TIGER & BUNNY is an anime produced by Sunrise that has enjoyed enduring popularity since it first aired in 2011, with the long-awaited Season 2 set to begin streaming in April 2022. However, Season 1 aired 10 years ago, so we've put together a quick summary of each episode!
Tiger & Bunny Episode 1: All's well that ends well.
45 years after the existence of psychics known as NEXTs was confirmed, the metropolis of Sternbild broadcasts a program called "HEROTV." Heroes who use NEXTs earn points on live TV while wearing the logos of their sponsoring companies to deal with violent criminals and natural disasters.
Episode 1②
Meanwhile, Kotetsu T. Kaburagi, also known as Wild Tiger, a fallen hero nicknamed the "Destroyer of Justice," faces the prospect of losing his job when his parent company withdraws from the hero business. However, he is picked up by the newly entrant Apollo Media and continues his hero career. However, Kotetsu is suddenly informed that he will be teaming up with another hero: Barnaby Brooks Jr., who shares the same NEXT as Kotetsu.
Tiger & Bunny Episode 2: A good beginning makes a good ending. The beginning is crucial.
Tiger, who was on the decline, was rehired to complement Barnaby, a young, handsome, and talented man who also possesses the same NEXT abilities as Tiger. The two heroes have completely opposite reasons for being heroes, as well as completely different ways of thinking, and they don't get along at all. Then, one day, an incident occurs in which a giant object suddenly begins to move.
Episode 2②
The culprit is a boy named Tony. Tony is a NEXT user, and he committed the crime because his friends his age had been shunning him after saying bad things about him. In the aftermath, Kotetsu's daughter Kaede is nearly caught in falling rubble, but Barnaby dashingly rescues her. Kotetsu persuades Tony to surrender without resorting to violence, but shortly thereafter a building collapses, nearly trapping civilians in the process. Kotetsu asks Tony for help, and Tony saves everyone, making him an instant hero. His friends say he was cool, and he is taken to the police station.
Tiger & Bunny Episode 3: Many a true word is spoken in just. Truth emerges from lies.
Tiger and Barnaby, who never quite get along even in simulations, are pulled into a HEROTV agnes project to interview each other about their private lives. Kotetsu reluctantly goes along with it, but he happens to be present inside Fortress Tower when he receives a threatening phone call claiming a bomb has been planted.
Episode 3②
Kotetsu remembers the suspicious elevator inspector and finds the bomb, while Barnaby guides the citizens to safety. After evacuating the civilians, the two begin defusing the bomb, but the time limit for its explosion is fast approaching. In the end, they solve the case with a drastic move: Tiger drills a hole in the ceiling, and Barnaby kicks the bomb high into the air.
Tiger & Bunny Episode 4: Fear is often greater than the danger.
"Super Idol of the Hero World" Blue Rose, also known as Karina Lyle, is a hero who controls a powerful ice NEXT. However, inside, she is a high school girl aspiring to be a singer, and her heroic role is merely a condition for her debut as a singer. As Karina ponders the meaning of continuing to be a hero, Kotetsu explains that she does it because she wants to help people in need.
Episode 4②
Karina suddenly receives a singing gig, but at the same time, she receives a request to deploy heroes. Worried, Karina initially heads off to the singing gig, but after watching the broadcast and seeing the heroes struggling, she ultimately rushes to their aid and resolves to continue being a hero in order to help those in need.
Tiger & Bunny Episode 5: Go for Broke!
When Kotetsu finds out that Barnaby's birthday is coming up, he and his friends discuss planning a surprise event. The heroes plan to dress up as thieves and pull off a surprise, and even practice. However, Barnaby himself doesn't have a very good feeling about his birthday. His parents have already passed away.
