zachery.oberbrunner - 2014-11-23 03:24:39

(Spoiler free) Story:
Tiger and Bunny is about two completely opposite "charity" superheroes who are forced to work together as a team, much to their dismay. The unlucky veteran Wild Tiger (Kotetsu Kaburagi), and the new rookie, with an attitude, Barnaby Brooks Jr, don't like the idea at first, but, this anime seems to be about character development, so we see a lot of their relationship together a team. 
Anyway, there's a whole lot going on behind the scenes, literally, and it's all summed up in a TV series. No I'm not talking about the anime itself. The setting of the animation is a TV series called "Hero TV" in which is held in Sternbild, broadcasting and showing off heroes battling/arresting villains while saving civilians. All for points. Which ever hero gets the most points at the end of the season, is crowned King of Heroes.

We also find about a crime syndicate who one of our main heroes is out to get revenge from. But that's not all, a member of this crime syndicate has done 
something dreadful in the past, and it's up to Barnaby, along with Wild Tiger, ish, to find out who it is, and help his memories back into shape. 

The story is well put out, and with 25 episodes, you won't know the full truth until the very end, that is, unless you spoil it by looking it up on the wiki. I did...accidentally. Oops. STORY: 10/10

Animation:
The anime isn't just animated images, the suits that the main characters wear are actually CGI, so people who love anime with different animation, this is the one for you! The animation is actually really nice, there are no jagged movements between the shots, and the camera angles in which the "camera" is placed really helps the setting. ANIMATION: 10/10

Sound:
Tiger and Bunny has a really amazing soundtrack. I especially like the first opening and ending. Gets me every time! The background sound/music is so well done that it fits naturally into the scene, and you won't hardly notice it. This is what I like about the sound, natural vibrance. SOUND: 10/10

Characters:
My only bad point about the show. Yes we get a lot of character development between the two main characters, Tiger and Bunny. Yet we don't seem to get enough of the other heroes. For example, we get two episodes on Blue Rose, 1 episode on Sky High, Origami Cyclone, and Dragon Kid, half an episode on Fire Emblem, and no episode whatsoever for Rock Bison. Sure we get small portions of an episode to show him off, but not an entire episode. Same with FE. He was more of a side-main character in episode 6, and I just find that offensive. Why bother showcasing off some main characters if you're not going to show them all off? For a 25 episode anime this is to be expected, but two episodes for Blue Rose? Give one of them to RB, and I'll be pleased. Although, it's a bit too late now. Season 2 maybe? CHARACTER: 6/10.

Enjoyment:
Since I said I spoiled it for myself, I didn't get the full enjoyment I was supposed to get. Let's say I haven't spoilt myself and I was half way through the series. Like all anime, we always get a mid-season crisis, and this one is no exception. During episodes 10-13 we have a new villain who basically "trolls" the main heroes. These episodes will try and solve everything for Barnaby. However, this story arc, and the entire series turns out to be a complete lie, PLOT TWIST INCOMING! The last story arc, from 19 onwards, we meet the true villain, and his schemes. This bit will get anyone who's watching gasp in terror, be shocked in amusement, be...you get my point.
ENJOYMENT: 10/10

Overall, it was a great anime that all superhero fans and non superhero fans should watch, as it's not just about your average capturing villain, saving the day business...You'll see.
OVERALL: 9/10

gspencer - 2014-06-23 18:29:20

During my marathon of Tiger & Bunny I made a lot of comparisons with Fall 2013’s Samurai Flamenco, both of which are anime that deal with heroes, heroism, and their application to modern society. While Samurai Flamenco focuses specifically on Japanese heroes such as super sentai and magical girls, and the Japanese attitude towards heroism in ordinary life, Tiger & Bunny opt for the western comic book approach towards heroism, featuring bulky and ripped superheroes in tights and capes, though these days they’ve upgraded into Iron Man-esque mech suits and their exploits are literally exploited by the media; each registered hero is subject to aggressive corporations seeking sponsorship, product placement, and reality TV opportunities.

Of the two anime, Tiger & Bunny feels more like a show I would watch alongside other Saturday morning cartoons, because its content is a lot more basic and lightweight in execution. There is nothing quite as visceral as, say, a ballstomping Precure, nor does anyone’s limbs or heads get chopped off like they do in Samurai Flamenco. The closest this anime ever gets to being squeamish is people being burned alive by Lunatic, and even then there’s barely any topical damage. Definitely not a point against the anime. Soft censoring the violence contributes to the optimistic, silly nature of the story.

The animation in Tiger & Bunny is impressive for its time as it almost seamlessly incorporates CG into the superhero models and giving them a surprising amount of life, a kind that cannot be easily imitated with traditional frame-by-frame animation. Tiger’s silly running style in his new suit still gets me every time, as does a number of other superheroes’ silly mannerisms even when suited up. It also helps that I chose to watch the series dubbed. Tiger’s voice sounded a bit young in comparison to Bunny, but everything was spot-on, especially the anchor for Hero TV.

