Tiger and Bunny:The Review

Tiger and Bunny, released in 2011 by Sunrise, has quickly garnered a reputation as a truly unique take from Japan on a mainstream idea we, Americans, have taken for granted.

The Show is set in a fictional representation of New York City called Sternbild City, which within the past 50 years has discovered a new type of human called a NEXT. These humans possess superhuman powers, that momentarily scared the population until these Next rose up to defend the city from all sorts of evil and criminal activity. This blossomed into a reality TV show called HeroTV which showcased these Next doing Heroic deeds, "earning points", and earning the right to be called "King of Heroes". As this show began to take off many corporation "bought off" these NEXT, slapping various company logos and advertisements on their suits for the publicity.

 Amongst this backdrop, we meet Kotetsu T. Kaburagi, a veteran hero of the show and known by his alias Wild Tiger. We see Kotetsu struggle and display tendencies of a typical superhero; the people are what is important, not ratings for a TV show. As a result, Kotetsu often ends up destroying millions of dollars of public and private property earning his the nickname, the Wrecker of Justice. As HeroTV prepares for another season, Kotetsu finds his company bankrupt and is bought out by another. This second company then partners Kotetsu with an up and coming rising star, Barnaby Brooks Jr. It is from this partnership that the name of the series, Tiger and Bunny, comes together and the relationship between these two heroes sets the stage for a roller coaster adventure for Anime fans.

As the series runs through its two seasons, viewers get introduced to the ideals that Kotetsu lives by, how they clash with Barnaby's attitude about taking down the crime first, people second, and the eventually understanding these two heroes come to once they understand the past and present they came from and are currently in. In addition, Viewers get to meet the cast/heroes of HeroTV: Blue Rose, Sky High, Fire Emblem, Dragon Kid, Rock Bison, and Origami Cyclone. This cast of colorful characters help viewers get an appreciation of what it takes to be a Hero, and some of the sacrifices they had to make to get to that point.

What really sells the show is Kotetsu and Barnaby's relationship first as bumbling and begrudging partners to truly becoming Sternbild City's first Hero Duo. Seeing the jovial, joking and laid-back attitude Kotetsu has versus Barnaby's rigid, serious, and almost bitter determination to stop crime is one of the series greatest triumphs. Eventually, the viewers get to see why Kotetsu is so laid-back and heroic, and why Barnaby determination has made his so "unfeeling" to many of the people in Sternbild City.

This Anime is definitely worth watching if you have not had the chance to see it. The story telling and character development is well paced and well done. The animation makes it appear to be done American-style with some CGI graphics thrown in. This unique take on superheroes is an anime style home run.