Episode 5②
Kotetsu and his team attempt the surprise as planned, but he unexpectedly encounters a real gang of thieves. Sensing something strange, the other heroes cancel the event and head to the scene. Pauly, a member of the jewel thief gang, possesses the NEXT ability, hardening the surface of his entire body like a diamond, rendering Kotetsu and Barnaby's attacks ineffective. However, with just a moment's time running out, the two display their perfect teamwork and defeat Pauly. Kotetsu hands over the credit for the feat to Barnaby as a birthday present.
Tiger & Bunny Episode 6: Fire is a good servant but a bad master.
An incident occurs in a prison where an inmate is burned to death. Since few NEXTs have the firepower to burn a person to death, Fire Emblem is suspected by process of elimination. To clear the suspicion, Kotetsu is called in to conduct a fire-resistance experiment. At roughly the same time, the next victim appears, and Fire Emblem is also located in a different location, clearing the suspicion. However, on their way home, the two are attacked by an unknown entity wearing a powered suit.
Episode 6②
Suspecting this to be the culprit, the two men strip the exoskeleton, but the culprit escapes. Kotetsu realizes that the culprit is the bomber in the elevator. The culprit's goal is to kill anyone who sees his face, and he attacks Director Agnes, but they manage to rescue her just in time. The culprit's neck bears the emblem of an organization that Barnaby has been pursuing for years. However, the culprit is burned to death by someone else.
Tiger & Bunny Episode 7: The Wolf Knows What the Ill Beast Thinks. A Snake's Path Leads to a Snake
The bomber killed by the mysterious NEXT was a clue to Barnaby's parents' murder, a man he has been pursuing to this day. Barnaby's parents were murdered by an organization called Ouroboros. However, that NEXT may be connected to the organization that murdered Barnaby's parents.
Episode 7②
The heroes then planned to join forces to take down a criminal organization's hideout, but the organization's hideout was attacked by the mysterious NEXT, resulting in almost complete annihilation. The NEXT called himself Lunatic. Lunatic stands in the way of the heroes as a dark hero who purges criminals with his own unique sense of justice.
Tiger & Bunny Episode 8: There is always a next time.
Wild Tiger, Barnaby, and Origami Cyclone are invited to serve as temporary instructors at the Hero Academy. Barnaby and Ivan Karelin, also known as Origami Cyclone, were graduates of this school. Ivan was feeling negative, thinking he wasn't cut out to be a hero. He had a close friend named Edward. Edward possessed heroic abilities that Ivan didn't have, but he broke school rules, used his abilities outside of school, and intervened in a robbery, resulting in the death of a hostage. He was sentenced to prison and lost his right to be a hero.
Episode 8②
Edward escapes from prison to visit Ivan in order to get revenge. Ivan was with him at the time of the incident, but he lacked the courage to act, and Edward was the only one to intervene, resulting in the accident. Meanwhile, Lunatic appears, intent on killing Edward. Ivan confronts Lunatic and protects Edward. Tiger and Barnaby arrive, forcing Lunatic to retreat. Edward thanks Ivan and returns to prison.
Tiger & Bunny Episode 9: Spare the rod and spoil the child. Let the cute one travel.
Huang Paolin, also known as Dragon Kid, is the youngest hero, but she is well-behaved and an honor student. She's a girl, but she has no interest in cute things or fashion, and she's not the least bit charming. One day, Kotetsu is asked to babysit a baby belonging to a high-ranking official. Kotetsu is chosen because the baby is a telekinesis NEXT and Kotetsu is married with a daughter. His wife, Tomoe, had already passed away, but Blue Rose, who had been concerned about Kotetsu, was shocked and frozen. The baby became attached to Dragon Kid, who then began caring for him.
Episode 9②
During this time, Kotetsu learns about Barnaby's past. Barnaby's parents were murdered by someone with an Ouroboros mark on the back of his hand, but he remembers almost nothing else, and that was his only clue. Dragon Kid takes the baby outside and is captured by three serial kidnappers. Kotetsu and Barnaby notice that they are missing and chase after them, but Dragon Kid takes advantage of the baby's NEXT going berserk and takes care of them. Dragon Kid realizes how much love he was given by his parents and begins wearing the hair ornament that was given to him as a gift.
