Tiger and Bunny Part 1
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 15
Running Time: 175 Mins
Audio: English & Japanese DD 2.0
Release Date: Out 4/2/2013
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Synopsis:

Heroes club together to rid the evil villains from the streets; Fire Emblem, Rock Bison, Dragon Kid, Origami Cyclone, Sky High, Blue Rose, and Wild Tiger. Whereas everyday heroes would get in their suits and masks and fight for justice, these do all that and more, signing up with Apollon Media so that their daring rescues and villain crushing is televised in front of millions of excited viewers on Hero TV.

Heroes club together to rid the evil villains from the streets; Fire Emblem, Rock Bison, Dragon Kid, Origami Cyclone, Sky High, Blue Rose, and Wild Tiger. Whereas everyday heroes would get in their suits and masks and fight for justice, these do all that and more, signing up with Apollon Media so that their daring rescues and villain crushing is televised in front of millions of excited viewers on Hero TV.

Each super hero is ranked by how many points they have scored during a rescue. This time Wild Tiger is feeling out by new arrival Barnaby Brooks Jr. His power it seems is the same as his, and that makes him more than mad at him. Kotetsu (Wild Tiger), as he is known in real life finds it hard competing with the other super heroes. He doesn't get the ratings, or points he needs to, and when he's out on the streets as Kotetsu, he hears what fans of Hero TV really think of him. Most consider him old and past his prime as a super hero, and now that newcomer Barnaby has come onto the scene, he sees the potential for rivalry.

The basis of the story is that a mutation changed each of the seven and gave them the ability to be super heroes. Since their original sponsors got taken over, they have been given new premises to work at and new hero outfits, and for the first time, Kotetsu is going to be paired with Barnaby, and it couldn't be worse timing as he is everything he isn't.

There is a lot to like about this anime. For a start, it is a parody of most super hero TV shows and in many ways uncovers the secret lives of the heroes themselves. The series deals mainly with Kotetsu and Barnaby. They don't get on as a team, yet they have to work together even if it means getting on each others nerves. Barnaby thinks Kotetsu takes too many risks, and uses his gut instinct to solve crimes, while his partner uses his cold logic and intelligence to fight the same criminals. Kotetsu thinks Barnaby is annoying and constantly calls him Bunny due to the pointed ears on his helmet. Kotetsu has a kid daughter who has to put up with him not coming to see her perform at school. He does try to show his appreciation but his work always comes first. Barnaby has his own secrets; his mother and father were murdered by an evil organization called Oroboros and he often seems to want to get even with them if he had the chance.

What seems to be a simple plot uses an element of the media to move the story along. Rather than only rescuing citizens, these super heroes are encouraged to be more interested in scoring points and Boosting ratings but seeing super heroes acting this way gives each of them a humanistic side capable of greed, and corruption. Tiger and Bunny could be the same, but they do work together, and after a while get to know their darker sides.

This anime is something different for all fans, just think of Spider Man, or Bat Man and you'll see the humour and the dark sides of the characters in this slick spoof.

Bonus Material: Opening, Ending and Making of.

Verdict: Holy Tiger and Bunny! They are a force to be reckoned with and laughed with in this super spoof!