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.