Tiger & Bunny Episode 10: The Calm Before the Storm
Receiving his first vacation in a long time, Kotetsu plans to visit his daughter Kaede and buy a gift before heading home. However, he happens upon the terrorist attack at Broxbridge on his way there and is ordered into emergency response. Meanwhile, Barnaby finds clues in his own memories about the murderer of his parents. The culprit turns out to be a prisoner in Appas Prison. Terror attacks occur throughout Sternbild, and powered suits attack the city. However, there is no one inside the suits, and the attacks are being carried out remotely by someone.
Episode 10②
The city is overrun by terrorists, and the broadcast is hijacked. The perpetrators call themselves Ouroboros, and their mark is the emblem that Barnaby remembers. Their demand is the release of Jake Martinez, a prisoner still in Barnaby's memory.
Tiger & Bunny Episode 11: The Die Is Cast.
With the entire Ouroboros community and citizens held hostage, the leadership of Sternbild finally accepts the terrorists' demands and decides to release Jake. Barnaby couldn't keep his cool when Jake, the man who killed his parents, was released.
Episode 11, Part 2
Jake was released, but the heroes weren't just sitting idly by. Origami Cyclone, acting as a negotiator, disguised himself as the helicopter pilot and attempted to spy on the situation from the inside. Jake, a man of elite ideology who looks down on those without NEXT, denies the release of the hostage citizens.
Tiger & Bunny Episode 12: Take Heed of the Snake in the Grass.
Origami Cyclone's infiltration uncovers Jake's hideout, and the heroes head there. However, Jake has already discovered Origami's infiltration and lures the heroes out. Barnaby asks Jake if he killed his parents, to which he replies, "I've killed so many people I don't remember." Jake's whereabouts become unknown, but after purging his captured subordinates, he goes to meet with the Sternbild leadership.
Episode 12②
Jake proposes that each hero take turns challenging the others in a one-on-one battle. If a hero wins, the citizens will be freed. If they lose, the city will be destroyed. The first hero chosen for the battle is Sky High. However, he is defeated, helpless against Jake's unknown abilities. Rock Bison, the next hero chosen, is defeated without even a fight scene. The next hero chosen is Wild Tiger. It turns out that Jake's NEXT skill is to create a barrier to attack, but Tiger's attacks miss none of them. Then, by chance, a flying kick hits Jake while he loses his balance. Jake loses his temper and beats Tiger badly, severely injuring him and resulting in Tiger's defeat.
Tiger & Bunny Episode 13: Confidence is a plant of slow growth.
Barnaby is selected as Jake's next opponent, but none of Barnaby's attacks hit him. No one, including Kotetsu, who has just woken up, understands how this works. However, Kotetsu realizes Jake's abilities during his fight with him. Kotetsu, forcing himself to go to Barnaby, teaches him about Jake's abilities. Saito explains that Jake's power is his "super hearing," allowing him to hear muscle movements, and hands him a special ultrasonic bullet.
Episode 13②
Barnaby throws the ultrasonic bullet as instructed, but his move is easily read.
However, the next moment, a bright light makes Jake flinch. Barnaby seizes the opportunity to finish him off with a single blow. Jake's power isn't "super hearing," but "mind reading." Realizing this, Kotetsu sets a trap assuming Barnaby's mind can be read. Barnaby wins, and peace returns to the city, but Jake blows up the helicopter that arrived to rescue him, dying in the resulting explosion.
[TIGER & BUNNY 2] Season 1 Spoiler Summary (Part 1)
Here's a summary of Tiger & Bunny Season 1! This is the first part, but the second half is also included. This anime got more and more interesting from the first episode, and I found myself wanting to binge-watch it halfway through! The story is incredibly captivating, and it still has a huge fanbase! If you haven't seen Season 1, I recommend watching it before Season 2 begins!
