Tiger and Bunny is enjoyable because of it’s flaws. Tiger and Bunny is an endearing tale of an upbeat, corny, goofy, and hardworking, bunch of heroes.

Animation/Art: 8.0/10

Music: 8.0/10

Setting: 8.0/10

Characters: 9.0/10

Story: 7.0/10

Overall Enjoyment: 8.0/10

Was looking for bugs bunny but I accidentally watched this instead. definitely not as entertaining, but a fine clone of an American classic. If I had one suggestion, I found the comedy to be rather lacking, and thus my "giggle meter" was at an all time low during my viewership of this title. This definitely docked a few points off the overall rating of this anime. I understand that the pressure is turned to maximum, fighting icons such as Daphy Dock and Bugsboy, but a break from the seriousness would've really helped this anime. Not everyone has the stomach for such a dark show.

I first time watched this anime in 2011 and I never forget the enjoyment till now. The first time I decided to watch this anime is because my friend recommended this to me, but at the first time, I feel the title is not too appealing. But, it is really good actually!

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SYNOPSIS
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This is a story about superheroes in a city (take place in America). What make it different is: there are agents that make use of them for television shows purpose! So, imagine if in the city there are burglary, then immediately a helicopter is coming and they broadcast the fight between the superhero and ... the burglar to the viewers. The superhero itself is a kind of job to get money and become superstar!

Now the main characters are Kotetsu, an old man with a daughter.
Why the anime name is Tiger and Bunny is because Kotetsu wears the TIGER suit when doing the job as superhero, and he pairs with a "seems promising and intellectual" guy named Barnaby Brooks who wears a BUNNY suit. They are not really friends but they have to work together in the field because of their job...

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WHY I LIKE IT
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It is because the concept is good. I never watched other anime like this before. It is face paced 25 episode-anime with a great characters.

The 1 to 8 first episode might quite slow,but episode above 8 is addictive. I never find any other anime that the villain is like this and to how to beat it is also different with other anime. The main characters have to have a plan to beat a villain, not just doing push up or sit up or etc, etc. The other characters' background are presented well in certain episodes.

There are many conflict presented in this series as example: How to handle the job as superhero. How to have time with family while you are busy with your job. How to beat a villain who are impossible to beat. Who is actually the villain.
Ah. You might think that the conflict is the same like another superheroes movies like SUPERMAN or SPIDERMAN, aren't you? It is different, because the main character here, Kotetsu and Barnaby, are actually not as strong as spiderman or superman, and many is different including the power they have and the villain. Tiger and Bunny is not the only superheroes in the city, but actually there are many other superheroes.

The series is funny, but most of the time it is serious. When it is in serious moment, I can feel the thrill and excitement.

The action fight is really short. 10 minutes maximum. THAT'S WHY I LIKE IT. If the fight take above 10 minutes, it will be too dragging and boring. I don't want to watch one thousand punch fighting or kamekameha fighting like dragonball that each battle might take 5 episodes or more... I don't want to see another fight punch here and punch there with the tactic of super hero manipulation. I don't want to see fight where the main characters evolve the punch from version 3 to 4, or from 4 to 5, because if it is like that, again it will be too boring. However, Tiger and Bunny is not like that. It is short but the action is exciting to watch.

The shows present predictable moment and also unpredictable moment quite fairly. It is easy to predict that the main characters will win of course, but the problem is the "what", "why", "how", and "what the impact if you win" is something you cannot predict.

The ending might be unsatisfying by the others, but for me it is quite good and realistic. If there is second season, I definitely will watch it.

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THE BAD SIDE
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I cannot find the bad side of this anime except: The first episodes are quite slow because this anime needs to present the background before it goes to the main conflict.

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SUMMARY
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I recommend you this anime as it is the same tier with FMA:brotherhood and steins gate. Please don't judge the anime by its title alone.