There’s… very little to be said besides that, honestly. It’s a silly and fun superhero show, and it parades this banner every chance it gets, but Tiger and Bunny doesn’t evolve past this standard. I didn’t mind the portrayal of the scary flaming black man, or a certain villain’s plot-breaking powers, or that superheroes not named Tiger or Barnaby Brooks Jr. were never given ample development. Their static personalities were already entertaining to watch, and the protagonist duo was a much more interesting place for development anyways. That didn’t stop the anime from dedicating full episodes to each side character, though. On one hand, I don’t mind it. As I’ve said before, it’s opportunity to flesh out how the world of Hero TV works while giving the supporting cast a chance to characterize themselves a bit more. Blue Rose in particular is given the most treatment out of all of them, as she’s a potential romantic interest for Tiger. The others played their role as a supporting cast relatively well. On the other hand, it grabs attention away from more interesting things the anime could have done.

The thing about comparing anime to other works is that I end up placing a lot of expectations on the anime. Most of the time I’m disappointed that an anime ends up not reaching those same expectations, but whose fault is my own disappointment? Is the the anime for not reaching it, or my own for setting it up in the first place? I thought of a lot of possibilities for Tiger & Bunny’s plot direction and I’m afraid that my judgment towards this anime is based more upon “it could have been so much better” rather than “did it do well what it aimed to do?”. I much prefer to evaluate something on its own terms, but it’s hard for me to do that with this particular anime.

Specifically, it’s the tone of this anime that gives me the most trouble.

Tiger & Bunny’s serious arcs straddle this line between dark and gritty territory and the positive, light-hearted territory it stomps upon so often. No matter how dire the situation gets or how much the stakes rise, there’s very little actual danger present and resultant of the story’s progression. Therefore, Tiger & Bunny doesn’t really treat the maturity of its own premise seriously. Lunatic is a great example of how the anime sits on the fence for this particular issue. The whole purpose of Lunatic is that he introduces the threat of killing criminals, that he exists outside of Hero TV’s jurisdiction and the jurisdiction of the Sternbild itself (ironically). However, Lunatic ends up posing very little threat and does not make quite a splash on the plot compared to the likes of Jake Martinez and the final villain in the second half of the anime. And even then, both of those villains end up not doing a lot!

So I’m left with this question: is it to Tiger & Bunny’s benefit or detriment that it does not quite take itself seriously? For me personally, it is a detriment. Therefore, this is a point against how I judge this anime.

Keep in mind, however, that this doesn’t make the anime inherently bad. Think back to Samurai Flamenco for a moment, and how episode 7 conspired. Not only was that a drastic change in maturity, but it was also a drastic shift in tone. This was polarizing to viewers, and a very, very risky play. Tiger & Bunny, on the other hand, sticks to its own status quo. Sternbild does not change. The superheroes do not change drastically, either. If anything, Tiger & Bunny succeeds in being doggedly consistent. So consistent that it leaves room for neither mistakes nor improvements. I believe that ultimately hurts Tiger & Bunny’s potential to be a great anime. It’s certainly a fun anime, much more an entertaining anime, but it’s not great. And I’m okay with that.

