Tiger & Bunny is a superhero anime that appears on television to accumulate points and audience. Although it is an anime from 2011, it recently premiered on Netflix where I watched it and liked it a lot. In this article, we will talk about some curiosities, spoilers, and the new season of this Sunrise anime.
Table of Contents
The Story of Tiger & Bunny
As usual, the Sunrise anime is original and created by Keiichi Sato, the creator of The Big O and Karas. The Tiger & Bunny series takes place in a fictional version of New York called Sternbild City, where “justice” and “heroism” are commodities traded.
45 years ago, certain individuals began to manifest superpowers called NEXT, and several of them chose to become superheroes. Each one is sponsored by large real-life companies, which are highlighted as advertisements on the heroes’ uniforms.
Their heroic activities are broadcast on the popular television program Hero TV, where they accumulate points for each heroic feat performed, and the highest-ranked hero of the season is crowned “King of Heroes.”
The story mainly focuses on the veteran hero Kotetsu T. Kaburagi, also known as Wild Tiger, a middle-aged man with a small daughter, who is one of the least popular heroes in the city’s ranking.
When his original sponsor is bought out, he receives a partner, a young man named Barnaby Brooks Jr., forming the first hero duo. However, Barnaby and Kotetsu have trouble working together, as their methods and views constantly clash.
What I Thought of Tiger & Bunny?
Being an anime from 2011 that I hardly ever hear about, I was a bit hesitant, but I decided to give it a chance. The synopsis seemed a bit strange and made me think it would be just another comedy anime without a main story.
When I started watching, I was hooked from start to finish, as happens with other Sunrise animes. They are very good at making original animes; my only complaint is the use of CG in the suits, but it looked very good for the release period.
The heroes are quite charismatic and well-developed, the main characters and their limitations and differences create a unique and fun experience full of adventure. The anime has great villains and criminal organizations that keep you engaged and create good suspense.
It has been years since I found good animes like this; it was a big surprise to have let this beautiful work pass since 2011. I liked it so much that I could even fit it into my TOP 10 animes.
Continuation and New Season of Tiger & Bunny
In addition to the 24-episode series, the anime has gained two movies, with the first taking place in the middle of the anime’s timeline and the second (The Rising) occurring after the events of the first season of the anime.
A second season for Tiger & Bunny was recently announced for 2022. This may be the main reason Netflix premiered this anime worldwide in 2021, in order to increase its popularity again and highlight the second season.
As it is an original anime from Sunrise, a new season will always be possible. We have seen the impossible happen, such as the resurrection of Lelouch after decades. Not to mention various Spin-Offs of Code Geass.
If you have doubts about any new seasons and continuations of Tiger & Bunny, you can rest assured; the anime took 10 years to gain a new season that will arrive in 2022. Never lose hope! The anime is very good in all aspects.
In this world, there is no animal as heinous as the human being. Even wolves are not cannibals, but humans swallow each other alive.
[/word_balloon]
Curiosities about Tiger and Bunny
I don’t know if you noticed, but the anime takes place between 1913 and 1978, despite the technology having evolved differently, already existing exoskeletons, computers, and androids.
Most of the companies in Sternbild City are named after Greek mythology, such as Poseidon Company, responsible for urban transportation in the city. Other companies like Apollo, Titan, and Helios are responsible for some heroes.
Sternbild City
The city is based on New York and various other locations around the world with some Greek statues that support the city. The city suffered a flooding disaster in the past, leading to the development of its current three-level construction.
The three layers of the city are held in place by a series of support columns called Bronze Stage (the lowest layer), Silver Stage (the middle layer), and Gold Stage (the highest layer).
The higher the layer, the more opulent the lifestyle. Accommodations are spacious and varied, ranging from apartment complexes to traditional Japanese-style houses.
In the center of the city is the Tower of Justice, which serves as the headquarters for the city’s heroes. The seven largest companies in the city (Apollon Media, Helios Energy, Helperides Finance, Kronos Foods, Odysseus Communication, Poseidon Line, and Titan Industry) are arranged in a wide circle around the Tower of Justice, each also represented by a large statue of a mythological creature.
Characters and Heroes of Tiger & Bunny
Below we will see a bit about each Hero of Hero TV:
Wind Tiger
Kotetsu T. Kaburagi [鏑木・T・虎徹] Both his Japanese name and the T refer to the Tiger. Kotetsu is one of the main protagonists of the series and a veteran hero whose lack of consideration for collateral damage in fighting crime earned him the nickname “Crusher for Justice” from the public.
He starts the series as one of the least popular heroes in Sternbild City. Kotetsu cares more about helping the people of the city than about gaining rankings, points, or fame; a trait that many of his colleagues disapprove of. His power consists of enhancing his abilities for 5 minutes.
Barnaby Brooks Jr.
Barnaby Brooks Jr. is a rookie hero who does not hide his secret identity and the newest addition to Hero TV. Partnering and possessing the same power as Wind Tiger, he relies more on strategy than strength.
Blue Rose
Karina Lyle is the heroine called Blue Rose with the power to freeze things. She still attends school, lives with her parents, and uses her heroic feats to boost her career as a singer. She also works as a pianist and singer under her real name at Bar Number 06.
Rock Bison
Antonio Lopez is the best friend and companion of veteran hero Kotetsu T. Kaburagi. His bull-themed suit includes advertising for the Japanese barbecue chain Gyu-Kaku.
Little is known about Antonio’s past before the series, except that he grew up in a small town near Kotetsu’s hometown and that he was the leader of a small gang in high school for a while until one of his subordinates was kidnapped.
Sky High
Keith Goodman, known as Sky High, is one of the most popular heroes in Sternbild and was the “King of Heroes” for at least two consecutive years. Currently, all that is known about his past is that his powers manifested when he was 18 years old.
Fire Emblem
Fire Emblem is an extravagant hero with fire abilities and is equipped with a highly maneuverable racing car. Sponsored by “Helios Energy,” his suit contains advertising for Fujitsu’s FMV.
Nathan grew up in what seemed to be an all-boys boarding school. During his youth, Nathan was bullied and avoided for showing interest in feminine things like rings and makeup. A representation LGBT… in Anime!
Dragon Kid
Pao-Lin Huang, also known as Dragon Kid, is a young kung fu fighter armed with a staff and capable of producing lightning. Her Chinese-style uniform includes advertising for the Japanese food company Calbee and the Japanese website DMM.com.
Pao-Lin seems to live with her manager Natasha, who also acts as her legal guardian, since her parents still live in China. She personally hates feminine things but still considers herself a girl.
Origami Cyclone
Ivan Karelin, also known as Origami Cyclone, is a hero who wears a suit inspired by ninjas and samurai with a kabuki theme. At first, Ivan mainly appears in the background of photos and broadcasts to please his sponsors.
As the show continues, Ivan decides to be a more active hero, although he feels that his powers were not made for combat. He assists in evacuations, ensures that citizens are safe, and actively participates in capturing criminals with his weapons and martial arts.
Leave a Reply