dfeeney - 2013-07-25 08:08:28

TIGER & BUNNY. A personal favorite of mine. Before I watched this amazing anime, I thought that this would be one of those really lame kids' show like Sesame Street or what not. After watching it I can confidently say that this is one of those really awesome kids' show. To be more honest, it feels like watching a TV version of Pixar's 'The Incredibles'. This anime focuses on the genre of superheroes. Not animals, not mechas (if you were mislead by the artwork or title) but superheroes. Superheroes who have mutated over the last 45 years and are now saving the futuristic city of Sternbild from evil misdoings and crime. However social media and attention have been given to these superheroes and now the 8 most famous superheroes are 'owned' by companies who participate against each other in the TV show 'Hero TV Live', which ranks heroes by the number of criminals captured and the number of civilians saved. It is indeed a very interesting setting which had not been explored in many western superhero cartoons such as the X-Men or the Incredibles. Our protagonist is an old sort-of guy called Kotetsu Kaburagi, or by his superhero name, Wild Tiger. He is one of the 8 most well known superheroes who participates in 'Hero TV'. Eventually he becomes unpopular by the masses and his company is forced to close down. Wild Tiger is 'bought' by a new company who is then forced to partner up with a guy called Barnaby, and together they bring together the first 'superhero duo', Tiger and Barnaby. However, due to the appearance of Barnaby's hero suit and his name, Tiger nicknames him 'Bunny', which is how the title of the series comes to be. In every aspect, (and my points may be very subjective from now on), this anime ticks off what it tried to be. Story: The first few minutes of the first episode really captures what the anime is about. How social media and attention wraps itself around the opportunity that these "NEXTs" (The fancy word for mutants) bring with them. Later on though, the story dives into each of the 8 superhero's pasts. Not very interesting so far, but once these pasts are established and the superheroes solve a few crimes, things then get really intense. We dive into an actual tight plot which will won't go away until the very last episode. Story-wise, I think that the producers of this anime have done a fantastic job and have achieved what they have set out to do.Sound etc:The voice acting was done very neatly and smoothly, I didn't feel as if they weren't half-hearted into their acting. Voice acting was done pretty decently.The OPs were pretty catchy to me too. No problems for me there. I didn't pay much attention to the EDs (my apologies)And the background music is very distinct. It's not annoying but it will stick in your head in a good way. The music used will very much remind you of western style movies and tv shows regarding the superhero/action genre.Artwork and Animation:There are lot of bright and flashy colors in Tiger & Bunny, which I appreciate. It doesn't overdo the flashes either. Each of the 8 superheroes have a specific design and color for them so it wasn't hard for me to remember all 8. The animation itself wasn't done too badly either. A lot of CGI was used to create most of the effects but that didn't hinder my experience. Characters:Tiger & Bunny presents a wide range of personalities. On one hand you've got Tiger, the old aged guy who cares only about saving civilians and bringing justice to criminals. On the other hand, you've got Bunny, who doesn't really care about saving civilians or bringing justice to criminals but rather accumulating points and popularity. As you can expect, partnering these two together will bring some very loose teamwork. And that's how they start off, but towards the end they demonstrate the importance of trust, friendship and teamwork. And of course there are the other 6 superheroes and other main characters whom I fell in love with thanks to their intriguing and well developed characteristics. Overall Enjoyment:I really, really, really, really enjoyed watching this series. It was nice to explore a new, refreshing genre other than Romantic Comedies, Normal High School Life or Action in a far distant future. Tiger & Bunny has hit the target of what the show wanted to be and I am more than happy to say that this anime has been a real enjoyment to me. To everyone out there, this is an anime for everyone to enjoy. It isn't hard to understand the context or to fall in love with the characters. It's an anime worth watching.

jayson.bednar - 2013-07-05 02:33:24

45 years prior to the story of Tiger and Bunny an astronomical event occurred on Earth giving humans superhuman abilities. These people became known as "NEXT" and have moved on to become either heroes or villains. As a result, people decided to make a profit of these heroes by giving them sponsors and airing them on the hit television show HERO TV. The plot follows the middle-aged veteran superhero Wild Tiger and the newest rising superhero star Barnaby Brooks Jr. (nicknamed Bunny by Wild Tiger) as they become the first superhero team in HERO TV history. The plot specifically follows the collision between the ideals of Tiger and Bunny as they are forced to work as a team. The plot continues to also delve into the mysteriousness of Barnaby Brooks Jr.'s past.The plot and story is able to keep the audience interested as it is both fluid and suspenseful. Character development and arcs are done generally well, save for a few unnecessary character growths here and there. This show was one of the first animes I have seen with computerized graphics. At first it was disorientating because I wasn't expecting it, but soon I began to appreciate and enjoy the added computer graphics.Overall, this anime is very enjoyable. I like the idea of superheroes being sponsored and yearning to reach the top of the hero charts. I wold highly suggest this to anyone who is interested in superheroes, action, and mystery.

barney64 - 2013-06-29 02:36:39

Note: This was written as a season preview first episode review so it's only based on the first 2 episodes. The scores have been changed to reflect the entire series.

Out of all the shows to debut for the Spring 2011 season, Tiger and Bunny was the only I had the most reservations about prior the actually seeing it. The description was non existent and the cover art made it look like some sort of yaoi mecha anime. I'm please to say that none of the above is true. The show is pretty awesome after two episode.

The premise is a buncha of random people got super powers and some use them for good, others evil, but someone decided to cash in on this and now their exploits are set up on public television. The show does have massive product placement, I mean BANDI and PEPSI and such flash all over the screen everywhere. In any other anime I'd drop it because of this, but it's almost amusing considering the backdrop.

T&B has a large lineup of characters/heroes, but the titular ones, Tiger and Bunny are already looking like they'll have strong development just based on the first two episode. Wild Tiger, a passed his prime hero who believes a heroes duty is to do what is right, no matter what, is often at odds with his counterpart, Barney (bunny) who seems more considered with a level headed and calculated approach.

The anime seems a lot less focused on any form of super villain, or any type of villain, and more so on the conflicts of Tiger and Bunny themselves. I'm sure they'll be like an evil force in the works for later, but right now the plot progression is more of a personal journey for the characters instead of a point a to point b type of routine.

Verdict: Watch. There is no reason not to pick this up and give it a try.

oherman - 2013-03-09 10:03:46

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 on his 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.